EmiOnishi's Advice List

EmiOnishi Japan 39 years in Japan

I was born in Kyoto and moved to Tokyo about 10 years ago. I hope to share some information about Kansai through DJ :-). Currently enjoy being a mom raizing a two-year old boy.

Tempura - Kaneko Hannosuke at Nihonbashi

I love their tendon. They are actually one of the best tendons I've ever had! The shop is clean and neat too.When you sit down, you are first served with Tea that has floating black beans. (I was very impressed with this service when I first visited them. Very Japanese!)They only have one menu.…(169 words)

EmiOnishi

Tempura Tokyo Tea Ginza Miso Miso soup Eel Tendon

Flee market at Toji Temple - Kyoto

On the 21st of each month, a famous flea market is held on the grounds of To-ji from 7am until around 4pm in the evening. It will be open even when it's rain, but there will be with less shops in such a case. This market is popularly called "Kobo-san", in honor of Kobo Daishi, who died on March 21.…(180 words)

EmiOnishi

Kyoto Tera (Temple) History Evening Garden To-ji Temple

Guest house Shinagawa shuku - Best access from Haneda Airport!

It is near Shinagawa Station (10-minutes walk distance), easy access from the airport and perfect connection to the city of Tokyo. Reasonable for backpackers : 3,000 yen per night for dormitory and 3,500 yen for private single. I've heard the staff members are very friendly! You can visit many trad…(83 words)

EmiOnishi

Tokyo City Airport Haneda Airport Visit

Yatsuhashi

If you get a chance to visit Kyoto, you can find Yatsuhashi here and there at almost every souvenir shops. It is one of the best known regional products of Kyoto. Growing up in Kansai, there was a time I got actually a bit tired of this too popular sweets as a kid, but now I sometimes feel like…(134 words)

EmiOnishi

Tea Kyoto Souvenir Green tea Kansai Rice cracker Sugar Strawberry Sweets

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

音姫 "Sound Princess"

Many Japanese women are embarrassed at the thought of being heard by others during urination. To cover the sound, many women used to flush public toilets continuously while using them, wasting a large amount of water. Becase of that, Otohime was introduced which produces the sound of flushing water…(173 words)

EmiOnishi

Public toilet

Check out One day ticket!

Almost every train companies offer some sort of one day tickect. Train ride in Tokyo can cost a lot if you get on a lot of different lines to look around. I recommend to look for an information about one day ticket if you plan to spend a day by train. It can save you a lot of money.For example…(82 words)

EmiOnishi

Tokyo Train Ticket

ABC Cooking Studio

ABC Cooking Studio is a place where people come to cook a variety of foods in a casual manner. There are 124 studios currently operating in Japan, and as a member, you will be allowed to take classes at any studio of your choice. The classes are done in a small group, ensuring you maximum suppo…(121 words)

EmiOnishi

Tokyo Etiquette Computer

Aritsugu - famous "Hocho" (cooking knives) brand

"Aritsugu" is one of the famous Hocho brand in Japan. They have shops at two locations - Kyoto and Tsukiji(Tokyo). Tsukiji's one is set up by Kyoto Aritsugu. I found the below video clip from YouTube which can tell you the atmosphere of the Kyoto Aritsugu shop. They are located in Nishiki Marke…(110 words)

EmiOnishi

Tokyo Kyoto Tsukiji

Shigaraki Yaki - Shiga Prefecture

Shigaraki ware is pottery and stoneware made in Shigaraki area, Shiga Prefecture. My hometown!Although figures representing the Tanuki are a very popular product as Shigaraki ware, I personally love more "Shibui" (quiet and simple) dishes.The local sandy clay from the bed of Lake Biwa (bigg…(119 words)

EmiOnishi

Shiga Museum Lake Lake Biwa

Japan has most national holidays in number around the world!

