Sushi is a local Tokyo food

Are you a sushi lover?  Sushi, now available globally, is also loved by many  of Japanese people. Sushi was originally a dish for special occasions. Since cold chain distribution as  an infrastructure, equipped throughout Japan 30 years ago, we can […]

Fruit picking around Kanto

Did you know there are tons of options for fruit picking during this season of this year? You will love it if you are a fruit lover and so would your kids. Fruit picking is a very kid-friendly weekend activity […]

Rubella Alert in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Rubella is rapidly spreading around Tokyo and the surrounding areas this year – especially among males in their 20s to 40s. The accumulated total numbers of the rubella patients marked 952 as of end of September: Tokyo holds the largest […]

Vermeer in Tokyo

Dear art lovers in Tokyo – as you may be aware, the 9 great works of Vermeer will be in exhibited at the Ueno no Mori Museum until Feb, 2019. There is a special website for this exhibition (unfortunately in […]

Japanese Cartoons

How many Japanese cartoons do you know? Watching or reading cartoons or mangas is a very good way to learn new Japanese words and culture 🙂 Giving you some suggestions… Sazaesan サザエさん Chibi Maruko-chan ちびまる子ちゃん Anpan-man アンパンマン Slamdunk スラムダンク Sailermoon セーラームーン If you […]

Daily hotpot choices

As it is getting chilly every day, you may be wondering if you could add some warm dishes to your table at the end of the day. Here are some hotpot “nabe” choices you may want to consider. It is very […]

Typhoon Trami

A very strong typhoon “Trami” hit Japan from 29 Sep to 1 Oct. First attacking the Okinawan islands with making more than 200 flights cancelled, it also made Kansai International Airport completely closed the following day. In the eastern side […]

Japanese Style Halloween

How many of you are looking forward to Halloween? You will see a number of Halloween events taking place even very near from your place, because Halloween has now become a very popular day here in Japan as well. You […]

Tatami Floors

Wondering how many of you are living in a house or an apartment with tatami rooms? Although tatami floors are getting less and less these days, we still see at least one room with tatami mats even in newly built […]

September National Holidays

Japan is a country with the world’s largest numbers of national holidays. Apart from the New Year’s holiday (most Japanese companies close from around Dec 29 to Jan 3) and the Golden Week (consecutive holidays in the beginning of May), […]

Japanese Flower Arrangement

Flower arrangement in Japan is called Ikebana, a tradition to arrange and observe seasonal flowers. Kado is a type of Ikebana – it is an art to combine flowers and trees which is said to be established during the mid Muromachi […]

Autumn Images

Here are some images of autumn you will see in Japan. Here we go! Mexican aster Autumn leaves Rice harvest Fruit harvest Tsukimi (Moon viewing) Sports day   Enjoy autumn season in Japan! Not a member yet?  Be a member […]

Sanma – An autumn dish

The Meguro Sanma Festival is one of the popular autumn festivals in Tokyo. Annually there are two sanma festivals held near the Meguro station and this year the first one will be held on Sep 9th at the east side […]

Ice cream and popsicles in Japan

Summer heat is still going on – just thought of introducing ice creams and popsicles you will generally see in grocery stores and convenience stores in Japan. What a fun topic 🙂 ガリガリ君 Gari Gari Kun A very famous product […]

Simultaneous interpreting at Win Off-the-Pitch 2018

QuickHelpJapan participated in Win Off-the-Pitch 2018 talk sessions & awarding ceremony hosted by Sport for Smile last Sunday as simultaneous interpreting volunteers. Sport For Smile is the first-ever platform in Japan to use sport for social change. We were able to […]

Camping in Naka-gawa, Ibaraki Prefecture

Camping is attracting people’s attention these days – especially getting more and more popular among families with children. Let us share with you a camping experience in Ibaraki Prefecture, near Naka river. Camp Site Location: Nakayoshi Camp Ground (5-2 Kami-Isehata, […]

Season’s Greetings

Have you ever heard of Shochu-Mimai(暑中見舞い) or Zansho-Mimai (残暑見舞い)cards? There is a tradition in Japan to write to families and friends offering best wishes for the hot season. Shochu-Mimai cards are for the first half of the summer season. To be […]

How to register for a car sharing service

Have you ever thought of utilizing the car sharing service here in Japan? The most popular car sharing service here is “Times Car Plus” ran by a major pay-by-the-hour parking lot company. These days, it is less common for young […]

