Cute Things from Japan – Konapun

Wow! Just when you think you have found the cutest things you can in Japan, there is more!

Remember my minor obsession with Re-ment? Well now I have discovered Konapun!!!! How do they come up with this stuff? It is amazing
Read more

Cute things : Amigurumi Octopus

While this isn’t straight from Japan, the idea is – amigurumi

While shopping at Anthropologie, my sister saw this adorable octopus.

For $22. I told my sister I could make one for her for way cheaper. And after a couple months I did finally get around to it. I was pretty happy with the results.
Read more

Introduction to Japanese Food – Okonomiyaki

I know what you’re thinking. What the heck is okonomiyaki?

Although being a Japanese comfort food, it’s less likely that you will run across okonomiyaki outside of Japan. While you may come across it on a menu at a North American Japanese restaurant, okonomiyaki can be a strange sight to western eyes.

So let’s shed some light on the mysterious okonomiyaki.
Read more

Top 5 Ryokan in Japan

As promised during our introduction to the Japanese ryokan, we’re back with a rundown of some of the best ryokan in Japan.

Ryokan can certainly vary in quality and price. And when it comes to top ryokan, you will definitely be paying a top price for a quality. With so many great ryokan to chose from, we tried to pick a few of the best from different locations throughout Japan.

So here is our top 5 picks for Japanese ryokan!
Read more

Cute Things from Japan – Re-Ment

You know how there are some things that are so cool and you like to pretend that you are the only one who knows about them….like that indie band or that adorable shop. And so you don’t tell others about it because if everyone knows about it, it won’t be as cool. That’s kind of the way I feel about Re-ment.

I LOVE it! And I like to pretend that I am the only one that knows about it. But I am going to be mature and realize that I can like things even if other people like them too.

(I think) Also, a lot more people have discovered it anyway.

And so I present re-ment….the cutest things ever.
Read more

Funny Japanese Commercials Staring Famous People

It’s somewhat of a joke in Hollywood that if you want to make big cash then you should appear in at least one crazy Japanese commercial.

I guess stars seem to think that if there is a high chance that no one from the English speaking world is ever going to see them, they why not take the money and act completely ridiculous.

Well, thanks to YouTube, they can’t hide anymore…
Read more

Japanese Demystified: Book Review

I recently picked up a copy of Japanese Demystified from my local library. I had been holding off from ordering the book because the cover looked like it was going to be dummy’s guide to the Japanese language.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Read more

What to Pack for a Fall Trip to Japan

We went to Japan in early to mid November a few years ago. I thought long and hard about our wardrobes and what to pack in order to keep it feeling fresh but pack as few clothes as possible.

I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. It was the right combination for the various temperatures and for all the situations we were in.
Read more

A Stroll Through Ritsurin Koen

Continuing our look at the top 5 Japanese gardens, this week we’ll take a stroll through the city of Takamatsu main attraction – The Ritsurin Koen
Read more

Staying at a Ryokan

You’ve probably come across the term ryokan in your travel books or perhaps you’ve had a friend suggest that you stay in one if you visit Japan.

But what is a ryokan? And how the heck do you pronounce it?
Read more