Umami: The 5th Dimension of Taste
Salty, sweet, sour and bitter are familiar terms to describe taste. Yet a fifth, umami, is less well-known but just as prevalent.
Kyoto in Hyper Motion is Awesome!
What’s the most beautiful city in Japan? Osamu Hasegawa makes a strong case for Kyoto.
The 5 Best Sites for Onsen Orientation
There’s a bathload of sites out there on onsen, but we found our information pools best filled by the following sources.
First Onsen Experience in Japan
Onsen etiquette can be confusing for a foreigner visiting for the first time, and there are many small rules and customs that even many Japanese people aren’t quite clear on.
Japan’s Top 5 Ramen Streets
Ramen streets have become hotbeds for talented chefs and aspiring cooks looking to perfect their recipes.
Japan: A Visual Diary
This rapid-fire “visual diary” of flashy 15-second clips is a high-speed crash course in All Things Japan.
How to Onsen in 10 Minutes
Texan in Tokyo superblogger Grace Buchele Mineta finally lays down the primary onsen caveat that nobody ever talks about.
10 Things Not to Do in an Onsen
There are plenty of sites and pamphlets explaining how to visit an onsen like a pro. But how about a quick checklist of what not to do?
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.
Tsukiji: The Market That Stocks Japan's Pantry
This market is the main reason people in Japan take it for granted fresh fish will always be on the table.
5 Must-Try Ramen Shops in Kyoto
Kyoto is just as steeped in ramen as any other part of the country.
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!
Tokyo Day Trip: Renting a Kimono in Kawagoe
Kawagoe is one of the few places in Japan where you can really see what cities used to look like, centuries ago.
6 Sapporo Ramen Shops You’ve Got to Try
With sushi, uni-don, ikura-don, “Genghis Khan” grilled mutton and the recently insurgent soup curry, Hokkaido is a gourmet wonderland. But if you’re in Sapporo, you just can’t pass up the ramen.
100 Best Drinks from Japan: #1 Japanese Sake
Sake is probably the best known Japanese drink in the world.