Renting a place in Tokyo

If you go house hunting in Japan, you might be interested in looking for the below conditions: South Facing / 南向き: Unlike houses in other western countries, houses in Japan have very limited space and are not exposed to all […]

Ideas to retain your pleasant memories

What do you do with your photos taken with your smart phones or cameras? Do you save them to hard drives or clouds? Why not create your own physical photo album online? It is not expensive and can be done […]

Where to look first for room decorations

Where do you usually go to when thinking of redecorating your place or welcoming another family member? Do you know the right places to look for your own taste? Here are some possible options in Tokyo at affordable prices. – […]

Images to cool you down

Hope all of you are surviving in this terrible heat especially this week in Tokyo. The weather forecast is marking 36 degrees centigrade on Monday, 23rd with serious caution against heatstroke. Be sure to take bottles of water with you […]

How old can a child go solo on an international flight?

Have you ever thought of sending your child/ren abroad only by themselves? There are certain services you can look into – many air carriers have services to help children to get onboard without the help of their guardians.   Japan […]

Japanese summer Furin
Japanese Traditional crafts, Furin!

Have you ever heard of the beautiful sounds of Japanese wind-bell called Furin? The sound of Furin is one of Japanese summer features and is a Japanese traditional craft. The sounds of Furin is very beautiful and somehow it sounds […]

Godzilla TOHO studio
Meet Godzilla at TOHO Studios!!!

I suppose many of you know the Japanese famous character “Godzilla”: a main character of a TOHO production’s movie. Have you ever heard that TOHO Studios is located in Setagaya-ku and they have photogenic spots for Godzilla fans!   TOHO […]

Japanese custom Chugen
Still have a chance to send a summer gift!

How many of you know one of the Japanese customs called “Chugen”? How many of you have already done the arrangement for it?   Chugen is a communication tool showing appreciation towards people who have helped you either personally or […]

summer heatstroke sodium
4 tips to overcome summer heat this year!

The rainy season is over and hot summer days have started. As many of you already know, summer in Japan is not a very comfortable season. Even for us who were born and brought up in Japan, sometimes it can […]

Summer activity Kayaking holidays
Summer activities for kids!

Do your children already have summer plans for this long summer holidays? Holiday terms are a bit different depending on the schools, but I suppose most of them have more than a month at least. Kids surely need some fun […]

Tanabata Tanzaku
Enjoy Star Festival Tanabata!

Have you ever heard of Tanabata? It is one of the Japanese traditional festivals known as Star Festival.   There is a romantic story called Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented by stars Vega of the Lyre and Altaire of the Eagle. […]

Kitchen Garden Challenge!

Having and taking care of kitchen garden in Japan, especially during is rainy and humid season, sometimes requires knowledge and experience. But for those who are new to this, some vegetables are very strong to weather change and relatively easy […]

Sushi Delivery

Sushi is a big treat for Japanese families. Eating sushi at a sushi counter in a popular restaurant is probably the best you could ask for, but still, quality of sushi delivery is not that bad. Gin no Sara Sushi […]

Risonare – A List of Family Friendly Hotels

How many of you have experienced staying at Risonare hotels? There are 3 Risonare hotels (Yatsugatake / Atami / Tomamu (Hokkaido)) and are all run by Hoshino Resorts. Each hotel has their own concept that attract families and children, making […]

Beautiful Hasedera

If you are looking for a short trip destination during this rainy season, here is my recommendation – Hasedera in Kamakura. It is known for its beautiful Japanese gardens with a walking trail which takes you to a viewing platform […]

Takubell – taxi app

A new taxi service was launched recently in the Kanagawa prefecture – currently used only in Yokohama and Kawasaki, but is on its way to expanding to other regions. Have you ever had any trouble communicating with taxi drivers in […]

Flowing Somen Party!

Up for a summer party? How about a Japanese style party with flowing somen? If you don’t go with the traditional way it’ll be pretty easy and quick to prepare, and kids will definitely love the noodles! Traditionally, flowing somen […]

Rugby World Cup 2019 Volunteer Program Welcomes You!

