On July 9, Miraikan in Odaiba celebrated its anniversary and the admission ticket was free, so we decided to go and check the museum. Odaiba is famous for being a …
How I moved to Tokyo
One year ago I quit my job and moved back to Italy. I didn’t give myself much time to rest, but it was nice to be in a familiar place …
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, …
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 …