Japan

Sep 12, 2022 · 10 min read

Packages

  • Wabunka - a Japanese cultural experience

Sleeping places

Food

Sushi

  • to eat

    • to pick a piece of sushi with hands, pick up on the sides but not on both ends
    • to pick a piece of sushi with chopsticks, the chopsticks should be parallel to rice and chopsticks do not touch the topping if possible
    • brush soy sauce with shoga (pickled ginger) onto the topping
    • shoga (pickled ginger) can be eaten to remove the aftertaste of fat
    • tea is drank to remove any aftertaste

  • to order

    • it is okay to let chef to know what you dislike beforehand and it is okay to mention the budget as well

  • sushi types

    • nigiri
    • gunkanmaki (battleship roll)
    • nori-maki (most of common form appear in supermarket)
      • te-maki (hand roll)

  • order types

    • omakase (chef’s choice)
    • okonomi (your choice)
    • okimari (set menu)

Ramen

Drink

Tea ceremony

The tea bowl has a 正面 (しょうめん) and often it is the beautiful side. It is side that the host presents the bowl to the guests. To honor the craftmanship, guest should avoid drinking from 正面 and, thus, rotate the bowl clockwise. Upon finishing drinking, the bowl should be rotated anti-clockwise until 正面 is facing the host. The bowl should be returned to the host in that way. Rotating the tea bowl is a gesture of respect and mindfulness.

茶の湯 (ちゃのゆ) connects to mindfulness through its Zen Buddishism. The ceremony emphazises being fully present and appreciating the moment, fostering traquility and introspection. Japnese has a concenpt of 一期一会 (いちごいちえ) where it emphasises the uniqueness and irreplaceable nature of each moment, encouraging individuals to be fully present and appreciative of their current experiences.

Making matcha

Tools

茶筅(ちゃせん)さえあれば気軽(きがる)に楽しんでいただけます。おもてなしに最適 です。

Steps

  1. Put matcha (about 2g, or one and a half bamboo teaspoons) in a tea bowl a. 茶わんにお抹茶を入れます。(茶杓で軽く1杯半・…･約2g)
  2. Pour hot water into tea bowl (about 60cc) a. 茶わんに3分の1くらいのお湯(ゆ) (80℃ ~90℃℃) を注(そそ)ぎます。(約60cc)
  3. Stir with tea whisk a. 茶せんでよくかき混(ま)ぜます。 Mの字を描(か)くように点(た)てると上手に点(た)てやすいです。

Making gyokuro

Characteristics

苦(にが)みの成分(せいぶん)「タンニン」の量が少なく、甘み・旨味(うまみ)の成分の 「テアニン」が豊富(ほうふ)に含(ふく)まれております。

Steps

  1. Pour hot water (80ml) into a small tea cup and let the hot water cool down a. 熱湯(ねっとう)を急須(きゅうす)に入れ、急須が十分熱くなったら、人数分の 茶わん八分目程に注(そそ)ぎ分け、もう少し冷(さ)まします。
  2. Put tea leaves into teapot (2 tablespoons or 8g) a. お茶の葉を急須に入れます。(約8gで2人分)
  3. Pour the cooled water (40-50 degrees) from the small tea cup into a teapot a. 湯さましした茶わんのお湯(40℃~50℃)60cc を急須に入れます。
  4. Wait for about 90 seconds a. 1分半待ちます。2煎目以降は1分程待ちます。
  5. Pour all tea from the teapot (until the last drop is served) a. 濃(こ)さが均(きん)一になるように回(まわ)しつぎし、お茶は最後の一滴まで 出し切ります。

Making sencha

Characteristics

甘みと渋(しぶ)みを楽しむ最(もっと)も一般的な緑茶です

Steps

  1. Put tea leaves into a teapot (2 tablespoons or 5g) a. お茶の葉を急須に入れます。(約5g で2人分)
  2. Pour hot water (180cc, 75-80 degrees) from the teapot a. お湯は少し冷ましてから(75℃〜80℃) 180cc を急須に入れます。
  3. Wait for 20 seconds for the first cup; immediately for the second cup and after a. 20 秒程待ちます。2煎目以降(いこう)は待たずにすぐ茶わんに注ぎます。
  4. Pour all tea from the teapot (until the last drop is served) a. 濃さが均一になるように回しつぎし、お茶は最後の一滴まで出し切ります。

