So let me talk to you about something very fun – Nico Nico Super Conference! It’s very much like a Japanese culture conventions outside Japan (anime cons and etc) but it’s also so much more than that! So what’s Nico Nico? It’s a video-sharing website in Japan, similar to YouTube except for comments are overlaid directly onto the video in sync with the viewers during playback. Nico Nico Super Conference is a convention taking place once every year with an idea of recreating the “Nico Nico Video” in real time with not only the users but also various exhibitors, such as Guinness World Record, Karaoke competitions, Kabuki theater, Rock concerts,…
Intro to Japanese Sake: The Basics
I think it’s about time that we talked about Japanese sake! Since there are so many varieties in Japan and most of them are written completely in Japanese, it might get overwhelming when we try to decide which one would suit our palate. Let me introduce you to a few basic sake readily available at convenience stores and liquor stores here in Japan! Liquor Store Sake ■Jozen Mizunogotoshi An ideal introduction sake. Smoot, light and fruity with a pleasant aftertaste. Alcohol content 14% ■Sawanoi Daikaraikuchi A true dry sake(+10 dryness). Super dry and light. Alcohol content 15% ■Urakasumi Junmai A smooth and fruity sake with a hint of roasted nuts.…
Tokyo Station Ramen Street
So… Let’s talk about food ramen! We are back at JR Tokyo Station to explore the highly-praised Ramen Street! So pretty much it’s a section of Tokyo Station which features different types of ramen from all over Japan! Though there is no English Guide Map to locating the street, it’s very easy to find! Take Yaesu Central Exit Walk straight till you see the stairs going down to “First Avenue Tokyo Station” Take the stairs down and turn right Follow the signs And there we are! Ramen street features ramen from different parts of Japan and you can choose the one you like from the menu/map located by the entrance!…
Cherry Blossom Viewing (Hanami) in Tokyo
Famous all around the world, cherry blossom viewing or hanami (in Japanese) is the highlight of the spring season here in Japan. Usually cherry trees start blooming around the end of March and through April, with myriad spots all around Tokyo. For Japanese people, cherry blossom viewing (hanami) signifies the beginning of Spring and is great cause for celebration. There are many types of hanami including the traditional picnic-style, walk-style, restaurant-style, temple/shrine style and etc. I will introduce you to each type, but mainly, for the purpose of this blog, I will focus on the walk-style hanami at the famous local spot Meguro River. Walk-style Hanami To get to Meguro…
Summer Products of Japan
Though summers are usually all about fun, vacations and hanging out with friends, we gotta be aware of the impending heat that comes along with the season of“fun in the sun”! The summers in Japan are pretty brutal, ruled by high humidity and heat, especially in Tokyo. However, have no fear because Japan has some awesome products to help you deal with the heat! I would like to introduce some of those products to you! I, myself being from South Florida, do understand what real heat and UV damage is all about, so I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered all the amazing summer products that Japan has to…
Exploring Japan: FUJI-Q HIGHLAND
The summer is finally here! The season of fun in the sun, at the beach, in the mountains, at the theme parks, beneath the night skies lit up by fireworks and pretty much anything and everything that Japan has to offer. This summer we decided to start out with the theme parks! Due to the high popularity of the large theme parks like Universal Studios and Disney Land, the local parks are often forgotten or even unknown to many visitors of Japan. We thought it would be great to introduce you to some of the local theme parks of Japan, starting with Fuji Q Highland, located at the famous Japanese…
Nutritional Energy Drinks of Japan
Another essential part of Tokyo life aside from transportation, entertainment, food and work, is how to stay awake and healthy during those experiences! In this entry I would like to introduce you to the popular and must-drink energy and nutritional supplement drinks of Japan! Japanese energy drinks boast themselves on containing healthy Chinese herbs as the main ingredients in supplying energy and nutrients. But there are just so many of them and they are all written in Japanese thus it’s so hard to find the right one or even to understand which one is an energy drink. So many of the travelers get overwhelmed and miss out on trying the…
Tokyo Train Station Ekiben
What is ekiben? Ekiben comes from two Japanese words “eki” which means “train station” and “bentou” which means “boxed lunch”. Ekiben is an essential item during travel by bullet trains in Japan. They were born in the late 1800s when the first slow coal-powered trains started running in Japan, taking hours to reach their destinations and their restaurant carts being too expensive for common folk to afford. At first ekiben consisted of the simple two sesame rice balls meal but eventually the shops selling ekibens opened at the train stations providing a wider variety of lunches. Of course now, there are thousands of types of ekibens to choose from and…