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Japanese Etiquette Of Exchanging Name Cards
In Japan, the exchange of name cards is much more than just exchanging contact information and is considered almost a ritual carrying great meaning. The way you exchange your card with somebody can greatly influence the impression they get of you. Exchanging cards the "proper" way will make the rec…(198 words)
GenS
Toho Theaters
Toho Cinema theaters (http://www.tohotheater.jp/) are a nice venue to watch movies in Japan. A good way to enjoy yourself is to buy your tickets in advance, sample a tasty meal and relax in the comfortable red chairs.With Toho Cinemas you can purchase tickets in advance and online. They have co…(110 words)
mkawamura
The Best Natural Japanese Hot Springs in Japan
This is the only location I have ever seen in Japan that has a natural hot spring pool in the indoor pool area. This means you can go in with your family in your bathing suit and enjoy the deep mineral bath. The water feels very smooth and thick in a way as it comes up from 1500 meters below this h…(93 words)
Try "Seishun 18 kippu" !!!
If you've heard of the tickets before, I guess you are quite knowledgeable about the rail way system in Japan.Even if you have not, this ticket is really worthwhile trying, and is going to be a great choice especially for those who you have plenty of time but have to get away with tight budgets, …(612 words)
Masa
The Best Spa in Japan
Enoshima Island Spa is located just outside Tokyo (direct ride on the Romance Car from Shinjuku Station..60 to 70 minutes). This ancient healing spot is just off the Shonan Coast and you take a 10 minute walk over the bridge to the island itself. The spa entrance fee of 2,650 yen gives you access t…(136 words)
Asakusa viewpoint & information
The Asakusa Culture Tourist Information Center is located in front of Kaminari-mon at the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa. Take the elevator to the top for some of the best views in Asakusa. On the 8th floor the Center has a small cafe and a terrace. You can have a coffee, a beer, or some Japanese sw…(159 words)
David
Asakusa's Secret Kabuki Gallery - Shotengai Streets
Asakusa has many small shopping streets with old-fashioned cafes and restaurants. Okuyama Omairimachi Shotengai is one of these streets, but it is special. The shutters of the shops here are painted with famous scenes from Kabuki plays. This gallery only reveals itself when shops are closed.Asa…(168 words)
David
Yet another place to visit in Kyoto:
Tadao Ando is one of the most famous modern architect in Japan. I am no architecture expert so I will not talk about his works.He has created a garden in Kyoto. What is most extraordinary about this garden, is that there is no vegetation. absolutely not. But there are reproductions of the most …(162 words)
Claire
Onsen and Mount Fuji - Enoshima Island
Enoshima island is one of my favourite places for a day trip from Tokyo. I love the ocean air, the view of Kamakura and Mt Fuji, and the shrines and small shops around the island. This Sunday I took a day off from the busy city to visit the onsen at Enoshima Island Spa. It turned out to be even bet…(193 words)
David
Not Quiet Temples and Shrines
Some Japanese temples are beautifully quiet places with peaceful gardens. Before I came to Japan I mistakenly imagined all temples and shrines would be like that. I was thinking of ponds with koi carp and turtles, perfectly maintained leaf-free stone gardens, and areas sculpted with moss and plants…(255 words)
David
How to "Onsen" Like a Pro
When getting into the onsen, be sure to enter bit by bit to attune your body to the heat. First your feet, then mid section, then fingers to shoulders, basically leaving your chest for last. Also, just progressing from your lower half to whole body is fine too.You probably only want to take about…(96 words)
Eddie
Bedazzled by Buds and Blooms
Japanese, and many foreigners who have lived here for a time, have a particular love for sakura season. Of course, the blooming of the sakura trees does herald the arrival of spring and - hopefully - the end of a cold winter. The sakura maps that are popular on TV news, newspapers, Facebook, and ot…(575 words)
Joe Peters
View the Most Beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Japan
A somewhat drab introduction in the metro underground of Kudanshita will quell your palate for something exciting outside. You have probably heard about the beauty of Cherry Blossom season in Japan, but NOTHING will prepare you for the jubilance and grace of huge Cherry trees stretching branch tips…(289 words)
Huis Ten Bosch - The Netherlands in Japan
Huis Ten Bosch - Believe it or not, you can experience Holland in Japan. This is a theme park located in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture in Kyushu. An entire town has been built to scale and hotels are there too. There are activities for the whole family, from a maze for young and old to exper…(97 words)
Kevin
April 8 Flower Festival Celebrating Buddha's Birthday
April 8 is not a national holiday in Japan, but there are festivals at temples everywhere in the country. This day is the celebration of Buddha's birthday, often called Flower Festival （花まつり） or Kanbutsu-e （潅仏会）. In Japan the date for Buddha's Birthday is April 8, but some temples start …(243 words)
David
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT JAPAN?
