Yamaguchi
Often-overlooked temple in one of Japan’s most best sightseeing towns was inspired by the story of a deeply devoted samurai cat.
Cycle on water, visit scenic sites and enjoy some of the best sushi in the country at the westernmost tip of Japan’s main island.
This is where you’ll find Japan’s largest cave, a BBQ by the sea, and a rural hotel where Russian President Putin slept in a room behind bulletproof glass.
Day two of our epic adventure includes an ancient soy sauce factory, pressed sushi, and rabbit-eared samurai helmets.
View a National Treasure, stop off at a former school for samurai sons, and stamp on a stone pavement that “sings”.
While men are understandably drawn to it, it’s women who are said to benefit the most from worshipping here.
If you have summer plans, cancel them. You’ll want to be visiting Yamaguchi Prefecture after this!
There’s more to this unusual shrine than its stunning red torii gates that lead down to the Sea of Japan.
Last week, I stopped by the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama to try its just-released Cup Noodle Ice Cream, with its chives, shrimp, and all the other fixings of instant ramen. It was definitely an interesting experience, but I did have one complaint, which is that Cup Noodle Ice Cream doesn’t actually have any noodles in it. Technically, it should be called “Cup Noodle Topping Ice Cream.”
Thankfully, it turns out there actually is a place in Japan where you can get ice cream with ramen noodles mixed in. Since I suddenly found myself with the unlikely title of RocketNews24’s resident ramen ice cream expert, I figured it was time to go another round with this unorthodox class of dessert, and to crown a winner in this battle of the ramen ice creams.
Way at the western tip of Honshu, the main island of Japan, you’ll find the town of Shimonoseki. Shimonoseki is especially famous for its always delicious, naturally poisonous, and occasionally canned blowfish, but fishermen catch all manner of tasty seafood there in the waters off the edge of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Wherever you have boats and coastlines, you’ll also want to put a lighthouse too. But on a recent night the beacon of Shimonoseki’s Tsunoshima lighthouse wasn’t the only thing shining in the darkness, as observers also roughly a dozen mysterious-looking lights in the night sky.
On 30 November, the mayor of Yamaguchi, Sumita Watanabe, declared to Nishinippon Newspaper that his city of Yamaguchi will be renamed “Xmas City” for the entire month of December. The move is a part of a tourism campaign which involves a month-long event of festive activities.
More than simply a PR campaign, Yamaguchi actually has a valid claim as being the launching pad for Christianity in Japan and thus the “hometown” of Christmas in Japan. Yamaguchi was where Saint Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Japan, and his followers celebrated their first Christmas.
Gather around kids, it’s time to hear the story of how Christmas first came to Japan.
MOST POPULAR
Now
Tokyo airport’s new train line to make getting into, out of the city easier for JR pass holders
Japan now has talking Evangelion ATMs
Morinaga Milk’s new cuddly commercial series shows snapshots of Japanese family warmth【Video】
We finally get our mouthwatering Ichiran Ramen fukuburo lucky bag
McDonald’s teams up with Touch manga for burgers that capture the bittersweet taste of youth
Loaded gun found in convenience store restroom in Japan, cop’s on-duty poop to blame
Four photos, five years – A father’s beautiful pictures of his daughter growing up at Nara temple
Definitely not for kids — new Pennywise gacha capsule toy is terrifying yet awesome
Sapporo releases a limited-edition Adult Choc Mint beer in Japan
Virtual YouTuber queen Kizuna Ai angrily addresses rumors her voice has been changed【Video】
Weekly
Japanese boy whom Ronaldo stood up for in 2014 becomes national soccer champion
We taste the new Japanese KitKat, aged in whisky barrels in Islay, Scotland
Pringles now comes in karaage flavour in Japan
7-Eleven under fire in Japan for mysterious holes in their onigiri rice balls
NHK announces “substantial” fee reduction, Japanese Internet reacts with jeering
Parents of bullied teenage girl who committed suicide commission portrait to “attend” Seijinshiki
Woman asks for eight-hour taxi ride in Japan, arrested when she doesn’t pay gigantic fare
We try the new Famichiki Burger from Family Mart
We try a rotating sushi restaurant in New Delhi, are surprised to find no rotating sushi
Deceptive strawberry milk package angers 7-Eleven customers following banana scandal
Monthly
McDonald’s releases Katsu Curry Chicken McNuggets, but do they taste Japanese?
McDonald’s releases an Oreo and Spam burger for a very limited time
Top 100 manga of all time chosen by survey of 150,000 Japanese people
Here’s why Japanese supermarkets play “cheap” background music all day, according to Twitter
English mistake on new Japanese beer leads to suspension of sales before its release- We try a rotating sushi restaurant in New Delhi, are surprised to find no rotating sushi
Utada Hikaru sings, Eva fights Eva in jaw-dropping new trailer for final Evangelion movie【Video】
Japanese media finds out if it’s cold enough to “fry” an egg on the street in Hokkaido
Mt Fuji looks unusual, sparks fears of possible eruption
Burger King releases new Whopper to ward off evil in Japan
Yearly
Nintendo puts out important notice for casual gamers who’ve bought a Switch during the pandemic
Jason calls off Friday the 13th activities due to coronavirus
Japan goes beyond rice cookers with new curry rice cooker, the kitchen gadget we need right now
Studio Ghibli releases 400 images from eight movies free to download online
A Pokémon glitch no one discovered in 18 years has been found…by a pet fish in Japan?!?【Videos】
Customers race to Uniqlo for new summer face masks, but are they really worth the hype?
Parasite movie releases free official wallpapers to download as backgrounds for video calls
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft amid school cancellation
Man sheds half his body weight, looks like a handsome model in just one year
Japan’s one-person bento box-sized rice cooker can give you freshly cooked rice at the office
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Loaded gun found in convenience store restroom in Japan, cop’s on-duty poop to blame
Four photos, five years – A father’s beautiful pictures of his daughter growing up at Nara temple
Definitely not for kids — new Pennywise gacha capsule toy is terrifying yet awesome
Sapporo releases a limited-edition Adult Choc Mint beer in Japan
Virtual YouTuber queen Kizuna Ai angrily addresses rumors her voice has been changed【Video】
Does changing your smartphone lock to 8376 bring good luck, as one Japanese book title suggests?
Casio’s Pikachu Baby-G is the perfect watch for Pokémon trainers
Serve up style with some of Maison Sushi’s traditionally-woven sushi pouches
Maximum Shiba! Dog in Japan’s first day in the snow is a hyper expression of pure joy【Vid】
Woman asks for eight-hour taxi ride in Japan, arrested when she doesn’t pay gigantic fare
Trio of thieves break into Japanese glasses store, foiled by old-timey cash register
Japanese boy whom Ronaldo stood up for in 2014 becomes national soccer champion
-
