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This article is dedicated to the most useful apps to check while traveling in Japan. If you are scared of the fact that you simply can’t cope with Japanese writing and will get lost either in translation or the extensive Tokyo Metro system – worry no more. Our app selection is here to save the day.

Below you’ll find a detailed list of the best apps for traveling in Japan, the type of service they provide, and how to use them when visiting the country with a Japan Rail Pass!

Navitime (Japan Travel by Navitime)
Navitime for Japan is a popular app that makes navigating around the Japanese capital and the rest of the country stress-free. Apart from providing detailed information about the world’s most complex metropolis (Tokyo), it also generates:

Door-to-door route search
Voice navigation
New offline search for free WiFi spots
A train stop list that will help you confirm you are headed in the correct direction
Train delay information
Platform details for each service
Recent routes save..

Today, we’re going to check out Nemuro Hanamaru, a sushi chain popular with locals, that originated in the fishing village of Nemuro. As it’s surrounded by water on all sides, Hokkaido is where you can find exquisite sushi at great prices – even in conveyor belt sushi restaurants.
But great prices aren’t all that makes Nemuro Hanamaru special! Read on as we take you inside.
1. What’s Nemuro Hanamaru all about?
The area of Nemuro, where Nemuro Hanamaru originated, faces the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk and is where the fishing industry thrives. The public was called on to suggest names for the restaurant, and Nemuro Hanamaru eventually got its name from a submission by an older adult living in Nemuro! How, then, did this name come about?
First, Nemuro is home to many places like “Hanasakiminato” and “Hanasaki Kaidō” that have in their names ‘hana,’ which means flower in Japanese. Second, the ‘hanamaru’ is a circular hand-drawn symbol that signifies affirmation and means “very ..

Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU, located in Kawaramachi, Kyoto's premier shopping district, features high-quality ramen made by celebrated chef Yuji Iwasaki, who opened the Chinese restaurant VELROSIER and received a star in the MICHELIN Guide Kyoto Osaka 2022.
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU was also awarded the MICHELIN ranking of “Bib Gourmand,” which indicates reasonably priced yet high-quality food. Using expert Chinese cooking techniques, the irresistible “kamodashi” duck broth is worth savoring to its final drop.
Read on to learn the secrets of this delicious ramen, and add one more restaurant to your Kyoto must-eat list!
Chinese Noodles With a Modern-Japanese Twist
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU – Keep an eye out for the stylish lantern and curtain.
Kamodashi Chukasoba ROKU is located on the 2nd floor of GOOD NATURE STATION, a shopping complex directly connected to the Kyoto Takashimaya Department Store in Kawaramachi.
Taking the escalator, you'll find yourself on a floor hosting five..

As a baseball lover, I’ve had the pleasure of catching a game at every professional ballpark in Japan. Nippon Professional Baseball’s 12 teams stretch from tip to tip of the country, and how each team’s fans celebrate the game is as different as the stadiums that house them.

From Hokkaido to Kyushu, I was treated to unique ways of experiencing baseball: hearing the chants, seeing the colors and tasting the local flavors. As stubbornly conservative as the gameplay can sometimes be, the fan experience is refreshingly distinct from city to city and team to team.

Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of my experiences in every pro ballpark in the country.

Stadium Neighborhood
Regional Delights
Adult Beverages
History
In-Stadium Entertainment
Team Celebration
Fans
Exposure to Elements
Team Store and Merchandise
Overall

Stadium Neighborhood
Photo: WikiCommons/ 横浜1978The surrounding neighborhood has tons of options for post-game celebrations.
Best: DeNA Baystars
Yokohama Stadium is with..

