Here’s a not-so-fun thing about living in Japan: dealing with mold and mildew. To those who have lived in humid places, expecting such mold-related problems in Japan would be nothing short of normal. However, those who come from dry places can be in for a nasty surprise. Kabi View this post on Instagram A post…

Why do Japanese people always wear surgical masks? Many visitors coming to Japan for the first time have asked this question. Used to seeing masks only in hospitals, they have wondered why in Japan they seem to be a common item for everyone. Simple white surgical masks have always been sold in every convenience store…

So you moved to a new land, got yourself a swanky pad, and are going to get to cooking some delicious grub of the land of the rising sun. You may need to stock your kitchen up on the essential ingredients, but you also need some utensils and kitchen goods! jp.fotolia.com/ Get your Japanese kitchen…

We all know　at least of some delicious Japanese foods. Sushi is super popular worldwide, and you may know about some other Japanese delicacies, such as miso soup, tempura, ramen, and soba noodles, or matcha and sake when it comes to drinks. But perhaps you may be less familiar with some of the popular Japanese dishes…

On March 3rd in Japan, people celebrate the Girls’ Festival, called “HINAMATSURI”(雛祭り). On the day, people traditionally celebrate girls’ growth mainly by displaying beautiful dolls in ancient costumes of the Heian era with peach flowers in each house, and eating cubic rice crackers (Hina-arare). However, there are some popular sweets for this festival which are…

Of course, people in Japan speak Japanese, so knowing some words will help anyone coming to Japan. Or at the very least, people will appreciate you are trying to learn their language. So where does one start? Common words and expressions you may encounter include “kawaii” (cute), “samui” (cold), “atsui” (hot) “ne!” (a tag question…

Shrines and temples are beautiful touristy locations, but being sacred places of worship they are much more than a simple photo spot. Tourists are often scared not to offend the locals, so it’s best to learn the basic rules. Let’s take a look at some of the common items you will see upon your visit…

Have you ever wondered how Japanese people celebrate Christmas? After all, Christmas is not a national holiday, and less than once percent of the population are Christians. Nevertheless, Christmas has had a huge impact in Japan with a big exception when compared to other countries that celebrate this holiday: there is absolutely no religion attached…

Many people have tattoos that symbolize things that are important to them, such as people, places, or nostalgic memories. Tattoos have different meanings around the world; for example, they have held different significant meanings in various tribes and religions for years. Nowadays, in most western countries, they are considered to be simply personal body art.…

Ice cream is, to many, one of the greatest pleasures in Life! So many tempting varieties exist all over the world, and wherever the country your are in, Ice cream is widely adopted by the majority. In Japan, ice cream is extremely popular. Despite not being a traditional dessert or snack, you can now find…