Planning a trip to Japan? Here’s a detailed calendar to help you navigate Japanese public holidays, when transportation may be crowded, and store hours may vary. Japan’s holidays at a glance: Two-year calendar (2024-2025) Holiday 2024 2025 New Year’s Day January 1 (Mon) January 1 (Wed) Coming of Age Day January 8 (Mon) January 13 (Mon) National Foundation Day February…
Vegan cuisine, which excludes animal products like meat, fish, and honey, is sometimes perceived as bland or unexciting by those unfamiliar with it. However, a visit to “Cosme Kitchen Adaptation” in Shibuya, Tokyo, is sure to change that perception. Cosme Kitchen Adaptation’s signature dish packed with 20 Types of vegetables At Cosme Kitchen Adaptation, the must-try dish is the “All…
In the Nakameguro area of Tokyo, there’s a shop displaying a sign that says “Onigily Cafe” with a facade resembling a chic dessert cafe. It specializes in Japanese rice balls, a word usually spelled onigiri in English but intentionally stylized as “onigily” by the shop. The onigiri and side dishes offered here are made with carefully selected ingredients and are…
Sushi is almost always at the top of the list for international visitors wanting to experience Japanese cuisine. With time, we’ve seen more creative takes on traditional sushi, adding originality to the mix. In recent years, vegan sushi has developed as a new genre, and you can experience it at “Vegan Sushi Tokyo” in Shibuya. Vegan sushi with a focus…
When it comes to bakery shops, finding one that offers freshly made bread at any time of the day is a rare treat. At “dacō Nakameguro,” located in the trendy Nakameguro area of Tokyo, nearly 40 different types of bread are freshly baked or finished just before being served, ensuring that every bite is as fresh as possible. Not only…
When you visit Japan, staying in a hotel or ryokan (traditional inn) can offer a unique cultural experience, but navigating the language barrier can be challenging. Here are essential phrases to enhance your stay and communicate effectively with the staff. Feel free to use this article during your interactions with your hotel or ryokan and point out the phrases you…
The luxury of indulging in your favorite foods to your heart’s content—this is the dream that all-you-can-eat dining makes a reality. At “Shabu-shabu Sushi Hassan,” in the cosmopolitan Roppongi neighborhood of Tokyo, you can relish an all-you-can-eat menu featuring sukiyaki or shabu-shabu hot pots made with high-quality domestic beef. But that’s not all. You can also indulge in around 20…
Udon is one of Japan’s traditional noodle dishes. Whether served in a hot soup or cold with a side of dipping broth, the thick and chewy wheat noodles are a staple of classic Japanese cuisine. Just about anywhere you travel in the country, you can almost always count on finding an udon shop. However, if you’d like to try out…
Getting around Japan can be challenging if you’re unfamiliar with the language, but knowing a few key phrases can make your journey much smoother, whether you’re traveling by train, bus, taxi, or on foot. This article covers the top 16 essential phrases to help you find your way in Japan. Feel free to use this article while navigating and point…
Japanese convenience stores, (referred to in shorthand in Japanese as conbini or konbini) are more than just a quick stop for snacks—they’re a treasure trove of surprising and incredibly useful products and services. Here are a few highlights of the unexpected goods and services found at convenience stores in Japan that help them live up to their name. For travelers…
Sharing a nabe (Japanese hot pot or stew) with others is always fun, but enjoying it at your own pace is a pleasure of its own. If you want to relish a meal without any distractions, head to “Shabu-Shabu Retasu Shibuya Center-gai” in the popular Shibuya neighborhood of Tokyo, where you can have a nabe all to yourself. Savor Kobe…
Located in Asakusa, “seafoods restaurant MEXICO Asakusa” is an eatery where you can enjoy fresh seafood. (Please note that restaurant sometimes spells “Mexico” as “Mehico” on their menu and signage.) Among their many dishes, their pilaf featuring snow crab is a popular item loved by many. “伝統のカニピラフ（Sサイズ）,” Traditional MEHIKO Fried Rice 1,738 JPY (tax included) Popular since the restaurant’s founding!…
Hokkaidō, Japan’s northernmost island, is a culinary paradise renowned for its pristine ingredients and unique dishes. From the freshest seafood to hearty bowls of ramen, Hokkaido’s diverse cuisine reflects its rich natural environment and deep-rooted traditions. This article will help serve as a guide to the must-try foods during your travel to Hokkaido. Dine on these exquisite dishes to warm…
Nestled in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward, Hebikubo Shrine is dedicated to the white snake, a revered creature believed to be a divine messenger. The shrine sees a surge of visitors on the “Day of the Snake,” an auspicious occasion that takes place every 12 days and is considered especially lucky. To find out when the next Day of the Snake will…
When it comes to truth in advertisement, the seafood bowl at “Nihonbashi Kaisendon Tsujihan ARK Hills” in Tokyo doesn’t disappoint. Their signature dish, called the “Zeitaku Don” (literally, “extravagant rice bowl”), is so over-the-top that anyone who sees it will agree it’s the height of indulgence. “ぜいたく丼（特上）,” Zeitaku Don Tokujo (Supreme) Course 3,600 JPY (tax included) The Zeitaku Don is…