Recently, all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurants have been popping up all over the place, drawing in crowds of groups and families. With so many side dishes, and such reasonable prices, these shops have become a hot topic as a place where you can eat your fill.
Today we check out the 298 (Nikuya) Shinsaibashi location and introduce the all-you-can-eat yakiniku menu, the ordering process, and the delicious assortment of popular side dishes.
What is 298 (Nikuya) Shinsaibashi?
From Shinsaibashi Shopping Street, head toward the landmark Daikoku Pharmacy.
The popular shop, 'All-You-Can-Eat Yakiniku 298' (pronounced 'Nikuya,' or 'meat shop'), has several branches, including one in Umeda near Osaka Station, one in the downtown area of Namba in Osaka Minami, and one in Kobe's Sannomiya.
The newest branch, which opened in March of 2022, is located in Shinsaibashi, a popular shopping spot with lines of trendy shops and fashion boutiques that cater to a wide rang..

When apartment hunting in Tokyo, it’s easy to get caught up in wanting to live right in the city center and be next to the train station. Not only are you severely limiting your options, but you might also miss out on great (more affordable) deals. There are so many other parts of Tokyo with lesser-known train lines that are just as connected to downtown, offer a great local atmosphere and are much quieter.

So, where should you start? Our guide to Lines for Living in Tokyo is here to help. Today, let’s go through a train line that runs up and down Tokyo (quite literally) called the Namboku line.

Overview
The commute
Popular neighborhoods
Best three Namboku line stations for living in Tokyo

Overview
Photo: WikiCommons/ MaedaAkihikoDuring its planning stages, the Namboku line was called the number seven line.
The Namboku Line (南北線, namboku-sen) is a teal-colored subway line owned by Tokyo Metro. In Japanese, namboku translates south to north which fits the route of this line perfectl..

Mount Takao is a mountain of beautiful natural sights located within Tokyo itself. It was given the highest rating of three-stars by travel guide Michelin Green Guide Japan and sees a large number of local and international visitors annually – highest in the world, in fact! – because of how accessible it is. Did you also know, however, that the area near Mount Takao in Hachioji town comes packed with plenty of convenient facilities such as restaurants and shopping centers, making it an ideal stopover point to consider for your mountain excursion?
It's likely not every day you get to plan a recreational trip to Mount Takao, so why not enhance your trip by dropping by one of the following five charming sightseeing or gourmet spots located nearby? The satisfaction you can glean from this quick diversion will be worth every effort you put in to getting there!
Mount Takao Ultimate Guide: The World's Most-Climbed Mountain! 13 Major Attractions, Points of Interest, and Dining Spots
..

When we first found our previous apartment in Minami Asagaya, my partner and I were thrilled. It was near a lovely park and gave us an easy commute to work. And then the coronavirus pandemic hit. Suddenly the apartment felt very, very small. Both of us were working from home and neither one could get space away from the other.

After a year of making due, our lease came up for renewal. A few months later, we finally found the perfect house for rent and moved from urban Tokyo to a semi-agricultural area located a 25-minute walk from Mitaka station in the western region of the city.

This has improved our lives, and I highly recommend it for folks who can work from home. Like everything, there are pros and cons, although I personally feel the benefits have very much outweighed the downsides.

More space
Photo: iStock/ MarucoIt’s hard to go back to a tiny apartment in central Tokyo.
While still cheap compared to cities like New York or Singapore, getting a 3LDK within the main 23 wards of..

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..

Many Japanese have a the image that Europeans, and Italians in particular, are on the cutting edge of beauty. But how do Italians born and raised in such an environment feel about Japanese beauty? I asked Italians directly to find out their uncensored opinions! (The following is the respondent's personal opinions.)
Japanese mascara is incredibly waterproof!
“I think Italians are more particular about organic and naturally derived ingredients. In Japan, we often see cosmetics at drugstore chains, but in Italy there are many small cosmetic boutiques. Japanese cosmetics are amazing because there are a variety of products that match the type of skin. And Japanese mascara seems incredibly resistant to water, which is great.” (Italian woman)
Japanese cosmetics are highly valued worldwide. One reason is for their safety and quality. Some people who have used Japanese-made cosmetics even choose to order them directly from Japan even after returning to their home country. In particular, br..