There are only 12 castles in Japan that have the original structure – meaning the main building wasn’t rebuilt through time. Si-take., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Hirosaki Castle, …
Japanese Tales: The Fire of the Furisode
Among the Japanese stories and legends there is that of the great Meireki fire (明 暦 の 大火, Meireki no taika) or the fire of the furisode. Let’s find out …
All You Need To Know About Kokeshi Dolls
I started to get interested in kokeshi dolls through Kimmidol, which are modern versions designed for a more Western market. As it always happens to me, I am passionate about …
Why strawberries are popular in Japan – Ichigo No Hi
Strawberries are the most beloved fruit in Japan, so much that you can find them in parfaits, daifuku mochi, and super kawaii and photogenic Christmas cakes. And they also have …
10 Things You Must Do In Yanaka
Yanaka is a neighborhood made of narrow streets, traditional houses, dozens of temples hidden in the alleys and a slow pace of life: it’s also where Yanaka Ginza is. A …
Shikifukujin Meguri: Visiting the seven Japanese gods of luck
If you want to start the new year with a good supply of luck, take a few hours to visit the temples of the seven gods of luck (Shichifukujin Meguri …
What are fukubukuro?
The first days of the year in Tokyo are full of things to do, from the emperor’s speech to fukubukuro, to simply wandering around the city. What are fukubukuro? Fukubukuro …
Osechi ryori: Japanese new year foods to attract fortune
The Japanese new year celebration is all about attracting luck and prosperity and food makes no exception: so much that there is a word for the food ensemble of January …
Mochi tradition and microwave-free recipe for the Japanese new year
It’s almost the new year, so in Japan it’s time to make mochi and attract luck on you and your family – so here I share the tradition and a …
My expat New Year in Japan
We went to Sensoji because I wanted to celebrate New Year traditionally. I remember a bunch of kids in front of us who were ahead of the police countdown and …