Enjoy lakeside illuminations and cute alpacas at Tochigi’s Nasu Rindo Lake View park
If you were looking for a place that makes winter illuminations more scenic than they already are, Tochigi prefecture’s Nasu Rindo Lake View park might…
Made in Japan
Need to boost your gaming skills? Japan’s new jelly drink promises to do just that
If you’ve ever gone for a quick trip to a Japanese convenience store for something to drink, these shelves dedicated to drink packs might have…
An Ode to Japan’s Fruit Sandwiches: The Must Eat Boxing Day Food
Christmas is a special time of year wherever you are in the world. And wherever that may be, each nation, cultural group, or even family…
Easy Kansaiben To Sound Like a Native
I visited Yokohama last month in November for an interview and caught up with some friends while I was in the area. Two are Japanese…
Nissin’s Dongitsune Fox Girl Inspires Pop-up Cafe Serving Noodles & “Fox Ear” Inari Sushi
Japan’s foxy fixation with Dongitsune If you’ve spent any time in Japan over the past two years, chances are you’ve seen “Dongitsune.” Played by actress…
Orihime: The Japanese Robot Giving People Jobs
Despite their enormous potential to help mankind grow and develop, robots sometimes get a bad rep. Recently, they have been increasingly branded by some media…
Customs and traditions during oshōgatsu: Japanese New Year’s time
Japan is getting more and more attention due to the Olympics that will be held in 2020 and people from overseas are also getting more…
First time in Hokkaido? Here are some of the top sights you shouldn’t miss
Hokkaido, also one of the most popular places to visit in Japan, is known for being a gourmet paradise and also for having the most…
The Breathtaking Hakuba Valley and its Sky/Snowboarding resorts
Hakuba Valley One hour from the Nagano Station, Hakuba Valley has grown in popularity since the 1998 Winter Olympics that was held in the area….
Try On the ‘Samue,’ Japanese Work Clothes for Monks — and the Rest of Us
Timothy Nerozzi for JAPAN Forward When searching for Japanese-style clothes, many newcomers are at a loss of where to start. Kimono, while luxurious, can be…
We Visited The Beastars Cafe: Fans of The Series Are In For A Treat!
Although viewers in the US and other countries will have to wait until early 2020 to watch the anime version on Netflix, many manga fans…
Nezu Shrine: One of Tokyo’s hidden gems
The quaint little neighborhood of Nezu Home to over 9,000,000 people, Tokyo is the world’s largest and busiest metropolitan city. Add an extra 2 million…
A Festive Fusion of Japanese Culture and Dance Music at “MATSURI Presented by SUNTORY”
Here at grape Japan, we’re always on the lookout for cool events which put a new spin on Japanese culture, especially those which welcome English-speaking…
Japan Disrupts Salaryman Culture with Virtual Snack in Akihabara
Introduction In recent years we’ve seen technology disrupt entire industries, revolutionizing basic services at the heart of our lives. The taxi industry by Uber, television…
How to forget the year at your bōnenkai party
December has rolled around and the end of the year is drawing nearer. As the nights become colder and the days become shorter, it can…