
"Little Forest" Shows you the Japan Heartland
Thats right! I am not 12 years old. I actually have lived half a century as of this year.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_CUp9suEeoMaybe that is exactly why I love Pixar films that show the funny side of nature and also carry a deeper meaning.I am a huge movie fan and I try to see a fi…(659 words)


Hadaka Matsuri, a.k.a "The Naked Man Festival"
On the third Saturday night in February, the annual Hadaka Matsuri is held at the Saidaiji Kannon-in temple in Okayama Prefecture. This year's festival will be held on February 21st, 2015.Originating in 1510, this historic festival is also one of Japan's largest Naked Man festivals. In fact, na…(349 words)

Andrea Miyata
Tera (Temple) Okayama Event festival Japanese festivals Train City Walk Lucky running
I opened a craft beer bar in Tokyo
I recently opened a new craft beer bar in Tokyo and I thought an article re the process of this would be interesting. After the forced closing of my previous beer bar in Aoyama (the building was being demolished to make way for a redevelopment) I was in a situation where I had to relocate the b…(1288 words)

Adstev73
Tokyo Beer Food Visit City Japan Summer Drink Building
Dockyard Garden A stone-built dock constructed at the same time as the Port of Yokohama
Yokohama Landmark Tower came into existence as the new symbol of Yokohama. At the foot of the tower is the Dockyard Garden. This is a reconstruction of the “No. 2 Dock of the Former Yokohama Dock Company”, the oldest stone-built commercial dock in Japan, and has been recognized as a nationally desi…(768 words)

Kanagawa P.G.T.D.
Yokohama Japan Garden Visit City Park Building History Music Sea
Spectacles of Saitama: 4 Spots to Feel Saitama's Culture and Nature
Located directly northwest of Tokyo, Saitama is often confused with simply being a part of Tokyo, but it’s a city of its own, offering all sorts of exciting locations, attractions and activities. Today we’d love to share a few of those places with you! First, we’ll take you downtown to the largest …(936 words)

DeepJapan Editor
Nature Saitama Culture Tokyo Japan Visit City Food English History
The Saga of the 50cc license (2007)
I've been struggling to get a 50cc motorbike license since May. You would think it would be easy but the thing is that I was determined to take the test in Japanese like all the other Japanese people in this country. After I went to day school for the certificate showing that I had taken a 50cc dri…(512 words)

Kenji
Saga City Bus English May Stay School Rain speakers
Food Delivery Systems of Japan
With the engaged city life that many may find while living here in Japan, city problems are to arise. One of these problems that may occur may well be food; how to get it, pre-cooked and prepared, organic, gluten-free, and so on. Although the concept of food delivery is nothing novel, in Tokyo, the…(446 words)

Alex
Food Tokyo Delivery City Restaurant Ramen noodles Bento (box meal) Eat Sushi
"Jibie" Cuisine in Okayama
A trend utilizing wild game, specifically wild boar meat, is sweeping Okayama Prefecture. Known as "jibie" (ジビエ)in Japanese, the word is derived from the French "gibier" and simply means "wild game".Although I am generally very adventurous when it comes to trying new food, I have never rea…(280 words)

Andrea Miyata
Food Cuisine Okayama Visit City Restaurant Hotel Tea Coffee
Street Photography in Japan
Almost everyone enjoys taking photographs. In Japan, I would venture to say that EVERYONE enjoys taking photographs! Whether it be the camera embedded in modern smartphones or high end digital SLRs, cameras have become an integral part of our lives. And so has photography. My dad was an avid photog…(1485 words)

