Jonny Gleason

Jonny is the founder of A Day of Zen and has an unhealthy obsession with Japan. In 2022 he moved to Japan on a mission to give his audience the best possible information. He's helped over 300,000 plan their trip so far, and is eager to make that number much bigger!

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Japanese music artists

9 Japanese Music Artists You Should Listen To

A few months ago I wrote an article titled J-Pop vs K-Pop.

In hindsight, I should have realised it would have been… controversial, shall we say.

After receiving some cough*interesting*cough comments stating I was too hard on J-Pop, I thought it best to do an entire post dedicated to my favourite Japanese music artists.

Because I don’t hate Japanese music, on the contrary, I love it!

Trying to figure out Japan’s biggest pop start is a little difficult, but I’ll do my best!

According to the Oricon Charts (Top music charts in Japan), B’z are the biggest band in Japan by number of albums sold at 46.5Million.

However, AKB48, a band you’re likely more familiar with, are the best-selling artists by number of singles sold at 50.8Million.

Totalling both numbers of albums and singles together, B’z are technically the most popular and biggest pop-star in Japan right now.

So here is a list of Japanese music artists you should add to your playlist!

1. Yuuri

Nicknamed the ‘King of Shibuya’, it’s not hard to see why Yuuri is an outstanding singer and incredibly popular Japanese music artist.

I dare you to listen to the video above and say his voice is bad, even if you don’t like the style.

I only found Yuuri a few weeks ago, but I’ve had him on repeat practically 24/7 since.

He used to be a member of ‘The Bugzy’, but ultimately went his own way when they split up in 2019.

Since then he has been creating his own music in classic singer-songwriter style.

Like a Japanese version of Ed Sheeran, …only better. (IN MY OPINION!) Be kind…

If you’re a fan of the song above, I urge you to check out the song Dried Flower. It’s a pretty emotional song, and I can’t even understand half of it!

2. ONE OK ROCK

One Ok Rock (Which I’ve only just found out is pronounced ‘One O’Clock’) were my first Japanese music artist (well, band I suppose) love.

As you can imagine from their name, the vast majority of their songs are rock based. It’s a nice throw back to when rock was far more popular than it is now, so it’s nice to see this kind of music still doing so well.

With an absolutely huge following, it’s no surprise that the group have collaborated with many other famous artists including: Avril Lavigne, Ed Sheehan, and Simple Plan, to name only a few.

In fact, Ed Sheeran even wrote their song ‘Renegades‘, and with over 11 million views, it’s clearly a fan favourite.

AND it featured as the official theme song for the upcoming Japanese film ‘Rurouni Kenshin’. If you like sword fights, you’ll likely love it!

3. King Gnu

Annoyingly I can’t link to may favourite song, but this will do nicely!

King Gnu is a Japanese alternative rock band/J-Pop band formed in 2013.

They produce highly stylised videos (like this one, it’s my fave!), and have an extremely loyal fan base.

Is King Gnu popular in Japan?

2020 was the year the band scored their first number one with the song ‘Ceremony’.

As you can see, the popularity spiked in 2020 with the number one hit and then tailed off. Around mid 2021 until the present day has seen a steady increase in their popularity, at least from inside Japan.

4. Yoshida Brothers

If you haven’t heard of the Yoshida Brothers, do you even like Japan?!

With 8 internationally selling albums, you can start to understand just how popular this duo is. And from the last article I wrote about J-Pop vs K-Pop, we already know how hard it is for Japanese artists to break the international market.

Since 1989 they’ve played and perfected the Tsugaru-jamisen style of the shamisen, a sound that to this day they’re famous for.

You’ll notice, whilst listening to the song above, that it sounds far more westernised than a lot of ‘traditional’ Japanese music. That blend of east and west, modern and traditional, is what sets them apart from anyone else in the Shamisen scene.

How old are the Yoshida brothers?

As of 2022, Ryōichiro Yoshida is 44 years old, and his brother Kenichi Yoshida is 42.

