Mariko Ohanabatake

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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3 convenience store ice creams you should buy at 7-Eleven in Kyushu

Exploring the freezer section at your local konbini is even more exciting when you’re on holiday.

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Is this the rudest parfait in all of Japan?

“Prohibited Parfait” brings new meaning to nude food.

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We become some of the last visitors to see a beautiful museum-ryokan on the outskirts of Tokyo

This registered tangible cultural asset is now closed to the public, which is an absolute shame. 

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Nagasaki Lantern Festival is like Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away in real life

Local resident reveals the secret spots you won’t want to miss during this breathtaking festival. 

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We get a rare whiff of the corpse flower, a.k.a. the world’s stinkiest flower, in Tokyo botanical garden

We were ‘lucky’ enough to see and smell the rare flower, which blooms once every few years.

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This crazy wearable cushion is Japan’s truly hottest winter fashion【Photos】

It’s called the Warm Roll Cushion, but “warm” doesn’t do enough to describe how much it does to keep you from feeling any cold.

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Tokyo’s Moomin Cafes are closing soon, but our reporter had an experience she’ll never forget

A small act of kindness from the cafe’s member of staff still warms our reporter’s heart when she thinks about it.

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Do Tokyo’s Reversible Destiny Lofts really hold the power to reverse your destiny?

Architectural landmark is designed to expand your mind in new ways.

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That time our reporter’s classmate became possessed by a dead child at school

Kokkuri-san is a Japanese ouija board that shouldn’t be messed with.

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