Ani
Photography Camera City Film Technology Tokyo Train Asakusa Walk view
Where History Meets Art in One Tokyo Landmark
There's no shortage of art galleries in Japan, but in upscale old-school Ginza, there's one that goes back, waaaaaaaaay back.The Okuno Building, built in 1932, was originally constructed to serve as a luxury apartment complex. It has miraculously survived the bombings of World War II, as well a…(449 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Tokyo Building Ginza Gallery Visit City Shopping Art Beer Japan
Harmony with Nature at Yokohama's Acclaimed Zoo
Zoorasia is one of Japan's newest, largest and best maintained zoos. Zoorasia was established in 1999, and has since been operating under the themes of "Symbiosis of Life" and "Harmony with Nature". The animals, which number some 400 animals and 68 different species, are generally kept in spacious …(261 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Zoo Visit Tokyo Japan City Restaurant Park Summer Museum
'SKIP Ferret & Cafe' in Okayama
When I recently heard that Okayama City now has a ferret cafe, I knew I had to go. Although I'm not especially "into" ferrets, I enjoy interacting with animals of all kinds, so news of this cafe caught my attention.Apparently there are only a few ferret cafes in the country; I found online refe…(486 words)

Andrea Miyata
Okayama Lunch Animal Cafe Cafe Tokyo Visit City Drink Shop
Kawasaki St Clare's Church
7:30 PM Dec 24 the Christmas eve service.The church is location near to Chin Kawabashi hospital about 15 minutes by walk from the Kawasaki JR station 20 minutes from Kawasaki Keikyu station.Location: http://4sq.com/uilyuaKaizuka Kyoukai 〒210-0014 Kawasaki City Kawasakiku Kaizuka 1-8-9 r…(52 words)

idivilayil
Tokyo City Hospital Christmas
Why Are All the Dogs I See in Japan So Small?
“That looks like a Rat!” exclaimed my English friend when he saw my tiny Kaninchen Dachshund named Cloudy skirting, bouncing and happily flitting around his legs one day in the park.At over six feet tall, I don't think he could really see clearly what critter was attached to the end of the leas…(982 words)


Quick and easy things to do in Yokohama #2
In 1858, Yokohama became the first Japanese port to open its doors to international trade. In time, it became the industrial bosom of Japan. Then, in the 1960s, the city decided to transform itself - yet again - from an industrial center to an international hub to rival Tokyo. The Yokohama Landmark…(287 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Treasures Yokohama Quick and easy things to do Landmark Tower City Japan Park Hotel English
Discovering Yokohama by Bike
I make no secret about my love and pride for Yokohama. It is beautiful and unique on numerous levels; the city and its people are in a category unto themselves. With a plethora of things to do for every kind of person – from the old-school neighborhoods of Noge and Yoshidamachi to the state-of-the-…(248 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Transportation Bicycle Train City Hotel Art Train station Kamakura Yoshidamachi
Have you Heard of Hayama Gyu Japanese Beef?
Just a few days ago, I had an opportunity to visit one of the best “Wagyu Cattle Ranches” in Japan, which is located in the city of Hayama, less than 2 hours train/ bus ride from Tokyo. The ranch is surrounded by serene nature, it lies among a combination of bamboo, cedar forest, a stream and many …(739 words)

AustinA
Japanese Beef Tokyo Japan City Restaurant Food Hayama Japanese Wagyu Beef
Samurai Spirit in Fukushima
I always wanted to explore Fukushima so I headed north from Tokyo station for a short ride on the Tohoku Shinkansen Toward Koriyama station. It's only about an hour and half. and is a great way to enjoy a half day trip for a little history and an overnight stay at a nice onsen without exhausting yo…(608 words)

DeepJapan
Samurai Fukushima Japan Visit City Food Trip History Japanese Matome
Kinuta Park as one of the best hanami park in Tokyo
My recommendation is Kinuta Park in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo. You can visit there by bus from Futako Tamagawa station of Tokyu Den'en Toshi Line or Yoga Station of Tokyu Den'en Toshi Line, or Seijyo Gakuen Mae station of Odakyu Line. It is very big park with much of greenery atomsphere. The best season …(125 words)

kurukurugurume
Tokyo Park Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) City Bus Cherry blossom Beauty Cherry Tama River
Chigasaki Beach for your Japan Travel
Have you ever been to a city call “Chigasaki”? It is located central Kanagawa Prefecture between Fujisawa and Hiratsuka city with population of little over 236,000 people and a population density of 6,610 person per square kilometer.I had an opportunity to visit the Chigasaki city taking JR Tok…(301 words)

