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. Hazel in Seattle Hazel is a silly, playful dog. She thinks she is human and loves to be around her family as much as possible. She loves playing fetch or tug-of-war, sunbathing and tiptoeing in the lake...
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. Zen and Zoe Zen and Zoe are siblings, both four years old. Although they are related, their personalities are vastly different. Zen is very friendly to everyone he meets, always eager to make new friends. He would...
The vividly bright green powder known as matcha and the earthy brown hojicha provide the foundation for Nana’s marvelous menu. The subtle-tasting teas are the gateway to a whole world of delicacies that involve the powdered teas in some way. First and foremost, a pot of tea at Nana’s is a delight. Served in simple, white chinaware, the aromatic, slightly bitter teas pair well...
Yugawara, Kanagawa Prefecture One of the pleasures of traveling to an onsen is having a full-course Japanese dinner after taking a relaxing bath. Each hotel or ryokan has its own signature dishes such as sashimi, steak, or shabu shabu. However, vegetarians and vegans may have a hard time dining at an onsen resort. You will need to let the hotel know about your food...
Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture A tattoo-friendly onsen awaits travelers at one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. Yurin, located in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, is near Toshogu Shrine, famous for enshrining the country’s first shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa. Ieyasu unified the country in 1603, the beginning of the Edo Era. The shrine in Nikko consists of 40 magnificent buildings showing off the refined techniques of Japanese architects...
Tokura Kamiyamada Onsen, Nagano Prefecture This is one of the most famous onsen in Nagano Prefecture. It sits next to the Chikuma River, a large river surrounded by mountains. Soak in the onsen and gaze at the magnificent scenery. There is nothing better! The onsen’s simple alkaline spring water is gentle to the skin, leaving it silky smooth. It is known as “beautiful spring...
Once upon a time, masking tape’s primary use was to mark off areas on the wall you want to protect from paint splashes. The beauty of masking tape is it can be taken off without leaving marks or residue behind. But the practical painter’s tape has morphed into something completely different these days, which is why you’ll see various masking tape brands in the...
Do only Japanese People Visit Public Onsen? Some onsen are run by local governments. These are called public onsen. They are mainly used by locals, so there’s no accompanying lodging facility. They typically charge around 500 yen (about $4.50). The local governments operating these public onsen aren’t that interested in attracting large numbers of guests, so the buildings and equipment aren’t upscale. It’s just...
Japan’s Onsen Are ‘Kimochi Ii’ Let your mind and body unwind in the soothing mineral waters of a Japanese hot-springs bath, known as an onsen. The experience inevitably induces exclamations of “kimochi ii” or “it feels so good!” You’ll hear the phrase as soon as a tired soul sinks his or her body into the bath, immediately letting the day’s stress float away with...
The New Wave of Japanese Cuisine Japan has seen a marked uptick in specialty restaurants recently. It seems the Japanese diner has grown tired of all-purpose food courts that serve everything from sushi to spaghetti, fried rice to French fries. Instead, they are flocking to specialty restaurants with very limited menus. The boom was triggered by Ikinari Steak, a restaurant that serves only steaks....
