Mariko Ohanabatake

Churros at Japanese family restaurant chain are designed to enslave you

Dip churros are now on the menu, and they’ve got everyone hooked.

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Woman versus bed bug: A battle to the death

What lengths would you go to when a bed bug decides to drop by?

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We try eating nothing but emergency food rations for three progressively tougher days

Learn how our writer fared after eating emergency rations, as well as her suggestions for anyone who’s making their own disaster food prep pack.

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How Japanese people deal with death at Nagasaki’s Shoro Nagashi ceremony

Honouring the dead in a moving way that aids the grieving process.

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The unusual and surprising ways people in Nagasaki celebrate Obon, the festival of spirits

One of the few places in Japan where you’ll see families setting off fireworks at the cemetery.

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Testing out the parasol that boasts lowering temperatures by 13.7 degrees

Will the real slim and shady parasol please stand up?

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An unexpectedly creepy path takes us to Utopia in east Japan【Photos】

Searching for Ubara Utopia.

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Tokyo ferry boat doesn’t tell you the island you’re going to until departure time, and it’s awesome

Who’s up for an island adventure that leaves from downtown Tokyo?

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Japanese department store rooftop is a secret oasis where you can escape the crowds in Tokyo

A secret world awaits you above the bright lights of Kabukicho. 

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Should you get up early to see the sakura cherry blossoms in Tokyo?

We’ve found the best time to avoid the tourist crowds at one of Tokyo’s top hanami sites.

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Haneda Airport’s must-buy Japanese sweet is hard to find but worth it

Rare souvenir might soon become your favourite go-to at the airport.

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This lucky bag stuffed with green tea made us feel like real adults for once

Nothing makes you feel sophisticated like brewing and drinking the perfect cup of tea!

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7-Eleven Japan’s new Uji Matcha Bavarois keeps an old sweets store’s tradition alive

One of Tokyo’s most famous sweets stores may have closed, but this new dessert honours its legacy.

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We visit one of the last rooftop amusement parks in Japan and feel like we stepped back in time

Our reporter returns to a place of her childhood that’s still going strong after decades of operation. 

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The butter pudding from Kaldi doesn’t taste like butter or pudding, so what does it taste like?

We investigate an intriguing sweets product at the popular international foods chain and discover the secret of its hidden flavor.

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Death Spray from Japan causes buzz online for powerful ability to cut ties with bad energy

Spray it at work and the company is doomed, spray it on the desk of a colleague and they’ll be transferred…this is a spray that’s not to be messed with.

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Cruising around Gunkanjima, Japan’s otherworldly “Battleship Island”【Photos】

Our Nagasaki native gets her first up-close look at the whole-island ghost town.

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Our newlywed reporter tests Japan’s Let Me Sleep Quietly Mask to stop snoring, help hubby get Zs

Sure, it looks crazy, but is it crazy enough to work?

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7-Eleven adds an amazing carrot cake to its sweets lineup in Japan

Is carrot cake about to become Japan’s newest food trend?

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A visit to T-CAT, Tokyo’s often forgotten City Air Terminal【Photos】

Once a super convenient portal for flying out of Tokyo, a lot of people forget the Tokyo City Air Terminal still exists.

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