Travel Tips

Osaka is one of Japan’s biggest cities, rich in culture and history, great for sightseeing, and for shopping in some interesting malls! There are many shopping malls in Osaka’s various districts, all of them offering something unique.
No matter where your Osaka journey takes you or what you want to buy, there is certain to be a mall in Osaka that will fit right into your travel itinerary.
Here we will introduce a ranking of 15 shopping malls that were popular among our readers through various social networks. Among all of the shopping facilities in Osaka that we have introduced on Live Japan, these are the ones that have made the most impact. Read on to find out where to shop in Osaka!
1. Yodobashi Umeda Tower / LINKS UMEDA: Everything from Electronics to Fashion
Yodobashi Umeda Tower is a commercial complex that opened in 2019 on the north side of JR Osaka Station.
This mall includes Yodobashi Multimedia Umeda, LINKS UMEDA, a collection of around 200 commercial facilities, and Hote..

When planning your itinerary, inevitably you'll wonder what to eat in Hokkaido. From “Very delicious!” to “This is a bit different,” Hokkaido is a treasure trove of unique food, known for its seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and other fresh farm produce.
These culinary delights attract tourists from all over the world, so we asked tourists from abroad to share what are the must-eat foods in Hokkaido.
*The following are the personal impressions of those interviewed.
‘So different to Chinese ramen!’ The unique evolution of Hokkaido ramen
A Chinese man commenting on Hokkaido ramen said, “Japanese people sometimes call ramen ‘Chinese noodles,’ but normal Chinese noodles have a texture similar to udon noodles and are completely different from ramen. Hokkaido's ramen has a wide variety of flavors and tastes differ depending on the shop and region, so you’ll never get tired of eating it. Hokkaido ramen shops have also expanded into China as ‘Japanese-style ramen,’ but h..

So you’ve made the decision to tie the knot, congratulations! But getting the perfect ring in Japan can be quite a daunting task. With all the different jewelry shops and the overwhelming selection, it’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit lost.

Hopefully, here we’ll demystify the process a bit and help you find a great ring you’ll be proud to wear every day.

How to start
Photo: iStock/nycshooterThey all look the same to me!
Before you consider visiting a ring shop, you should have the basics figured out first.

Some good things to think about before going ring shopping are:

Budget (factoring in costs per ring)
Who’s paying
By when do you want the rings
How do you want to propose

You don’t have to have specific answers for each, but it’s good to at least have an idea. There’s no use heading to an expensive shop if your budget won’t allow it, or if you’ve suddenly realized you didn’t budget for the engagement ring, only the wedding rings.

It’s also good to know roughly when you’..

Ah, the joys of a Japanese summer.
Back in 2019, U.S. egg specialty restaurant chain Eggslut opened its first store in Japan. Located in Shinjuku, our reporter Mr Sato was one of the first in line on opening day to get a taste of an Eggslut sandwich, and since then he’s always been meaning to return for another bite, but for one reason or another he just never got around to it.
That all changed this week, when Mr Sato heard the chain had added a Japan-exclusive “Unatama Egg Sandwich” to the menu. He happened to be in Shibuya on another assignment at the time, but luckily for him there was a new branch in the area, located at Shibuya Miyashita Park, so he dropped everything he was doing and made a beeline for the store.
▼ “Why hello, Eggslut! Long time no see!”
The new sandwich is only on the Eggslut menu from 20 July to 31 August, and the reason why it’s a summer-only thing is because of the star ingredient — unagi, or in English, “eel”.
In Japan, eel is eaten in summer to help combat ..

Shizuoka is known for several things, one of them being the famous Mount Fuji. But did you know Shizuoka is also famous for tea? Shizuoka, nicknamed 'the town of tea,' is amongst Japan's popular sightseeing destinations and is quick and easy to get to from the city. Just hop on the Shinkansen Hikari Line from Tokyo Station! You'll arrive at Shizuoka Station in only one hour.
Traditional tea-related crafts and experiences await you in Shizuoka. Explore the vast tea gardens, pick your own tea leaves, and enjoy a freshly-brewed cup on the terrace overlooking the gardens.
For today's trip, we follow Bella and Chia-chi from LIVE JAPAN's editorial team as they partake in several tea-related experiences in Shizuoka, such as tea harvesting at Tea Museum, Shizuoka, sampling fresh brews at Ihachi Nouen's tea garden terrace, and ochazome, or tea dyeing, at Takumi-shuku's craft workshop.
These hands-on experiences offer an up close and personal look into t..

