Travel Tips

Moerenuma Park, a landmark park in the outskirts of Sapporo City, was designed by Japanese-American sculpture artist Isamu Noguchi.
Opened in 2005 as a work of sculpture in itself, Moerenuma Park is renowned for its duality as an expansive art park and a place for the locals to unwind in the middle of greenery.
Here, we'll take you inside and share some of the ways both kids and adults can enjoy spending time at the park.
Main image: Terence Toh Chin Eng / Shutterstock.com
Moerenuma Park: Born from the concept of a “single unified piece of sculpture”
Going beyond the traditional limits of sculpture, the designer of the park, Isamu Noguchi, was a sculptor whose landscaping and design can be described as “sculpting the earth.”
The most significant milestone in his work on Moerenuma Park is the fact that the entire place is an artwork in itself. The land the park was built on was cleared to make it have synergy with the vast nature that surrounds the site, along with man-made mounta..

Summers in Japan are known for high temperatures, high humidity, and uncomfortable weather. And so far, summer 2022 has been hotter than usual. But don't worry – Shibuya Loft has you covered!
With lots of innovative, new trends to bring some relief to your muggy Japanese summers, here are some of the latest, attention-grabbing goods to help you chill out for summer 2022.
Beat the Heat with Popular Summer Goods from Shibuya Loft
Look for the colorful gears at the entrance!
Loft is a shop specializing in miscellaneous daily goods that are popular in Japan, including stationery, character goods, cosmetics, kitchen wares, and interior items.
Today we visit Shibuya Loft, the flagship store just a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station. With seven floors and about 80,000 goods to choose from, Shibuya Loft is a hub for Japanese trends that always has the latest items on hand.
To prevent coronavirus infection, the entrance and exit are separated in a one-way direction, with a temperature ch..

If you’re looking to work in Japan, check back here each week as we look through our database of top jobs in Japan posted to GaijinPot and showcase some of the most interesting ones.

You can apply directly to these companies by creating a profile on GaijinPot Jobs!

Game TesterCompany: Lionbridge JapanSalary: ¥1,050 ~ ¥1,200 / HourLocation: Kanagawa, JapanEnglish: Business levelJapanese: ConversationalApplication: Must currently reside in JapanLionbridge is looking for Game Testers to carefully validate games' quality of functionality and gameplay.
Your main duties will be running test cases, reporting bugs and ensuring customer satisfaction.
You must have business-level English, extensive gaming experience and up-to-date knowledge of various genres. Students and Working Holiday visa holders are very welcome.
Share this Job Apply Here
Operating Staff for “teamLab Planets” Art MuseumCompany: PlanetsSalary: ¥1,200 ~ ¥1,450 / HourLocation: Tokyo, JapanEnglish: Business levelJapane..

Each country has its own entertainment and comedy traditions. Many people all over the world love watching funny home videos where kids or animals do silly things or of things going wrong in some unexpected way. Quick-witted stand-up comedy shows are also a popular form of entertainment in many parts of the world. When thinking about Japanese-style entertainment, TV shows like ‘Silent Library’ or silly Japanese variety shows centered around slapstick humor might come to mind. While this type of Japanese comedy can be hilarious at times, you might be in the mood for something more witty and refined. In that case, rakugo, a traditional way of Japanese storytelling, might […]

Gotokuji Temple, located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, is a Buddhist temple that is said to be the birthplace of the maneki-neko, or “luck-inviting cat figurine.”
These small statues, which portray a cat sitting up and beckoning with its front paw, have become quite popular all over the world with cat-lovers.
Although there are many different kinds of maneki-neko raising either their right or left paws, Gotokuji Temple specializes in the right-pawed version of this good-luck symbol.
Maneki Neko: The Lucky Cats of Japan
The legend behind Gotokuji Temple
Temple legend states that during the early 17th century, Ii Naotaka (then the second lord of the Omi-Hikone Domain) escaped from being caught in a sudden thunderstorm after being invited inside the temple by a cat that lived there.
To show his gratitude to the cat, Naotaka decided to dedicate the temple to the Ii clan. After Naotaka passed away, the temple was renamed to Gotokuji, from his posthumous Buddhist name “Kyushoin-den Gotok..