A common question we hear from travelers is, “If you could visit Japan at any time of year, when would you go?”One of the best things about Japan is that it’s truly worth visiting at any time of year! Every season has its highlights, and Japanese culture is remarkable in its appreciation of the…(350 words)
Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan
Huis ten Bosch
Ever have a hankering to visit the Netherlands? Well, if you live in Asia, you don't have to fly all the way to Europe. You can come to Sasebo and visit Huis ten Bosch theme park. It is a complete resort with hotels and numerous attractions.Your entire family will enjoy a visit to Huis ten B…(145 words)
Kevin
Enospa in Enoshima
Whether you're a spa enthusiast or first timer, I highly recommend you visit Enoshima's Enospa for an affordable, exclusive experience you won't soon forget. For less than ¥3000, you can spend an entire day relaxing in one or all of their various indoor and outdoor pools (with beach/ocean view)…(170 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Hamamatsu Kite Festival
May 3rd to the 5th the Kite battle begins at Nakatajima park Hamamatsu.These kites are not something you would find at Toys-r-us.It takes 10 to 15 people to lift one of these kites into the air!Each kite represents a cho or an area where you live.Any group member that had a new born child…(124 words)
Yuuki I
In Basho's Footsteps
In May 1689 the great Haiku poet Matsuo Basho sold his house and began travelling north through Japan. His written impressions of the journey, over 1200 miles later, became The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a compilation of travel sketches in prose and verse which is a famous reminder of Basho’s o…(379 words)
InBasho'sFootsteps
Nezu Museum
The Nezu Museum (which is near Aoyama, not Nezu) art collection is mainly Asian artifacts, displayed in a few small galleries. While certainly pretty, they are no match for the extraordinary gardens. The Japanese gardens are filled with momiji, bright green in the spring and summer, and shoc…(125 words)
Chiara
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise
Hakone Sightseeing Cruise links popular sightseeing spots and you can enjoy scenic views of Mt. Fuji if the weather allows. We were not able to see it when we went. You should consider yourself lucky if you get a clear view of the mountain. Even without it, the ride is worth it. Calm, relaxing and …(142 words)
EmiOnishi
Fun Places to Chill with Animals
As with many people around the world, Japanese people also love animals and love to own pets. However with limited space and most people living in apartments or small houses, sometimes owning a pet is not allowed or is not an option for those animal lovers.One source of animal happiness people …(396 words)
Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo
Australian Curry Amidst the Green
Many visitors to Japan just stay in the cities with a few day trips to places like Kamakura (great place to visit), or Hakone, or a shopping tour to one of the many outlet malls (Gotanda is a poplular one). But, if you are the outdoorsy type, and want a bit of fresh air and lots of greenery, a …(196 words)
Joe Peters
Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is just south of Yokohama. This is a great place to spend the day for the whole family. Multiple aquariums with hundreds of varieties of sea life. Total number of sea life is well over 100,000. From sea turtles to penguins and numerous other attractions you may be surpri…(89 words)
Kevin
Neon lights of Shinjuku
If you're in the search for neon lights, head to Shinjuku. Here you'll find more blinking lights, giant advertisement signs, and busy crowds than almost anywhere else in Tokyo. Head out Shinjuku Station's East Exit and walk towards Kabukichō, Tokyo's red-light-district. This is also the area where …(117 words)
Emelie Fågelstedt
Lavender fields of Farm Tomita/Hokkaido
In Hokkaido, Furano's lavender fields attract large numbers of visitors to the region every summer when the plants are in full bloom. Lavenders usually start blooming in late June and reaches its peak from around mid July to early August. I had always wanted to visit Furano since I watched the …(328 words)
EmiOnishi
Odawara Castle - Worth a Visit!
