Hanami Dango (Three-color dumpling)
Sanshoku Dango (dango of three colors)is a skewered dango formed of one pink dumpling, one non-colored white dumpling and one green dumpling. Each color has a meaning : cherry blossom in spring, snow in winter and grass in summer. Wagashi (Japanese sweets) is one of the wonderful Japanese culture d…(67 words)
OKAKI-sun
Bento (box meal) Summer Spring Winter Cherry blossom Cherry Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Snow Sweets Dango (Sweet dumplings)
Winter Fruit: Strawberries!
Best Winter Fruit: Strawberries!The strawberries that are grown in Japan are different varieties than those grown in my home country (U.S.A) and are super large and super sweet! Whereas American strawberries are grown in fields, Japanese strawberries are grown in elevated beds in vinyl greenhou…(221 words)
Andrea Miyata
Winter Tokyo Fruits Strawberry Okayama
Shopping Seasonal Japan - Limited Edition Products
“Spring passes and one remembers one's innocence.Summer passes and one remembers one's exuberance.Autumn passes and one remembers one's reverence.Winter passes and one remembers one's perseverance.” ― Yoko OnoOne of the many things I love about Japan is its distinctive four seasons. You…(259 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Japan Seasonal Souvenir Shopping Summer Spring Winter Nature Japanese Autumn
Setsubun - Ehomaki culture
"Setsubun" is the day before the beginning of Spring in Japan and it's on February 3rd every year. A long sushi roll is eaten on the night of Setsubun while facing toward the year's "lucky" direction. This custom originally started in the Kansai area. With your eyes closed, we wish for perfect …(184 words)
EmiOnishi
Setsubun Sushi ehomaki Convenience store Event Winter Kansai Eel
“Oshiruko” can make you hot from the core of your body!
“Oshiruko” is one of the most popular winter foods in winter. Oshiruko is a sweet red-bean soup with mochi or shira-tama (rice‐flour dumplings). It tastes very sweet and keeps you warm especially during cold season where people consume energy a lot. Some people enjoy putting “Arare” (very small ri…(58 words)
OKAKI-sun
Mochi (Rice cake) Oshiruko (Sweet red bean soup) Winter
Great traditional Japanese Winter Snack!! Yaki Mochi. もーやいちゃう
Here's a way to eat mochi that's been passed down generations. In the winter time many Japanese homes use a Stove to heat their rooms.Some keep a kettle on top to keep the room humid.These stoves can also be used to make Yaki Mochi.Get some aluminum foil and place it on top of the Stove…(99 words)
Yuuki I
Soy sauce Sea Mochi (Rice cake) Sugar Winter
2-Day Trip to Fujigoko (Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji) in winter 1/3
What do you think about visiting Mt. Fuji in winter and enjoy snow and Japanese high quality Omotenashi? Most people climb or visit Mt. Fuji during either spring or summer time. Unless you really love mountain climbing, many of you might want to have something extra besides Mt. Fuji viewing. For th…(1090 words)
ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP
Trip Winter day trip Visit Summer Spring view Mountain Stay Snow
The World's Largest Uniqlo Store in Japan
The world's largest Uniqlo (Japan's largest and most popular clothing brand) store opened recently in Ginza on the main shopping street. I happened to pass by the other day and could not stop myself from stepping in, stupefied by the sheer size. The store has 12 floors and sells pretty much every p…(196 words)
GenS
Uniqlo Shopping Japan Tokyo Ginza Winter Department store
Yuzuyu (bathing with Yuzu) in winter.
There are a lot of customs in Japan and many of them are associated with healthy life. One of the examples is the yuzu bath in winter, known commonly as yuzuyu. It is said to improve blood circulation, guard against colds, warm the body, and cure neuralgia and pain in the lower back. I hope you wil…(96 words)
OKAKI-sun
Winter Yuzu
Yokohama's "Akarenga Soko" Red Brick Warehouse
The "Akarenga Soko" Red Brick Warehouse is one of Yokohama's most popular destinations for both tourists and locals alike. It's a great place to enjoy a walk or small picnic, or just sit around and stare at the sea. Because of its large open spaces, Akarenga is often the site for events - so there'…(202 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse Park Summer Food Beer Souvenir Sea Winter Walk
Kusatsu Onsen: Rated No.1 of Japan’s 100 Best Hot Springs for 12 consecutive years !
