All the way gloomy days during the 4th till the 6th of July were all worth it by threading the way to and around Tohoku, Japan. Tōhoku (東北), which literally means “East-North” is the northeastern region of Japan’s Honshu (mainland) island. Tohoku is a host to many museums and temples and it has over a [...]
As the daylight hours grow longer, and the air, soil, and water gradually begin to warm up, all around us things begin to stir. Plants, animals, and humans gradually emerge from their state of FUYUGOMORI (冬篭り, hibernation, holing up or bundling up for the winter), and by the week of the spring equinox, when daytime and nighttime hours are just about equal, Tsukuba (and the rest of the [...]
In Japan, there is a time of year when-
Mornings: -throbbing, hungover heads, grogilly take note of expanding waistlines. Nights: the Japanese restaurants and IZAKAYA are fuller and more boisterous than usual , while outside taxis and DAIKO ( surrogate driver services) predominate on the roads. Later into the night, you are SURE to find more than a few salarymen lying passed out somewhere, especially in entertainment districts, [...]
Continue reading about Bonenkai (忘年会)- a Deeper Look at Japan`s Year-End Parties
For those of you who are spending your first new year’s in Tsukuba, please note that MANY businesses and services are closed during this holiday.
The most important things to remember are (1) to withdraw some money before the banks and ATMs close and (2) to make sure you take your garbage out before [...]
Convenience stores and supermarkets have had a huge impact on Japan and they play a major role in the shaping of contemporary Japanese culture and lifestyles. And though in many ways it could be said that these stores are helping to bring about the END of TRADITIONAL JAPAN, it could also be said that they are unlikely repositories of certain aspects of Japanese [...]
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