This is to let you know the opportunities to participate in the RWC taking place here in Japan next year! We all have a chance to become a part of this dream tournament. Recruitment schedule (provisional) Recruitment period: 12:00 on […]

Prepare for the Heavy Rain

Here comes the rainy season with typhoon risks. For those who are not familiar with how to gather disaster information, here are some major sources to check.   Go to Japan Meteorological Agency website for detailed weather warnings and advisories of […]

Commonly Used School Supplies in Japanese Schools

Usually, parents receive explanations regarding rules and what to prepare prior to the start date, but let’s take a look at some of the common stuff used in Japanese elementary schools for quick your reference.   Bookbags – Traditionally red […]

Sanno Matsuri @ Hie Shrine

Sanno Matsuri is one of the 3 major festivals in Tokyo, and also counted as 3 great festivals in Japan together with the Gion festival (Kyoto) and Tenjin festival (Osaka). Sanno Matsuri is held yearly in mid-June, at Hie Shrine […]

Images of June in Japan

June is the only month without a national holiday in Japan. Rainy days and no long weekends may make you feel a bit blue.. But that is not just it! Here are some bright side images of June in Japan […]

Meet the Sumikko Gurashi Characters!

Sumikko Gurashi characters became one of the most popular and loved characters among Japanese children in the past few years.   Sumikko means “in the corner”, and Gurashi means “live”. These set of characters were originally targeting the Japanese who […]

What to Order at Yakiniku Places

Dear Meatlovers – Have you ever wondered how to order at Yakiniku places here in Japan? Are you aware of your favorite meat part? Here’s a brief explanation.   牛タン Gyutan – tongue Sliced very thin and cooked quickly at […]

My Neighbor Totoro Event @ Izu Teddy Bear Museum

  According to a recent announcement, a new Studio Ghibli entertainment park will be opened by 2022 in Aichi, where the Expo took place back in 2005. Studio Ghibli is nationally popular within Japan – but is also acknowledged worldwide […]

Where to play tennis in Tokyo

For those who play sports, do you have the right environment around you to keep it up?   Some sports, tennis for example, require a specific environment to play – and sometimes the procedure is hilariously complicated to get to […]

Japanese Curry

Curry in Japan is very different from Indian curry. It is a Japanese soul food, very easy and quick to cook. Here is a common recipe for 4 dishes of Japanese curry.   Ingredients: 140g Curry blocks, 150g Chicken Leg, […]

Signs of Spring

Here are some of the signs of spring that could be found around you here in Japan, other than cherry blossoms, peach branches, and tulips. Enjoy the beautiful season 🙂   Dandelions   Field Mustards   Horsetails   Tadpoles   […]

How to Clean a Futon

Sharing some tips and advises how to clean your futon (Japanese mattress) used daily. Spring is a season of new beginnings in Japan and it’s a perfect season to reset & refresh your bedroom to get better sleeps! It is […]

1st Grader School Life #2

Second version of Japanese public elementary school life. As you may know, public schools are free – parents would have to pay for the school lunch that cost around 5,000 yen per month and some school supply fees that are […]

The Yokohama Parade 2018

For those who haven’t started planning for Golden Week: Check out the annual Yokohama Parade with history of more than 60 years. Date: 3 May 2018 Starts at: 10:45 am near Yamashita Park Image cited from https://www.enjoytokyo.jp/amuse/event/1177581/ There will be marching […]

1st Grader School Life #1

For those who are interested in actual school life in Japan, here is some unfiltered report of a 1st grader in a Japanese public elementary. My daughter usually gets up before 7am, eats breakfast, changes, gets ready and quickly goes […]

Some Hot Household Appliances

Sharing some top hot home appliances now in Japan. BALMUDA The Toaster Image cited from https://www.balmuda.com/jp/toaster/ With its special steam technology and temperature control function, this toaster will ensure maximum flavor. The outside will be crisp, and the inside will be moist […]

Attending a Japanese Wedding

How many of you have experiences attending a Japanese friend’s wedding? Weddings held in Japan are somewhat different from the western ones. There may be things in common but most of the customs here are Japan-specific. After a Japanese couple […]

Japanese National Holidays

Have you ever wondered why there are so many national holidays in Japan? Here is a list of national holidays in 2018.   Date Weekday Holiday Name 1-Jan Monday New Year’s Day 8-Jan Monday Coming of Age Day 11-Feb Sunday […]

Experience in Legoland Japan

Legoland Japan is celebrating its first anniversary by opening a Legoland Hotel on the premises. I am sharing a few points based on my own experience taking a 2 year old, 4 year old, and two 7 year old girls […]

