Alex's Advice List

Alex United States 2 years in Japan

Austin is an actor from California that is mixed Japanese, with much family still residing in and around Japan. He has traveled to and from Japan since a child, and has had some extensive insights into the Japanese cultural practices, as well as having the privy of experiencing some amazing off the beaten path excursions. All while maintaining that 'gaijin' view of things, being able to pick up on the beautiful differences that Japan has to offer.

In Home Hydrotherapy

Japan boasts a myriad of pristine beaches, picturesque lakes and waterfalls, and serine onsens like none other. Spending time in these waters can be very therapeutic for your body and your mind alike, but the fast pace of life can often deprive you of time to be able to fully utilize and immerse yo…(327 words)

Alex

Bath Bath Salt Hydrotherapy Onsen Beaches Salt Pharmacy Furo (Japanese bath) child

Molecular Gastronomy at Mandarin Oriental

For those who have never been to Japan before, when someone mentions the island nation, many preconceived perceptions may come to mind. Stories of a land that is technologically advanced and driven filled with striking trends and exotic fare are what often come to mind. This perception is also like…(278 words)

Alex

Mandarin Oriental Food Molecular Gastronomy Tokyo Hotel Art Cuisine view Dining Imperial Palace

Kanda River Show

If you happen to be in the Tokyo area during the evening time, be sure to take a stroll down to the Kanda River for an exquisite show of nature. Bats which inhabit the banks of the river can be seen in the evening hours fleeing from their daybeds in the trees, and fluttering into the unknown night …(154 words)

Alex

River kanda bats Tokyo City Walk Nature Eat Flood Typhoon

Hakone & Lake Ashi

If you are in search of that idyllic movie setting lakeside outing, then you have stumbled upon the right guiding information here. Look no further than a visit to the city of Hakone, which lies in the Kanagawa prefecture. Just under a two hour drive from Tokyo proper, you can be immersed in nature…(227 words)

Alex

Hakone Lake Lake Ashi City Visit Nature Kanagawa view Outdoor recreation ropeway

Odawara Castle

Nobility, castles, vast open farm lands, Shōguns, and warring samurai mounted on horseback are what you would have seen if you were to travel to Edo, or Tokyo, back in the fifteenth century. If you have come to Japan to try and get a little glimpse or feel for that era in time, or if you just have…(336 words)

Alex

Castle Odawara History Tokaido Line donjon tenshu architecture Meiji

High End Tempura Dining

So if you are like me and love the oxymoron of a food dish, which we all know and love called tempura, then you are in for a foodie treat. Being both a healthy vegetable and fried food at the same time, tempura is the perfect nibble anytime of the day. So what’s new about it you might ask? You can …(322 words)

Alex

Tempura Motoyoshi Tempura Dining Tokyo Eel Uni Fine Dining

Cat Café Nekorobi

With such rich diversity residing within Tokyo, this makes the city a true melting pot of ideas, culture, and concepts. One of the most novel and cutest café concepts that I have seen here is called the Cat Café Nekorobi which is located in Ikebukuro Tokyo. This is not just a place decked out in c…(338 words)

Alex

Ikebukuro Nekorobi Cat cafe Tokyo Wii Kitten Cafe

Japanese Royalty and Imperial Palace

When you think of Japan, many things might come to mind like bright glimmering streets full of light up signs and billboards, mystic temples, busy street crossings, or even delicious sushi fresh from the source. Often over looked by outsiders, is the fact that like in many western nations who have …(257 words)

Alex

Imperial Palace running Emperor Tokyo City Event Sushi Kyoto New year Castle

Interpreting Japan’s Iconic Bridges

During your time in Japan you will most certainly come across many bridges within this tranquil island country, both new and old. With magnificent structural and ascetic beauty, you might wonder how the concept for some of these came about. Just like every human has their story, every bridge has it…(260 words)

Alex

Beauty Buddhism Bridges Walk

Japan’s Farmers Markets

Since the onset of the notion of people bringing their consumable goods together in one area for others to sample, enjoy, and obtain, they were unknowingly creating the concept of markets as we know them today. What might come to mind when I say the word market are smartly lined shelves, refrigerat…(321 words)

Alex

Farmers Market Ameyoko Shopping Tokyo Train Building Ueno Edamame (Green soybeans) octopus kabob

Wired-In Dining

One of the most novel, convenient, and custom dining experiences I have come across in all of my travels can be found popping up in restaurants in and around Tokyo. These hybrid systems of food ordering and delivery are truly an entertaining spectacle while you eat. Technology and food combine to o…(412 words)

Alex

Dining Food Technology Tokyo Train Sushi Tea Shinkansen Bullet Train Eat

Wild Rides in Kamakura

If you are ever looking for that ultimate traditional Japanese experience, look no further than a trip to Kamakura. There are countless activities to fill your interests in Kamakura, including experiencing the outstanding larger than life Buddha, walking amongst the time-honored temples, sampling t…(268 words)