Shopping

Books

Cameras

Shoes

Clothes

  • Brand Collect ブランドコレクト
    • second hand
    • mostly on luxury or higher end
    • stores in Tokyo only
  • Komehyo コメ兵
    • second hand
    • mostly on luxury or higher end
  • RAGTAG
    • second hand
    • mostly on luxury clothes with focus on street brands
  • 2nd Street
    • cheap basics
    • feel open to find anything that catches your eye
    • “any” jacket
    • “any” pair of sunglasses
    • “any” bags
    • “any” pants
  • Mercari (an online shop) メルカリ
    • seeking particular trendy outfits or something specific
    • on the younger side
    • allow to set notififcation based on search criteria
    • sellers often message you a lot (both when you buy an item and when they ship it)
    • you can try to haggle in the comments section
    • rate and review each seller once the items are received; transaction would not be finished, otherwise
  • UseLet ユーズレット
    • part of TreFac
    • cheaper than 2nd Street
    • only in Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa
  • ZOZOUSED ゾゾウーズド
    • good new arrivals 新着 (しんちゃく)

Second-hand

  • Treasure Factory (TreFac) トリファク
    • furniture
    • appliances
    • clothes
    • outdoor gear
    • interior goods
    • hobby items
    • kitchen tools
    • electronics
    • musical instruments
    • booze
  • TreFac Sports トレファクスポーツ
  • TreFac Market トレファクマーケット
    • whole set of large furniture
  • TreFacStyle トレファクスタイル

Proxy services

Shipping

Entertainment

Football

Sports

Work

Weather

Earthquake

  • 気象庁｜地震情報
  • 気象庁｜津波
  • tenki.jp
  • 特務機関NERV
  • Yahoo! 災害マップ
  • Toyota 通れた道マップ
  • Honda 通行実績情報マップ
  • Rapid Earthquake Alerts - Japan - updates are not quick
  • 南海トラフ巨大地震
  • Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) Seismic Intensity Scale (Shindo Scale, 震度階級)
    • it is a measure of the intensity of shaking at a specific location
      • instead of measuring the energy released by an earthquake such as Richter scale
    • diagram
    • Shindo (震度)
      • 0
        • not felt by people but detectable by instruments.
      • 1
        • slightly noticeable to some people who are quiet indoors
      • 2
        • noticeable to many quiet people indoors; may wake a few
      • 3
        • felt by most indoors; some walking people notice; many awake
      • 4
        • startles most; felt by nearly everyone walking; wakes up most
      • 5弱
        • for human, frightens many; they may grab onto stable objects
        • for wooden houses, small cracks may appear in walls of low earthquake resistance houses
        • for concrete buildings, no significant effect
      • 5強
        • for human, movement is difficult without support
        • for wooden houses, walls may crack in low earthquake resistance houses
        • for concrete buildings, cracks may form in walls, beams, and pillars of low earthquake resistance buildings
      • 6弱
        • for human, standing is difficult
        • for wooden houses, for less resistant houses, walls crack more often; houses may lean or collapse; small cracks may form in walls of more resistant houses
        • for concrete buildings, for less resistant buildings, cracks occur more often; X-shaped cracks may develop; cracks may appear in structural elements of more resistant buildings
      • 6強
        • for human, standing or moving is only possible by crawling; people may be thrown through the air
        • for wooden houses, low earthquake resistance houses are likely to lean or collapse; larger cracks are possible in more resistant houses
        • for concrete buildings, ground-level pillars may break; collapse is possible for less resistant structures; for more resistant structures, cracks become more widespread; walls may slip
        • landsides are expected
      • 7
        • for human, standing or moving is only possible by crawling; people may be thrown through the air
        • for wooden houses, less resistant houses are highly likely to collapse; for more resistant houses, cracks are more frequent and leaning may occur
        • for concrete buildings, most or all buildings (even earthquake-resistant ones) suffer severe damage

