Lifestyle
Stay at a ninja trick house in Japan with hidden doors and passageways
Japan is filled with all sorts of unique accommodation options, ranging from capsule hotels with kittens and bunks hidden away inside bookshelves, to whole islands that can be reserved for private stays. Now there’s an AirBnB property to add to the list of rare and unusual places to spend the night in Japan, because this… Read
Welcome to Inami Station, where these frogs keep you company as you wait for your train
At first glance you might think Inami Station (photo below), on the Kisei Line in the town of Inami, Wakayama Prefecture, isn’t much to look at. A non-descript rectangle with a utilitarian tile roof, most people would call it plain, and if one were prone to harsher vocabulary, they might even use the… Read
Company PET partners with Kyoto temple to offer genuine funeral services for beloved pets
Kyoto-based company PET began offering pet funeral services throughout the southern-central Kansai region of Japan late last year. On Dec 30, it further announced a new partnership with Jomanji (成満寺), a well-established Buddhist temple of the Jodo Shinshu sect in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture. ▼ Jomanji, founded in 1603 While pet cremation services… Read
Japanese book encourages you to make art out of orange peels
Once temperatures start getting lower and it starts feeling a bit more like winter, one tradition that Japanese people like to enjoy during this season revolves around the mikan, or mandarin orange. In Japan, when people gather around a kotatsu, it’s customary to munch on some mandarin oranges while trying to stay… Read
Youth-centered used clothing stores look to online portal Out in Kyoto
For brick and mortar retailers, surviving the pandemic is tough, and only getting tougher. As such, the retail sector is beginning to show signs of slowing down. According to Bloomberg, retail sales are falling greater than expected during the winter months. Owing to weak demand, employees are also seeing their seasonal bonuses,… Read
More parks, fewer offices? How the coronavirus will change city centers
The coronavirus has upended many aspects of life in cities worldwide, particularly as large numbers of white-collar workers choose to work from home and shun public transit - shifts that are likely to last, according to urban experts. This will have an enormous impact on city centers and central business… Read
Raising a child in Japan: The 3-year health check
A few months earlier, the ward office had informed me that the checks had been delayed due to COVID-19, but that hers should come up a few months after her third birthday. Yet, when it arrived, the bulk of the contents surprised me, as did the many forms and tests enclosed.… Read
Workplace trials now popular in Japan: Try out different jobs
COVID-19 has had a great impact on our lives, and because of it, many changes have taken place in our society. Because of the pandemic, many events were canceled, and many companies switched to remote work. We now have to adapt to many situations and switch what used to be… Read
Date of Japanese festival Setsubun changes to Feb 2 for first time in 124 years
Japan has some very interesting and fun traditional holidays, but the one we’ve always enjoyed the most is Setsubun. Usually held on Feb 3, festivities can vary from region to region, but often involve dressing up like ogres, throwing beans around the house for good luck, and eating a huge sushi roll loaded with awesome stuff. The reason… Read
Adult entertainment guidance center appears in Akihabara; some worry neighborhood is changing
While it’s best known as a place to shop for anime merchandise, video games, and electronics, Tokyo’s Akihabara neighborhood is a pretty good place to eat too. Since the district is a mecca for all-day shopping trips, it boasts a number of casual restaurants offering tasty, hearty fare that’ll fill your stomach… Read