Alex

Transportation Kamakura rickshaw Traditional Food Trip Region activities

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

Self-Pouring Beer Machines

You may have noticed in your local ramen shop or corner eatery the little automated machine in the back that is pouring beer into mugs like soda gets filled into different cup sizes in a McDonalds. One stark difference in these custom machines is that these machines actually tilt back and forth as …(266 words)

Alex

Beer Harajuku Kyushu Jangara Ramen noodles Shop custom Technology machines May

Tokyo Tower Monkeys (Sarumawashi)

With it being the 55th anniversary of the Tokyo Tower, I thought it would be suiting to write about the free monkey show that takes place in front. These shows are not put on directly by Tokyo Tower, but permitted to entertain there. I have myself gone back multiple times now to check out this ente…(405 words)

Alex

Sarumawashi Tokyo Tower Monkey Tokyo Park Children Movie Entertainment Live festival

Traditional Horse Meat Gastronomy

For many in the world eating horse meat is considered taboo, as horses are considered to be pets. However, in Japan horse meat has a long cultural tradition dating back to at least the 1500’s. Basashi is the common term today that you will hear being used to describe horse meat, although baniku is …(461 words)

Alex

Horse Basashi baniku Traditional Restaurant Yokohama Sashimi (Raw fish) Sukiyaki Food Hamakou

Cupnoodles Museum

If you are like me and you have an affinity for one of the best inventions ever bestowed upon mankind, yes, I’m talking about instant noodles, you will love hearing about this must-see, one of a kind museum! The Cupnoodles Museum in Yokohama is a tribute to this delicious meal, as well as to its fo…(325 words)

Alex

Museum Yokohama Cup Noodles Soba noodles History Eat activities Ramen noodles Momofuku Ando

Adventures in Kesennuma

If you have been around Japan for a while, and have explored many of the beautiful, uniquely distinctive regions and are looking for a great day or overnight trip, then I suggest you take a well-worth adventure to Kesennuma. This sleepy little fishing community lies in the north eastern shore of th…(636 words)

Alex

Sendai Travel Kesennuma Hotel sento Sumo Food Pizza K-Port

Manga Starbucks

From one little coffee shop in Seattle Washington in 1971, a coffee empire unlike any empire ever seen was born. Their cafes can be found in sixty five countries, with more than sixteen thousand locations. Their products are also sold ubiquitously from convenient stores to grocery markets, and in …(269 words)

Alex

Kamakura Manga Starbucks Train Drink Building Food Coffee Cherry

Toyota Mega Web / Theme Park

For all of you car enthusiasts out there, and even if you are not one, the Toyota Mega Web and self proclaimed theme park must be put on your list of things to experience while in Tokyo. Located in the middle of the Odaiba’s waterfront attractions, this exhibition offers hours of free entertainmen…(400 words)

Alex

Odaiba Amusement park Entertainment Park Tokyo Transportation Exhibition Mega Web Toyota Cars

The Three Wise Monkeys

Ever since I was little, storybooks, cartoons, and popular culture, have depicted the story of The Three Wise Monkeys. You know the image, three monkeys sitting there; one covering his ears, another covering his mouth, and the third covering his eyes. In the western world, we often relate this to t…(356 words)

Alex

World Heritage Site Nikko Tera (Temple) Park Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Art Souvenir Monkey Three Wise Monkeys

Getting Clean in Japan

When you want to get clean after a long, crowded, sweaty day on the subway, you may retreat to your bathroom and jump into a deep Japanese bathtub and let the stress of the day drift away. Many westerners love a good soak, but like many things that are wonderfully different here in Japan, there is …(290 words)

Alex

Onsen sento Etiquette Public Bath Bath

The System of Rubbish

So let’s get right to it and get dirty, ‘trash’ or ‘rubbish’ speaking that is. If you happen to be walking around the streets of Tokyo, Yokohama, or most other places in Japan and you finish your snack, and are now ready to dispose of your wrapper. Only to realize, that you will have to put it into…(300 words)

Alex

Vending Machines Rubbish Trash Tokyo Yokohama Drink English Public toilet

Japanese 'fast-food' for foreigners

You might have heard of, or hear around you at times the Japanese word Gaijin, which literally means outside person, or non-Japanese. It is not originally meant to be disrespectful, just basically means foreigner. So for those who are foreigners and do not speak Japanese, but can’t get enough of th…(379 words)

Alex

Fast food Japanese food Shinagawa Station Food Ticket English Walk Shop Eat Curry

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

Hostel Nikko City Tokyo Train Restaurant Park Trip Kyoto Bus