Tokyo and Surroundings

Traveling Japan Alone? How to Make the Most Out of Your Solo Trip!

Other Sightseeing

Exploring at your own pace, eating what you want, choosing the hotel you like best – traveling alone can be a wonderful experience. While it may seem a bit intimidating for those who’ve never done it, the veteran solo travelers are surely nodding their head in agreement. Japan is a large country that has much to offer in basically all regards. From culture to food, here’s how to make the most out of Japan if you’re traveling alone!

Quality Used Japanese Cameras at Bargain Prices? 4 Used Camera Shops in Tokyo!

Shinjuku Other Shopping
10 Tips for Travelling to Tokyo in Winter

Tokyo Station Winter
Tokyo Day Trips with Morita-san: East Meets West at Miura Peninsula's Fascinating Hayama City

Kanagawa Suburbs Beaches
Hong Kong Week 2018: Get a Taste of Hong Kong—For 2 Weeks—Right Here in Tokyo!

Tokyo Station Other Entertainment
8 Laws You Should Know About Before Coming to Japan!
Japan's Cute Capybara: From Tropical Jungle Animals to Bathing Superstars!

Shizuoka Suburbs Zoos, Aquariums & Botanical Gardens

Character merch, toys & more! Visiting Kiddy Land Harajuku, Tokyo's incredible toy store

Harajuku Other Shopping

The Harajuku Kiddy Land store is a treasure trove loaded with the latest and most popular toys. Each of its floors, from the basement to the fourth, has a wide selection of character goods popular both in Japan and abroad, such as Rilakkuma, Studio Ghibli, Hello Kitty, and Snoopy. It also has all of the latest trending items. Here there is so much to see that you will surely lose track of time. In this article we will introduce the characters and items handled on each floor.

Hot Food Trends for 2018: Check out Japan's Dish of the Year!

Tokyo Station Other Japanese Food
From Cutting-Edge to Traditional: 12 Must-Visit Shops in Tokyo’s Glitzy Ginza

Ginza Other Sightseeing
Autumn in Japan 2018: Best 8 Spots to See Fall Colors Throughout Japan!

Autumn
Shopping at Keio Store: 10 Japanese-style Pasta Sauces to Expand Your Palate!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Grocery Stores
What Japanese Really Get At The Supermarket: Japan’s Top 10 Drinks!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Grocery Stores
Checking out Chuhai, Japan's Tasty Party Drink! 10 Must-Try Chuhai Selections

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Grocery Stores

Light or Dark Matcha? Experience a Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony at Waraku-An in Tokyo

Shibuya Tea Ceremonies

What comes to mind when hearing the words “traditional Japanese culture”? For many, green tea is one of the most obvious symbols connected to Japanese culture. Green tea is strongly associated with Japan; it’s more than just a drink, it’s tradition. In particular, the ceremonial preparation of matcha, the powdered form of green tea, is revered in Japan as a traditional ritual that is preserved to this day. To the foreign eye, the Japanese tea ceremony has long been regarded as something of an enigma: fascinating, yet arcane. Even most Japanese people do not fully know the intricacies involved in performing this ritual. However, an increasing number of tea houses have begun opening their doors to matcha novices, offering instruction and authentic experiences to Japanese and international visitors. Waraku-An, located in Tokyo, just two stops from Shibuya, is one such place that welcomes both Japanese and English speakers the chance to participate in an authentic tea ceremony!

[MOVIE] Achieve Your Cosplay Dreams at Cosplay Studio Crown!

Akihabara Culture Experience
Kurayami Gohan – Experiencing the Dinner in the Dark

Asakusa Culture Experience
[MOVIE] DRUM TAO’S MANGEKYO – a Kaleidoscope of Taiko Drums

Shinagawa Shows
[MOVIE] Navigating Virtual Airspace with Skyart JAPAN

Shinagawa Adventure Activities
Learn the Art of Flower Arrangement at Ohara School of Ikebana

Harajuku Other Traditional Arts
Stringraphy at Studio EVE: A Striking and Unique Musical Experience

Shibuya Other Contemporary Arts

Top 10 Ranking of the Most Crowded Commuter Trains in Japan!

