Andrea Miyata's Advice List

Andrea Miyata United States 20 years in Japan

I live in Okayama prefecture. Although I'm not familiar with life and services in some of Japan's bigger cities, I hope I can entice a few people to see the "other" Japan, the Japan of green rice fields, old traditional houses, and friendly people.

I'm working with fellow DeepJapan sempais Judith Mikami and Kenji Chida to form Kaigai Connection, a PR & marketing group based in western Japan. Kaigai Connection assists Japanese companies and artists get their products and work to overseas markets. Check out our homepage at:

http://www.kaigaiconnection.jp

"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

'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

Denim Kimonos--Only in Kurashiki!

Did you know that the birthplace of Japanese denim is Kurashiki, in Okayama Prefecture?Kurashiki is best known for the great shopping and sightseeing opportunities in the Bikan-chiku Historical district. This area is well known throughout Japan for having refurbished original 'kura' warehouses …(655 words)

Andrea Miyata

Kurashiki Okayama Kimono experience Shopping rental

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

Yubara Onsen (Valentine Special)

If you're looking for a special way to spend Valentine's Day in the Chugoku region, how about a trip up to Yubara Onsen? Located in Maniwa City, Yubara is Okayama Prefecture's most well-known hot spring town, and is situated along the Asahi River and next to the Yubara Dam.Yubara is a hot sprin…(271 words)

Andrea Miyata

Onsen Region Okayama City Trip Spring River Outdoor recreation Beef Grilled meat barbeque

Top 10 Things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Autumn

Just because summer is over doesn't mean there's not plenty to do and see. If you're headed to or passing through west Japan, don't miss stopping off in Okayama Prefecture and enjoying some of the best seasonal activities.1. Bizen Pottery FestivalI wrote about this festival previously in a…(1168 words)

Andrea Miyata

Autumn Okayama Visit Train City Park Summer Building Event Food

Coming soon!: Bizen Pottery Festival in Okayama

Many fans and afficionados of Japanese culture enjoy the traditional arts, pottery being one of them. Many people are aware of beautiful Kyo-yaki from Kyoto or Kutani-yaki from Ishigawa Prefecture, but did you know that Okayama Prefecture boasts THE oldest pottery kiln in Japan?Bizen-yaki began…(404 words)

Andrea Miyata

Okayama festival Pottery Visit Museum Art Autumn Japanese Culture

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

My favorite Japanese scent

When I first arrived in Japan many years ago, there happened to be a certain shrub in bloom. I didn't know what it was, but it smelled so outrageously great! I later found out that it is called "Kinmokusei" （金木犀）. The latin name for this shrub is "Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus", but we do…(114 words)

Andrea Miyata

New Year's Gift Giving

The New Year's season is a time for visiting family and friends in Japan, as it is in many of our home countries too. If visiting family members with small children, the children will often be given gifts of money (called "Otoshi-dama"). Otherwise, a nice box of sweets or rice crackers ("Osenbei")…(158 words)

Andrea Miyata

New year Shopping Department store Rice cracker

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

Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture

The first onsen I ever visited in Japan was Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto Prefecture. Although I've visited many other onsens in the 19 years I've been in Japan (and they're all nice!), my favorite is still Kurokawa Onsen. Why? Because the view is FANTASTIC! The rotenburos (outdoor hot spring pools) a…(106 words)

Andrea Miyata

Onsen Kumamoto River Outdoor recreation Beef Spring

Non-seafood Dishes at Sushi Restaurants

My family loves "kaiten-zushi" (the sushi on the conveyor belts) and we go somewhat frequently. When I first arrived in Japan, the choices on offer at most restaurants was almost exclusively seafood-based. However, a multitude of choices are available these days.As for non-seafood sushi, you …(182 words)

Andrea Miyata

Sushi Udon noodles Beef Natto (Fermented soy beans) Karaage (Fried chicken) Edamame (Green soybeans)

Tipping in Japan

One of the best cultural differences between Japan and the U.S. (my home country) centers around the custom of tipping. While tipping is not generally necessary in Japan, some service providers actually do appreciate it; for example, I've never known a taxi driver to refuse a tip!In the U.S., …(222 words)

Andrea Miyata

Restaurant Taxicab Hair

Best Summer Foods in Japan

Here is a list of my favorite summer foods in Japan (in no particular order):* Yakiniku （焼肉）, or Korean-style barbeque. Although it's available all year around, it somehow just tastes better when cooked and eaten outdoors, especially in the garden or at the beach.* Somen　（そうめん） …(239 words)

Andrea Miyata

Ramen noodles Udon noodles Tempura Horse radish Grilled meat barbeque Okayama Somen noodles Watermelon Tottori Chilled ramen noodles

The best way to buys bullet train tickets

Although it's possible to purchase bullet train tickets at the automated ticket machines, I prefer to stand in line at the train ticket office (usually located near the shinkansen entrance in stations). Even though this sometimes entails standing in line for a few extra minutes, I prefer being abl…(180 words)

Andrea Miyata

Train Ticket Shinkansen Bullet Train Ticket machine Railway platform Trip

How to choose medicines when sick or injured

It depends on the symptoms or conditions, but here are some good general medicines:* Makiron （マキロン） is a disinfectant; use on cuts, scrapes, or small wounds.* Oronine （オロナイン） is an ointment with disinfectant properties; use on cuts, scrapes, or small wounds to aid healing.*…(155 words)

Andrea Miyata

Medicine

How to bow

I work at a medical clinic in Japan, and had to participate last month in an etiquette workshop in which we learned how to bow properly. Although I'm no expert myself, this is what we learned:1. You should face the person to whom you're bowing. There are 3 kinds of bows: #1-casual bow that c…(214 words)

Andrea Miyata

Etiquette Bowing

Business Hotels

Business hotels are much cheaper than regular hotels. They tend to be located near stations, convention centers, and facilties where meetings and events are held. The rooms tend to be much smaller and less "plush" than regular hotels. For example, there may be a refrigerator in the room for your…(133 words)

Andrea Miyata

Train

Turning in lost items

If you find a lost item in a train or train station, turn the item in to a station employee or at the lost-and-found / information counter.If you find an item worth any kind of value (monetary or otherwise) on the street, you should take the item to the nearest police station. The officer in c…(216 words)

Andrea Miyata

Train Police Train station Hair

Appropriate attire for funerals

Everyone in Japan wears black for funerals. For men, this consists of a black suit (no pattern or design), white button-up shirt, black shoes (with no ornamentation), and a black necktie. For women, this consists of either a black suit (skirt or slacks with a jacket) and a black blouse, or a blac…(155 words)

Andrea Miyata

Department store Shoes

About toasting in Japan

Usually at formal occassions (a work-related party, wedding, etc.), the head person of the group / company / school (if a wedding, someone close to the bride or groom) will be asked to give a short speech and the toast. When that person calls "Kampai!" and raises their glass, everyone else will do…(77 words)

Andrea Miyata

Toast