Wagashi is traditional Japanese sweets that are usually served with green tea. They have a wide variety of shapes, ingredients, consistencies, and preparation methods. Some are so popular that they’re served all year ’round across Japan while others are only served regionally or seasonally. Where can I buy them? These delicious Japanese sweets are usually…

I’m sure you’ve all heard about Dotonbori (道頓堀) – the must-visit food and shopping district in Osaka (大阪). If not, don’t let the bright lights, masses of people and endless stores and eateries overwhelm you! This is a great place to explore, where you can spend the day shopping and eating, then go back the…

We often encounter the word “yaki (焼き)” when eating at Japanese restaurants. This word means baked, broiled, fried, grilled, or roasted, and most Japanese foods that have “yaki” in their names are cooked using these methods. Check out these 10 popular Japanese “yaki” dishes! 1. Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) jp.fotolia.com/ One popular “yaki” dish that originated in…

Japan is known for its unique culture, continuing traditions such as festivals, spiritual beliefs and cuisine as well as advancing to be one of the world’s leading economies. Japan attracted almost 20 million tourists in 2016, who visited to sample the Japanese way of life, which remains culturally unique and fascinating for foreigners. Japanese food…

Yaki (焼き) street food is one of the favorite types of food of many locals and visitors alike. If you are visiting Japan in the summer season, especially during festivals, the following types of street foods are common at food stalls, called yatai (屋台), on the streets and close to event venues. “Yaki” simply means…

Kamakura (鎌倉) and Enoshima (江の島) are areas in Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県) near the sea, popular with tourists and packed with things to do. Here are several things for you to do in these areas, and how to get them all done in one exciting, fun-filled day. 1. Get Up Early and Stroll Kamakura’s Sleepy Streets…

When you think of Japanese food people usually think of rice, noodles, or sushi. Sweets rarely come to mind when people unfamiliar with Japan image the cuisine. Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets made of traditional ingredients such as mochi (rice cake) and anko (paste made of azuki red beans). But with so much choice, what…

In May, Shiki Theater Company’s Sapporo branch began its production of the Broadway Musical, Wicked, which is based on the prologue of the famous story about the ‘Wizard of Oz’. Wicked has been on Broadway since 2003 and has become increasing popular ever since. In celebration, here are 12 amazing Wicked-themed products for all Wicked…

Japanese food is world famous. It is commonly accepted that Japan has one of the world’s great food cultures, on par with the likes of Italy and France. You can go to most any place in the world and find sushi, Kobe beef, and many other Japanese delicacies. But there are many other great Japanese…

One iconic Japanese street snack is Taiyaki, which in English literally means grilled sea bream. As the name would not suggest, this snack is a pancake-like snack with a sweet filling. It is not at all fishy in taste or texture. It does, however, look like a fish. In The Past Fish and pancakes may…