Shinjuku Lifestyle

The trains in Tokyo during the rush hour are some of the most crowded in the country and for that matter almost anywhere else in the world, too. One feature that stands out on crowded Japanese trains is how quiet they are inside. Businessmen in suits and others appear silent and expressionless, which presents an eerie picture to unaccustomed foreigners. If you travel in Japan, it is best to avoid riding the trains when they are crowded. On the other hand, you might be curious enough to want to see what it is like being a Japanese “corporate warrior” who must endure crowded trains almost daily and try riding one once during the rush hour. Here is a list of the 10 most crowded commuter train lines in the country!

Tokyo's Best Budget Deals, Discounts & Coupons! (December 2018)

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Other Shopping
10 Things to Know About Summer in Japan – From Weather to Events!

Summer
Tokyo Station’s Souvenir Sales Ranking – By Price! Top 10 Souvenirs of 2,200 Items: Most Sold, Most Popular - and All Under $10!

Tokyo Station Other Shopping
Sweet Delights: Tokyo’s Top 5 All-You-Can-Eat Dessert Buffets

Shinjuku Other Cafes and Sweets
Curious Japanese Deciphered: 26 Japanese Words That Stand In For English
Tokyo’s Top Hotel Chains: Quality Rooms That Won't Bust Your Budget!

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas Hotels

Why Are There So Many Standing Bars in Japan?

Lifestyle

Japan has a large amount of tachigui and tachinomi spots, restaurants and bars at which you enjoy drinks and dishes while standing. In and itself, eating and drinking while standing is something of a faux pas in Japan, but in recent years, there has been a real boom of standing bars. In the past, the most common were standing soba restaurants while nowadays, you’ll find French cuisine, steaks, and all sorts of cuisines in chairless restaurants, eateries, and bars, catering to a wide range of people and palates. This standing bar boom hasn’t just begun, either. The “fast, cheap, and easy-to-eat” concept of eating has long been popular among the busy working population, so let’s explore the history of Japan’s eating-while-standing culture and the secrets to its popularity!

Work, College, Entertainment: Why Everything Overconcentrates in Tokyo

Tokyo's Surrounding Areas
Life In Japan: Filipinos Recommend Places To Visit!

Other Sightseeing
Layover in Tokyo? Useful services at Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND)!

Haneda Airport
Japan’s Nuisance Ranking: Annoying Things Japanese People do in Japanese Trains
Japan Beyond the Guidebook: 6 Expats Share Their Top Autumn Food Choices!

Tokyo Station Autumn
Tokyo Day Trips with Morita-san: Exploring Japan's Old Silk Road Around Mt. Takao

Mt. Takao Forests & Mountains

Traveling to Japan For The First Time? Here’s What to Expect!

Other Sightseeing

The amazing thing about Japan is its image: for all tourists there is the perception that Japan has a very deep, and old, culture while at the same time it is also known for its cutting edge technology. It is a highly developed nation, and its deep culture goes hand in hand with the pride that people in Japan have regarding their nation’s history and long-established cultural traditions. In particular, there is a noticeable pride in Japanese culinary arts which have been successfully exported around the world. It is quite easy to say that because of Japan’s technological accomplishments, and developed infrastructure, that many tourists see it as being almost like a Western nation, but Japan’s culture means that it has one foot in the past and one in the future, it truly has a unique footing spanning both worlds. For the first-time traveler to Japan, what can you expect in such a unique country? There are many expectations that you might have, such as that there are sushi restaurants and a lot of anime/manga fans, but what can you really expect in your daily interactions? You might have a picture in mind of Japan, but allow us to color it in for you with some pointers about Japan.