Gyopao Gyoza Roppongi
ABOUT Japanese and Taiwanese fusion restaurant where you can enjoy pork-gyoza (ravioli, dumplings) which earned #1 ranking on Tripadvisor. The small and retro spot is… Read More »Gyopao Gyoza Roppongi
ABOUT Japanese and Taiwanese fusion restaurant where you can enjoy pork-gyoza (ravioli, dumplings) which earned #1 ranking on Tripadvisor. The small and retro spot is… Read More »Gyopao Gyoza Roppongi
Ginzan Onsen is one of Japan's most popular onsen towns, nestled among the scenic mountains of Yamagata's Obanazawa City. One of the go-to hot springs towns for the people of the Tohoku region, it's a trendy destination for visitors from abroad as well.
Here we'll take you around this incredible area, where you can experience a magical atmosphere unique to Japan!
One of Yamagata Prefecture's Best Hot Springs Villages
Ginzan Onsen is filled with quaint ryokan inns and other buildings that will spirit you away to a magical world
Located in the northern part of Japan, Ginzan Onsen is in Yamagata Prefecture in the Tohoku area, facing the Sea of Japan.
Yamagata itself is dotted with hot springs, with pretty much every town and village having at least one.
Amongst these, Ginzan Onsen in Obanazawa City is especially famous. Built between the 1920s and 1930s, the numerous wooden structures of the ryokan constructed there were joined up, forming the onsen town it is t..
Japanese culture can get pretty weird when looking at it from an outside perspective. LIVE JAPAN asked different people about their thoughts about the culture of Japan, and about their personal culture shocks. This time, a woman from the United States, living in Japan for a long time, talks about her unique experience.
(The following reflects the personal opinions of those interviewed only)
1. The Weird Tastes and Names of Original Japanese Food
Japanese food is one of the things that is responsible for one or the other culture shock. Naturally, a lot of Japan’s dishes have their roots in American food culture but usually are uniquely arranged and can taste rather different from their counterparts in the States – at least for someone who is used to the American taste!
“McDonald’s tastes the same, of course, but it is interesting to see that Japan’s McDonald’s offers very Japanese things like the matcha milkshake or McFlurry. The pumpkin fries for Halloween or the chocolate sauce fries,..
Japan is a country for people who love bicycles. High gas prices, convenient roads, and safety laws make cycling a cheaper alternative than cars or trains for many people.
Moreover, riding bicycles allows you to explore anything interesting en route and get a more local feel while connecting the major points of interest in any big city or neighborhood.
The question is: Which bicycle is best for you? Choosing a bike can be confusing, but we’ve narrowed it down to what kind of riding you plan to do, your lifestyle and your budget.
How to choose your bike
Photo: iStock/ AbabsolutumJoin the club!
The most important thing to consider is the purpose of your rides. Are you planning to use your bike only to get to the supermarket or the station? Then perhaps a trusty mama-chari (mom’s bike) is the right bike for you. Regarding your lifestyle, road bikes are a better match if you’re looking to get more fit and cover longer distances.
Next, think about your budget. Second-hand shops in your ..
Sado Island (Sadogashima / 佐渡島), one of Japan's largest islands, is located off the coast of Niigata Prefecture. With its unique history, Sado Island was once known as a place of exile.
However, today it is a destination for those off the beaten path, famous not only for its stunning natural scenery but also for being one of the few places in which Japan's traditional culture is preserved.
Here we'll introduce sightseeing spots and experiences that you will not want to miss out on when visiting Sado Island, as well as how to get there.
A microcosm of Japan: What kind of place is Sadogashima?
Sado Island, also known as Sadogashima, is the largest island on the side of the Sea of Japan, with a size that is one-and-a-half times that of central Tokyo.
In the surrounding ocean, warm and cold currents intersect, resulting in various types of seafood such as crab, shrimp, squid, amberjack, and tuna being caught, as well as an abundance of products of the sea such as oysters,..
Autumn is the most colorful season of the year in Japan. Mountains are dyed in beautiful reds and yellows. Maples become a blazing crimson hue, and golden ginkgo trees paint the tree-lined roads. You can truly feel the depth of autumn by simply walking around and admiring the colors of the trees.
