What Japan

Hotel

What Is a Capsule Hotel in Japan? Basic Guide for Travelers

A capsule hotel is a unique type of accommodation that started in Japan.It uses ...
Food

What Is Mochi? Japan’s Traditional Rice Cake

Mochi is a traditional Japanese food made from glutinous rice that is steamed an...
What Japan

What Is a Ryokan? Japan’s Traditional Inn

A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn.Unlike modern hotels, ryokan offer a chan...
What Japan

What Is Hanko? Japanese Name Stamp

Hanko is a traditional Japanese stamp used instead of a signature.People press t...
Iwate

What is Morioka Reimen? : A Refreshing Summer Dish

Morioka Reimen is a noodle dish from Morioka City in Iwate Prefecture.This dish ...
What Japan

What is Izakaya : Enjoying Food and Drinks Together

An izakaya is a casual Japanese restaurant where people drink alcohol and eat sm...
Souvenir

What Is Mentaiko? Spicy Cod Roe from Fukuoka

Mentaiko is seasoned cod roe.It uses the roe of Alaska pollock and adds chili pe...
Food

What is Shirokuma Ice? Kagoshima’s Famous Shaved Ice Dessert

Shirokuma Ice is a famous shaved ice dessert from Kagoshima in southern Japan.In...
What Japan

What Is a Kissaten?

What Is a Kissaten?A kissaten is a traditional Japanese coffee shop.It mainly se...
Food

Yoshinoya – Japan’s Iconic Gyudon Chain

Yoshinoya is one of Japan’s most well-known fast-food chains. It is famous for g...
Food

Lucky Pierrot: Hakodate’s Iconic Local Burger Chain

Lucky Pierrot is a local fast-food chain found only in Hakodate, Hokkaido. Estab...
Food

Marugame Udon: Fresh Noodles Made Daily

If you want simple, fresh udon in Japan, Marugame Seimen (known overseas as Maru...
Food

What is Wanko Soba? Japan’s Unique Soba Challenge

Wanko soba is a unique style of eating soba noodles from Iwate Prefecture.Instea...
Tokushima

Awa Odori: Japan’s Most Energetic Dance Festival

Awa Odori is one of Japan’s best-known traditional dance festivals. It is held e...
What Japan

What Is Washoku? Japanese Food Explained

Washoku refers to Japan’s traditional food culture. It is not just a type of cui...
Food

What is Tempura: The Art of Frying

Tempura is one of Japan’s most widely known dishes. It is simple, light, and eas...
Food

Tendon Tenya: Japan’s Tempura Bowl Chain

If you’re craving crispy tempura over warm rice, Tendon Tenya — often called sim...
What Japan

What is “Showa Retro”?

Showa Retro describes a nostalgic style based on Japan’s Showa era (1926–1989).T...
Shinkansen

What Is the Shinkansen? Japan’s Bullet Train

The Shinkansen is Japan’s high-speed rail system.It connects major cities across...
Osaka

Glico Running Man Sign: An Osaka Icon

The Glico Running Man Sign stands in Dotonbori, Osaka.It sits next to Ebisu Brid...
Food

What Is Kura Sushi? Japan’s Conveyor Belt Sushi Chain

Kura Sushi is one of Japan’s most well-known conveyor belt sushi chains.Customer...
Food

What Is MOS Burger? Japan’s Unique Burger Chain

MOS Burger is a hamburger chain that started in Japan.However, it operates sligh...
Food

Gusto: Japan’s Everyday Family Restaurant

Gusto is one of Japan’s most common family restaurant chains.The concept is simp...
Food

CoCo Ichibanya: Japan’s Curry Chain

coco-ichibanyaCoCo Ichibanya, often called CoCo Ichi, is one of Japan’s most wel...
What Japan

What Is Japanese Sake?

Japanese sake is a traditional alcoholic drink made from rice.It plays an import...
What Japan

What is Ojizo-san?

When walking in Japan, you may notice small stone statues along roads, in temple...
Food

What is Sashimi and How is it Different from Sushi

If you’re visiting Japan, you’ve probably heard of sushi. Washoku includes many ...
Gifu

What Is Hida Beef? Japan’s Premium Wagyu

Hida beef is one of Japan’s well-known premium Wagyu brands.People often mention...
Shiga

What Is Omi Beef? Japan’s Premium Wagyu

Omi beef is one of Japan’s well-known premium Wagyu brands.People often mention ...
What Japan

What Is Yonezawa Beef? Japan’s Premium Wagyu Explained

Yonezawa beef is one of Japan’s well-known premium Wagyu brands.People often men...
Mie

What Is Matsusaka Beef? Japan’s Premium Wagyu

Matsusaka beef is one of Japan’s most famous premium Wagyu brands.People often c...
Hyogo

What Is Kobe Beef? Japan’s Premium Wagyu

Kobe beef is one of Japan’s most famous premium beef brands.It has strong global...
What Japan

What Is Yakiniku? Japan’s Cook-It-Yourself BBQ Explained

Yakiniku is one of the most popular meat dishes in Japan.People often translate ...
What Japan

What Is Shabu-Shabu? A Simple Explanation of Japan’s Classic Dish

Shabu-shabu is one of Japan’s most well-known hot pot dishes.People often compar...
What Japan

What Is Sukiyaki? A Simple Explanation of Japan’s Classic Dish

Sukiyaki is one of Japan’s most well-known hot pot dishes.People sometimes descr...
What Japan

What Is Wagyu? Japan’s Famous Beef Explained Simply

Wagyu is one of the most well-known foods associated with Japan.Even people who ...
Food

What Is Wagashi? A Simple Guide to Traditional Japanese Sweets

When you visit Japan, you will likely notice small, colorful sweets displayed li...
Food

What Is Tonkatsu? Japan’s Crispy Pork Cutlet Explained Simply

Tonkatsu is a Japanese pork dish.Cooks coat the pork with flour, egg, and breadc...
Culture

What Are Poké Lids? Pokémon Manhole Covers in Japan

Image source: © Pokémon. Official site: Poké Lids are manhole covers with Pokémo...