AustinA
Japan Travel Travel Tokyo City Yokohama Visit Drink Kamakura Kanagawa Chigasaki
Japanese sweets : “Yatsuhashi”
When you visit one of Japanese historic city, Kyoto, I would like to recommend its famous sweets “Yatsuhashi” for souvenir. It’s hard baked cracker having a cinnamon flavor. The name comes from Kengyo Yatsuhashi, a good “koto”(a long Japanese zither) player. Therefore Yatsuhashi cracker looks like …(57 words)

OKAKI-sun
Sweets City Visit Kyoto Souvenir
Maizuru - The Dancing Crane
Along with Kure, Sasebo and Yokosuka, Maizuru is one of the four most important port towns in Japan, located in the northern part of Kyoto prefecture, which is about an hour and a half train ride from JR Kyoto station. Its name consists of two kanji 舞鶴, which literally translated mean “Dancing Cr…(1000 words)

DeepJapan Editor
History Japan Visit Train City Park English Japanese Kyoto
The Largest Whirlpools in the world – Naruto Whirlpools
The Naruto whirlpools (鳴門の渦潮 Naruto no Uzushio) are tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, which is one of the largest in the world. I have visited the Naruto Strait many times and it’s been always very exciting experience. I would recommend this unique site as a must see for visitors. The spe…(214 words)

OKAKI-sun
City Japan Spring Sea view Osaka Shikoku Kobe Tokushima
Let's Go Swimming in Yokohama!
In my last post, I talked about swimming at Yokohama's International Swimming Pool: http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4437But, of course, there are plenty of other pools in Yokohama where you can go to beat the heat of summer. In fact, here's a link to a list of major indoor pools: http://www.city.yok…(83 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Swimming City Summer Pool International Entertainment
Create the most unforgettable memories: Try aromatic unagi and experience wearing kimono in Narita!
Wearing "kimono" (Japanese traditional dress) or "yukata" (casual summer kimono) is definitely a must-do in Japan! Recently, I had a chance to have a half-day kimono experience in Narita City, so I’d like to share my experience with you.Get off from JR or Keisei Line Narita Station and walk for…(508 words)

CHIBA-KUN
Kimono Eel Japan City Park Summer Trip History Japanese Chiba
Analogue Photography Darkroom and Photo Gallery in Yokohama
The Dark Room International was created in 1999 to be Japan's first public rental darkroom. It is located in Yokohama's famous Noge district, an old-school area near JR's Sakuragicho Station.The brainchild of Hisao Saito, a professional commercial photographer who is well-known in Yokohama for …(197 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Gallery Photography Visit Japan City Art Event Flower Exhibition
Miroku-no-sato: Hiroshima's Futuristic Budda Village Amusement Park
If you are living or visiting the Hiroshima area with your family, or have an interest in old-style Japanese amusement parks, head over to Fukuyama city and Hiroshima's only amusement park, Miroku-no-sato. The name can be translated as "Futuristic Buddha’s Village" which seems like a rather unusual…(968 words)

jjwalsh
Family-fun Amusement park Hiroshima Train Visit Japan City Food Summer English
Airplane of the museum is located in Tokorozawa-Kokukoen.
Do you like airplanes?In Japan, there is a airplane museum.The museum is called the "Kōkū-hakubutsukan".http://tam-web.jsf.or.jp/contxe/The museum is located in the park to enjoy a walk or jogging.Take the train of Kawagoe bound in the Seibu-Shinjuku Line Station, and get off …(207 words)

asteka
Japanese Park Museum Lunch buy Japan Train City Shinjuku Shop
Visit the amazing Kururi-jo Castle and explore the history at Kururi-Joshi Museum!
Personally, I love the way visiting different castles in Japan brings centuries-old history to life. Recently I visited “Kururi-jo Castle”, located in Kimitsu City of Chiba Prefecture. If you're a fan of Japanese castles too, I'd certainly recommend taking a visit there, especially if you enjoy tri…(563 words)

CHIBA-KUN
Visit History Museum Japan City Walk view Chiba Mountain Samurai
Top 10 things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Summer
If you're visiting western Japan in the summer, you should try some of these specialties of Okayama prefecture. Here are my top 10 things to do / try in Okayama (Summer version), in no particular order:1. Enjoy a lazy afternoon on a golden sand beach. There are loads of beaches in the sout…(885 words)