Interesting facts about the Yoshida brothers

They allowed Norm Nakamura, a western YouTube I’ve talked about here, to study under them and learn from them. This led to Norm becoming probably the most famous non Japanese shamisen player in the world.

5. RADWIMPS

Radwimps are the extremely talented Japanese musicians that did the music to Your Name./Kimi no Na wa, the popular anime film.

If you haven’t seen it yet, and you’ve enjoyed any of the studio Ghibli films, then put it on your priority list because it’s well worth the watch!

According to an interview done on the Forbes website, the name radwimps was chosen because ‘Rad’ means cool, and Wimp is like ‘Coward’. So the decision was made to put these two polar opposite words together.

Is RADWIMPS popular in Japan?

Even before scoring the music to ‘Kimi no Na wa’ RADWIMPS was a very popular Japanese band, but after the movie aired, their popularity increased exponentially.

The entire process took over a year and a half to create the entire soundtrack, but in the end both the anime and the music clearly compliment one another very well.

6. Mrs. Green Apple

Mrs. Green Apple debut in 2015 with EMI Records, and are perhaps most well known for their ending theme to Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V.

That, and their incredibly catchy J-Pop, alternative rock style.

The Oricon Singles chat, Japan’s music popularity chart ranked Mrs Green Apple 10th for the album ‘Twelve’. So although perhaps not as well known as some artists on this list, they’re still extremely popular.

After a few members left the band, it was announced that Motoki, the bands lead singer, would go on to pursue a solo career.

It’s always sad when a band you love splits up, but Motoki has already released his first single on YouTube, and it’s a banger!!

Phase two, as it’s been called, will commence in the spring of 2022 with different members but hopefully the same styling and incredible song creation we’ve come to love over the last few years.

7. 川崎鷹也-サクラウサギ

At only 26 years old, Takaya Kawasaki has already achieved far more than most.

The most well known of all his songs would be ‘Magic Rug’. It has well over 300 million views and has been used in tens of thousands of other videos. On YouTube it has been played millions of times and won first place on Spotify’s ‘Viral Top 50’ for 14 weeks.

His musical vibes are similar to that of Yuuri, which means heartfelt and well written songs, often on acoustic guitar, and always well filmed.

If you’re looking to go down an emotional Japanese music rabbit hole on YouTube, then Takaya is a fantastic place to start.

8. Hatsune Miku

Right, I’m not saying I actually enjoy Hatsune Miku, but I could hardly make a list of the best Japanese music artists to listen to without including this worldwide phenomenon.

So apparently, the concept behind Hatsune Miku was an ‘Android diva in a future world where all songs are lost’.

So what is Hatsune Miku?

Originally voiced by Saki Fujita (A famous Japanese voice actor), Hatsune Miku is a piece of Vocaloid software created by Crypton Future Media.

Vocaloids are a synthesiser type product that allows users to type in lyrics, add a melody and theoretically create their own piece of music.

As such, there aren’t any official songs. What there is, is over 170,000 community made songs.

It’s these songs that get played on the official YouTube channel and even at concerts.

What I don’t know is if I like the songs created by Miku, it certainly would be my regular listening anyway.

What I do know his the the people at Crypton Future Media are extremely intelligent for marketing a piece of musical software in the way they did.

That alone is enough of a reason for her to be on the list!

9. Namewee (Bonus)

He’s not Japanese but I couldn’t create this list without including the ‘Tokyo Bon’ song.

I’ll let it do the talking for me, Enjoy!

じゃあ、またね! ^_^

sports brands Japan
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6 Japanese Sports Brands You Should Buy From.

I don’t consider myself a sports fanatic. Well, except for skiing anyway… I could happily buy all of these Japanese ski brands and ski daily. Ah, the dream!

Anyway, before I wrote this article, I honestly couldn’t name even one Japanese sports brand. I have, however, heard of a fair few of them but have not realized their connection to Japan.

What makes Japanese sports brands special?

One thing all these companies have in common is continuous innovation. They’ve realised that they must keep adapting to stay at the top of the pack. And though the majority of this innovation may have happened in the 80s, many of the companies continue to push the boundaries of their respective fields.