Travel with Your Dog

If you have a dog and you decide to go on a trip with him/her, what would you think of first? I recently found an interesting service carried out by Japanese air carriers that allows dog owners to fly with […]

Food Delivery

What are the food delivery options in Tokyo now? We currently have more choices than ever before now that Uber Eats and other new business started its service in Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures. Traditional delivery options in Japan are […]

Good Travel Destinations in Japan

Most schools are out until early April, and spring vacation is the only vacation throughout the year with no homework for children attending Japanese schools. They can simply rest or spend time doing whatever they like before another school year […]

Shop Efficiently at 100 yen Shops

100 yen shops and convenience stores assume a significant role of “efficient” shopping in day to day life in Japan. Sometimes you can even get lost when you visit huge 100 yen shops searching for a specific item, and you […]

After-School Enrichment Lessons for Children

It is very common to see children participate in multiple after-school enrichment lessons these days in Japan. Listed below are said to be the most popular ones recently: Swimming: In addition to maintain a healthy body and mind, swimming is said to have a […]

Laundry in Japan

How many of you have experiences standing in front of a Japanese laundry machine thoroughly confused?   Home laundry here in Japan might be a huge surprise for people who were brought up in other countries. It is not common for […]

SAKURA Viewing Spots Around Tokyo

According to the Sakura (cherry blossoms) forecast, Tokyo residents will be enjoying the beautiful pink colored season by the 4th week in March. Forget about the lousy hay fever for now, and let’s review some popular viewing spots so that […]

Delivery Services

Delivery services are called 宅急便 Takkyubin in Japan and the major companies are Yamato Transport Co., Sagawa Express and Japan Post. Today we will go through the basics of how to send and receive packages using Yamato.   Sending Packages Customers […]

School Ceremony Season Approaching!

For those who have their children attend Japanese schools, we are about to enter the ceremony season. Starting from graduation ceremonies in mid-March, it’s common for students and parents to host thank-you parties for teachers and school staffs, and next […]

Bathtubs in Japan

Many of you may already know about the Japanese traditional soaking tubs. Although many people in Japan love to visit public baths such as Onsen (Hot Spring) or Sento (Shared Public Bath), they also have a special way to relax […]

Fruit Calendars

Japan is an ideal country to be in for fruit lovers. With historical background as an agrarian country, farming has always been an active area of research here in Japan. Nowadays Japanese fruits are gaining more and more attention for their high […]

Best Koshu wines

Have you tried Koshu wine? Koshu wine is the wine made of Japanese wine grape “Koshu” and  is referred as the representative of Japanese wine. When you look for fresh white wine such as Chablis or Pinot Grigio, you should […]

Drive in Japan

Although Japan has an efficient public transportation network, it can save you a lot of time if you drive especially in smaller cities or when you travel around the country. Today, we will be taking a look at the basics […]

A Weekend Trip to Hakone

With loads of museums, hot spring facilities and great nature worth to visit, Hakone is a very popular weekend / day trip destination for Tokyo residents. Hakone is only 85 minutes away from Shinjuku station by Odakyu Limited Express “Romancecar”, […]

What are Hoikuens and Yochiens?

For some of you with preschool children, childcare system in Japan may appear a little complicated. There are two types of childcare centers called “Hoikuen” and “Yochien”, and both facilities take care of preschoolers during the day. Well, the difference […]

Health Checks in Japan

Just a heads-up as we are gradually approaching the end of the fiscal year. Have you ALL finished having your annual health checks?     Employers in Japan have a legal obligation to offer annual health check-ups to their employees, […]

May I offer you a hot beverage?

Snow blizzard  all around in Japan. Tokyo Meteorological Agency issued a heavy snow warning for Tokyo for the first time in four years. Now, it’s time in Fukui…           The hot springs in winter sound fantastical. […]

Cherry blossoms Forecast

It’s been too cold the last few days. The preliminary report on Cherry blossom 2018 released. According to Weathernews(weather news provider) Tokyo will be on 22nd of March and 29th of March for Kyoto. The accommodations’ tariff Kyoto and Osaka […]

Typical School Year of a Japanese Elementary

Unlike schools in other countries, Japanese school year starts from April and ends in March. There are said to be a few reasons for this, such as coordination with the Japanese fiscal year (which also starts from Apr.), or due […]

Indoor Play-Areas around Tokyo

As it is getting colder and colder everyday, today we are sharing some indoor play-areas for kids in the Tokyo area. Check these out when your little ones are fully charged for a fun filled day but the weather is not looking good enough. […]

Vegan and Vegetarian

I have found an article about Vegetarian friendly restaurants in Japan at Japan Travel Forum of Tripadvisor. Lacto-ovo vegetarians, Ovo-Vegetarians,Lacto-Vegetarians and Vegans. For Pescatarians, there are still some options to eat in Japan. Shojin Ryori Shojin-ryori(精進料理) is a vegetarian meal […]

Chinese New Year Celebrations in Yokohama!

