Chiara Advice List

Chiara Italy 8 years in Japan

For the first couple years of my career I was the Japan Rep for IE Business School, followed by a stint at Criteo (a performance display ad company) as the only non-Japanese Business Development Manager (so much keigo, so little time). Currently I do Inbound Marketing for a online travel service called Veltra (aka I get people interested in trying awesome tours in Japan).

I love running, koto and shamisen, ethnomusicology, singing, food, travel and many many other things. Yoroshiku!

Kamata: The Most Beautiful Knives in Tokyo

Kappabashi, Tokyo's kitchenware wholesaler's district, is a treasure trove of gorgeous ceramics, unusual spices, pots and pans of all sizes and, of course, Japan's world-class knives.No place glitters more than Kamata Hakensha, a bustling shop where every surface is covered with perfect, sharp …(303 words)

Chiara

knives Tokyo Kappabashi Japan English Asakusa Shop

Dinner Cruises in Tokyo: Awesome Yakatabune

Want to celebrate a special occasion, or experience an only-in-Japan cruise? Then look no further than the 'yakatabune'.These are the descendants of the 'pleasure boats' owned by the ancient nobility of Japan, where they held parties and other raucous events. The interior of most of these boats…(184 words)

Chiara

Tokyo Dinner Yakatabune Tempura Christmas Seafood Party Cruise Tatami

Kawagoe: The Perfect Day Trip from Tokyo

Little Kawagoe, a short one hour train ride away from Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Line, is a wonderful spot to get away from the big city and feast your eyes on buildings from the Edo and Meiji era.The main street is lined on both sides by gorgeous old wooden merchant houses, shops and inns, …(218 words)

Chiara

Tokyo Day trip from Tokyo Kawagoe Meiji Edo Period

5 Offbeat Tips for Travelers

Looking to get beneath the surface of Japan, instead of just seeing the main tourist spots? Well, here are a few tips:1- Read UpBesides Deep Japan, check out English language publications (like Time Out) and see what is going on. Join in food festivals (for instance Tokyo Harvest in Novembe…(312 words)

Chiara

Tokyo Train City Food Kyoto English Hokkaido Tours offbeat

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

Fall Autumn leaves Tours Tokyo Seasonal Kyoto Park Visit Trip

Crazy Colorful Nails: A very unique Japanese souvenir

For people who are interested in fashion and playing with their look, getting gel nails done in Japan is a must-try experience.Unlike a regular manicure, gel nails and art can last for up to 6 weeks. You can get any design imaginable, from a basic lame' gradation (where the tips of your nails a…(198 words)

Chiara

Souvenir Art Fashion design Rainy Day Nail art

Vegetarian/Vegan in Tokyo: Bento Bonanza!

Unsurprising for an island nation, most of Japan's cuisine is laced with fish... including those incredibly appetizing bento you can see in convenience stores and department store delis.For strict vegetarians and vegans, this can be a bit trying. But no fear! The health food chain Natural House…(134 words)

Chiara

Tokyo Bento (box meal) vegetarian Vegan Macrobiotic

Local Secrets: Asagaya Tanabata Festival in August

The Tanabata Matsuri (Star Festival) usually occurs in early July, celebrating the one day per year two star crossed lovers of legend can meet across the Milky Way. However, in some prefectures Tanabata is celebrated later, which is why the wonderfully colorful Asagaya Tanabata Festival occurs …(242 words)

Chiara

local secret festival August Tanabata Festival Tokyo

Local Secret: Kawasaki Wind-chime Festival in July

Each year, for 5 days always including the 20th and 21st of July, the grounds of the Kawasaki Daishi temple are taken over by a wind-chime market. The creators of these lovely crafts come from all across Japan, representing almost every prefecture, to display and sell their chimes. The varietie…(206 words)

Chiara

local secret July festival Tera (Temple) Market wind-chime Kanagawa Yokohama

What to do on rainy days in Tokyo: Palm Shoutengai (covered shopping street)

Rainy season can be a drag, but fear not! Covered shopping streets are the perfect place to people watch, find cool souvenirs and enjoy tasty culinary experiences.The covered shoutengai in Musashi Koyama (just two stops away from Meguro) is almost 1 kilometre long, and like all shoutengai is ju…(357 words)

Chiara

Tokyo Shopping Rainy Day Restaurant Food

Kamakura: the hydrangeas of Hasedera

June is really probably not one of the best times to be in Japan. Endless days of rain, laundry that doesn't really dry, excursions cut short because of squalls...However the plentiful watering does bring one positive event with it: the riotous blooming of hydrangeas. An attractive weed, they g…(200 words)

Chiara

Kamakura Hasedera Tera (Temple) local secret flowers June

Local Secret: Kappabashi

A 15 minute walk down 'Butsudan Road' (where all the Buddhist altar companies have their showrooms) from Ueno station lies Kappabashi, a street full of restaurant goods. These range from awesome crockery to individual taiyaki (fish-shaped cake) forms, and of course the amazing plastic food you…(167 words)

