You have probably read it in a dozen places already. Japan is surprisingly accessible for wheelchair users, especially in the major cities. That is technically true, but it gives you almost nothing to actually plan with. Knowing Japan is accessible does not tell you which car on the Shinkansen to book as a wheelchair user. […]
01
Sep
Sep
A genuine kintsugi bowl draws the eye straight to the crack running across it. Someone has mended it with lacquer and finished the seam with a dusting of gold, rather than trying to hide it. With kintsugi, you repair the break instead of disguising it, and that single choice sums up the whole craft. Kintsugi […]
27
Aug
Aug
Don Quijote, commonly called Donki in Japan, is one of Japan’s largest discount store chains. It is famous for its floor-to-ceiling stacks of goods and late-night shopping, with some locations even open 24 hours. Donki carries plenty of unusual items that you may not find back home. It is convenient, has a huge cosmetics section […]
26
Aug
Aug
You’ll find vintage clothing, old Famicom games and miso pork cutlets within a few doors of each other in Osu. You won’t find one single shopping street here. Instead, you’ll explore covered arcades and side lanes between Osu Kannon Temple and Banshoji. I moved to Osu in summer 2000 and lived above the skating rink […]
18
Aug
Aug
Miso katsu is a deep-fried pork cutlet served with a dark red miso sauce in place of the usual tonkatsu sauce, and food writers outside Japan tend to describe it as one of Nagoya’s defining local dishes. After 30 years living in Nagoya, the practical view is that it’s worth trying once, especially for diners […]
10
Aug
Aug
You booked your flights months ago, and only afterwards did somebody mention the words “Golden Week” in a tone that suggested you should be worried. Maybe you’ve since read a few forum threads calling it Japan’s busiest travel week and left it at that, which tells you almost nothing useful. Golden Week does change how […]
04
Aug
Aug
You have found Ise while planning your Japan trip, and now you are stuck on the question everyone gets stuck on. Does it deserve a full day, or is it one of those places that photographs well but leaves you wondering what the fuss was about? The confusion is not your fault. Most articles talk […]
29
Jul
Jul
Japan Medicine rules are classified by their active ingredients, not by their brand names and not by whether they are prescription or over-the-counter back home. A cold tablet you have bought at CVS for years might contain pseudoephedrine, which Japan classifies as a Stimulants Raw Material and treats as a serious customs matter. An ADHD […]
16
Jul
Jul
Most people who go to Takayama never make it to Hida Furukawa, even though it sits just up the train line. That’s a shame, because Furukawa has the same white walled storehouses and old merchant streets as Takayama, without the crowds. Locals sometimes call it the quiet twin of Takayama, and once you’ve walked both […]
13
Jul
Jul
Go into Komeda coffee and order a drink before 11AM, and the staff will ask if you want morning service. Say yes, and your drink comes with a free side, usually toast or a soft bread roll, plus a topping such as boiled egg, egg paste or ogura-an, the sweet red bean paste Nagoya is […]