From October to November, you can enjoy Japanese maple, and ginkgo trees as the color of their leaves slowly start to transform into striking yellows and reds. What’s more, these trees can often be seen around traditional tourist spots, including temples, shrines, traditional Japanese gardens, and even trains!
You won’t want to miss out on this limited-time event. Enjoy stopping by the uniquely Japanese spots for fall foliage in Osaka, Hyogo, and Wakayama Prefecture with a camera in hand!
Image credit: Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
1. Mount Koya (Wakayama Prefecture): Admire fall leaves from a sacred site in the sky
Image credit: Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Located in the northern region of Wakayama Prefecture, Mount Koya looks like a basin compared to the range of 1,000-meter-tall mountains that surround it.
Around 1200 years ago, this mountain became a sacred site for Shingon Buddhism due to the many shrines established by the Japanese monk, Kukai (Kobo Daishi). Here you c..

Does my lady desire assistance in coordinating an outfit?
Swallowtail, located in the Ikebukuro neighborhood, is one of Tokyo’s most popular butler cafes, where handsome, smartly dressed men offer suave service to customers as they sip their herbal tea and dine on finger sandwiches and delicate pastries.
▼ Swallowtail butler cafe
However, a truly cultured lady knows that a butler’s role is not just to provide attentive assistance during high tea, but also while putting together an outfit of appropriate elegance for excursions to the theater, symphony, or doujinshi fan event. It’s for that purpose that Swallowtail has partnered with apparel brand Axes Femme, so that it can offer not only a butler cafe, but a butler shopping service as well.
The collaborative partners call these events “Secret Shopping.” Held at Axes Femme retail stores, participants are accompanied by a butler who offers advice and feedback in coordinating an outfit that suits her personal style and lets her shine her b..

While Hokkaido's Niseko Village is usually known for its snow and skiing in the winter, it’s time to make way for summer memories with sunshine and zip lines at Niseko Hanazono’s newest attraction.
HANAZONO ZIP WORLD has opened for summer 2022, and one of their three zip line courses is the longest in the entirety of Asia. Let’s take a look at what to expect at the resort’s latest summer activity.
Main image: Rendered image of expected completion. ©Nihon Harmony Resorts KK
What to expect at HANAZONO ZIP WORLD
The “mega zipline” at HANAZONO ZIP WORLD opened July 1, 2022, in Hanazono Niseko Resort. It was designed and constructed by Skyline Zipline Japan, part of Canada’s Skyline Zipline company, and will give you incredible views of the surrounding mountains.
Talking about the HANAZONO ZIP WORLD, Skyline Zipline mentioned that many people that have tried skydiving or bungee jumping feel that their world view has changed, but not everyone is able to experience such an extreme activ..

The New Chitose Airport is the aerial gateway to Hokkaido and is the largest airport in Hokkaido, welcoming countless tourists annually.
This airport is so well-equipped with dining facilities, gift shops, entertainment, and relaxation facilities that it is hard to believe it is an airport! Here are some especially recommended spots in New Chitose Airport for your next visit.
Check Out Part 1: (Shopping & Gourmet) A Close Look at the New Chitose Airport Terminal Building
A complete entertainment facility! Smile Road on the 3rd-floor connection area
Smile Road is the corridor that runs between the Gourmet World on the third floor of the New Chitose Airport Domestic Terminal with the International Terminal.
Along this long corridor, several facilities offer a wide range of entertainment for all age groups, such as Doraemon Wakuwaku Sky Park and Hello Kitty Happy Flight. Royce’ Chocolate World is very popular with children and tourists and a place we recommend you visit.
Smile Road (3F ..

An Odaiba view we’ll never be able to see again.
It’s not unusual to feel a little melancholy at this time of year, when summer is winding down and we’re about to head into the shorter, colder days of autumn. Today, though, we’re in an especially bittersweet mood, because Tokyo’s biggest Ferris wheel is about to close down for food, marking the end of an era for the Odaiba district.
The Palette Town entertainment complex opened in 1999, when Odaiba, a man-made island in Tokyo Bay, was Tokyo’s newest trendy spot for dining, shopping, and musical events. The complex’s Giant Sky Wheel (also known as the Daikanransha) quickly became a symbol of the neighborhood, with its 115-meter (377-foot) height making it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world at the time.
Unfortunately, Odaiba has been through some ups and downs in the years since. Sure, its status as a newly created landmass means it actually has empty space, which can be hard to find in Tokyo, and its coastline offers beautiful views ..