  On 16 February, we will feel the festive and joyful atmosphere all around Yokohama Chinatown, also known as Yokohama Chukagai, which is said to be the largest Chinatown in Asia.     There will be a number of colorful dragons and […]

Unique Winter Activity

Skiing or sledding? There are a lot of cold weather activities in the world. But there is no activity quite like Snow Storm Experience in Gosyogawara city, Aomori. “ Jihubuki” (snow drifting ) was stared in 1988.  Goshogawara city is […]

Picking seasonal Fruits

Strawberry season has come! There are many strawaberries desserts in the shops. I have found the Dorayaki (Japanese pancake with redbean) and strawberryat Ecute Shinagawa ” Ichigo week “( Strawberry weak ) Pick Your Own Strawberries!! At ” Hamamatsu Fruits […]

Setsubun: Bean-Throwing Festival

Have you ever seen politicians, celebrities, Sumo wrestlers throw beans at temples? Well, this is a very popular event in Japan.   Setsubun is yearly celebrated on 3Feb in Japan, which used to be the day before the first day […]

Snow Festival in Sapporo

Sapporo Snow Festival attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. Every winter, about two million people come to Sapporo to see a large number of splendid snow and ice sculptures. Lining Odori Park, the grounds […]

Dondo-yaki

Finally, Japanese long New Year Holiday is over. Hope everyone had a great time. Dondo-Yaki or Sagicho is a fire festival usually held on January 15th marking the end of New year’s celebrations. People gather New Year’s ornaments of the […]

Coming of Age day

The second Monday of January is Coming-of-Age Day, a national holiday to encourage those who have newly entered adulthood to become self-reliant members of society. (The holiday used to be on January 15, but in 2000 it was moved to […]

New Year’s Resolutions

Happy New Year! Welcome back to work. Today is the 1st business day for most people in Japan. What are your Resolutions for 2018? I have found the article posted in 2013. Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year’s […]

Year of the Dog

2018 is Year of the Dog according to Oriental zodiac. In Japan, we use the zodiac  for the year like ” Inu-doshi ” (year of the dog ) and for the day . e.g ” Inu-no hi ” ( day of the […]

Japanese Traditional “Osechi-Ryori” for New Year’s Day

As you may see Japanese special foods for New years Day which looks like a huge bento-box , we call that “Osechi-Ryori” in Japan. Osechi-ryori is specially prepared New Year’s food eaten to give thanks and wish for happiness and […]

Winter break homework ~ Japanese Calligraphy ~

Winter break has begun! (Or will begin soon!) One of the traditional winter break homework is Calligraphy in Japan. The first calligraphy in the year called 書き初め “Kaki-zome” ( First calligraphy). 書道“Shodo”(Calligraphy) has been practiced to cultivate one’s inner self. […]

Float citrons in the bath

冬至”To-ji” (winter solstice) is on 22nd of December. The shortest day of the year and Citrons bath day too. In Japan, there is a custom to have ゆず湯”Yuzu-yu” ( Citrons bath) on winter solstce day. The custom started in Edo period […]

Where to see Mt. Fuji

Where are the best spots for viewing Mt. Fuji? One of the frequent asked question from my overseas friends. It’s a very tough question to answer and it reminds me of Princess Ann of Roman Holiday. “Each in its own […]

Self Medication tax deduction

“Self-medication tax deduction “ has started on 1st of January 2017. What is “ Self-medicatio tax deduction” It’s a new tax system as a exceptional of medical expense deduction. After January 2017, the sum up of designated OTC ( Over-the-counter) […]

Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro 2017

“Kyoto Arashiyama Hanatouro “will be held from 8th to 17th of December. “Hana “means flower and “Touro” means lights on pathways. They have had the events from 2005. There are two “ Hana touro “events in Kyoto. One is Higashiyama […]

