What Is Pachinko: Japan’s Controversial Billion-Yen Industry

A large pachinko parlour in Nagoya

Walk past any bright, pulsating building in Tokyo at 3pm on a Tuesday, and you’ll hear it. The deafening clatter of thousands of steel balls bouncing through vertical mazes. Step inside, and you’ll find cigarette smoke, bright neon lights, and crowds focused on machines that look like giant pinball tables. Pachinko is a uniquely Japanese […]

Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea: The Ultimate Showdown

Tokyo Disneyland vs DisneySea

Feature Tokyo Disneyland Tokyo DisneySea Opening Date April 15, 1983 September 4, 2001 Theme Classic Disney fairy tales and fantasy Nautical adventures and exploration Layout Modeled after Disneyland & Magic Kingdom with a spoke-and-wheel design Unique layout with seven themed ports around a central body of water Icon Cinderella Castle Mount Prometheus (within Mysterious Island) […]

21 Strange Japanese Foods You Might Not Know

Strange Japanese Foods

There are plenty of strange Japanese foods. Since arriving in Japan in 2000, my culinary journey has been fascinating.  I started with a reluctance to eat raw fish, but over time, I’ve developed a curiosity that has led me to try almost everything. And guess what? Much of what might seem strange, scary or gross […]