Kusatsu Onsen in Gumma Prefecture is known as one of Japan's three best hot springs. By the way, Arima in Hyogo Prefecture and Gero in Gifu Prefecture are the other two locations. These three were originally described by a priest in the classical poetry anthologies of Shokoku-ji Temple in Murom…(530 words)
ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP
Onsen Kusatsu Onsen Park Tera (Temple) Visit Spring Winter Autumn
Tenkara Fishing – From Ancient Japan to A Popular Sport With 80 Outlets in the United States
On a summer hike with a family friend in Winter Park, Colorado, we meandered into a conversation about Japan, my home for 29 years. Wow, Japan! That is so great! Tenkara is one of my favorite fishing styles! I love it!” My Cousin’s best friend’s husband from Boulder Colorado lit up with excitement …(953 words)
Japan
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Quick and easy things to do in Yokohama #14
Summer time means trips to the beaches and swims in the ocean, but the Yokohama International Swimming Pool is open all year long. It's also one of the the biggest and most beautiful pool facilities in Japan, and is an internationally approved 50-meter swimming and diving pool. The Yokohama Int…(152 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Yokohama Quick and easy things to do Swimming Japan City Beaches Subway International Summer Winter
Thousands of lanterns being launched into the winter night sky is a fantastic spectacle
Various festivals and processions are held periodically in Japan to ask various deities to keep people free from disease and bodily harm. Sky lanterns are featured prominently in one of these festivals. Participants write their wishes on lanterns resembling small hot air balloons. These lanterns ar…(283 words)
DeepJapan Editor
Winter Japan Event festival Snow Scenery
Sake should drink hot or cold?
When you try sake, many people have image to have”Hot sake”(atsukan) butmost good sake should be enjoyed slightly chilled. Cheaper sake is served warm.Also If it’s cold winter, you would like to have hot sake to get warm.There are grade of sake. It’s call Daiginjo is the highest quality (ve…(108 words)
yukorose
Drink Kyoto Sake (Rice wine) Wine Hiroshima Niigata Winter
Fujiya Hotel: A Resort Hotel in Hakone, a Hot Spring Resort Outside Tokyo.
Have you ever seen that snowed in beautiful period piece hotel in the film "The Shining", where in the Winter months Jack Nicolson and his family are the lone caretakers of the hotel? Now can you imagine an hotel even more classic and beautiful, during the Spring and Summertime months, with no Nico…(517 words)
Andrew Grimes
Tokyo Hotel Spring Summer Cherry blossom Winter Cherry Film Hakone
Japan Train Station “Tachigui Sobaya” (Soba Restaurant)
As you may know, one of the most used modes of transportation in japan is the train. In the midst of your travel, I am fairly confident that you’ve come across a small “Soba” (noodle) shop within the train station. The first thought I had in my mind was how traditional this establishment is for…(552 words)
AustinA
Train Restaurant Train station Tokyo Summer Drink Ticket Kyoto Winter Food
The Silk Museum A specialized silk museum that is out of the ordinary
The port of Yokohama has developed dramatically together with raw silk, and at the same time the silk thread industry has supported the Japanese economy. The Silk Museum was established in 1959 as part of the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama. Current…(734 words)
Kanagawa P.G.T.D.
