All About Japan

100 Best Drinks from Japan: #1 Japanese Sake

Sake is probably the best known Japanese drink in the world.

Spruce Up Your Home with Kyoto Incense Sticks

These Shofuan incense sticks come in one of 12 boxes, each matched to the seasons and events of Kyoto.

Nori Seaweed for Ramen

This Japanese seaweed is delicious in miso soup or ramen.

Casting Craftmanship

NOUSAKU Corp. applies traditional Japanese casting techniques to contemporary designs to promote a unique, stylish lifestyle.

A Modern Twist for Lacquer

Once used for salad bowls and decorative plates, lacquerware has found a new shape to wrap its sleek exterior around—iPhones.

10 Great Gifts from Japan

These original gifts represent the rich cultural heritage of this country—and tend to go down well with overseas visitors, too!

Power Pose Sketching Models

Artistic models equipped with swords, wings and plastic guns are hard to come by, but not for long!

Katana Scissors Inspired by Real Samurai

Nikken Cutlery has three types of katana scissors for your slicing needs, including one inspired by Oda Nobunaga’s sword and featuring a gold-tipped “scabbard.”

Yamagata Cast Iron Teapots

Yamagata cast iron boasts a 1,000-year tradition influenced by the Kyoto style.

Color-Changing Ramen Cup Holders

The Cupmen series are adorable little characters that hold the lid of an instant ramen cup while it's cooking.

The Secret to a Hot Bento

Imagine opening the lid of your bento box and getting your chopsticks out to eat what should be steaming hot rice—but it’s cold and somehow tasteless. Want to avoid this disappointment?

Storybook Tenugui

A traditional "tenugui" cotton hand towel makes a great gift—or even a headband in the onsen! These tenugui go one step further, however, and tell a picture-book story when folded.

100 Best Drinks from Japan: #2 Umeshu

Umeshu plum wine is one of the most popular of Japanese liqueurs. It's made from a base alcohol such as sake and Japanese plums, and has a very nice, sweet flavor.

Odate Bentwood Lunchboxes

Odate bentwood, or magewappa, is characteristic of the Odate region in Akita Prefecture.

know-before-you-go