What to do at a Japanese Funeral | Funeral Etiquette
Attending a Japanese funeral can be stressful, even shocking, if you don't know what to do. The more you know beforehand the better, as you'll be able to comfort and support mutual friends and their families as is wont to do.Varying in size and ceremony, it's safe to say that most Japanese, fun…(418 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Japan Etiquette Funeral custom Japanese
Yurei, Yokai and Obake: Japan's Very Busy Ghost Scene
Ghosts and spirits hold a place in the folklore of many cultures around the world. In the western world, Halloween, observed on October 31st, is a time for scary, spooky tales, while Latin America will celebrate the deceased on the following day, November 1st, in a holiday called “Dia de Muertos”,…(1369 words)
jdlawrence
Japan Bon Festival History Yurei Yokai Obake Kabuki
“Hina-arare” - Grilled bits of rice cake for the Girls' Festival
“Hina-arare” are sweet rice cakes eaten for the Girls’ Festival on March 3. There are mainly two kinds depending on what they are made of; glutinous rice and ordinary rice. Kanto people are more familiar with the one made of ordinary rice while Kansai people are more familiar with glutinous rice on…(76 words)
OKAKI-sun
Mochi (Rice cake) Kansai Kanto Cake Okaki Arare
Why Do Japanese People Call Mt. Fuji, Mr. Fuji?
If you wondered why Japanese people refer to Mt. Fuji as Mr. Fuji, you are not alone.When I first came to Japan, and actually until about two years ago, well okay, actually it still happens a lot, I was confused and continue to get confused by place names.In Japanese, Mt. Fuji is called Fuj…(604 words)
Mount Fuji
Tokyo
History
Nature
Play
Flower
Mountain
view
Castle
Lake
Enjoy bath, Japanese style
Enjoy taking bath with Babu(Bub), a popular Japanese bath tablet to Relax after Exploring Japan on Foot.All travelers know how sight seeing can be exhausting. Especially walking around on foot, taking trains and metro etc with lots of stairs before and after the ride in metropolitan areas in Ja…(394 words)
mimichan
style Japanese Japan Summer Hotel English Play Work Market
5 Traditional Japanese Villages to Explore
The rural area of Japan is quite worth an exploration. Many villages in Japan have typical Japanese styles. Although they are quite far away from big cities, you can enjoy enchanting natural views and interesting life in these villages. Here I recommend you 5 amazing Japanese villages that you shou…(475 words)
Alexlovetravel
Japanese Traditional Nature Japan Food Building Kyoto Sea view Japan Travel
Know your Receipts in Japan!
Are you in Japan on business and working with a Japanese firm? Will you be taking your clients out for a meal?Recently I have been doing some consulting work for one of Japan’s eminent Chinese cuisine restaurants, Ginza Aster, and I learned that many of the international clients are confused by t…(1173 words)
Japan
Restaurant
Etiquette
Ginza
Coffee
Cuisine
Business
Japanese Culture and Style
Japanese Traditions
Chinese Restaurant Tokyo
Don't Wear Black in Japan
In Japan, the color white is attributed to happiness and good times. Death is a time of mourning and so people must dress in the color of depression, black. Men usually wear a black suit with a black tie (dress shirt is usually white). Women are also usually in a black dress. Wearing a formal black…(129 words)
GenS
Japan Clothes Shoes Kids Work used
Japanese Massage Etiquette to Enjoy a Relaxing, Stress Relieving Moment
Just last week, I’ve experienced another massage establishment called “Minnanotemomi”. Minnanotemomi mean’s roughly everyone’s massage and the massage they did for me was excellent caliber, yet one of the most inexpensive fees that I’ve came across thus far during my stay in Japan. A very well …(392 words)
AustinA
Etiquette Massage
Ningyo-yaki: Little Baked Doll Cakes
Ningyo-yaki （人形焼） is very popular in Tokyo Asakusa where you can watch them being baked. This is one of my favorite Japanese sweets and a very good omiyage gift. Ningyo is the Japanese word for doll, so the name of this sweet reads "baked dolls". Ningo-yaki are small cakes baked in small m…(192 words)
David
Asakusa Ningyo-yaki Wagashi Sweets Nakamise-dori Souvenir Tera (Temple) Cake Senso-ji Temple Tokyo
Ride The Tokyo Metro Like A Boss With These Apps
To people new to Japan, the Tokyo subway system, stylishly called "Tokyo Metro" is a confusing labyrinth of lines going every which way. Orderly thought and planning, it would appear, seem to be the main ingredients neglected when designing the subway subway system.Once you live here a bit, you …(375 words)
jdlawrence
Tokyo Metro Subway Internet Play Spaghetti Shibuya Train station Smartphone Apps
Difference of IKEBANA and Western floral arrangement?