Museum Yokohama History Winter Kimono Traditional Building Event English
To avoid spreading germs and to protect from seasonal pollen
In Japan a surgical mask is generally used when people get sick. It is common to see many people wearing such a mask during winter. In Japan, people are sensitive about coughing in trains or in areas with a high number of people. So those who wear masks don't want to spread their germs and don't wa…(125 words)
yukiroryo
Convenience store Surgical mask Spring Autumn Winter
Making Mochi by Hand for New Years
My family always makes handmade mochi at the end of the year. It turns in to party that starts at about 6:00am when we start to steam the mochi-rice. My father-in-law always hands me a beer and all the men stand outside waiting for the rice to be ready for a pounding. My wife and mother-in-law wise…(383 words)
Jeff Aasgaard
Mochi (Rice cake) New year Event Beer Udon noodles Winter
Railway rules - “Mutual Cooperation Culture” in Japanese commuter trains
Rush hours are extreme in Tokyo as well as Japan's other major cities. In order to make this brutal moment of every day less stressful, both commuters and train companies are making invisible efforts.During the morning rush hours, people will get in line and stand in a queue. They will get on train…(449 words)
yumin
Train Subway Rush hour Tokyo Ticket Winter English Japanese Culture Railway platform Vending Machines
Japan Bible Home - Perfect Getaway place from Tokyo!
Most people know Minakami for skiing in winter, water sports in summer and bungee-jumping. It is a good place to make a one day trip from Tokyo and you can find a lot of economical ski lots and eating places. However, in summer this year I visited this place tucked away in the mountains and I w…(460 words)
Biju Paul
Tokyo Summer Trip Winter Sport River Nature Play Beauty Dinner
Tokyo Skytree Winter Illumination & Events
Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Solamachi are illuminated beautifully in the winter. Tall Skytree itself shines every evening of the year in changing colors and now the big Solamachi shopping mall at its base is also sparkling with lights and decorations.I took a walk around Solamachi to see the Tokyo …(450 words)
David
Tokyo Skytree illumination Winter Projection Mapping Christmas Souvenir
I opened a wine bar in Tokyo
I recently opened a wine bar in the Omotesando area of Tokyo, a very stylish area of the city. I'd like to post a brief outline of the process I went through in establishing the bar below. The property I sourced the property through a friend. It is a two storey building, built in the late…(833 words)
Adstev73
Tokyo Wine Business City Drink Food Building Beer Winter view
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)
Tokyo
Enoshima Island
Japan
Shinjuku
Swimming
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Much Mochi
Mochi - rice cakes - can be eaten anytime of the year, but many people like to enjoy toasted mochi during the colder months. Wrap a strip of nori (pressed seaweed) around the mochi, bruch a bit of soy sauce on it, and pop it in the over toaster (do NOT use a western style toaster - you'll ruin it)…(339 words)
Joe Peters
Mochi (Rice cake) Soy sauce Toast Umeboshi New year Winter
Yaikagashi (burn and smell) at Setsubun
On Setsubun day (February 3rd), there is a culture to make "Yaikagashi" (a holly sprig with a baked sardine's head). Japanese people have a time-honored custom of putting this "Yaikagashi"at their door on Setsubun (the traditional end of winter) to ward off evil spirits. They may look a little bit …(73 words)
OKAKI-sun
Winter Setsubun
Ginza Ogura at Haneda Airport
Haneda’s international terminal has an impressive selection of good restaurants in a nicely designed area called the Edo Market Place, although they are all relatively expensive. Once you check in your luggage, you will have free time to wonder and have a meal before boarding the plane. You may…(233 words)
EmiOnishi
Airport Haneda Airport Food Tokyo Convenience store Winter Soy sauce Tempura Oden
Blue Cave Nakameguro the newest spot for winter Illuminations
Winter means many things to many people and this vibrant holiday season is full of different traditions from all parts of the globe. In modern Japan- the winter holidays leading up to Christmas time involve the sparkling and over-the-top tradition of Illuminations. From across Japan cities add …(393 words)
LShannon
Winter Nakameguro Iluminations Holidays cave Tokyo City Shopping Event
Enoshima - "Jewel of Shonan" Festival
Enoshima Island has been lit up for the "Jewel of Shonan" Festival, with delightful night time illuminations at various locations, including the Sea Candle Lighthouse, Samuel Cocking Garden, some of the local cafes and restaurants. It is chosen as one of the three major illumination spots in the Ka…(263 words)
EmiOnishi
Enoshima Island festival Shonan Visit Spring Sea Winter Walk Mount Fuji view
2-Day Trip to Fujigoko (Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji) in winter 2/3
This festival also offers not only ice trees but also Japanese traditional performance such as “Wadaiko” (Japanese drums) and lively “Yosaki” modern dancing performance. Also you can experience “Mochi-tsuki“(pounding boiled rice into mochi). So, it is a great festival where you can experience sever…(685 words)
ZEROIN -INTERNSHIP
Trip Winter day trip Tokyo Restaurant City Visit Park Summer Hotel
Interesting Japan: Washlets, things that make you go hmmm!?