Here are the list of national holidays in Japan - 2013 version. Wow - We have 16 holidays in total, which is the biggest in number around the world!January 1 - New Year's DayJanuary 14 - Coming‐of‐Age DayFebruary 11 - National Foundation DayMarch 20 - Vernal Equinox HolidayApril 29 …(145 words)

EmiOnishi

Sport Holidays Labor Thanksgiving Day Culture Day Greenery Day Marine Day National Foundation Day Showa Day The Emperor's Birthday New year

Kansai Kyoto ben (Kansai Kyoto dialect)

I was born in Kyoto and raised up in Shiga (next to Kyoto). As I lived in Kansai area until I decided to move to Tokyo for job change when I was 30, people can tell I am from Kansai after talking with me for a while :-)As I was working as a sales back then, I tried not to sound too Kansai perso…(211 words)

EmiOnishi

Kyoto Kansai Tokyo Shiga

Tokyo, Shibuya, Kyoto, Osaka..Everywhere in Japan! Kaiten sushi is cheap and reasonable!

100-yen Kaiten sushi place's Major chain stores -popular ”Kappa zushi" and "Sushiro". Low prices are the selling point of these stores, but they taste very good too. Personally Sushiro is my favorite. Their IT ordering system (tablet with user-friendly menu with real pictures) is fun and quick! T…(139 words)

EmiOnishi

Sushi Kaitenzushi (Conveyor belt sushi)

TIROL Chocolate 20 yen each

You should go to a Japanese convenience store and buy TIROL chocolate for your friends! TIROL chocolate is very famous and I bet almost everybody knows. Originally they were introduced to the market 40 years ago and for the time being, they were sold at 10 yen each so that even little childre…(117 words)

EmiOnishi

chocolate Convenience store Sweets

Otoshidama - money gift to children

In Japan, adults are supposed to give money gift to their children or grandchildren including relatives'children or sometimes friend's children on New Year's Day. This custom is known as 'otoshidama.' Money is handed out in small,beautifully decorated envelopes called 'pochibukuro'. These can be b…(120 words)

EmiOnishi

New year

Odaiba

I recommend a venture to Odaiba, a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay. To Odaiba, you can take the underground trains (Rinkai line) connecting to the JR lines or the Yurikamome line.The Yurikamome (meaning seagull) is a monorail that gives you a fantastic tour around the bay, which is one of …(222 words)

EmiOnishi

Odaiba Tokyo Train Shopping Souvenir Game Movie Amusement park Television Entertainment

Tuna salad rolls

I recommend to try some tasty tuna salad rolls! They are usually called "Salad maki" in Japanese. They are somewhat healthy, kid-friendly and safe to eat (not raw fish). They use Japanese mayonnaise (Famous one is"Kewpie Mayonnaise." It has a very creamy texture. Very rich flavor. Great on Sa…(74 words)

EmiOnishi

Sushi Sashimi (Raw fish) Mayonnaise

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

Hott Motto has a good Makunouchi bento series

Hotto Motto is a takeaway bento chain. I've heard "Hotto" has the double meaning of "hot" and "hotto-suru" (to feel relieved). I like their Makunouchi（幕の内） is a popular type of Japanese bento which consists of fish, meat, pickles, eggs and vegetables along with rice and an umeboshi. Though t…(105 words)

EmiOnishi

Bento (box meal) Tokyo Miso Miso soup Umeboshi

Let a boiling water cool - for a tasty cup of tea

In order to pour a tasty cup of tea, you should let a boiling water cool. If you pour boiling water into a teapot directly, the temperature will be too high. Pour boiling water into a teacup first. Especially for high quality sencha and gyokuro, it is important to use a low temperature water (40-50…(106 words)

EmiOnishi

Tea

Uji-kintoki is best in summer!

Japanese shaved ice is called kakigori. There are a variety of flavors, and a traditional kind is Uji-kintoki which is flavored with green tea syrup and anko (sweet azuki beans). Kakigori is available in a wide range of quality: ranging from average quality found at the local grocery, to high q…(90 words)

EmiOnishi

Tea Green tea Milk Summer

Shinagawa-jinja Shrine Grand Festival

There are various festivals held in different areas of Shinagawa City throughout the year. When there is a festival, there are rows of vendors selling delicious local foods. There is also an omikoshi (portable shrine) procession, which is something you do not get to see everyday. The most spec…(97 words)

EmiOnishi

Tokyo City Jinjya (Shrine)

Take the other person's namecard with both of your hands!

This is something I leaned during my first company's freshman orientation. :-)To show respect, take the other person's namecard with both of your hands (not one hand). You would introduce yourself first and give your namecard (also by using both of your hands) so that you have both of your hands fr…(94 words)

EmiOnishi

Namecard