Want to drink and see a brewery for free? You can do just that at the Kirin Brewery Factory! This past weekend I visited the Yokohama Kirin brewery location for a tour of the factory. It was easy to set up, just go online to the website and sign up for a tour about a…
It is no secret that the Japanese love to drink. With a strong economy based around importing and exporting to other countries, as well as having a historical alcohol tradition of its own, You can find all kinds of delicious and exciting drinks in Japan. Beer, nihonshu (rice wine) and umeshu (plum wine) are just…
Okinawa is a gorgeous group of Japanese tropical islands near Taiwan, famous for its white sand, clean beaches, a warm climate, and great food. Although Okinawa is only a few hours from Tokyo by plane, it isn’t always easy to visit due to schedules or budgets. So how can you get a taste of Okinawa…
When you think of Okinawa and beer, the first thing that comes to mind is probably Orion Beer. This is unsurprising, as they pretty much dominate the beer market here. However, there are a number of other breweries in Okinawa, and if you’re a fan of craft beer, it’s definitely worth checking them out. Here…
Established in 1899, Suntory Beer is one of the world’s greatest beers. Over the years, it has committed to providing Japan with excellent beer, and Suntory is always actively developing new products that bring new enjoyment to consumers. This time, they are introducing 15 limited-edition cans displaying ‘shinkansen’ trains which are sold all over the…
Who knew that a bar that only sold canned food could be so popular? There are many canned food bars in Japan, but the most prominent of them all is Mr. Kanso with many branches spanning all over Japan. Mr. Kanso is the oldest canned food bar in Japan and was opened in 2002. The…
KFC is no doubt very popular among many people in Japan, especially when it comes to its succulent chicken. You can almost say that this fast food chain has become the embodiment of chicken in the country. Now add in a bit of Japanese creativity to the fast food chain with a single idea recreating…
Each area in Japan is known for a certain produce or confectionary, such as Ehime prefecture’s mikan or clementines, Aomori prefecture’s apples and Hyogo prefecture’s Kobe beef. In the huge northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, there are several kinds of charmingly delicious produce that the region is famous for! 1. Yubari Melon Do you know Yubari…
Want to go to a Japanese izakaya – a casual after-work bar – but don’t know what to order? Here are some of the popular items on the menu served in a typical izakaya all over Japan. Remember, though, that only small portions are served at these casual bars so it is a must to…
While Michelin stars are commonly awarded to world-renowned fine dining restaurants and hotels, the recently released 2016 Michelin Guide contains several restaurants in Japan that feature B-Gourmet or B-class foods. One of the many B-class restaurants featured by Michelin for their 2016 guide is Aizuya—a restaurant that specializes in takoyaki in the Kansai region. Aizuya:…
