After living here for a while, here are the apps I suggest you install on your smartphone if you’re planning to visit Tokyo or live here for a while. Yurekuru Call Yurekuru Callwill alert you in case of an earthquake. You can customise the setting depending on the area you’re staying in and…
Category: Japan
Suica and Pasmo: most popular questions about Japanese metro cards
There are so many questions lately about the new metro card system, after sales of regular Pasmo and Suica stopped in August. This was apparently caused by scarcity of semiconductors used in the card chip. I would like to address some of these questions and will update if more come to mind. Can…
The 12 original castles of Japan
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, Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture Hirosaki Castle, built in 1611, is one of the most famous among tourists for the many events hosted here. The…
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 why it is called that. The fire The fire broke out in the winter of 1657, the third of the Meireki era, from…
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 the stories behind the traditions and search until I know more! What are kokeshi dolls? Kokeshi dolls are Japanese handicraft products that were…
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 a dedicated day! A brief history of Japanese strawberries Strawberries were imported to Japan from Europe in the mid 1800s, but were still…
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 – 七福神巡り). When to do shichifukujin meguri? The first seven days of the year are considered particularly lucky, however it is not unusual…
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 are mystery bags full with goodies ranging from clothes, to anime merchandise or household anime and many more. The tradition of fukubukuro was…
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 1, osechi ryori. The traditional meal of the Japanese new year is called osechi (おせち), and it’s served in lacquered boxes (jubako) that…
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 microwave-free recipe you can easily make at home. The end of the year and the beginning of the new one represent two recurrences…
