MODERN CULTURE & DINING
Come Color With Ana!
Wondering what Ana is up to? Join her on her latest globetrotting adventure with an online art activity. Color the pages that feature Ana...
A Fashion Chat With a Harajuku Girl
A Fashion Chat With a Harajuku GirlTokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood has nurtured its own sense of whimsy and freedom since the late 1980s and 1990s, when it became a mecca for inventive street culture and colorful, offbeat fashion styles. One of the first boutiques to...
Calling all Coffee Lovers. Here are 10 Coffee Shops in Tokyo you Shouldn’t Miss!
As most of you know, I can’t resist a great coffee shop, and during my recent trip to Japan with All Nippon Airways (ANA), I discovered some incredibly unique and special coffee shops in Tokyo.
The Latest in Japan’s Cat Culture
In Japan, neko (cats) are becoming a must-pet tourist attraction. Roaming cities and towns, taking over coffee shops, the animals have stolen the hearts of residents and visitors alike. Today, there are more than 150 cat cafés dotting Japan. Though other animals,...
5 Tips for Perfect Chopsticks Etiquette
5 Tips for Perfect Chopsticks EtiquetteOrdered a sushi delivery lately? If so, odds are that from the moment you snapped apart the chopsticks and rubbed their splintery edges together to your last chomp of chirashi, you probably committed a half dozen faux pas that...
The Noodles that Changed the World
The compact disc. The digital camera. The instant ramen noodle? Believe it or not, the third one is considered one of the most significant and impactful Japanese inventions of any kind. You probably equate the instant noodle with hazy college dorm rooms or the...
The Do’s and Don’ts of Shoes in Japan
It’s widely understood that Japanese custom is to remove one’s shoes before entering a home. However, there’s more nuance to the practice that’s helpful to understand before you embark on your trip to Japan.
Prime Time: What Makes Wagyu and Kobe Beef Special
The instant you taste genuine Kobe beef, you’ll understand that it’s special—and its scarcity makes it an essential indulgence for any visit to Japan. Granted, on U.S. restaurant menus the beef descriptors Wagyu and..
This Is Breakfast in Japan
It shouldn’t come as any surprise, but a traditional Japanese breakfast could not be more different from the Western coffee-and-pastry on the run. In fact, a visitor from overseas might think it looks and feels more like dinner. The first meal of the day in Japan...
12 Delicious Reasons To “Eat With the Seasons” in Japan
As a traveler, you’ll notice a reverence around the changing seasons that’s unique to Japan. The bursting of springtime cherry blossoms draws epic crowds...
What’s on the Shelf? A Shopper’s Guide to Japanese Produce
A walk through a local outdoor market is a pathway into the heart of a town or city, and Japan is no exception. Tsukiji market in Tokyo and Nishiki market in Kyoto are two of the best-known options, with each offering a chance to mingle with locals, sample foods...
The Story Behind Plastic Foods in Japan
When it comes to food, Japanese culture takes preparation very seriously. But one of the most eye-catching, intricate and expensive food practices in Japan is so devoted to preparation that the dishes never actually get eaten. No, it’s not a Michelin star-rated...
