Okonomiyaki is celebrated as the savory soul food of Osaka. The pancake-esque dish can pretty much be whatever you want it to be (the name…

One of the perennial questions faced by visitors to Tokyo, especially first-time visitors from abroad, is what to do at night. Unless you have unlimited…

Hanko For Non-Japanese Whether it’s done out of necessity or just for fun, it’s not unusual for foreign residents or even non-Japanese visitors to make…

The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is a sub-zero spectacle of larger than life, beautifully sculptured snow art. The yearly extravaganza takes place in…

Japanese prefectures may be different sizes, have different climates, different charms and different downsides, but they are all worthy of love. That’s the message this…

grape Japan site now updated! If you visited our mobile site today, you may have noticed we have a new look! In fact, so does…

You’ve probably heard about Ariana Grande’s humorous tattoo mistake by now. The chart-topping singer has shown interest before in Japanese culture, even going as far…

Japanese Voices 日本語のままクールジャパン is a regular series designed for learners of Japanese to enjoy real Japanese language programming from Nippon Broadcasting System, one of the…

Kimono Rentals: A Popular Tourist Attraction For many female tourists visiting Japan from abroad, renting a beautiful kimono for a photo shoot or to enjoy…

Kaki no Tane One of the most commonly found and frequently enjoyed of Japanese snacks, kaki no tane 柿の種 rice crackers, thus named due to…

If you’ve ever visited an izakaya (Japanese tapas bar or gastropub), you’ve probably seen karaage on the menu. Considering the high quality of chicken raised…

Japanese Beverage Trends It was just a matter of time before it happened. The Japanese beverage market has seen several trends take shape in recent…

Yohane? Little Demons? Numazu? The juxtaposition of words in our title may have raised a few eyebrows. Unless, of course, you’re a fan of the…

You may very well balk at the thought of a bookstore with an entrance fee. After all, isn’t one of life’s greatest free pleasures a…

The Kirby Café opened in Tokyo Skytree town to the delight of the round, pink hero’s many fans. The menu consisted of a range of…