Tsunami

  • communications
    • 大津波警報 (major tsunami warning)
      • 10m超 (expected above 10m)
      • 10m (expected 5-10m)
      • 5m (expected 3-5m)
    • 津波警報 (tsunami warning)
      • 3m (expected 1-3m)
    • 津波注意報 (tsunami advisory)
      • 1m (expected 0.2-1m)

Volcano

Data SIM cards (Moshi Moshi via Airalo)

Days Data (GB) Price (USD)
30 20 26
30 3 8.5
15 2 6.5
7 1 4.5

Electrical sockets

Transportation

  • Car travel
  • Bicycle travel
    • map of cycling
    • everyone is mindful that spaces in pavements and roads shared with cyclists
    • Docomo bike share service
    • Hello Cycling
    • by law, bicycles should stay on the left side of the road whenever possible
      • to turn right, instead following car traffic, bicycles should cross the road straight ahead at a pedestrian crossing and then turn right (see this diagram from Unseen Japa
    • by law, helmets while cycling are now required but it does not carry a penalty for non-compliance
    • locks should be used although the theft rate is low
  • Bus travel

Interesting facts

  • Japan uses porous asphalt pavements, which not only reduce noise but also improve drainage and safety by reducing surface water during rain

Onsen

Yukata (浴衣)

  • steps to put on
    1. make sure your yukata fits your height
    2. wrap the yukata around your body, starting with the right side, then left
    3. for women, wrap your obi (帯) around your waist; for men, wrap it around your hips; leave enough length to tie a bow
    4. you can wear the bow at the front, or twist it around to the back

Changing room

Take off all of your clothes in the changing room. No underware or swimsuits are allowed in the onsens. If you like, you can take a small hand towel into the bath area to cover yourself, but please do not let it touch bath water.

News

Radio

Safty and security

Recycling

  • Aluminum cans (アルミカン)
    • ensure inside is washed and has nothing
  • tray (トレイ)
    • usually refers to plastic polystyrene tray (発泡スチロールトレイ)
    • ensure it is washed (with no oil) and dried
    • those carried cup noodles, natto (納豆), or mushroom (きのこ) should not be included
    • those transparent (透明) or translucent (半透明) should not be included
  • transparent tray (透明トレイ)
    • ensure it is washed (with no oil) and dried
    • those carried cup noodles, natto (納豆), or mushroom (きのこ) should not be included
  • paper carton (紙パック)
    • usually include those carried milk, juice, or soup
    • it could include aluminum foil (アルミき紙パック)
    • ensure it is washed and open flat
    • those carried cup noodles, natto (納豆), or mushroom (きのこ) should not be included
  • PET bottles (ペットボトル)
    • ensure it is washed and has nothing
    • ensure bottle cap be removed
    • ensure label wrapped around the bottle be removed
    • ensure it is as flat as possible
    • those carried sauce, detergent, shampoo or bottles not marked with PET 1 should not be included

TV channels

  • NHK
  • NNN (by Nippon TV)
  • JNN (by TBS)
  • FNN (by Fuji TV)
  • ANN (by TV Asahi)
  • TXN (by TV Tokyo)
  • BS11 (by Nippon BS Broadcasting, free-to-air satellite channel)

Real estate

Household

  • エアコン can warm a room as it is heat pump system by default

Locations

Tokyo

Food

Kansai

Weather

City Month High/Low (°C) Rain days
Osaka May 26/17 9
Wakayama May 26/17 9
  • Sunlight
    • Sunrise: 05:07am - 04:46am
    • Sunset: 06:46pm - 7:05pm

Timezone

Travel Visa

Money

Places

Food

Videos

Transportation

Sleeping places

Wild experience

Hikone (彦根)

Sites to visit
  1. Hikone Castle (彦根城) — national treasure (map)
  2. Genkyuen Garden (玄宮園) (map)
  3. Hikone Castle Museum (彦根城博物館) (map)
  4. Yume Kyobashi Castle Road (夢京橋キャストロード) (map)
  5. Lake Biwa waterfront (琵琶湖) (map)
Food
  1. Omi beef (近江牛) — premium wagyu from Shiga Prefecture
  2. Funazushi (鮒寿司) — fermented crucian carp sushi, Lake Biwa specialty

Nagoya (名古屋)

