Things I Like About Japan #8: Hanami

It’s springtime here in Japan, which means that it’s time for one of my favorite pastimes: hanami! What is hanami, you ask? Well, it’s usually translated as “cherry blossom viewing,” but it’s so… Read More →

Things I Like About Japan #7: Crepes In Harajuku

Harajuku has long been one of my favorite places in Tokyo (and in Japan). The area has become famous as a center of youthful fashion, and shopping. The bridge between Harajuku and the… Read More →

Things I Like About Japan #6: Small Drinks Are Actually Small

Today we have another installment of my long-neglected “Things I Like About Japan” series. One thing I really like about Japan is that small drinks are actually small here. In the US, we’ve… Read More →

Things I Like About Japan #5: Koi

Koi, Naiku, Ise, Japan by kristi-san I love fish. When I was growing up, my father had both freshwater and saltwater aquariums. I used to enjoy reading books about different species of fish:… Read More →

Things I Like About Japan #4: Onsen

Picture courtesy of the Yunogo Grand Hotel One of the best things about Japan has to be its onsen. What are onsen, you ask? Onsen (温泉) is the Japanese term for hot springs,… Read More →

Things I like about Japan #3: Fans

As I think I’ve mentioned repeatedly, summers in Japan are hot and humid (蒸し暑い, or mushiatsui, is a phrase you’ll hear countless times). There are a few things that make this bearable, however.… Read More →

Things I like about Japan #2: Shaved Ice

Summers in Japan can be brutally hot and humid, but one thing I always look forward to is shaved ice, or kakigōri. Kakigōri (かき氷) is basically a snow cone, but it’s so much… Read More →

Things I like about Japan #1: Kotatsu

It’s only the second day of my language program here in Japan, and I’m already exhausted and drowning in work. Given that, I’d like to take the time to share one of the… Read More →