When you are in Odawara area, the Odawara Castle is worth a visit. It is actually located in a fairly short walk from Odawara Station. You can see it from the station as this castle is built upon a small hill. What I liked most is a beautiful red bridge leading across the moat into the castle g…(269 words)
EmiOnishi
Kappabashi Tool Street, best place to find kitchen tools
Kappabashi Tool Street is about 800m long located in 10 minutes walking distance from Asakusa and has more than 150 stores relating to kitchen or restaurant. These are sample foods made of wax, which you can find in a show-window at the restaurants in Asakusa.There are many specialty stores for kit…(79 words)
Keiko, OTT
Urban Oasis
The main intersection of Harajuku, where Meiji Street and Omotesando cross, is surprisingly nondescript. On one corner is a bank, with Jonathan's, a popular family restaurant above it. On another corner is another bank, with a small clothing boutique and a cafe adjacent to it. The third corner i…(415 words)
mikekato
Tourist Tip #3: Stay Away from Souvenir Shops
Here's a quick tip to make your memories of Japan more memorable for you and your friends back home: stay away from souvenir shops!Like anywhere else in the world, souvenir shops, by nature, tend to offer only the most generic - and usually hokiest - of gifts. I've seen wares that - at best - w…(219 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
What to do on rainy days in Tokyo: Palm Shoutengai (covered shopping street)
Rainy season can be a drag, but fear not! Covered shopping streets are the perfect place to people watch, find cool souvenirs and enjoy tasty culinary experiences.The covered shoutengai in Musashi Koyama (just two stops away from Meguro) is almost 1 kilometre long, and like all shoutengai is ju…(357 words)
Chiara
What makes you feel cooler in Asakusa.
The price of mini Ukiyoe Uchiwa is 350 yen at Yatsume. Ohgi is made by paper, while Sensu is usually made by fabrics. These Ohgi are at Bunsendo. You will find lots of Sensu at Takahisa.LocationYatsume: NakamiseBunsendo: NakamiseTakahisa: Shin-NakamiseFurin (a wind bell) also make you fee…(111 words)
Keiko, OTT
Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
On my first visit to Tokyo, I signed up for a half day tour of Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa via Hato Bus tours. Hato, http://www.hatobus.com, has a number of different tour packages ranging from half day to full day. The full day tours include lunch. Our tour guide was a Japanese woman who spoke En…(169 words)
Dolores
Lively NISHIKI market in KYOTO!
A market is the best place to visit if you want to know about the lifestyle in the area. When you are visiting Kyoto, it's a good idea to go to the lively Nishiki Market.Now there are about 130 grocery and seafood shops lined up on both sides of the narrow street. They are selling Kyoto's speci…(250 words)
EmiOnishi
Kimono Experience in Asakusa
Kimono is usually made of silk or hemp, beautifully dyed or embroidered. Yukata is made of cotton, the Kimono for summer. Most of Ryokan (Japanese hotels) prepare Yukata in each room as a sleepwear, but you can got out with Yukata in Summer.There are many shops you can rent Kimono for few hours. T…(162 words)
Keiko, OTT
Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion) in Kyoto
Nothing is as symbolic of Kyoto as Kinkaku-ji's golden reflection shimmering on the surface of the pond before it. A lot of people should be familiar with such a picture appeared on postcards and guidebook. I would like to share my personal experience with Kinkakuji. When I first visited Ki…(450 words)
EmiOnishi
Escape To Nikko
If you really want a chance to experience a taste of ‘traditional’ Japan, like you might see in the movies, you should check out a place like the city of Nikko. It is only a two hour bullet train, shinkansen, ride away from Tokyo station. Frequently you hear about going to Kyoto, the old capitol t…(508 words)
Alex
Legoland Discovery Center in Odaiba, Tokyo
Legoland is a theme park dedicated to families with children between the age of 2 and 12 that features interactive rides, play space and attractions based on the LEGO toy brand. The park is split into various areas such as a Lego miniland, play fields and model village. The model village is bre…(252 words)
EmiOnishi
Museums Off the Beaten Track
Japan is rife with museums of all shapes and sizes. There's the National Museum in Ueno, MoMAT in Tokyo, and Yokohama's Museum of Art. There's also the Silk and Doll Museum in Yokohama, and Shibuya's Bunkamura. Japan's food manias are even immortalized, like at Shin-Yokohama's Ramen Museum.But …(445 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer