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Ghosts of Japan
November 8, 2021
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Japan is a country filled with stories of ghosts, demons and monsters. Its literature, art and films are rich with the fantastical. They are taken very seriously and are treated with reverence and fear in equal measure. Even the Prime Minister is wary of them.
With such prevalence in the…
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Hiking the Fushimi Inari-Taisha mountain trail
September 23, 2021
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Entrance to the Fushimi Inari-taisha walking trail
Fushimi Inari-taisha (伏見稲荷) is one of the most famous shrines in not only Kyoto, but Japan itself. It is a shrine with one difference in particular setting it apart from most of the others: an entire day is required to experience all of…
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Ichiran restaurant – the ultimate private dining experience
August 30, 2021
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A bowl of tonkotsu ramen at Ichiran
Ichiran ramen restaurant has an unorthodox style. It’s a place where you can eat some of the finest ramen in Japan, without interacting with a single waiter. The experience is designed for maximum efficiency and comfort, leaving you to enjoy your mouth-watering bowl…
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Cicada Hunting - セミとり
July 20, 2021
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An abura zemi in full view
One of the characteristics of summer in Japan is the sound of cicadas.
Every morning I am woken up by their energetic and relentless chirping.
When I first came to Japan, I was amazed at the power of their sound reverberating around the area.…
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Japanese comedy on TV
July 9, 2021
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There are a few certainties when you visit Japan. The trains will run on time, the customer service will be exceptional and the TV schedules will be clogged up with variety shows.
These shows will be full of giggling pundits commenting on the day’s news, interviewing celebrities or partaking in…
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Nara in a day – Exploring Hase-dera and Todaiji-temple
June 21, 2021
The city of Nara is an important part of Japan’s rich history. It was the country’s first capital when it was established in the year 710 and it is also the spiritual home of Buddhism. As a result, there is a lot of ancient history to unlock in this beautiful…
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Depachika - an underground food lover’s paradise
May 21, 2021
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Department stores in Japan tend to be huge buildings filled with every commodity imaginable. But what makes these stores different from most, is that they contain a vast labyrinth of food stalls that take up the building’s entire basement floor. This area is called ‘depachika’, which mixes the word depato …
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Jigokudani Monkey Park
May 6, 2021
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High up in the mountainous region of Nagano Prefecture, in a little town called Yamanouchi (山ノ内), lies Jigokudani Monkey Park (地獄谷野猿公苑). Here you can come upon the remarkable sight of a large population of Japanese macaques - or “snow monkeys” - submerging themselves in the local natural hot springs.
Getting…
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Crazy for Conbini Coffee
March 26, 2021
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Japanese cities are powered by workers on the go. As a result, they need to fuel themselves to keep going. Naturally, caffeine is one of the most popular fuels making coffee big business in Japan.
For anyone who’s spent a large amount of time in Japan, you’ll notice coffee is…
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“Yuru-chara” in Japan
March 17, 2021
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If you’ve lived in Japan for a while, then you have probably encountered a ”yuru-chara (ゆるキャラ)”, or ”laidback character”. These are bright, cuddly characters which represent places, regions, events, food, businesses – even prisons. They are created as a means of engaging the population in the country’s institutions and heritage.…