Everyday Japanese Words Not in Your Textbook
Textbooks are essential to Japanese learning. But even if you memorized everything from your book and passed the N1 test, there's still a long road to mastering daily Japanese. Her...
Visiting Japan Made Easier With Travel Hub Mix
As Japan prepares for the 2020 Olympic Games, many new facilities are being built, more signs are appearing in different languages and more tourist-friendly facilities are popping...
5 Cosmic Night Views in Japan's National Parks
Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean there's nothing left to enjoy in a national park. Whether on a lonely beach or a mountain plateau, reduced light pollution often offers...
10 Cool Autumn Spots in Japan's National Parks
When autumn comes to Japan, there's no better place to see it than the nation's national parks. One look at these 10 picturesque spots and we're sure you'll agree!
How to Navigate a Japanese Washlet Toilet
If you're confused by all the buttons on a modern Japanese toilet, we're here to decipher all those mystifying symbols.
Hoshinoya Fuji: The Glamorous Outdoors
Don't be fooled by Hoshinoya Fuji's claim to be a 'glamping' resort. This is nothing less than the height of luxury in the woods!
Mount Fuji's Northern Gateway
Said to date all the way back to the year 110, Kitaguchi Hongu Fuji Sengen Shrine marks the entrance to the Yoshidaguchi climbing trail on the north side of Mount Fuji.
Zuzuya: Ink Talismans at a Fuji Pilgrim's Inn
With a history of some 400 years, Zuzuya is one of only two pilgrim's lodgings in Kamiyoshida still offering rooms to Fuji worshippers preparing to climb their sacred mountain. It'...
The Subtle Difference Between 'Yes' & 'No'
Learning Japanese Life in Japan
Un! Uun! Un? Three words that sound awfully similar but have totally different meanings.
Differences in Korean & Japanese Makeup Trends
In colors and application techniques, Japan and South Korea go their separate ways when it comes to cosmetics.
Drink With Geisha For an Affordable Price
Foreign guests welcome at lobby lounge function that sidesteps the cost and pretense of orthodox geisha services.
Togawa Oshi House: Lodging for Fuji Pilgrims
'Oshi' houses traditionally provided lodging for worshippers preparing to ascend Mount Fuji. Reaching their peak in the 19th century, a number of these houses can still be seen in...
Enter the 'Womb' of Mount Fuji
This system of caves beneath the surface of Mount Fuji are believed to represent the womb of Konohana Sakuya-hime, the goddess of the mountain. And you can climb right inside!
Endlessly Changing Paintings Bring Art to Life
One artist's innovative techniques bring her paintings to life on the canvas.
This Matcha Bread Is the Cat's Meow
Get your hands on green tea cat-shaped bread or black cat-shaped bread at this bakery in Osaka.
Fujisan World Heritage Center
Opened inJune 2016, the Fujisan World Heritage Center aims to outline the geological and cultural significance of Japan's most iconic mountain.
Tokiwa Hotel: Top-Tier Garden in Yamanashi
The garden at the Tokiwa Hotel in Kofu City, Yamanashi was ranked the third-best traditional garden in Japan in 2012 and 2013. And even if you can't afford a stay in this top-class...
How to Shop in Japan for Vegans
Vegan Beyond Sushi: Best Eats & Treats in Japan
If you're a vegan, or have other dietary concerns, here are some 'kanji' (Chinese characters) to watch out for when shopping for food in Japan.
A 'Lovely' & Effective Way to Learn Japanese
As there are lots of ways to learn a foreign language, you may be unable to make up your mind which is best for you. This article will propose one surefire way of learning that jus...
Kanjigram: An Adorable Way to Learn Japanese
Learning Japanese Deeper Japan
Film director and animator Ayako Hiroki, a graduate of the College of Art and Design at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, is using her knowledge of 3-D animation to make studying...
