Kanto
If you’re looking for a very Japanese experience, this is a place you’ll need to put on the itinerary.
Same fish, same restaurant chain, but something is very different between Kanto and Kansai.
You might guess the most popular Pokémon type in the country, but each prefecture might surprise you!
Tokyo’s much-ballyhooed Kichijoji only makes it to number-three, while an outsider with easy access to Tokyo takes the top spot.
Available to purchase only in the Kanto region, this new variety comes packed with traditional Japanese flavour.
Kuraberu Tōzai presents an easy-to-understand compilation of regional differences between Tokyo and Osaka in terms of cuisines, art, and cultural traditions.
It seems we just can’t ring in the new year anymore without this cheering squad of Friezas! Is the Dragon Ball Z overlord actually…benevolent!?
Tokyo and Osaka are only about 2.5 hours away by bullet train, so perhaps you wouldn’t think they’d be that different. But while Kanto (Tokyo, Yokohama, Chiba) holds the image of a glittering metropolis, Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara) is full of the old, historical aspects of Japan. The most commonly cited difference is the dialects of the two regions. For example, dame in Kanto-ben is akan in Kansai-ben, both meaning something like “wrong, no good.”
So when Japanese people were polled about their food habits, it wasn’t so surprising that the two regions answered very differently.
Kyoto, Osaka, Nara…southern Japan seems to get all the love from both international and Japanese tourists alike. But what about the rest of the country, like the six northern prefectures? Northern Japan, known as Tohoku in Japanese (東北, “the northeast”), is a hidden gem full of unique cultural traditions, unspoiled natural scenery, and some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet, despite the chilling winters.
This weekend is a better time than ever to hop on the bullet train up north to take part in the Tohoku Rokkonsai “mega-festival”. The festival began in 2011 to lift the spirits of the people of Tohoku after the deadly earthquake and tsunami just months earlier. The highlight of the festivities is a massive parade composed of segments from all six of Tohoku’s major summer festivals. Where else can you experience the excitement of SIX major festivals all at once FOR FREE??
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“Shibuya is closed for Halloween” – Hachiko to be covered, monitoring towers put up on October 31
Studio Ghibli releases new insect whistle necklace from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Dove ad slams Japanese beauty ideals, backfires with complaints from public instead
Clear tonkotsu ramen becomes a cult hit at “Ramen Runway” in Japan
Ultimate lazy chanko – Can you make Japan’s sumo wrestler hot pot stew in a rice cooker?
Japanese izakaya serves up cheap breakfast…and morning drinks in Tokyo
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno returning to anime with new project for 50-year-old franchise
Make miniatures of your miniatures with this kit from Mozo
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Ultimate lazy sukiyaki – Can you make the king of Japanese hot pots in a rice cooker?【Taste test】
Weekly
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces- Studio Ghibli releases new insect whistle necklace from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
- Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno returning to anime with new project for 50-year-old franchise
Japanese government wants to acquire original anime and manga art for creation of national archive
After 21 years, Harajuku’s famous Lolita fashion and cosplay shop is permanently closing
Pizza Hut Japan creates Landmine-type Pizza to celebrate Japan’s dark jirai-kei fashion
KFC Genshin Impact fried chicken combo meals now on sale in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases cute new blanket socks for winter- Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
We try to buy a retro Japanese coin-operated arcade machine at this secondhand shop near Tokyo
Monthly
- Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Studio Ghibli lets you cosplay as Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle with cosy anime fashion range
New Hello Kitty McDonald’s Japan Happy Meal toys are here, and Kitty’s sister is part of the set- Studio Ghibli releases new insect whistle necklace from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Starbucks teams up with the oldest of Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns to create a Bizen ware coffee mug- Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno returning to anime with new project for 50-year-old franchise
One of Tokyo’s most beautiful gardens gets its own moon for moon-viewing season
Right now is the peak time to go to Tokyo’s most-beautiful-view beer garden【Photos】
Pizza Hut adds a “Guilty Secret” sandwich to its menu for a limited time
Yearly
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan- Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
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Japanese izakaya serves up cheap breakfast…and morning drinks in Tokyo
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno returning to anime with new project for 50-year-old franchise
Make miniatures of your miniatures with this kit from Mozo
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Ultimate lazy sukiyaki – Can you make the king of Japanese hot pots in a rice cooker?【Taste test】
Shinjuku izakaya’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink plan is one of Tokyo’s best secret cheap eats
Japanese Yu-Gi-Oh fan makes authentic, functional Millennium Puzzle and it’s a thing of beauty
Animated video looks at 40 years of women’s fashions in Japan as Tokyo landmark gets set to close
We go on our own hunt for “the biggest mountain” to climb in the style of Tokyo Swindlers
Goku’s voice actress’ voice to be converted to AI for “non-acting” projects in Japanese, English
Is the two-hour wait for Tokyo’s Yokota Gaijin Burger worth it?【Taste test】
Ramen and dekotora come together at this restaurant in Japan
Japanese government wants to acquire original anime and manga art for creation of national archive
Sanyo Shinkansen ending in-car food cart sales (unless you’ve got the cash for first-class)
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