Sites to visit
  1. Nagoya Castle (名古屋城) (map)
  2. SCMaglev and Railway Park (リニア・鉄道館) (map)
  3. Noritake Garden (ノリタケの森) (map)
  4. Nagoya City Science Museum (名古屋市科学館) (map)
  5. Kiyosu Castle (清洲城) — historical site tied to Oda Nobunaga (~20 min by train from central Nagoya) (map)
  6. Nagoya TV Tower & Hisaya Odori Park (名古屋テレビ塔・久屋大通公園) (map of 名古屋テレビ塔) (map of 久屋大通公園)
  7. Nagoya Port Aquarium (名古屋港水族館) (map)
  8. Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens (東山動植物園) (map)
  9. Arimatsu Historic District (有松) — traditional shibori-dyeing town (map)
  10. Nittaiji Temple (日泰寺) (map)
  11. Legoland Japan (advanced booking recommended) (map)
  12. Meijo Park & Nagoya Castle moat walk (名城公園) (map)
Food
  1. Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし) — Nagoya-style grilled eel over rice
  2. Miso katsu (味噌カツ) — pork cutlet with red miso sauce
  3. Tebasaki (手羽先) — Nagoya-style fried chicken wings
  4. Kishimen (きしめん) — flat udon noodles

Ise (伊勢)

Sites to visit
  1. Ise Grand Shrine, Naiku (伊勢神宮 内宮) — Inner Shrine, most sacred site in Shinto (map)
  2. Ise Grand Shrine, Geku (伊勢神宮 外宮) — Outer Shrine (map)
  3. Okage Yokocho & Oharai-machi (おかげ横丁・おはらい町) (map)
  4. Meoto Iwa / Wedded Rocks at Futami (夫婦岩) (map)
Food
  1. Ise udon (伊勢うどん) — thick, soft noodles in dark sweet soy sauce
  2. Akafuku mochi (赤福餅) — famous local mochi sweet near Naiku

Matsusaka (松阪)

Sites to visit
  1. Matsusaka Castle Ruins (松阪城跡) (map)
  2. Motoori Norinaga Memorial Museum (本居宣長記念館) (map)
  3. Gochomachi Merchant Houses (御城番屋敷) — preserved samurai residences (map)
  4. Matsusaka Mokomoko Farm (まつさかもこもこ牧場) — Matsusaka beef farm experience (map)
Food
  1. Matsusaka beef (松阪牛) — one of Japan’s premier wagyu brands

Osaka (大阪)

Sites to visit
  1. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館) (map)
  2. Umeda Sky Building (梅田スカイビル) (map)
  3. Osaka Museum of History (大阪歴史博物館) (map)
  4. Abeno Harukas observatory (あべのハルカス, advanced booking recommended) (map)
  5. Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park & Tower of the Sun (万博記念公園・太陽の塔, ~30 min from central Osaka) (map of 万博記念公園) (map of 太陽の塔)
Food
  1. Osaka-style okonomiyaki (大阪風お好み焼き) — mixed-batter savory pancake
  2. Takoyaki (たこ焼き) — octopus balls, Osaka’s iconic street food
  3. Kushikatsu (串カツ) — deep-fried skewers, especially in Shinsekai

Kanto

Sleeping places

Hokkaido

Tohoku

Chubu

Matsumoto (松本)

Sites to visit
  1. Matsumoto Castle (松本城) — national treasure, one of Japan’s oldest original castles (map)
  2. Nakamachi Street (中町通り) — old warehouse district (map)
  3. Matsumoto City Museum of Art (松本市美術館) — Yayoi Kusama collection (map)
  4. Nawate Street (縄手通り) — frog street market (map)
  5. Kamikochi day trip (上高地) — weather/season permitting (map)
  6. Matsumoto Folkcraft Museum (松本民藝館) (map)
Food
  1. Shinshu soba (信州そば) — Nagano-region buckwheat noodles
  2. Basashi (馬刺し) — horse sashimi, a Nagano delicacy
  3. Oyaki (おやき) — stuffed dumplings, local snack

Chugoku

Tottori (鳥取)

