For any foodie visiting Japan, eating fugu should be on their list of must-eat foods, since it’s next-to-impossible to have in other countries. Usually, that would involve a trip to an expensive, high-end restaurant. Unless you have fugu fisheries in a nearby bay, which is precisely the case for Takahama town, located on the Western…
The Japanese Ghost Story “Yotsuya Kaidan” and Its Shrine
Japan has a tradition of ghost stories dating from the Edo period and if you’ve been there before you may have heard some of them. “Yotsuya Kaidan” or the Yotsuya ghost story, a story of murder and revenge, is probably the most famous one. It has inspired numerous horror movies and nearly all Japanese are…
Is it OK to Fly a Drone in Tokyo?
So, you have a drone, or you are thinking of buying one, and you are wondering where you can fly it in Tokyo or other places in Japan without getting into trouble? I have interviewed a drone owner and the manager of a drone store to find out how you can enjoy flying your drone…
What You Need to Know before Eating Ramen in Japan
If you are traveling alone and feeling hungry, ramen is probably the best choice for a satisfying meal. It is arguably one of the most famous Japanese dishes. Whether it is your first time to try ramen, or whether you are a ramen veteran, you should definitely add one (or more) ramen meals to your…
Three Tokyo Ramen Restaurants Featured in Michelin Guides
If you are interested in Michelin restaurants and the Japanese dish of ramen, you’ve no doubt heard of Tsuta and Konjiki Hototogisu: both places have been awarded one Michelin star each. Consequently, both have extremely long lines. However, the Michelin’s guide’s love story with Japan’s number one fast-food dish doesn’t stop there. In this article,…
Soba House Konjiki Hototogisu – a Michelin Ramen Restaurant near Shinjuku Gyoen Park
What is the number one ranked ramen restaurant in the Shinjuku area? There are several ranking sites for ramen but recently the “ramen database” (in Japanese only) has started appearing frequently in my search results. Their number 1 ramen restaurant in the Shinjuku area is Soba House Konjiki Hototogisu (Konjiki for short), a one-star restaurant…
How to Order Sake – Know the Measurements
Have you ever been asked in a restaurant whether you wanted a shaku or ichigo? Have you ever worried about getting too much (or too little) to drink? Have you ever wondered, “How do I drink this?”? Japanese sake measurements can seem quite random and the reasons why are lost in time. However, if you…
How to Choose Sake – Check the Prefecture
If you are interested in sake then it’s important to understand what factors can influence its taste. One factor is the place where it was brewed. Until recently, sake was mostly brewed and consumed locally, and thus acquired distinct regional styles. Sake brewed in different parts of Japan can vary in taste considerably. In this…
How to Choose Sake
When one thinks of Japan, one thinks of Japanese sake. If you are visiting Japan, you’ll certainly want to try some and maybe even bring back a bottle as a souvenir. However there are many different kinds of sake, with different tastes and drinking-styles. How can you choose one to try or buy among the…
Florent, Tea Sommelier, Introduces us to Japanese Tea in His Shop ‘Thés du Japon’
I first met Florent Wengue 12 years ago through a mutual friend. He had moved to Tokyo from France a few years before and was working as a French teacher. Recently, I had heard that he had become a Japanese Tea Instructor, similar to a sommelier but for tea, and sold Japanese tea from his…