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Hiyashi chuka is my go-to dish as soon as it’s warm enough to stop wearing long sleeves. The cool noodles and the refreshing tang of the vinegar really hit the spot on a hot summer night, and it helps that there’s not a lot of cooking to do, so I’m not sweating buckets by the time I sit down to eat.

Hiyashi chuka is a customizable cold noodle dish using the same egg noodles often used in ramen, called “chuka men” (Chinese noodles). Although there are tons of variations (and you’re welcome to try your own), for this Japanese Recipe Adventure, we’ll take a look at the style you’ll most commonly find in Japan. But it will be much better because you’ll have made it yourself!

Ingredients
Photo: Cassandra LordPractically a noodle salad.
This recipe makes two bowls of hiyashi chuka.

For the noodles and toppings:

2 portions of chuka men (or any other egg noodle)
1 egg
Oil as needed
2 slices of ham
1 Japanese cucumber (or half an English cucumber)
Half a large tomato
Mustard and beni shoga ..

Japan's northeastern region of Tohoku is known for its abundant nature, making it perfect for glamping in the warmer months.
When glamping in Tohoku, you can enjoy staying in stylish tents and lodges, outdoor barbeques with the family, as well as cozy quality time around a bonfire. It's the perfect chance to enjoy a luxurious camping experience without the hassle of setting up tents or preparing supplies.
With facilities leaving guests feeling pampered through hotel-class services, more and more have been popping up throughout Japan!
Here we will introduce five glamping sites in the Tohoku region that you're sure to enjoy.
Main image: yamagata glam
1. Hawaiians Glamping Mauna Village (Fukushima Prefecture)
(Photo Courtesy of: Joban Kosan, Ltd)
To get to Hawaiians Glamping Mauna Village, you can take the JR Joban Line’s limited express train, Hitachi, from Tokyo Station to Yumoto Station (approximately two hours and ten minutes). From here, Spa Resort Hawaiians’ free sh..

COVID-19 entry restrictions are still in place in Japan. If you are thinking about traveling to Japan, you can check this regularly updated page and find out what you need to visit the country.

Below you’ll find information about visa suspensions, vaccine and quarantine requirements, and other coronavirus measures in Japan.

Can I Travel to Japan Now?
Yes, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced that Japan is opening its borders to international tourist travel from 98 countries for the first time in over 2 years.

The reopening follows a successful trial of allowing small groups of tourists from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and the USA into the country in late May.

The move is intended to put Japan more in line with the other G7 countries such as the UK and US, which now allow quarantine-free travel for vaccinated visitors.

From June 10th, international tourist flights can land at either New Chitose airport in Hokkaido or Naha airport in Okinawa, in addition to Tokyo’..

Did you know that the country of Japan is actually a series of islands? The four largest islands – Hokkaido, the main island of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu – form a long, narrow shape and provide ample coastline against the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Sea of Japan to the west.

Additionally, over 3,000 small islands surround the Japanese mainland, most notably the southern island of Okinawa and the 150 islands of its prefecture.

What does this mean for the summer traveler? There is plenty to do on the beaches of Japan, from soaking up the sun and building sand castles to surfing and other water sports.

Before you start planning your Japanese beach vacation, though, consider the information contained in this handy travel guide. You’ll learn the best times to visit each beach as well as valuable information on how to get there using your Japan Rail Pass.

Naoshima Island
The Seto Inland Sea lies between the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, and the beaches along this sea ex..

There are countless local festivals (祭り, matsuri) in Japan each year. They are all spectacular, extravagant, and fun but also unique. Each celebration is based around an individual shrine which pays tribute to a different deity or a famous historical event.

The celebrations vary greatly as each has features based upon the specific shrine but hey also have many similarities. Almost all of them involve energetic processions where thousands of people dance, chant, and dress up in special clothes.

Fleets of huge, breathtaking, colorful floats (omikoshi) parade through town centers and locals put up decorations. Some of the festivals also feature some incredible fireworks displays.

Street food is not as typical in Japan as many other countries in Asia. However, during matsuri festivals, the streets are lined with food stalls (yatai) selling special types of seasonal snacks with vary from festival to festival.

Though most matsuri festivals are held over the summer months, they take place..

The Obon festival (お盆, also known as Bon festival) is an annual Japanese holiday which commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit their relatives.

Chochin (paper) lanterns are hung to guide the spirits and Obon dances (bon odori) are performed. Families have reunions and visit the graves of their relatives and make food offerings at altars and temples.

It is observed from the 13th to the 15th day of the 7th month. However, according to the solar calendar the 7th month is July but according to the lunar calendar, the 7th month is August. Obon is therefore celebrated at different times in different regions depending on which calendar is observed.

The official dates are August 13-15 though it will be celebrated between July 13-15 in some places. The Obon week in mid-August is one of Japan’s three major holiday seasons making it one of the busiest times of the year for traveling. Many Japanese people will leave their cit..

Japan’s rainy season starts in early summer, between May and July, depending on the region. The period is called Tsuyu (also pronounced baiyu) which translates to “plum rain” as the season coincides with the ripening of Japan’s plums.

The wet weather is caused by cold winds from the north colliding wind warm southern winds which create several weeks of rain. The amount of rainfall varies dramatically from year to year. Some years are exceptionally wet whereas other years barely see any rain.

When is the rainy season in Japan?
In most japanese regions (including Tokyo), the rainy season runs from the beginning of June to mid July. However, both the north and south of Japan experience it differently. The other thing to bear in mind is that the further west you go, the higher the chance of rain.

Hokkaido and the Ogasawara islands barely experience any rain at all over these weeks. This doesn’t mean the weather there is perfect, there weather can be cold and cloudy during this period. I..

Noboribetsu, located in central Hokkaido, is one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts with the source of its springs found in Noboribetsu Jigokudani.
A promenade in Jigokudani (literally “Hell Valley”) makes it possible for tourists to walk safely through this mysterious volcanic area. Read on for our guide to the charms of Noboribetsu and some of the food and souvenirs you can buy there.
What is Noboribetsu Jigokudani?
Noboribetsu Jigokudani is a crater formed by the eruption of the Kuttara volcano. It has a diameter of about 450 meters, an area of about 11 hectares, and is dotted with numerous pools and fumaroles.
The volcanic activity has crated high-quality natural hot springs, with 10,000 tons of water a day flowing to inns and hotels in the Noboribetsu Onsen (hot spring) district.
The origin of the name “Jigokudani” (“Hell Valley”) comes from the impression given by the area's bubbling, boiling hot water that's said to look like “hell, where demons live.”
As a ..

Hirafu Village Main St in Niseko

When will the Japan border open for tourism? That has been the burning question in the lead-up to the past two winter seasons, both of which have seen international Japow lovers with ever-itchier feet, and locals normally reliant on the travel industry suffering big financial losses.

The silver lining for those remaining in Japan’s leading resorts has included uncharacteristically short lift lines on opening days, and an abundance of untracked turns to be enjoyed across the mountain.

The optimistic side of having near-empty resorts to enjoy only goes so far, and everyone in Japan’s ailing tourism sector is hoping to welcome the rest of the world back as soon as possible.

Japan May Allow Tourist Groups From June
In promising news for Japan’s tourism industry, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke in London late last week about easing pandemic-related border restrictions in line with other wealthy democracies from June. According to several government ..