When I traveled foreign countries, I found some different customs, cultures, and ideas. It is all new to me and leads me more eager to know its deep culture. I will be frequently asked the difference between IKEBANA and western floral arrangement. Here is my works above the pictures.(Lef…(275 words)
Ami
IKEBANA History Flower Nature Japanese Culture Art
Do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice!
Do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice. This is considered as a very bad manner and it makes people cringe. Because it’s the way a bowl of rice is offered to a dead person, at their deathbed or in front of their photograph on the household Buddhist altar. Also, do not spear your foo…(107 words)
EmiOnishi
Etiquette Chopstick
Massage and Japan
Massage therapy is omnipresent everywhere in big cities: Temomin, Global Sports, Raffine, Queensway... and many others.For a very reasonable amount of time you can reload up, without killing your travel budget. Going to a massage therapy place is a real treat to yourself. Your menu goes l…(340 words)
Claire
Massage
You can show your gratitude for the long-lasting favorable relationship!
When you write a Japanese business email to your customer (client), the sentence often begin with a greeting phrase "Itsumo osewani natte orimasu," meaning that "I am grateful of your kind service, always." And the same phrase can be used when you receive a phone call from Japanese client. The …(162 words)
KenjiTee
Greeting Phrase
SUKEROKU
When I don't have a clear idea of what type of food (bento) to buy, I always choose SUKEROKU bento.It is simple bento, kind of Sushi without raw fish.As you see the picture, two kinds of sushi are in.One is NORIMAKI, rolled by seaweed, inside : Kanpyo, brown color, cooked vegetable, boi…(137 words)
Moo Moo
Bento (box meal) Convenience store Sushi Food Play
Buying Protein and Sports Supplements in Japan
To maintain muscle mass and optimal athletic performance, it’s important to adhere to a strict training and diet regimen. That’s why it’s essential that gym-goers and athletes always be able to access the supplements that they need. Unfortunately, buying protein and sports supplements in Japan hasn…(481 words)
Alexandrine
Japan Sport
Tatami smells good !!!
Tatami is a very traditional floor mat, which is a symbolic item indispensable for a Japanese style room; so called "Wa-shitsu", and is also considered as an official cultural gadget necessarily used in such Japanese architectures as temples, and tea rooms besides "Wa-shitsu". For example, when yo…(606 words)
Masa
Tatami Etiquette Kanto Kyoto Okinawa Tea Tera (Temple)
1920's Japanese life style house
I visited a museum near where I live....retaining the old lifestyle from 1920s. http://www.showanokurashi.com/Even for me who was born and grew up in Japan, it was quite interesting....when I visited there, a volunteer interpreter who knows the people lived there, was willing to share his …(307 words)
Zara
style Japanese Tokyo Building Japan Summer Museum Dinner Traditional Dining
Kintsuba - Japanese Sweets in Asakusa
Kintsuba きんつば is one of the Japanese sweets that I like because you can watch them being made. This photo is from a small shop in Asakusa located in the Nakamise-dori shopping street at Senso-ji temple. You can try the Kintsuba fresh, still warm. Kintsuba are made from sweet bean paste. The…(255 words)
David
Kintsuba Asakusa Wagashi Sweets Senso-ji Temple Nakamise-dori Japanese style shopping arcade Souvenir Kappabashi
Bringing Your Meds To Japan? Study The Laws A Little.