Chiara

local secret Building Asakusa Coffee Ueno Rice cracker Souvenir

Easy hike through Kamakura

Seeking to combine some sight-seeing with a bit of hiking, I found a short hiking course in Kamakura, starting at Kita Kamakura Station and ending up near the Daibutsu, from where the walk can be extended until the sea shore.The trail starts right next to Jochiji temple, and winds into the hill…(427 words)

Chiara

Kamakura Tera (Temple) Sea Jinjya (Shrine) Nature Hiking Buddha

Nezu Museum

The Nezu Museum (which is near Aoyama, not Nezu) art collection is mainly Asian artifacts, displayed in a few small galleries. While certainly pretty, they are no match for the extraordinary gardens. The Japanese gardens are filled with momiji, bright green in the spring and summer, and shoc…(125 words)

Chiara

Museum Tokyo Art Japanese garden

Local Secret: Todoroki Valley

Tokyo offers a plethora of beautiful parks, from traditional Japanese landscaped gardens to European-influenced rose gardens. However, if you are looking for a walk on the wild side, while still retaining the ability to get a great cappuccino, then Todoroki is the place to go.Todoroki Keikoku (…(630 words)

Chiara

local secret Tokyo Summer Museum Tera (Temple) Nature Park

Local Secret: YaNeSen

You know you are in for something special when, on the way to Nippori station on the eternally jammed Yamanote line, you find yourself in an almost empty train watching the buildings get smaller and smaller.Affectionately known as YaNeSen (Yanaka-Sendagi-Nezu), this part of Tokyo was untouched …(307 words)

Chiara

local secret Tokyo Visit Jinjya (Shrine) Curry Wagashi Nippori

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

Cheap Kanto Area Pass Chiba Karuizawa Summer Train Winter

Nostalgia in Yokohama

Yokohama is still something of a grand dame. Perhaps no longer the celebrated talk of the town, but with sparkle showing that, in her heyday, she was a beauty to be reckoned with.The long wandering walk from Kannai to Nihon Oodori gives a glimpse into the exciting Meiji and Showa days, when thi…(206 words)

Chiara

Yokohama Kannai Hotel Yamashita Park Chinatown

Local Secret: Sakura at Zenpukuji

In a bid to get away from the crowds of Nakameguro, Ueno and Shinjuku, I found out about a minor sakura covered park in Nishiogikubo, about 20 minutes away from the station. Zenpukuji is a miniaturized version of the famous Inokashira park, and has the same lovely cherry trees stretching over a…(202 words)

Chiara

Cherry blossom local secret Park Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Inokashira Park City Convenience store Shinjuku

Vegetarian in Tokyo: Kichjouji

Japan is the land of endless variations of tofu, but sometimes you just want to sink your teeth into something burger-like and protein-packed. In Japan veggie burgers and other TVP based faux-meat products are hard to find, so when the craving gets overwhelming I jump on the Inokashira line to Kich…(138 words)

Chiara

vegetarian Tokyo Tofu (Soy bean curd) Kichijouji

Local Secret: Plum Tree Valley in Okurayama

While sakura usually steal the show in spring, I personally have a soft spot for the hardier, brighter ume (plum trees).Some trees are covered in pinkish-white blossoms, so that they resemble sakura, however ume can also be shockingly fuchsia or a deep lacquer red.Bairin (plum tree groves) …(202 words)

Chiara

local secret Park Spring Music Japanese plum

Gachapon

Gachapon, coin operated vending machines, are ubiquitous in Japan.Unlike their downscale cousins in the US, which usually dispense stale candy or cheap plastic gadgets, gachapon figurines can be collectors items.The variety is endless, and changes constantly based on trends in the entertainme…(178 words)

Chiara

Gashapon Pop culture Coin Vending Machines Souvenir Akihabara

What do do on a rainy day in Tokyo

It always feels like such a waste when it is grey and rainy for an entire weekend.So, what DOES one do on a rainy afternoon in Tokyo or Yokohama?Go to the spa, of course!There are several to choose from, depending on your location. LaQua in Tokyo, EAS and Manyo in Yokohama, Oedo Onsen M…(147 words)

Chiara

Tokyo spa Yokohama Onsen Chiba

Koyo in Inokashira Koen

Inokashira Koen, a brief walk away from Kichijouji station on the Inokashira line, is mainly famous for its beautiful cherry blossoms, which reflect on the lake, and for the 'cursed' swan boats. Supposedly, if you ride in a swan boat with your significant other, you will break up!However, the p…(181 words)

Chiara

Park Inokashira Park Kichijouji Tokyo Coffee Autumn Lake Museum

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