This tradition is known as momijigari, or “autumn-leaf hunting,” and during the fall season, it's not uncommon to be invited by friends and family to go on an “autumn leaf hunt!”
Here, we talk to Yutaka Miura, an active forest guide who has visited more than 3,000 forests and natural attractions in Japan. Here he will introduce the various ways you can enjoy momijigari and the beautiful autumn leaves of Japan.
What is Momijigari?
The Japanese word momijigari, or “autumn-leaves hunting,” can translate literally to “maple-leaves hunting.” It refers to the activity of viewing the red-and-yellow painted trees while strolling around fields through the crisp autumn air.
Although the word “gari..
The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is a popular snow and ice festival in Hokkaido, held from February 4–11, 2023, at Sapporo's Odori Park. One of this delightful festival's charms is getting to enjoy the many strikingly detailed snow sculptures that are exhibited.
Here we'll share what the festival is all about, and how you can enjoy it to the fullest, too!
Book now! Hotels in Hokkaido for the Sapporo Snow Festival
What is the Sapporo Snow Festival?
Since its start in 1950, the Sapporo Snow Festival has been an annually celebrated winter tradition. This year, it's scheduled to be held for the 72nd time. The main attraction at this event is the various-sized snow sculptures.
Welcoming up to five meters of snow yearly, Sapporo is in a region with hefty snowfall. Each year, 30,000 tons of snow are gathered to make impressive snow sculptures using heavy machinery.
Here you can find of range of sculptures with different themes. Some of these include sculpt..
The Osaka Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri, in which giant floats are pulled, is one of the most magnificent spectacles in Osaka and draws over 400,000 spectators every year.
It’s held over two days every September on the weekend before Respect for the Aged Day, on the third Monday of the month. The Saturday (two days before) is called yomiya and Sunday (the day before) is called motomiya.
In 2022, the festival will be held for the first time in three years!
Today we’re visiting Kishiwada, the town where the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is held, to find out a bit more about its universal charm and appeal.
The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival means fall is on its way to Osaka Bay
Dashi (floats) are used at festivals all over the country, and the danjiri (festival carts) used around the Kinki region are also called dashi. It’s said there are as many as 500 floats in use for local festivals in Nara, Wakayama prefecture and the Kinki region, mainly around the Osaka Bay coastline and Awaji Island.
Accor..
One of Japan’s cultural staples is hot springs (onsen) and public baths. While it’s common for Japanese people, they raise many questions among foreign visitors.
We asked Dr. Yasuaki Goto, a specialist in baths and a researcher with the Japan Health Development Foundation, to answer some questions that foreigners have when it comes to Japanese hot springs and public baths.
Lots of interesting content follows; some things would surprise even Japanese people!
1. What is the correct order of things to do before entering the bath? Should you shower after hot springs?
――Theoretically, any order is fine, but to keep the bath clean, etiquette dictates to wash oneself before entering the bath itself. To get your body accustomed to the heat, you should first take a shower. Washing your body after a bath makes cleaning yourself easier, so the most straightforward might be to “rinse yourself → bathe → wash yourself.”
2. Do Japanese people really drink sake while bathing?
――You may have an idea o..
It’s the middle of summer and I step off the overnight bus from Osaka. I was pleasantly surprised by clear blue skies when I expected another typical muggy day in Japan. The destination is Kawaguchi, on the north side of Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture.
My companions were a bunch of buddies from Kobe, two experienced campers and three amateurs. Wiping the sleep from our eyes, we marched towards the banks of Lake Kawaguchi where we make our camp.
Establishing basecamp
Photo: Fergus GreggThe weary travelers rest after setting up camp.
Situated next to the bridge that spans Lake Kawaguchi, the New Bridge Campsite was where we chose to spend the next three nights. For three nights of camping and access to the amenities, I paid ¥4,000.
As the others were tired from the trip, I elected to go on the first supply run, but I’d need transport. Lucky for me, just down the road from the campsite was the hotel Shiki no Yado Fujisan, which rented me a bike for three days for ¥1,200.
Photo: iS..