Shimokitazwa is known for its shops and restaurants but for those looking for a bike or need bike service should stroll by Shimochari Bicycle Service owned by Hajime. When going inside the shop, you’ll notice that there are is a lot of love for California, Read More …
If you are looking for a family restaurant that sells Japanese comfort food for great prices, is not always easy to find. But at Shiodome, Japan Dining M (or better known now as Hokkaido Yoshoku Bar) not only offers great prices for their dishes but Read More …
In Tokyo’s Minato Ward, Shiodome is one of Japan’s most modern and savvy areas. The area is the headquarters for many of Japan’s major corporations such as All Nippon Airways, Fujitsu, Sega Sammy Holdings, Softbank, to name a few. But the location is also a Read More …
In Japan, stickers are very popular and there are those who collect the stickers because they are designed by various artists and are limited edition only sold at stores such as B-Side Label. And on July 28th, B-Side Label, the popular sticker store in Harajuku Read More …
Located at one of the largest buildings in the world, the popular 54-story Roppongi Hills Mori Tower in Minato, which was established in 2003 by builder Minoru Mori is know for its office space. But also located in this skyscraper is the Mori Art Museum Read More …
I wrote about Asakusa Senso-ji and Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist Temple, Asakusa Jinja back in 2015 and explored the history, but because I came with friends in the last trip, I didn’t fully explore the location until the following year. Granted, when we last went, it Read More …
In Yanaka, near Nippori Station, is a temple called Daikokuten Kyooji Temple. While not a huge temple, the temple does date back from the Edo Period and inside, there is a statue of Daitokuten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods (shichifukujin). The statue is said Read More …
While walking through Yanaka, I passed by an area that I wasn’t sure if there was anything significant inside. Yanaka is so full of tradition like for every few feet you walk, there is a temple and a shrine that you will most likely visit. Read More …
When it comes to menchi-katsu (minced meat with vegetables in a fried potato covering), people are quite selective of what’s best. From Kichijoji’s Harmonica Alley to Asakusa, there are people who have their favorites, but there is one menchi-katsu restaurant that gets a lot of Read More …
In 1648 Misawa no Tsubone, the west nurse of Tokugawa Ietsuna, 4th Shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty, founded Emmei-in Temple in Yanaka. The Nichiren Buddhist Temple was established as a bettoji, a temple attached to a Shinto shrine (typically in Japan, temples and shrines are Read More …
If you happen to be near Sumida Park near the river with the Tokyo Skytree in the background, you will see structures for the Geidai Taito Sumida Sightseeing Art Project. The project was created by students and professors at Tokyo University of the Arts and Read More …
In Japan, for those who have their own vehicles, all have to deal with the same things that we do in the United States and around the world. And that is automobile maintenance. And often, many people moving to Tokyo wonder where they can take Read More …
As peak travel season approaches, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo is offering the following security tips to help visitors stay safe while enjoying Tokyo’s world-famous nightlife. The general crime rate in Japan is well below the U.S. national average, and Tokyo, like all of Read More …
Located in Cat Street in Harajuku is the store, SHIPS. With a history that goes as far back as 1970, SHIPS began as “MIURA” which sold imported casual clothing. In 1975, MIURA & SONS opened their Shibuya store which was followed by the SHIPS Ginza Read More …
In 2013, located in Cat Street in Harajuku is fashion designer, Marc Jacobs’ “BOOKMARC”. Designed by Stephan Jaklitsch, BOOKMARC sells books specializing in art, music culture and photography. And the concept of the store happened when bookstores began to disappear from the global landscape. Marc Read More …
In America, we think of pancakes as breakfast food and food we make at home early in the morning or go to a place like IHOP or Denny’s breakfast. Typically, we are used to the thin pancakes that we put butter and syrup. But in Read More …
I’m often asked about how safe Japan is but also get asked a few times if there is graffiti and if it’s as bad as how things are in the US? Well, graffiti does exist, but not in the same manner in the US that Read More …