Archives: TOPICS
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Kyoto: A street for foodies! “NISHIKI ICHIBA” (Market)
Nishiki Ichiba (market) has been ruining for over seven hundred years and many shops have been operated by the same families for generations. The place is loved by the local people as their Kyoto’s kitchen. There are about 130 shops for vegetables, seafood, dried food …
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Osaka: Japan’s most visited castle “OSAKA CASTLE”
The construction of Osaka Castle started in 1583 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi who unified Japan. It was the largest and gorgeous castle at the time. However, it was destroyed by Tokugawa troops in 1615. The castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa later but its main tower was …
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Saitama: Where the flowers of the four seasons meet “GONGENDO PARK”
Gongendo park is located in a prefecture north of Tokyo, named Saitama. It takes 1 hour by driving from Tokyo. The park is coverd with full of flowers in four seasons. In the springtime, 1000 of sakura bloom 1 km along the river and also …
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Okinawa: The sea the world falls in love with “ZAMAMI ISLAND”
Zamami Island lies west of Okinawa main island and takes 50 min by the ferry. The breathtaking sea designated as part of a national park, Keramashoto National Park, in 2014 and the island is famous for the sea globally, named Kerama blue after its super …
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Kobe: The most romantic place in Western Japan “KOBE HARBORLAND”
Kobe Harborland is a few minutes walking distance from JR station and at the waterfront of Kobe port area. At the area, you can find the landmark of city “Kobe port tower” and the photogenic monument “BEKOBE”. People enjoy walking and sea breeze. Once the …
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Why “NO MORE TRASH CANS” in Public? Policy or Mentality?
During shooting in Japan, we are often asked with the following question from foreign crews: “Why is it so difficult to find garbage cans on the streets?” We would respond that it’s due to our government’s policy to prevent terrorist acts, but we understand that …
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Bizarre culture: Kawaii character “BENTO” (lunch box)
The idea of Character bento was spread through regular house wive’s blogs and recipes, it’s popular among the kids. Mother usually decorates food with cut seaweed or cheese and shapes rice and side dishes into manga, anime and animal characters. It makes Japanese kids excited …
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Bizarre culture: “VENDING MACHINES”
Vending machines on the streets are not so common scene other than Japan. They are basically everywhere, at every stations, in every buildings, in city and countryside. There is a vending machine at my apartment too! Approx. 2.37 million vending machines of beverage are installed …
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Kyoto: The Oldest Zen Temple in Kyoto “KENNINJI”
Kenninji is a zen temple, was founded in 1202 by the priest Yousai. The Buddhist monk accrossed the ocean to study Tendai in China twice. For the second time, he intended to reach to, Buddhist origin place, India however the voyage was unsuccessful then he …
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Kyoto: You can be “SAMURAI!”
Samurai Kenbu is a new experience in Kyoto. What is samurai kenbu? It’s a traditional Japanese stage performance art which utilizes Japanese sword and fan while expressing the poems that were mostly written by samurai. In feudal times, samurais performed it to give themselves courage …