For a long time, the ubiquitous sinus medicine Vicks Inhaler was the butt of jokes among resident foreigners in Japan. Signs used to grace airport terminals with the familiar cream-and-green device with a big red "X" imposed over it. The reason, though was rational. Over-the-counter Inhalers so…(1300 words)
jdlawrence
Prescription Drugs Medications English Japan Medicine Cosmetics Guide health Airport
Enjoy Japanese Chu-hi drink !
You will see an overwhelming numbers of Chu-hi cans lined up in a rowbesides beer and wine in every convenience stores. Chu-hi is aJapanese-shochu-based cocktail, which has now become a widely acceptedbeverage nationwide in Japan with a variety of offerings such as localfruits flavors.A…(332 words)
fujimorison
Drink Chu-hi Izakaya Fruits Shochu Convenience store Beer Wine
My seven-tiered Hina doll set
The photo shows my seven-tiered Hina doll set. My grandpa bought the set for me when I was a baby. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形 hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the He…(274 words)
EmiOnishi
tradition custom Dolls Hinamatsuri Event
The Top 8 Places to Beat Summer Heat in Japan
Where do Japanese love to visit to avoid summer heat in Japan? I searched the top 8 summer resorts loved by Japanese including Furano in Hokkaido, Okinawa, Karuizawa and Hakone, which are famous among foreigners, but also some hidden places like Okutama, Kamikochi and Nasushiobara that you may not …(757 words)
Alexlovetravel
Japan Summer Visit Tokyo Train Park Hotel Art Spring Japanese
The interesting relationship between Japanese culture and sweet, delicious strawberries
Strawberries are one of the many fruits produced all over the world. Strawberries are also produced in Japan, and Japanese strawberries tend to be very sweet and it is possible to eat them raw. One small bite of these strawberries will lead to an expansion of sweetness in your mouth.Generally s…(324 words)
DeepJapan Editor
Japanese Japanese Culture Culture Japan Spring Nature Eat Christmas Fruits
Need Aspirin in Japan
Bufarin is a type of aspirin that works very well as a pain killer. It wil help you with a headache, fever, or any pain in general. It is one of the most popular medicines and is available at any pharmacy. Just ask for Ba fa rin. The pharmacist should be able to understand. In comparison to in th…(124 words)
GenS
Medicine Japan Pharmacy
Salt is Sacred in Japan; You will see it often
Have you noticed a little mound of salt at the entrance of a restaurant during your visits to Japan?Salt was always a very important part of the Japanese diet and the ancient salt fields you see across Japan will attest to its importance in keeping Japanese people strong and healthy. Salt from …(277 words)
Salt
Restaurant
Asakusa
Business
Funeral
Yakimono: Japanese Pottery and Porcelain
Japanese pottery and porcelain, often referred to as 'Yakimono', is as beautiful as it is useful. It's also one of the world's oldest art forms dating back to the Neolithic period."Yakimono means fired thing. It's an important term that encompasses the entire ceramic culture of Japan," states t…(254 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Gallery Pottery Yakimono Kyoto Art Japanese pottery and porcelain Porcelain
Figuring out the Green Car in Japan: JR Train Business Class Seats
JR Green Car is my favorite way to travel. After living here almost 27 years I still almost start to cry when I see the Green Car (premium seat car) slide past and go way down to the other side of the platform when I thought I was standing in the right place to meet it right when it arrives... Even…(825 words)
Green Car JR Trains
JR Train Etiquette and Tips
Japan Travel
Railway platform
Extended distance travel Japan
Etiquette
LOOK application makes you to understand Japanese product by your native language
▼ Download “LOOK”https://look-goods.com/en“LOOK” is an application that allows foreign tourists in Japan to understand information about Japanese products in their own native language, and share the information with friends and family back in their home country. It aims to clear up the awkwar…(293 words)
R2C8
Japan Shopping application Japanese English Traditional used new buy
SAKE 101: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SAKE
