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Air bnb taking Tokyo by storm
Did you know you can find thousands of places to stay in Tokyo that are NOT hotels, guest houses, or commercial properties. Hosts all over the city are now posting up rooms, studios, and apartments to reserve for your visit to Japan. Check out You can search by neighborhood and many hosts will also…(143 words)
LShannon
Show me your socks, and I'll tell if if you have a tear
When in Japan, there will be many occasions to take your shoes off:visiting a lab? take off your shoesa temple: off they goa Japanese restaurant: all shoes stay at the entranceJapanese people are socks freaks. They have all kind of colors and patterns. 5 fingers's socks, tabi-esque 2 fi…(149 words)
Claire
Cheers with Japanese Sake
Sake is the representative alcohol in Japan. They are a liquor made by fermentation of rice and they are also called “Seisyu”.The Kyoto municipal government was the first to establish so-called “kampai ordinances”, to promote the spread of refined sake made in Kyoto city. The government aims to s…(96 words)
Hideki Tazawa
Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Gunma
You can find nature in Japan! And you may find it about 1hour and a half away from Tokyo: in Gunma prefecture.There is that contemporary art museum in the middle of the mountain that is fabulous. It is managed by the Hara Museum, and hosts collections that do not fit in the mother museum based …(193 words)
Claire
A community with trust and connection
My good friend Kato-san's family runs a farmhouse near Hamamatsu.I had the chance to visit is home the other day.The entrance to the house is right by a main road where people and cars pass by.I was welcomed by a vertical flag saying "Kato's Farmhouse."The entrance of the property were st…(244 words)
Yuuki I
Museum of Industry and Technology
Nagoya is usually not on touristic tour in Japan. But if you are on business there, and you have some time to spend, or, if you are with your children and you want to attract their interest to science, or, they do love science, there is one place you want to visit: the Toyota Commemorative …(264 words)
Claire
If you are an ancient car freak!
This museum is located in Nagakute. It is a bit far from Nagoya city center, in a place where there is not much of anything else, really. But you can go there easily with the metro and then the "linimo". Linimo is this line that was build for the Nagoya Expo in 2005. It is a magnetic levitation tra…(174 words)
Claire
Edo Tokyo Museum/Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukan
If you are really interested in Japan culture and the way things used to be and how people lived in Tokyo, then you must put this on your list of places to visit while in Tokyo. You will find original and replicated exhibits which are built to scale. You will see models painstakingly built to sca…(160 words)
Kevin
Don’t be fooled by appearances!
Fashion and appearances are of vital importance in Japan. So why do Japanese businessmen all look similar?To start with the conclusion, if I may, unfashion is a kind of fashion. Let me explain it with the Japanese angle. Like anywhere else, fashion in Japan is a statement of belonging to a com…(359 words)
Claire
Kamakura: there is a reason why!
If you like both, Kamakura is a sure spot. There are many beautiful places in Kamakura and it is tough to sort them out and make choices. But if you like to take your time, try to go on a week day, and visit the Great Buddha, Hase tera and Gorakuji.Well, this is the ABC of basics but there …(391 words)
Claire
Morning sumo practice in the Kitanoumi-beya
I got up early one morning to go visit the morning sumo practice, keiko, at the Kitanoumi-beya in Kotu-ku, Tokyo. We were instructed not to talk, move, or show the back of our feet out of respect to the training sumo wrestlers and trainees. One hour watching these men train for the upcoming tournam…(223 words)
Emelie Fågelstedt
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
If you ever visit Okinawa, make it a point to spend a day at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium （沖縄美ら海水族館）, located in Motobu. The largest aquarium in the world until 2005, it houses over 26,000 animals with as many as 740 different species.The aquarium consists of four floors, with tanks ho…(149 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Happy Nogeyama Zoo in Yokohama
