For those who do not have a rainy season in their home country, hearing of a rainy season might sound a bit depressing and something you would rather prefer to skip, if possible. After all, rain usually means having to stay at home, because going out becomes a hassle. Or maybe you would think it’s…

As many as over a million young people in Japan are thought to remain holed up in their homes, sometimes for decades at a time, a phenomena known as ‘hikikomori’. Why is that? In Japan, hikikomori, a term that’s also used to describe the young people who withdraw, is a word that everyone knows. The…

Valentine’s Day, a celebration of romance and love that takes place annually on February 14th in many places around the world, and Japan welcomes it wholeheartedly. On Valentine’s Day, people usually send cards, flowers, gifts, and chocolates to their loved ones and spend the day together with their lover. However, people in Japan celebrate it…

Whether it’s about exotic foods or groundbreaking discoveries, Japan has continued to make news around the world, especially now that Tokyo is set to host the most awaited 2020 Olympics. If it’s your first time coming to Japan and you want to experience its culture, here are seven must-try activities, and all available in Tokyo!…

Just like other countries in the world, Japan celebrates Christmas in a fun and festive way. Though the holiday is quite new, not traditionally Japanese, and it is not based on any religious reasons, it is still celebrated with a lot of excitement. Everyone being in a festive mood, and a lot of businesses catering…

Fans tend to go on pilgrimages to see and take photos of places that appeared in their favorite movies or their most beloved TV shows. It is not uncommon to hear of Game of Thrones fans travelling across Europe to find places that brought to life the city of King’s Landing or the walls of…

With the almost unbearable heat that is the Japanese summer, how do common folks survive when outside in the sun? Among many tricks, there are the tasty refreshing summer foods that help with the heat. Here are some common dishes people crave during the summer in Japan: Kakigori shaved ice   photo-ac.com/ Kakigori, or shaved…

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…

Japan is well known as a source of weird and quirky stuff, and its fruits are no exception. Despite its 4 seasons standard of the North Hemisphere of the world, there are still unique plants native to Japan. In addition, there are the fruits that everyone knows, but Japan has put their own twist on…

Disney, Pixar and Dreamworks are company names that almost everyone knows. They are, in fact, animation studios that have brought us some well-known and well-loved animated productions that most of us grew up with and still continue to enjoy today. Since the early 1900s, cartoons have graced the world and been part of our lives;…