Tax Refund Declaration

Filing Tax Returns Have you submitted your “年末調整“-Nenmatsu chosei “ documents to department in charge already ? Many employed people complete their income tax adjustment with the documents. However please take a look whether you are entitled further tax returns […]

Tori no Ichi festival

Have you heard ” Tori no Ichi ” before ? It’s a  big festival at Otori Shrine in Asakusa from Edo period(18century). “Tori ” means Rooster so that the festival  helds on the day of Rooster of Chinese zodiac calendar in November. […]

New Year Countdown Events in Tokyo

#1) Asakusa Hanayashiki It is the first and oldest amusement park built in Japan. On the last day of December, Hanayashiki will close at 18:00 for a brief time, before they open again at 21:00 for the special event of […]

Have Fun with Japanese Stamps for Your Letters and Cards

At any time of the year you visit your local post office in Japan, you will be able to find a vast variety of commemorative stamps. Surprisingly, not only do Japanese post offices sell special stamps to celebrate a specific event […]

Must-See Winter Illuminations in Tokyo

After Halloween is over, you will start seeing winter illuminations all over Japan. Tokyo, as it is the capital of Japan, has the numerous good spots for them.   Don’t keep yourself inside the house for the whole winter evenings. […]

Festive season flower arrangement

The holiday season is approaching! I have found very beautiful peonies at a flower shop near Nakameguro station. These flowers are for flower arrangement class. In the Japanese traditional flower arrangements “Ikebana”, red color plants called “ 千両”Sen-ryo, “万両” Man-ryo […]

Beaujolais Nouveau

Beaujolais Nouveau has been released! The third Thursday of November has been known as the day of Beaujolais Nouveau since 1984. Originally, Beaujolais Nouveau was the fresh wine with fermented grapes right after harvested in Beaujolais district of Bourgogne in […]

Ginzan Hot spring

We Japanese love onsen, or hot springs especially in autumn and winter. Some onsen inns have outdoor onsen to enjoy the nature while you are in nicely hot water. I would like to introduce Ginzan onsen in Yamagata prefecture. This […]

Yabusame in Zushi

Have you ever seen Yabusame? Yabusame is Japanese traditional ceremony from Kamakura period. People in costumes of the time ride on horse back and hit targets with arrows. It is really powerful and beautiful moment. In Zushi city, there is […]

Karatsu Pottery

Have you ever been to Kyushu island which is located south west in Japan? “Kyu” of Kyushu island means nine. There used to be nine provinces in Kyushu Island back in Edo period. Now the island consists of seven prefecture […]

Jazz Cruising Event in Utsunomiya

Utsunomiya is well known as a jazz town. Some popular jazz musicians are from this town, such as Sadao Watanabe, Yoshio Toyama, Haruhiko Takauchi(Haru Takauchi) and so on. Therefore, there are at least 19 live houses in Utsunomiya, where you […]

Must-go place, Shousenkyo in Kofu

The temperature is dropping rapidly nowadays and that will make the leaves really beautiful. There are lots of places to go and see before winter. So we have to plan our trip thoughtfully. Shousenkyo, the great valley, is located in […]

One day trip from Tokyo- Oya History Museum

  Tokyo is the capital of Japan as everybody knows and in this mega city, there are lots of place to go and see. Most of them are a kind of busy with packed with people and traffic, exciting and […]

Halloween in Japan

Halloween in Japan Halloween wasn’t traditionally celebrated in Japan as it is in the United States. But Halloween in Japan has grown in popularity thanks to holiday events at the Tokyo Disneyland, Sanrio Puroland and Universal Studios Japan theme parks. […]

Japan’s Amazing Bento Box – Kyaraben

Kyaraben    The word kyaraben (キャラ弁) or charaben is a shorter version of “character bento” and it’s what a lot of people think of when they hear the word bento. The word describes what it is very well. Its a […]

Tokyo Ramen Show 2017

When my friends visited us from USA, they had a list of things they wanted to try in Japan. One of the list was “Japanese Ramen in Japan.” Yes, in Japan, Ramen culture has been established in addition to Sushi, […]

Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony

Japanese Tea Ceremony sounds a little too Japanese to you, doesn’t it? You may wonder what you should put on for the traditional ceremonies or you are not sure about the manners to follow. To tell the truth, that kind […]

Convenience stores in Japan are convenient!