We visited Nogeyama zoo today.It is just about a right size zoo for little kids and my little boy was running all over. I admire Yokohama city to run this place as a free zoo beside Kanazawa zoo (also a free zoo) and Zoorasia (Admisson fee 600 yen/person). We would love to visit the other two i…(235 words)
EmiOnishi
Sasebo
Sasebo is located in Kyushu, in Nagasaki Prefecture. Sasebo is a very scenic city with a large natural sea port. There are 208 islands near Sasebo and there are many boat tours available. There are many wonderful views you will be able to capture during your trip to Sasebo.Sasebo is a touris…(112 words)
Kevin
JRA Japan Horse Show on Golden Week
Japan Horse Show will be held on May 3 to 5 at Baji-Kouen that is now use for training hurdle race horses. This park contains several small playground for children with lots of big trees and it's a good place to visit taking lunch box. Attention ; no pets allowed inside.This is free charge …(126 words)
Moo Moo
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
If you still have a few hours to kill in Tokyo, Kameido's Tenjin Shrine is a nice spot to visit. It is at walking distance from the Skytree Tower. I like the way modern constructions mixe with traditional ones.The shrine is located in quite a large parc with a pond and a forest of palawnia. Fuj…(303 words)
Claire
Bizen Osafune Sword Museum
I studied ancient Greek when I was in college and although fascinating, it was hard to use phrases like, "the donkey pulls my cart" in everyday conversation. Sword making is an ancient tradition in Japan and as with ancient Greek, I was curious as to whether it held some utility in today's society.…(403 words)
Kenji
Hakone
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5201.html in the Hakone area. http://wikitravel.org/en/Hakone Hakone is a great place to visit for a day or two or more and is only around and hour and a half to two hours from Tokyo. And the other shot is of the large torii http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torii at the …(977 words)
TokyoTom
You Salty Dog You!
Salt. Salt of the earth. Pillars of salt. Earn your daily salt. Take it with a grain of salt.If you visit Shioya (Salt Store) in Azabu Juban you can get all the grains of salt you'll ever need, and then some.Opened just a few months ago Shioya does a booming business in all things salt or …(203 words)
Joe Peters
"Tanaye" & "Club Harie"
These are special sweets "Taneya" designed for Children's Day this year. Aren't they pretty? Inside the paper boxes, they have several Chimaki, a cake wrapped in bamboo leaves, special sweets for Children's Day in Japan. Their mochi skin is so smooth and I bet you will be impressed with your first …(246 words)
EmiOnishi
Fun Places to Chill with Animals
As with many people around the world, Japanese people also love animals and love to own pets. However with limited space and most people living in apartments or small houses, sometimes owning a pet is not allowed or is not an option for those animal lovers.One source of animal happiness people …(396 words)
Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo
Lavender fields of Farm Tomita/Hokkaido
In Hokkaido, Furano's lavender fields attract large numbers of visitors to the region every summer when the plants are in full bloom. Lavenders usually start blooming in late June and reaches its peak from around mid July to early August. I had always wanted to visit Furano since I watched the …(328 words)
EmiOnishi
Beautiful Kyoto
Kyoto is a beautiful city where you discover small temples and shrines around the corner. One step inside and you are in another world, free from the noise of the city, stressless, peaceful. All it takes is a walk along Kamo river, and some curiosity to look around the corners... So, if you ha…(391 words)
Claire
Sumo!!
Sumo-the image conjured up in many gaijin minds is that of a couple of overweight guys in adult diapers belly-bumping each other until one of man falls off a raised platform like a drunken Baby Huey. As a martial artist, I never really thought of sumo in that way, but I get why others would. Still,…(1153 words)
Dave
Hama Rikyu Gardens - a beautiful park in Central Tokyo
A short walk from JR Shimbashi station (12 minutes) or either the Shiodome or Tsukiji Ichiba stations on the Toei Oedo line (7 minutes from either station), is one of the most beautiful and well kept parks in Tokyo. This park was created for the powerful Daimyo ruling class (feudal lords) during t…(126 words)
Kevin
Awa Dance Festival in Tokushima Pref.
