Bedtime Story
It’s no secret that I love Ryokans (traditional accommodations, usually with public bath). However, just what you sleep on in these will vary between Western Style Beds and Futons. This causes concerns for many travelers as on first sight, the futon may not look comfortable. A couple of years ago, we rented an apartment in […]
Japanese Food you Need to Know: Onigiri
Rice is the cornerstone of Japanese Cuisine. Therefore, it’s appropriate to begin this series with what may be the ultimate rice dish – Onigiri. Onigiri, or rice balls have been around for some 1,200 years. During that time, they have served several purposes, from simple labor food to a grab and go meal for busy […]
JAPANESE FOODS THAT FREAK OUT AMERICANS
One of the things that trouble many people, especially Americans in Japan is that the food, although fantastic, can be intimidating. Whenever I am asked about how to make someone’s first trip to Japan most successful, I always tell them to lean into the food. Eat first, ask what it is later. I have long […]
Travel to Japan to Experience Chinatown…..What?
The first time my wife joined me in Japan we planned to visit some of her relatives in Yokohama. We settled into a nice hotel, and she suggested we go to Yokohama’s’ Chinatown. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was just joking, but I soon realized she was serious. We lived in Chicago at […]
Three Quick Money Tips for Traveling Japan
Despite my research, on my first trip to Japan one of the things I struggled with for the first few days was handling money. The following three tips will make your journey a bit smoother. You will find yourself with a ton of coins. In the U.S., we just don’t carry many coins. In […]
Cultural Literacy vs. Language Literacy
One of the reasons I hear for not traveling Japan, especially among Life-Experienced Adults, is that they fear the language barrier. I fully understand that. However, language literacy is not a reason to avoid experiencing all the country and people have to offer. My first trips to Japan were before I studied the language. I […]
One of the Unwritten Rules of Japan: Trust the Line!
I learned this one the hard way. A few years ago, I went to Fukuoka to experience its famous Yatai culture. Yatai are small mobile food stall style restaurants that pop up in the evenings along certain streets and river walks across the country. Like food trucks in that the seating is limited and the […]