Kansai

How Is the Weather and Climate in Osaka and Kansai? Useful Knowledge Before You Travel
Visit to Kyoto Amanohashidate: Magnificent Views, Power Spots, and Delicious Gourmet!
An Introduction to Must-See Shrines and Temples in Nara
The Osaka Tourist Spot You Can't Miss! A Complete Guide to Making the Most of a Day at Universal Studios Japan""

Osaka Guide: 7 Ways to Enjoy Osaka Expocity NIFREL – A New Kansai Hot Spot!

Osaka Suburbs Theme Parks

World Expo Memorial Park in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture. Tower of the Sun, a famous work by Taro Okamoto, is located at the site of the Osaka Expo which was held in 1970. Located next to it in the commercial facility EXPOCITY that was created in November 2015 is the living museum NIFREL. This facility, produced by the aquarium Kaiyukan in Osaka City, has, since its opening, been very popular as a spot that is more than just an aquarium. In this article we will tell you about 7 must-do things when you visit NIFREL.

Complete Guide to Kyoto Station: 8 Unique, Inside Spots Only Locals Know About!

Kyoto Station, To-ji Temple Other Sightseeing
Visit to Kyoto Amanohashidate: Magnificent Views, Power Spots, and Delicious Gourmet!

Amanohashidate Other Sightseeing
Kyoto’s Torokko Train: Travel Through a Verdant Tunnel with Magnificent Views on the Sagano Romantic Train!

Arashiyama, Uzumasa Landscapes
Osaka Restaurant Guide: Discovering ‘The Real Okonomiyaki’ in Osaka!

Umeda, Osaka Station, Kitashinchi Okonomiyaki, Monja & Takoyaki
Exploring Wakayama Castle: Best photo spots, tips and more!

Wakayama, Koyasan Castles
Japan’s Izakaya are World-Renowned - But What Food do Foreigners Hate the Most?!

Beyond the Guidebook - 5 Expats Talk Japan’s Latest Trends & Secret Tips!

Other Contemporary Culture

Bizarre game shows and kawaii fashion hail from Japan, no stranger to the world for its peculiar cultural trends. The Japanese people in particular are thrilled by constant new releases, whether it be food, fashion, or the trending “word of the year.” No matter what time of the year you visit Japan, there will always be new and limited edition drinks and dishes at convenient stores (some that come with collectors memorabilia), restaurants, and shops. From forming long ques to devour the latest dessert item at McDonald’s (which has created a world of its own in Japan unlike McDonald’s in other countries) to snatching the latest in overpriced streetwear finds, there is always something new trending that people in Japan jump on the bandwagon for. When visiting Japan, you’ll find some trends that are obvious and others that are found in the language and mannerism. These five expats share their opinions on the culture they’ve immersed themselves in or decided to stay out of. This time around, we asked five expats: “What's a trend in Japan that you love? (And/or what is one you don't quite understand?)” Here is what they shared.

Welcome, Winter! Quick Guide to Skiing in Japan

Skiing & Snowboarding
Shopping with a Japanese Housewife: 9 Favorite Time-Saving Condiments & More!

Other Restaurants
What to do in Osaka: Visit Osaka's Hana Haku Memorial Park for Instaworthy Photos of Flowers and Rare Plants!

Osaka Suburbs Parks
Over 4 Million Sold!? 8 Top-Selling Capsule Toys From Takara Tomy
Go Down the Rabbit Hole this Summer with Tokyo's Alice in Wonderland Restaurants!
Beyond the Guidebook - 5 Expats Share Their Top Summer Food Selections!

Summer

Perfect Gifts from Kyoto! 3 Cute Japanese Sundry Shops in Gion, Recommended for a Girls Trip

Gion, Kawaramachi, Kiyomizu-dera Temple Home Decor Stores

A major tourist location in Kyoto is Gion. Here you can see a traditional scenery with many Kyo-machiya (Kyoto style traditional town-house). If you are lucky you can come across maiko (apprentice geisha) heading to ozashiki (a Japanese style banquet room). In Gion there are many cute Japanese sundry shops, and some of these shops have special items for maiko such as Kyoto cosmetics and kanzashi (traditional hair ornaments). Here are some sundries that you will want to get during your visit in Kyoto.

Kyoto Sightseeing: Sights and Shops Along the Famous Philosopher's Path

Ginkakuji Temple, Nanzenji Temple Other Restaurants
Kobe Beef in Kobe Japan: 3 restaurants in Sannomiya offering reasonably priced Kobe beef!

Kobe, Sannomiya, Kitano Teppanyaki
Kyoto-Amanohashinodate's Best 3 Hotels! Enjoy one of Japan's Great Three Sights from the comfort of your hotel room or bath!

Amanohashidate Hotels
Getting Lunch in Nara: 3 Recommended Places for Lunch Right Near Nara Park!

Nara, Ikoma, Tenri Other Restaurants
JR Osaka Station’s Travel Service Center is multilingual. Let’s take a look at the services they offer travelers in Osaka

Umeda, Osaka Station, Kitashinchi Other Sightseeing
Delicious Uji Matcha Sweets from Kyoto that You’ll Want to Tell Everyone About

Kyoto Station, To-ji Temple Other Cafes and Sweets

Savoring Japanese Summer Splendor: Visiting Kyoto’s Riverside Restaurants

Kurama, Kifune Other Japanese Food

The 'kawadoko' in Kibune, or riverside restaurants, are a well-known summer tradition of Kyoto, along with the 'noryoka,' or outdoor terraces, on the Kamogawa River. These are small tatami rooms above the Kibune River in which you can enjoy a delicious meal while taking in the cool, summer breeze. To make the most of this luxury only to be experienced at this time of year, I took a trip to Kibune in the early part of summer.

Takoyaki in Osaka’s Fukushima District: Checking out the Famous ‘Takoya’!

Umeda, Osaka Station, Kitashinchi Okonomiyaki, Monja & Takoyaki
Kyoto Autumn Travel Guide: Exploring Kyoto’s Famous Pagoda at Toji!

Kyoto Station, To-ji Temple Shrines
Kobe Travel - Arima Onsen Guide: Enjoy relaxing at Japan’s oldest hot spring town (and autumn foliage too)!

Arima Onsen, Mt. Rokko Hot Springs (Onsen) & Bath Houses (Sento)
Kyoyo’s Kitano Tenmangu Shrine: Enjoy a stroll among the spring plum blossoms

kyoto Suburbs Shrines
Kyoto’s Byodoin Phoenix Hall: Embodying the Glory of the Heian Period

Fushimi, Uji Temples
Food in Kyoto: Visiting Hanbeifu, a Tofu Specialty Shop With a History Spanning over 320 Years!

Gion, Kawaramachi, Kiyomizu-dera Temple Other Japanese Food

Japanese Slang 101 - Words that Japanese People Actually Use

When learning Japanese, it’s common to learn very polite phrases and sentence structure. However, after coming to Japan you might realize that the way people talk to each other is almost always completely different than that! While it is important to know polite Japanese, it’s always good to know colloquial Japanese as well! With the following slang words, you’ll be on your way to talking natural Japanese in no time!