In Japan, we have Obon holiday in the middle of August, where we believe the spirits of ancestors will return to this world and revisit the household altars. People return to ancestral family places and we have Bon Odori （盆踊り） throughout the country. Bon Obori, meaning Bon dance is performed dur…(299 words)
Suetsumuhana
Torinoiru Cafe for Bird Lovers
Hello everybody! Alex aka Subtokyo is back for another interesting animal cafe, this time an owl cafe!There are a handful of owl cafes around the Tokyo area. Kiba, Tsukishima, and a couple other locations in Tokyo. I visited the owl cafe or bird cafe in Kiba, Tokyo. This was the Torinoiru Cafe …(317 words)
Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo
Tourist Tip #3: Stay Away from Souvenir Shops
Here's a quick tip to make your memories of Japan more memorable for you and your friends back home: stay away from souvenir shops!Like anywhere else in the world, souvenir shops, by nature, tend to offer only the most generic - and usually hokiest - of gifts. I've seen wares that - at best - w…(219 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Asakusa and Tokyo Skytree
On my first visit to Tokyo, I signed up for a half day tour of Tokyo Skytree and Asakusa via Hato Bus tours. Hato, http://www.hatobus.com, has a number of different tour packages ranging from half day to full day. The full day tours include lunch. Our tour guide was a Japanese woman who spoke En…(169 words)
Dolores
JR East - Japan Railway Company
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.htmlThe JR East train homepage is a great way to learn about train routes, fares and activities throughout what is known as Eastern Japan. This site: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/routemaps/index.html shows the routes that the different bullet trains take from the T…(201 words)
Kevin
Izu Hokkawa Onsen Bousui: A Heavenly Onsen in Japan,
My first experience at Bousui was just 5 years ago and then the second was last month. In 2006 I was a newbie exploring the Hokkawa Hot Spring district , in 2014 it was my second visit as a devoted fan of hot spring perfection wanting to share this haven with my life partner and best friend.htt…(1039 words)
What Japan is proud of - Craftsmanship! : Japanese Watches
I had an opportunity to visit the Museum and as a SEIKO watch fan, had a very good time there. Here is the highlights of the Exhibit for those who cannot make it here. Those who visit Tokyo and have time, I highly recommend to visit this place. Note also that it is close to other popular tourist…(188 words)
KIH
Tourist Tip #3 (Revisited): Stay Away from Souvenir Shops
In one of my previous "Tourist Tip" posts, I suggested staying away from conventional tourist-trap omiyageya (souvenir shops) and visiting instead some of the cooler places where there's more to shop for at better deals:http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3317There are many such places to visit. Som…(171 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Helping the Children of Tohoku APRICOT News #2
The rainy season it seems has done nothing to dampen the spirits of APRICOT’s supporters. Thanks to the growing number of Team APRICOT Children volunteers,we have been very productive and positive for APRICOT, one that has seen us take a major step towards official NPO status (as a registered NPO …(434 words)
Andrew Grimes
Fall in Japan: Top 5 Things to Do
I love fall, it is by far my favorite season! In Japan the profusion of Japanese maples and ginkgos also ensure that it is one of the most dramatic, beautiful seasons to visit.So, here are a few ideas to thoroughly enjoy autumn in Japan:1- Spend Time in NatureSeriously, the foliage is stu…(412 words)
Chiara
Basic tips if you are visiting Japan on a business trip
In case you are on a business visit here are some tips for making most of any business visit to Japan 1. Carry name card with your Name (preferably in Japanese & English), Contact details (email / tel /address) 2. Carry a 1 to 4 pager company profile (again preferably in Japanese).3. Comp…(870 words)
suku
A Temple Less Crowded yet Equally Divine
Say the word Kyoto and immediately images of temples and shrines and all things traditionally Japanese spring to mind. It's Kyoto's inseparable association with the most beautiful and noble that Japan has to offer that makes it a choice destination for over 50,000,000 tourists that visit "The City …(399 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer
Do you like Ukiyoe ? A day tour with Ukiyoe prints with a Japanese bilingual guid!
10:00 am Gather at KataseEnoshima Station of the Odakyu Enoshima Line. ▶Walk to Enoshima Shrine. ▶Have Japanese Sweet then lunch at Restaurant. ▶Explore …(62 words)
sushiyanotsuma
How to enjoy real JAPANESE SAKE("junmaishu") in Shibuya, Tokyo
Want to try tasting real Japanese sake together with nice "washoku"(Japanese cuisine) during your trip here? It can be tricky to pick a good one from a variety of Japanese sake offerings. You know what? It is tough for me although I am Japanese. Because there are more than 2,000 kinds!! It's natura…(396 words)
Eddie
Art in the Heart of Roppongi
Roppongi is usually talked about for its high and night life, but it's equally well-known as home to two of the most astounding art museums in Tokyo, if not all of the country. Within walking distance of each other, these must-experience venues should be definitely be included in your itinerary whi…(210 words)
Former Deep Japan Writer