Articles
- Kanae, an Arakicho Izakaya where Wishes can Come True
- “So has your wish come true?” I asked Yoko, the owner of Kanae ”Well, partly” she admitted “I had wished to open my own place so that part has come tr
- Mission Shopping: Buying Stuff in Japan for Friends Back Home
- I was talking with a friend visiting Japan about her travel plans, when she said that one day was reserved for “mission shopping”. “Mission shopping?”
- 3 Mountain Lodges for New Year’s Eve and the First Sunrise of 2019
- Although I prefer to go on day trips, I do enjoy staying the night of December 31st in a mountain hut and taking part in the tradition of “hatsuhinode
- Mugi no Hana (New 2018) Traditional Ramen in Shinjuku
- If you’re exploring Tokyo alone and feeling hungry, a hot bowl of ramen is probably your best choice for a satisfying meal. One of the most highly ran
- Doromamire Izakaya in Shinjuku: Yakitori, Sake and Veggies
- There are so many izakayas in Tokyo, that to stand out, having a memorable name and a clear concept are absolute musts. Doromamire, a name sounding li
- Cycling in Takahama, Along Fields and the Seashore
- Thinking of the countryside I imagine cycling along narrow paths through fields. In Takahama, in Western Fukui just North of Kyoto, you can combine th
- Mt Aoba - Takahama’s Highest Viewpoint
- A hike up Mt Aoba offers refreshing nature, breathtaking views, and some thrilling climbing sections between its two peaks. If you’re itching to do an
- Eat Fugu and Live to Tell the Tale
- For any foodie visiting Japan, eating fugu should be on their list of must-eat foods, since it’s next-to-impossible to have in other countries. Usuall
- Tsuruga Castle, the Japanese castle that Resisted Attacks for a Whole Month
- One thing I enjoy doing while traveling through Japan is to visit its dozens of castles. Although quite a few are modern replicas, they are beautiful
- Yotsuya Mensho Suzy House [UPDATE] Shinjuku Tsukemen
- A few months ago I wrote about Yotsuya Mensho Suzy House, a very unusual tsukemen, or dipping noodle, store in Shinjuku, that serves slices of lemon w
- Chanko Nabe Shinzan 心山 in Shinjuku - Eat like a sumo wrestler!
- "I'm so hungry, I want to eat till I'm bursting! At the same time, it must taste great and not break the bank" I explained to my friend Shigenobu-san,
- One day in Tokyo’s secret gourmet town
- “If you spent the whole day in Arakicho, Tokyo’s secret gourmet town, where would you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner?” my Tadaima Japan colleague Mis
- How to choose sake - check the prefecture
- If you are interested in sake then it’s important to understand what factors can influence its taste. One factor is the place where it was brewed. Unt
- Beer, etc...Belgian Beers and More in Arakicho, Shinjuku
- “If you don’t like beer, try Belgian beer” is something I often find myself saying. The main reason is that among the hundreds of different kinds of B
- 10 Train Travel Tips to help you get around the Tokyo area
- If you have found yourself perplexed and confused by the transportation system in Japan, you aren’t alone. In fact, even the Japanese themselves make