The inland areas of Aomori Prefecture are dotted with some of Japan’s best spots for autumn leaves, including Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada. The morning to evening temperature variance is notable. Although differences depend on the location, the hardwoods turn red and yellow from mid-October to early November every year, creating a vivid gradation in the landscape.
You can further enjoy the scenery while basking in the comfort of local hot spring ryokan inns. Here are three onsen ryokan where you can relax and enjoy the autumn colors of Aomori while avoiding crowds.
1. Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen: Enjoy the autumn leaves away from the city (Aoni Onsen, Kuroishi City)
Lamp no Yado Aoni Onsen is located in the Aoni Valley in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, and is a well-known “secret” hot spring inn.
From Hirosaki Station, take the Konan Railway to Kuroishi Station, about a 30-minute trip, then take the Konan Bus for 30 minutes and get off at Nijinoko Park. A dedicated shuttle bus runs fr..

Amami Oshima is the largest of the eight Amami Islands, an archipelago lying southwest of Kyushu and part of Kagoshima Prefecture. In July 2021, Amami Oshima and the neighboring Tokunoshima were added to UNESCO’s list of World Nature Heritage Sites in recognition of their unique ecosystems and native fauna and flora. The island is excellent for swimming, snorkeling and boating. Like most visitors, my partner and I enjoyed a kayak tour at the Mangrove Park during our weekend getaway, but there is so much more to do.

There are flights from multiple airports around Japan and a ferry service between Amami Oshima and Kagoshima. A rental car is the most convenient way to explore the island. Additionally, there’s a bus service provided by Shimabus.

Here are five nature-themed attractions and activities you shouldn’t miss when visiting Amami Oshima.

1. Night tour of the local wildlife
Photo: WikiCommons/ Ales BucekThe star of the show, Amami rabbit.
It was raining when we met our nature gui..

Are you a true fashionista and regularly treating yourself to a new addition for your wardrobe? The ordinary clothing industry, unfortunately, has a negative impact on the environment, and standard brands don’t always have their garments manufactured in an ethically responsible manner. But the good news is that sustainability has become progressively more important for many brands over the last few decades, and certain brands see it as their mission to make only environmentally and socially sustainable clothes. Sustainable fashion saves natural resources, doesn’t harm animals and supports fair and safe working conditions. In Japan, there are several local brands that care about sustainability. While sustainably produced clothing may be […]

People have been consuming 'donburi' (rice bowls) in Japan since the Edo Period (1603-1868). Donburi typically consist of a generous helping of white rice, topped with various ingredients, such as seafood or beef. And while many enjoy these popular donburi on their own, if you head to the hip and trendy town of Shibuya, you'll discover an exciting variation that lets you enjoy both at the same time!
This dish is called the 'Meat Dress Kaisendon' and is an indulgent donburi dish combining A5-rank Japanese Black beef and Hokkaido sea urchin and salmon roe in one bowl.
The shop, which has the same name as the dish, has become a social media hit since its opening in 2019. Even today, it's not uncommon to experience a 30-minute wait when visiting on weekends.
Here, we'll introduce everything you need to know about Meat Dress Kaisendon, and its must-try dish that lets you sample the finest Japanese beef and seafood in Japan!
Meat Dress Kaisendon: A Special..

Uji matcha tea is one of Japan's leading brands of green teas, along with Shizuoka and Sayama tea. This popular tea comes from Uji, Kyoto, the birthplace of the tea cultivation methods used to this day.
Standing amongst the quaint cityscape is Nakamura Tokichi Honten, a Japanese teahouse founded in 1854 and designated as an Important Cultural Landscape in 2009. Today, we paid a visit to try this delicious Uji matcha tea for ourselves. Rest assured that measures against COVID are firmly in place.
Uji matcha: a popular tea since long ago
The history of Uji tea dates back to the Kamakura Period (1185-1333). It was introduced to Japan by Eisai Zenji, the founder of the Japanese sect of Zen Buddhism. Full-scale tea cultivation began when Eisai decided to plant the tea trees grown from seeds he brought back from China in Uji.
Thanks to the Uji region's fog-producing diurnal effect and abundant rainfall, it was a prime location for producing high-quality tea. Even more cultivation ..