Krista Rogers

Starting with a love of J-Pop and J-dramas when she was 13, Krista Rogers has left her quiet New England hometown in the States both to study abroad in Tokyo and to work on the JET Program in beautiful Yamagata prefecture. She misses chatting in the local dialect and staging Kamehameha battles in the hallway with her students. Although she's currently working on her master's degree in Boston, she will without a doubt be back in Japan before long and buying way too much at Book-Off and Tower Records again. When she needs a break from schoolwork, Krista enjoys eating yakiniku, figure skating, finding cute cafes, watching Big Bang MVs, and continuing on her quest to catch 'em all.

Posted by Krista Rogers

Has Kyoto Prefecture’s super spicy food area still got the heat, or has it sizzled out?

A trip that was meant to be pleasantly nostalgic resulted in a big shock, but also came with a silver, spicy lining.  

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The most popular places in Japan for viewing sakura in 2024, according to local travel agency

Here are the most popular picks for cherry blossom-viewing in both eastern and western Japan, based on bookings.

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Want to enjoy sakura season but have allergies? Tokyo indoor park offers the perfect solution

The Tenbou-Park Sakura Festival in Ikebukuro’s popular Sunshine City shopping complex promises a sneeze and itchy eyes-free flower-viewing experience.

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Ochanomizu Hotel Shoryukan has the perfect balance of class and convenience for your Tokyo stay

Our stay at a great hotel in the heart of Tokyo with a big Japanese-style bath, sauna, and great breakfasts.

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Extreme Budget Travel! Can you do a trip to Manila with 50,000 yen (US$333)? – Part 2

What will Go’s first full day in the Philippines bring him?

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Extreme Budget Travel! Can you do a trip to Manila with 50,000 yen (US$333)? – Part 1

Go takes a short weekend trip to the Philippines and enjoys delicious food and more.

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Go back to school with new Japanese randoseru backpacks featuring Pikachu and Eevee locks

Stylish school satchels with a distinctive Poké-flair can now be preordered for soon-to-be Pokémon trainers and students.

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Our fridge is full after ordering a lucky bag from restaurant in Yokohama’s Chinatown

If you ask us, drowning in dumplings isn’t a bad way to go.

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Mos Burger spices things up with a brand-new gochujang burger they promise is addictingly good

Popular Japanese burger chain offers a Korean-inspired new menu item and also brings back a popular past crispy chicken favorite for a limited time.

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We spill the tea–a guide to all of Japan’s Gogo no Kocha Milk Teas sold in the wintertime

We sampled all 11 flavors of milk tea by the popular brand so that you’ll know exactly which one to grab next for your perfect cuppa.

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Universal Studios Japan looks to expand, diversify its workforce with new employee incentives

Amid a backdrop of recently expanding its workforce by 2,000 crew members, USJ raises the hourly wage and more for part-time workers.

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We try Yoshinoya’s take on Setsubun ehomaki lucky sushi rolls with mixed results

The verdict seems to be that you’re either going to roll with them…or not.

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Weekly Shonen Champion manga magazine offers several issues for free in light of Noto Earthquake

Longstanding manga magazine shares an act of kindness on behalf of those affected by the devastating New Year’s Day earthquake.

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The price of newly built apartments in central Tokyo skyrocketed over 100 million yen last year

Prices for those who want to live in new housing in one of the 23 special wards hit an all-time high.

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The one in which we sample top-notch melon in the Crown Melon Lucky Bag

This melon specialty shop’s unique lucky bag puts a fruity spin on the New Year’s tradition.

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Super Mario meets Gelato Pique in Japan’s coziest and latest loungewear sets

This fourth collaboration series with the Super Mario franchise adds 41 new styles to the mix including series antagonist Bowser for the first time.

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Sanrio’s lucky bag promises even more kawaii goods galore in 2024

We purchased a Pompompurin-themed bag to relive our childhood nostalgia and were pleasantly surprised at the practicality of the items.

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Watch Ishikawa-set anime, support January 1 earthquake relief efforts

The 2011 anime series Hanasaku Iroha and its film are now streaming on YouTube for free for residents of Japan with proceeds going towards aid.

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Opening 70 toys in a capsule toy lucky bag is our best tip for killing time over the holidays

We crack open an overwhelming batch of toys–from the charming to the wacky–in which there’s gotta be something for everyone.

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We score big with Kaldi’s wine lucky boxes thanks to some sage advice

A helpful hack sets up our reporter for success to get the sparkling wine of her dreams.

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