Blogs from Japan, Asia - page 5

Kinda messed up the luggage shipping, well should’ve shipped yesterday before 4pm so our bags won’t get to Osaka till the next day so after a quiet-ish morning coffee we did a quick Gu/Uniqlo shop and headed to Nara on a tourist train. A bit of fun and sweet train snacks (Eki-cakei?). However the Nara deer hate us, or rather hate Stan - they wouldn’t touch his deer crackers at all. Easy route onto Osaka to meet London chums and to Dontonburi for dinner which was waaay hectic and full of all the lights. Bit rushed tonight as it’s an early start to USJ tomorrow. ... read more

Omakase sushi doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions planned weeks ahead. This casual open kitchen at the new Shinjuku Yokochofood hall allows for casual spontaneity while serving up first-rate sushi. The restaurant playfully likens itself to a petrol station because of the way its course selection is formatted, but instead of diesel, you’re getting fueled on sushi. A ‘regular’ omakase set is priced at ¥4,000 during lunch while the more voluminous ‘full tank’ set is available for ¥6,000. The former includes roughly eight pieces of Edomae-style sushi, where the rice has been lightly seasoned with red vinegar. Varieties of fish vary depending on the season, but even the standard course often includes favourites like chutoro (fatty tuna) and anago (saltwater eel). Within the flashing neon lights and clutter of Shinjuku, you can take refuge ... read more

Well we seem to have hit full bloom here along with all the other tourists, Kyoto is much bigger than I realised but it’s still full of us. Chilled day of strolling around, tourist shopping and ramen making. Teen is pretty tired so suspect we have a growth spurt hitting. First Sakura coffee art and some great brutalist architecture/blossom by the river.... read more

You would think drinking in a bar in Japan would be roughly similar to drinking in any bar around the world. Not so, according to the experts, of which I am not. But I saw this list and discussion and decided to investigate further. Thanks to CNN Travel and Nick Coldicott for these insights. Here they are: Don't talk to other guests. In my case, it would be rather difficult, since my knowledge of Japanese is limited to thank you (arigato), and good-bye (sayonara). 2. Acknowledge the bartender. He is your friend... read more

Here are some rather unknown things about TravelNoire: Japan Has Over 6,000 Islands-but the majority of the population lives on four islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. 40% of Publications Sold in Japan Are Manga-a world wide phenomenon, comic book story telling has become big business. Anime Was Once Used as War Propaganda-during WW2, anime was used to send messages, boost morale, and promote nationalistic sentiments. Nakizumo Crying Baby Festival Is a Yearly Tradition-can you believe sumo wrestlers compete to make babies cry? They say "crying babies grow" and the loudest crying baby is declared the winner. Japan Has the Highest Life Expectancy in the World-life expectancy is 84, and attributed to a healthy diet, active lifestyle, and access to advanced healthcare. Maybe I should move there to squeeze out a few more years? Japan Has ... read more