  • 1.25 hours train ride from Kinosaki
  • 2.5 hours train ride (on limited express) from Osaka (梅田）
  • Tottori Sand Dunes
    • for camel rides, sandboarding, and paragliding
  • Uradome Beach
  • Daisen
    • a popular hiking destination with beautiful trails and the historic Daisenji Temple
  • Sanbutsu-ji
    • known for its stunning architecture built into a rock face, offering a challenging hike
  • Yonago City
    • features hot springs, Yonago Castle ruins, and the Mizuki Shigeru Museum celebrating manga culture

Hiroshima (広島)

Sites to visit
  1. Peace Memorial Park & Atomic Bomb Dome (平和記念公園・原爆ドーム) (map)
  2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (広島平和記念資料館) (map)
  3. Orizuru Tower (おりづるタワー) (map)
  4. Mitaki-dera Temple (三滝寺) (map)
  5. Mazda Museum (advanced booking required) (map)
  6. Hijiyama Park (比治山公園) (map)
  7. Hondori & Namiki-dori covered shopping arcades (map of 本通り) (map of 並木通り)
  8. Ebisu-dori bar district (map)
Food
  1. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (広島風お好み焼き) — layered with noodles, distinct from Osaka style
  2. Oysters (広島産牡蠣) — Hiroshima is Japan’s top oyster-producing region
  3. Momiji manju (もみじ饅頭) — maple-leaf shaped cakes, local souvenir sweet

Onomichi (尾道)

Sites to visit
  1. Senko-ji Temple & Park (千光寺) (map)
  2. Old Temple Walk (古寺めぐり) — Saikoku-ji and Jodo-ji (map of 西國寺) (map of 浄土寺)
  3. Cat Alley (猫の細道) (map)
  4. Onomichi U2 (map)
  5. Shimanami Kaido cycling (info)
Food
  1. Onomichi ramen (shoyu with backfat)
  2. Setouchi lemon-based sweets and drinks (せとうちレモン)

Kurashiki (倉敷)

Sites to visit
  1. Bikan Historical Quarter (美観地区) (map)
  2. Ohara Museum of Art (大原美術館) (map)
  3. Canal boat ride (map)
  4. Ivy Square (アイビースクエア) (map)
  5. Ohashi House (大橋家住宅) (map)
  6. Kojima Jeans Street (児島ジーンズストリート) (map)
  7. Mount Washu / Seto Ohashi Bridge viewpoints (鷲羽山) (map)
Food
  1. Kurashiki demi-katsu don (デミカツ丼) — pork cutlet rice bowl with demi-glace sauce
  2. Bara-zushi (ばら寿司) — Okayama-style scattered sushi

Okayama (岡山)

Sites to visit
  1. Okayama Korakuen Garden (岡山後楽園) — one of Japan’s three great gardens (map)
  2. Okayama Castle (岡山城) — “Crow Castle,” adjacent to Korakuen (map)
  3. Momotaro Karakuri Museum (桃太郎からくり博物館) (map)
  4. Okayama Orient Museum (岡山市立オリエント美術館) (map)
  5. Yumeji Art Museum (夢二郷土美術館) (map)
Food
  1. Okayama bara-zushi (岡山ばら寿司) — scattered sushi, a local specialty
  2. Kibi dango (きび団子) — millet dumplings, famous Okayama souvenir sweet
  3. Demi-katsu don (デミカツ丼)

Shikoku

Matsuyama (松山)

Sites to visit
  1. Dogo Onsen Honkan (道後温泉本館) — oldest hot spring in Japan, Spirited Away inspiration (map)
  2. Matsuyama Castle (松山城) (map)
  3. Dogo Onsen arcade & Botchan clock (map)
  4. Ishite-ji Temple (石手寺) (map)
  5. Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum (坂の上の雲ミュージアム) (map)
  6. Matsuyama Ninomaru Historical Garden (二之丸史跡庭園) (map)
Food
  1. Taruto (タルト) — Matsuyama’s rolled sponge cake with red bean filling
  2. Jakoten (じゃこ天) — local fried fish cake
  3. Botchan dango (坊っちゃん団子) — three-color dango near Dogo Onsen

Kyushu

Okinawa

Alex Ho
Authors
Alex Ho
Software Developer
Experienced software engineer with interests in web and cloud technologies