Ever wonder what your beloved pet’s name would look like in Chinese characters, or kanji? We pick one pet photo and render the pet’s name in kanji. Deacon Deacon is a big, friendly Great Dane that lives in Ballard. He used to live on a houseboat. We bet he made that houseboat rock! Now he lives with his owners, Min and Dotty, in a...
Japan’s beloved cat cafes are inspiring people like Caitlin Unsell to replicate the businesses abroad. Unsell spent two years in Sapporo teaching kindergarten. “At that time there were no cat cafes in the U.S. yet and I knew so many people would love them. I told myself as soon as I returned to Seattle I would open one!” Unsell gets her kitties through the...
Built in 1603, Nijo-jo Castle was the shogun’s Kyoto residence during the Edo period (1603 – 1867), and later became Nijo Rikyu (Nijo Imperial Villa). This 400-year-old castle showcases the shoin-zukuri architectural style, more than 3,600 wall paintings. In 1994, Nijo-jo Castle was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Surprisingly, you can have a traditional Japanese meal at this historic castle. Kyoryori Isobe,...
Want a simple, inexpensive, and delicious way to impress your friends at your next get-together? Make one of Japan’s favorite street foods: okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake-like dish typically prepared on a teppan grill. You’ll see it at festivals and restaurants all over Japan, but especially in Osaka, where it is one of the city’s staples along with takoyaki. Some restaurants come equipped...
Want to pick up an authentic kimono or yukata while in Osaka? Visit Kaede-an, a shop with English-speaking staff who will help you pick out the kimono right for you. The store offers a wide selection of reasonably priced kimonos of all ranges, from pre-owned to high-end. You can try them on at the store. This could be the only kimono store in Japan...
Osaka is Japan’s second largest city. Near Kyoto, Osaka has developed as the commercial center of western Japan and is still a uniquely merchant-oriented city. Osakans hate to lose money and time. They speak bluntly and dress with a flair. While it has grown into an international city, at is core, Osaka still has plenty of that old merchant spirit. Konamon If you travel...
Zen in the Myoshin-ji Temple District There are more than 3,000 Buddhist temples and facilities in Kyoto, from the very famous to the very obscure. The oldest temple in Kyoto is Koryuji, which was built 1,500 years ago, and many others are several centuries old. People can enjoy the atmosphere of the ancient capital to this day. Taizo-in is a Zen Buddhist temple built...
This is a knife and cooking utensil store that has been in business for 450 years. The knife maker is one of Kyoto’s best-established shops. Aritsugu Fujiwara, the founder of the company, was the emperor’s sword maker. His techniques have been handed down to today’s craftspeople. Aritsugu kitchen knives are a chef’s dream. The amazingly sharp knives are handcrafted one by one to make...
U:DON U:don owner Taku makes some delicious udon. I was surprised to find this high-quality udon in the Seattle area. The homemade noodles have body to them and an authentic taste. Information 1) U:Don Capitol Hill 1640 12th Ave Seattle https://freshudon.com/ 2)U:Don University District 4515 University Way NE, Seattle TEINEI This is my go-to restaurant when I want to eat yummy ramen. You can...
The Iga school is the biggest ninja group. Iga, in current-day Mie Prefecture near Kyoto, saw many conflicts between its lords. Even civilians in this area were trained in guerilla warfare to be able to defend themselves. This is how the Iga Ninjas got their start. Eventually, the Iga Ninjas were governed by three ninja leaders called the Jyonin Gosanke. Iga is in a...