A trip to Japan would not be complete without a little sake tasting! But unless you are an avid sake drinker, it can be hard to know where to begin.To help you navigate the world of sake, we’ve done plenty of research in Japan: from consulting with sake connoisseurs, to sake tastings and sampli…(1032 words)
Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan
Sake (Rice wine) Restaurant Drink Visit Japan Travel Tokyo Kyoto Izakaya
Another Way of Doing a Toast: "Otsukare (-sama)"
As everyone knows and some other senpais comment, it's usually the case with a toast that we say "Kanpai" ( as you say "cheers") before we begin to drink at a party. But we have another way of doing a toast.In a casual setting where we go out for a drink after work before going home, we someti…(297 words)
maxnino
Toast Drink Greeting Phrase
Kaminari-okoshi: Asakusa Thunder Crackers
Kaminari-okoshi （雷おこし） are traditional Japanese sweets. Crispy rice is mixed with sugar and syrup, pressed down into a flat shape and cut into squares. Often there are some peanuts mixed into it, but there are also many other flavors such as macha green tea and sesame. The added ingredients giv…(286 words)
David
Asakusa Senso-ji Temple Wagashi Sweets Souvenir Tera (Temple) Nakamise-dori Tokyo
Love Stones at Jishu Shrine in Kyoto
Jishu Shrine is located near (or I would say within) Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple. Dedicated to the deity of love and matchmaking, the love shrine is always crowded with many couples and especially young girls praying for luck in love. There are two love stones in front of the shrine, placed 18m apa…(223 words)
EmiOnishi
Kyoto Jinjya (Shrine) Tera (Temple) Park Visit Amusement park
Azalea: Tsutsuji - Spring Flowers in Japan
Sakura is famous in the spring, but after the cherry blossom time in Japan another flower takes over. In April azaleas colour Tokyo with their bright flowers.When I read Chiara's post "Local Secret: YaNeSen" here I realised that she was describing places that I had just visited. "The stroll fro…(195 words)
David
Spring Flower Park Garden Jinjya (Shrine) April Tokyo Nezu Walk May
A Pepper By Any Other Name Would Taste As Sweet
Someone asked me a question recently; one, that if you’ve lived in Japan long enough, have surely asked yourself: “Why do the Japanese call green bell peppers ‘piman’ and the red and yellow and orange ones ‘papurika’？”For me, answer the question was confusing on a few levels, seeing as how I, h…(381 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Japan Food History Cuisine Dinner Children Kids Entertainment Meiji
Hanami at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
The Japanese garden at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo is one of the best places to see all kinds of Japanese flowers throughout the year. Of course, it is also an excellent place to see sakura - cherry blossoms.The first picture is from the Ninomaru Japanese garden. You can always visit this beau…(308 words)
David
Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Imperial Palace Cherry blossom Walk Japan Spring
Tokyo's Yamanote Line: More Than You Ever Wanted To Know
Cruise through the pages of Deep Japan, and you'll find tons of advice on how to ride the trains and get to where you're going. But, did you ever stop to think about *how* and *why* the train system in Japan became like it is? There are way too many train lines to count, and each line has its o…(968 words)
jdlawrence
Tokyo Train Japan History Shibuya Shinjuku Ueno
Top 5 Awesome Things About Akihabara
Ah Akihabara, a very unique spot of Tokyo, Japan. Many people flock to this flashy decorated part of the metropolis each for their own special reasons. An uninformed one may be intimidated by the strange sight of Akihabara, or Akiba as it's known to familiars. What makes this area of Tokyo so speci…(1402 words)
Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo
Akihabara Game Anime Tokyo Shopping Visit History Maid Cafe Arcade
Funniest Japanese Show in Japan: Itte-Q
If you're interested in japanese TV, Itte-Q is the show to watch. Even if you don't understand Japanese, the show should be entertaining. Its on Channel 4 from 8pm every sunday. On the show, they do different things every time but the basic concept is that the comedians and celebrities on the show …(135 words)
GenS
Television Japan Amusement park Visit Food Eat activities