Andrea Miyata
Summer Okayama Visit Park City Trip Art
Yokohama Hanami Hotspots
It's that time of year again, when we look forward to warmer weather and the rebirth of spring. In Japan, that also means the brief return of "sakura" (cherry blossoms) and "hanami" (flower viewing). All across the country, cherry trees will explode in whites and light-and-dark pinks, inviting peop…(227 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) City Visit Park Spring Cherry blossom Sport Flower Beauty
There is a food called "COPPE-PAN-SANDO"
There is a food called "COPPE-PAN-SANDO=コッペパンサンド".It is similar to a hot dog, but the Japanese do not think it's the same.Hot dog came from the United States."COPPE-PAN-SANDO=コッペパンサンド" It is inspired from the hot dog.Food that is sandwiched between the hot dog bun has al…(78 words)

asteka
Food Japanese Guide Japan City Cuisine Japanese cuisine Cheap Tokyo
Kumamoto Castle
Kumamoto Castle is located in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture. The castle was built originally in 1467.I have visited many castles in Japan and this is my favorite. The curved stone walls are known as musha-gaeshi, which were built with wooden overhangs. These were purpose built to fortif…(109 words)

Kevin
Castle Kumamoto Kumamoto Castle City Children Himeji Castle Matsumoto Castle
Yoga Studio in the middle of Sakae
With a hard day of work and constantly checking our phones. It's easy to lower our priority in having time for ourself.When these short times maybe the important ones.One of the limited moments that I'm making time for my self is when I am sitting on my surfboard waiting for a wave.The …(361 words)

Yuuki I
Park City English view Nagoya July Work Surfing
“Promotion Daimyo Character” Ieyasu Kun Rallies for your Success in Hamamatsu City, Japan
Festooned with Symbols of Success for Japan “Ieyasu Kun” will make you smile and help you feel you can do anything you set your mind to.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlwK79Rl3ioHis “Chon Mage” hair fashion says it all! Look closely at Ieyasu Kun’s head and you will see it is not a black ha…(566 words)


Today I am in Sakuragicho, Yokohama
I often write about Yokohama. It's difficult for me not to. I live here. I work here. And during my time as Creative Director for the Yokohama Seasider Magazine, it was my job (and passion) to learn and discover - and then write about - as much as I could about Yokohama.I love this city and am …(364 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Visit City Japan Park Shopping Museum Walk Ramen noodles
Bringing Japanese Tabi to the World
Japanese people typically wear tabi when they dress up in Japanese clothes, such as kimono.These resemble socks apart from the fact that the big toe is separated out from the other toes. These days most people wear western clothes and few Japanese wear tabi on a daily basis.Musashino Uniform Co…(346 words)

HiraganaTimes
Japanese Japan City English Business style Kimono Japanese Culture Saitama design
Dances with Demons
One doesn't have to look far to see how pervasive dance is in Japan. Nearly every pop group has an intricate dance routine to accompany their performances. There are studios which teach everything from belly dance to hula to salsa, and festivals, particularly in summer, feature popular folk dances …(525 words)

GoodPeople
Japan History Kyoto Music dance tradition Iwate Tokyo City
Hell of gatekeeper, "Enma the Great" Legend of Japan.
There is a big baseball stadium in Tokyo.It is called the "BIG EGG", it has been popular.Because very visible to a large egg.The town side of the big egg,Hell of gatekeeper, "Enma the Great" There are in the shrine."Enma the Great" is God.It is God, dead people meet for the first…(157 words)

asteka
Japan Tokyo Jinjya (Shrine) City Etiquette Japanese Shop Guide Baseball
Japan's Hidden Onsen
Japan’s Hidden Hot SpringsYokoso! Welcome!Japan is a country consisting of 4 main islands; Honshu (main Island), to the North is Hokkaido (Northern Sea Island), Shikoku (Fourth Country) and Kyushu (Nine Provinces). There are hundreds of smaller islands that lie in Japan’s territories. T…(542 words)

scramjetmach9
Japan Onsen Tokyo Visit Train City Summer English Spring Beer