If you are in Tokyo and want to see Japanese drum (“Taiko”) show while enjoying good Japanese Izakaya food, then please try Gonpachi Nishi-Azabu. It is a chain of restaurants with more than ten locations in Tokyo. You may have already heard about the restaurant as the restaurant was the model location for a fighting […]
Month: February 2020
What is Tomesode? Kuro (“Black”) Tomesode is the most elegant and formal kimono for married women. It is worn by married women at a formal ceremony such as a wedding party. If you go to a wedding ceremony in Japan, you may see the bride and groom’s mothers wear Kuro Tomesode. Kuro Tomesode refers to […]
Where is Nezu museum? The Nezu museum is located close to Omotesando Station, one of Tokyo’s most trendy and fashionable area in Tokyo. With beautiful Japanese garden right next to the museum, the place is truly an urban oasis in Tokyo. The first owner of the museum was Kaichiro Nezu, president of the Tobu railway […]
You may have made Miso soup before but today, I’d like to introduce a very easy way to make your miso soup ever better. Just by adding two different kinds of miso, your soup will have much deeper and richer flavor. What I normally use for my miso soup is a mixture of red miso […]
What is Kawara Soba? In Shimonoseki city of Yamaguchi prefecture, there is a local cuisine called “Kawara Soba” which consists of tea noodle soba and various toppings that are served on a heated roof tile. The “Kawara” is the tile which is used as the roof of traditional Japanese houses. The ingredients used as toppings […]
Where is Kozanji Temple? Kozanji Temple which was built during the Kamakura era (1185-1333) as Rinzai school temple is located in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi prefecture. There is another Kozanji in Kyoto but it is different from the one in Yamaguchi. In 1557, When Yoshinaga Ouchi, a 16th-century Kyushu warrior who served as the official head of […]
What kind of flower is Kikyo? Japanese bellflower, Kikyo, is a vivid purple, five petal flower which is the symbol of unchanging love, honesty, and obedience. Kikyo is often used as patterns in Kimonos and Obi, a belt for Kimonos, and also used as family crests (“Kamon” in Japanese) which is called “Kikyo-Mon.” The flower […]
If you are planning to visit Japan, you may wonder when is the best time to do so. As you may know, Japan has four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. You can enjoy each season in different ways. For example, in Spring, if you are in Japan between March and April, the chances are […]
Where is Senjojiki? Located in Nagato city in Yamaguchi prefecture at an altitude of 330 meters, Senjojiki is a field of grass where you can observe a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan. The scenery changes every season with lots of different kinds of flowers. It is also a great place to enjoy outdoor […]
What is Hinamatsuri? March 3rd is called a “Hinamatsuri” day in Japan to celebrate female children and pray for their continued health and happiness. It is also known as “Momo no Sekku”, peach festival, where families display ceramic dolls dressed in the ornate, decorative robes of the ancient imperial court (“Hina-ningyo”). The tradition to celebrate […]