I was inspired to write this quick post when I learned that the other day (November 19) was United Nations World Toilet Day.http://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-34867488After looking at the pictures in the BBC article, I reflected on how fortunate we are in Japan because of our washlets. For…(272 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Interesting Japan Japan Washlet Japanese Winter Toilet Mobile Stalls
Driving to Kusatsu
It’s sometimes easy to forget that Japan, with all its grinding work hours, high tech wizardry and futuristic architecture, can also offer spectacular vistas and natural phenomena. To witness this transformation when urban, turns to suburban and then downright country, we drove from the sea in Shon…(291 words)
Alana
driving Japan Winter Hotel Sea Onsen Work Snow architecture new
Takatsue Winter Wonderland One-night Onsen Trip
I wanted a quick overnight getaway from Tokyo to experience some nature instead of heading to crowded tourist areas. Takatsue Ski resort in Fukushima is relatively close to Tokyo, only about 170 minutes Tohoku Shinkansen, and is not just for skiing. All four seasons offer many seasonal activities l…(812 words)
DeepJapan Editor
Trip Onsen Winter Tokyo Japan Visit Train City Hotel English
Ewww - it's seaweed?!!!
You might think it's yukky, but seaweed is really fantastic! Not only is it healthy, but it is tasty, too. There are so many different kinds of seaweed that Japanese eat and many different ways of eating it, too. Think of seaweeds as sea vegetables, and you get a better idea of the yummy variety…(192 words)
mikekato
Sushi Sea Miso Miso soup Winter
Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa City Just outside Tokyo is a lovely place to Play in Japan!
Try the Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa City, it takes approximately 40mins by the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku station to Tachikawa station. The 163 hectares park has seasonal flowering plants all year round, it also has great cycling and jogging track as well as BBQ facilities. Be sure to visit its C…(88 words)
cwljwc
Autumn City Park Shinjuku Spring Summer Tokyo Winter
New Year's like a true local
If you want to have a relaxing winter, I recommend staying at a ryokan with a “kotatsu.” Kotatsu are tables with a futon and a heater that keep your feet (and therefore your body) warm during the cold winter months. Families often stay under this and eat mikan (a type of tangerine sold during the w…(108 words)
RieS
New year Music Japanese inn Rice cracker Futon Mandarin orange Winter
Make Mochi! A Fun New Years Family Event in Japan
In my opinion, there is nothing better to do in Japan during winter than participate in "mochi-tsuki" and eat fresh and delicious mochi. Mochi-tsuki is a Japanese New Year's tradition and events will be held around the first of January. Usually "Mochi-tsuki" is hosted by the neighbourhood communit…(123 words)
GenS
Mochi (Rice cake) Japan Event Jinjya (Shrine) Japanese New Year New year Winter Art
To warm your body...
During the winter, I like to warm my body up with a hot nabe, which is a big pot filled with vegetables, meat and fish. As a person who eats little meat, I love cooking a mountain of vegetables in the soup stock. The vegetables that I always put in are daikon, nagaimo (type of yam), shiitake mushro…(92 words)
RieS
Mountain Tofu (Soy bean curd) Hot pot dish Winter
Mochi - different experiences with different flavors
My favorite O-kashi are mochi (Japanese rice cakes) of all different shapes and flavors. These are so fun to eat, because the selection of mochi change depending on the season. During the spring, there is sakuramochi (pink rice cakes with anko inside and a sakura leaf wrapped around the mochi); dur…(140 words)
RieS
Mochi (Rice cake) Cherry blossom Strawberry Spring Summer Winter