Japan’s convenience stores (called konbini in Japan) offer not only groceries, but also daily necessities and even magazines. They are truly convenient, and you can find almost anything you could want, all in one place. There are convenience stores practically every few blocks in […]

Convenience stores in Japan are convenient!

Japan’s convenience stores (called konbini in Japan) offer not only groceries, but also daily necessities and even magazines. They are truly convenient, and you can find almost anything you could want, all in one place. There are convenience stores practically every few blocks in […]

October Fest in Kamakura

Autumn is the best season for true beer lovers. Like in Munich, Germany, we do celebrate and enjoy newly brewed beer in autumn. I would like to introduce my favorite one of them in a historical town, Kamakura. Here are […]

What is Depachika?

What is Depachika?    In Japanese department stores, the basement floor is a foodstuff market area. These areas go by the nickname “depachika” (a combination of “depato”, meaning department store, and “chika”, meaning basement). The “depachika” of Japan are fun […]

Where will all the Kami go?

In Japan, sometimes we call October Kannazuki, that means a month without Kami. Kami are the spirits or phenomena in the religion, Sihnto. It is believed that all Kami will be gone from shrines for a month somewhere else. Where […]

Mt. Fuji View Points

  Mt. Fuji is the most famous mountain in Japan. The area surrounding Mt. Fuji is a most attractive tourist route for there are all kinds of sightseeing spots as well as resorts. To climb Mt. Fuji, you will need […]

Grapes and Vineyard in Yamanashi

Japan has four seasons, as you know. So, you can enjoy seasonal foods accordingly, In autumn, orchards in Japan get quite busy with juicy autumn fruits and fruit lovers. There are very nice orchards near Tokyo, but if you have […]

Bean Boots in Ginza

I have seen a Giant Bean Boots in Ginza, right in front of Ginza Six 🙂   Not a member yet?  Be a member of QuickHelpJapn and enjoy like a local!  Member Registration HERE **If you like this  article, follow us […]

Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa

Sanja Matsuri SANJA MATSURI, which is one of the Three Great Festivals of EDO (now Tokyo), is held on the third Saturday and Sunday every May by the Ujiko ( inhabitants of the neighbouring community) at Asakusa Shirne (previously called […]

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the place we all should visit st lease once in life time. Atomic Bomb Dome Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum JMSDF Kure Museum Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park   Not a member yet?  Be a member of QuickHelpJapn and enjoy […]

Tokyo Tower

Needless to say, Tokyo Tower is such an icon which stands out with bright red and white color even among sky scrapers in midtown Tokyo. The shape of Tokyo Tower is designed after the Eiffel Tower in Paris where is […]

Meet Godzilla

I think Goddilla is the most famous beast in Japan. It is a ferocious and fierce beast which destroys everything in our city (in the movie) However, people around the world including me do not stop loving him. With electric […]

Anime character goods

  Tokyo Skytree  This is great place for Anime fans! You can find Totoro, Detective Conan, and Pokémon and more:) Please check out TV station official store !   Not a member yet?  Be a member of QuickHelpJapn and enjoy […]

English-friendly movie theater in Tokyo

English-friendly movie theater in Tokyo 1) TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills http://www.roppongihills.com.e.nt.hp.transer.com/cinema/ 2) TOHO Cinemas Shinjuku IMAX https://www.imax.com/theatres/toho-cinemas-shinjyuku-imax 3) TOHO Cinemas Shibuya https://m.yelp.com/biz/tohoシネマズ-渋谷-渋谷区-2   Not a member yet?  Be a member of QuickHelpJapn and enjoy like a local!  Member Registration HERE **If you like […]

Matsuri in Kamakura

In autumn, there are Matsuri or Japanese festivals across the country to appreciate and pray for harvests that year. There is one of those at Ko-Myo temple in Kamakura which is another historical town in Kanagawa prefecture. Because it is […]

Sumida Aquarium @ Skytree

Skytree is a great place to spend a day with your friends and family. One of my favorite here is Sumida Aquarium.  I love watching Goldfish. So beautiful…:) If you are a resident, it’s worth buying “Annual Pass”. My daughter […]

Harvest Moon in Japan

In Japan, we have a seasonal festival in fall, so called “Otsukimi”. “Otsukimi“ means “viewing the moon” in Japanese. Under the lunar calendar, the full moon of mid-August is called the most beautiful moon of the year in Japan, so […]