Advice about Winter
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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
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
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
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
Warm up yourself in winter!
We don’t have snow all over Japan. Those who live in areas with a little snow cannot be too excited when it snows. They will dare to go freezing outside to enjoy Yuki-gassen (snowballs) or make a snowman. Before they know it, they can be sweating while playing in the snow.(52 words)
OKAKI-sun
The Real Sushi Experience, Don't Miss Out!
I always went to "kaiten sushi" because it was easy, you can calculate expense based on color and design of the plates and you could see what you are ordering as you take a plate off the conveyer belt. I still go to kaitenzushi when I want a scrumptious meal of sush (I want to eat a lot) or when I …(351 words)
Shabu Shabu is totally delicious..have to try it once you are in Japan
There are mainly sliced beef and pork in the the super market, they are used for cooking Shabu Shabu or Yakiniku. If you are kind of adventurous for the teste.. then you will definitely enjoy the soft texture and juicy taste of sliced meet when they are cooked in the boiling broth and dip in the de…(115 words)
JennyS
Be flexible and plan ahead!
Rule number one: plan ahead. It's possible to do Tokyo affordably, but cheap accommodation gets booked up fast. If you want a super-cheap place, be prepared for tiny spaces and locations that are less than ideal.If you're REALLY strapped for cash, you'll either need to stay overnight in a manga…(325 words)
lrnelson
Sunrise on the New Year's Morning
You will only get one chance a year at this, but if you happen to be in Japan during the new year, you can see literally the first sunrise on earth. Many people will either stay up all night or wake up especially early to see the first sun in "the land of the rising sun" no less.However, even i…(148 words)
KurtisW
Kagura, northern Honshuu
Last winter I went to a place called Kagura ski resort, located on Mt. Naeba. This area is in Niigata which is on the northern part of the main island in Japan; about a 3 hour drive from Tokyo. You can always take a bus in the early morning from Shinjuku on a snowboard day trip, but we took a car.…(140 words)
KurtisW
Radishes and such
Radishes are abundant; and one that especially comes to mind is the Daikon radish, also quite popular abroad. Daikon is a major staple of many Japanese dishes, the most prominent use being in soups, and as a topping called Daikon "oroshi".Miso soup, Japanese winter stews, and Oden will all make…(170 words)
KurtisW
About ONIGIRI... and O CHA TSUKE
Well, the easy way is to get them at your closest and favorite combine store. But, you can prepare them yourself. All you need is:- rice- a sheet of dried alga or if you do not like it, some sesame- salt- something to put inside: basically, anything you like. Purist will use the salty and a…(290 words)
Claire
E-tegami (picture postcard)
Japan is a nation obsessed with seasonal activities of all sorts. After all, there are few other nations that I know that have national holidays for the Vernal (Spring) and Autumnal Equinox. This year (2014), the Vernal Equinox will fall on March 21, one day after the traditional date.But whi…(459 words)
mikekato
Enjoy Japan Travel Even More with the Cheap, Kanto Area Train Pass
The Japan Rail Pass, which allows tourists unlimited rides on all JR trains (including bullet trains across the country), is one of the great ways to see lots of different cities without breaking the bank.For non-Japanese residents, or tourists with more limited time or means, there is also the…(302 words)
Chiara
Fujiya Hotel: A Resort Hotel in Hakone, a Hot Spring Resort Outside Tokyo.
Wherever you are in the Fujiya Hotel you are traveling through time, everyday time of course but eras of the passed times that this hotel has lived through since 1878.In Autumn it is mellow, warm daytimes and some of the most beautiful 'changes of the autumn leaves' you can ever hope to see. Al…(500 words)
Andrew Grimes
Nagashi-Somen, Delicious Noodles in Japan
One of the best things I like about Japan is that the 4-season weather system is clearly reflected in the culture. In fall, you enjoy the changing colors and the sanma. Winter is for oranges in a warm kotatsu at home. Spring, is of course SAKURA. Summer has multiple cultural highlights too. Waterme…(286 words)
GenS
Lights, Camera, Attraction!
There's no shortage of holiday blessings in Japan. Not being a Christian nation has never stopped Japan from adopting this holiday as its own. And while Christmas caroling has not yet become a holiday pastime, it has joyously adopted the tradition of celebrating Christ's birthday with a cake, alb…(763 words)
mikekato
World heritage Shirakawa Go is the place to Go
I lived in Tokyo Ebisu for short 6 months back in 2010.Looked forward in making many new friends and meeting interesting people that you can’t find in other cites.Which was true also at the same time, it was easy to feel lonely and lost with all the people you pass daily that I’ll never have a …(496 words)
Yuuki I
Tokyo Skytree Cake Factory - Projection Mapping at Dream Christmas 2014
This evening I visited Tokyo Skytree to see the Cake Factory projection mapping for Dream Christmas 2014. It was crowded tonight with people waiting to see where Santa’s sweets are made.We went outside on the 4F Sky Arena to the Christmas market. Exactly at 20:00 the projection started with Santa o…(223 words)
David
While in Japan Enjoy the Planet's Healthiest Drink, Green Tea
Yes, I love green tea too! I remember working in my Japanese firm and there was always a green tea machine on the floor. Just like we have water stations in offices overseas, Japanese companies have hot or cold green tea dispensers for your health and happiness 24/7.There are many reasons why peo…(564 words)
Back to nature at Kusatsu
One of the great things about Kusatsu is that it's out in the heart of Japan's countryside which, while one of the most attractive features of Japan, remains unexplored to many visitors who zip through tunnels on the Shinkansen on their journey from city to city.Sainokawara Park is another uniq…(525 words)
AndrewShuttleworth
See Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji
How to get to Mt. Fuji“If you will visit Mount Fuji, Kawaguchiko Station or Mt. Fuji Station are the major gateways for magical Mount Fuji, designated as a world cultural heritage site in 2013, and the magnificent Fuji Five Lakes area.”Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/3197T…(382 words)
DeepJapan
Observe a 97 meter waterfall up close and in person
Nikko is only about two hours away from Tokyo by train, but the contrast couldn’t be me stark. Tokyo is crowded with buildings, but Nikko is abundant with nature. There is also a sacred atmosphere in Nikko as it is home to many temples and shrines, including the well known Nikko Toshogu shrine.…(285 words)
DeepJapan Editor
Stay Healthy on your Travels in Sendai(2/2)
While traditional camping is always a refreshing experience to provide a contrast to our daily lives, the possibility of having all the needed gear while on a vacation is quite low. "Glamping" at Sendai Royal Pearl Hotel makes camping possible on vacation, but also adds a "glamorous" side to it, gi…(482 words)
DeepJapan
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
Travel north in winter, travel south in summer for sushi
My experience of sushi and if you get to travel around, as I used to a lot, was Hokkaido, Aomori, the fish is amazing in winter. Similarly, Fukuoka, and Shikoku some pretty fine sushi can be had during the summer.(40 words)
Steve
MIKAN and wine is a good match
The traditional image of a Japanese home during the winter.People all over Japan have a stack of Mikan on the table during the winter.Have you heard of a Kotatu?There is a small heater under the table and a large blanket that covers the corners of the table to keep the heat inside.Since…(114 words)
Yuuki I
S'ki - of the yaki variety
Many people overseas have heard the "Sukiyaki Song" which of course, had a very different title in Japanese. But the real sukiyaki is a tasty dish.Many have heard of, or may have tried some version of, sukiyaki. It's a popular and well known dish consisting of beef (usually), mushrooms, other v…(297 words)
Joe Peters