1. Asics

Founded: 1949

Website: www.asics.com

Known For: Running Shoes

Asics Japanese sports brand

I would argue that if you haven’t heard of Asics, you’ve been living under a rock for most of your life.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s the most well known brand out of any of them on this list.

Asics is a Japanese sports brand that produces a huge range of sports equipment, most notably running shoes.

The name ‘Asics’ translates to ‘Sound mind in sounds body’, so it’s clear that health is always at forefront of their creation.

Created by Kihachiro Onitsuka in 1949, Asics actually began life as Onitsuka Co., Ltd creating basketball shoes. Whilst the company does still sell these shoes, the market for running trainers is a far more profitable path for the company to go down.

I can’t say how recent it was, but the Asics website now has an entire section devoted to sustainability.

I’m sure you know that some companies probably just jump on the band wagon of ‘Eco’ or ‘Sustainable’ because it’s the trendy thing to do, but Asics have some real numbers to back it up.

95% of the shoes it made in 2021 contained recycled materials and also donated over half a million dollars to communities.

Sure, it doesn’t mean the entire product is made from recycled materials or life changing sums of money are being donated, but it’s a fantastic step in the right direction for the healthy and positive future everyone wants to see.

A great reason to buy from Asics!

2. Mizuno

Founded: 1906

Website: www.mizuno.com

Known For: Running Shoes

Mizuno Japanese sports brand

Founded in 1906 in Osaka, Mizuno, then known as the Mizuno Brothers Commercial Firm, began life selling Japanese baseballs and western sundries.

A favoured saying on its creator ‘Rihachi Mizuno’ was “The best products for consumers” and looking at where the company is today it’s easy to see this is a motto the company have stuck to for decades.

Rihachi also stated that ‘By focusing on production, superior products can be made’. This is again something the company still adheres to over 100 Years in the future which enables them to continue producing high quality and desirable products.

1938 marks a particular date of importance for the company, the establishment of a scientific laboratory. This was done to once again aid production and also cemented Mizuno’s place at the forefront of scientific innovation for sports equipment.

You don’t need to look too far into the companies history to understand just how revolutionary they were for sports.

In 1990 they produced the worlds first ever pure titanium golf club, the Ti-110 and Ti-120, and in 1994 released a heat generating material called ‘Breath Thermo’.

Fast forward to the present day, and Mizuno continue to operate at the same level.

Their product line favours sporting shoes, presumably in an attempt to appeal to the widest demographic of people, but the range of sports they release products for is still very broad.

They include Ju-Jitsu, tennis, rugby, and Karate among others.

So chances are, if you’re looking to purchase sporting equipment or clothing, they’ll have you covered.

3. Shimano

Founded: 1921

Website: www.shimano.com

Known For: Cycling and fishing gear

Shimano Japanese sports brand

If you’ve ever ridden a bike, you’ve heard of Shimano.

This Japanese sports company began life as ‘Shimano Iron Works’, based out of Higashi Minato, Sakai City. According to the Shimano website, rent at that time was 5 Yen.

1 Yen in 1920’s Japan was worth roughly 50cents, making rent at that time about $2.50. Calculating inflation for just under 100 years, Shimano Iron Works paid roughly $35 a month.

One year later, Shozaburo Shimano, the creator of Shimano began producing bicycle freewheels, an extremely technical component.

Over the next few decades, the company continues to innovate and in 1970 launches a fishing tackle branch as a way to promote public health and encourage outdoor activity.

Something the Japanese know all too well!

Shimano expanded it’s brand into America to crack the Western market, and continues to be a globally recognised company to their very day.

Part of their mission statement reads: ‘We will continue to support people to realise their dreams to create new lifestyles to bring them closer to nature and share the joy of life with each other’. It’s clear to see the company cares about connecting people with the outdoors and with nature as well as creating technically challenging products.

It seems in more recent years they have pushed the cycling components and gear far more than the fishing which I imagine is due to the larger demographic.

4. Yonex

Founded: 1946

Website: www.yonex.com

Known For: Badminton, Tennis, and Golf Equipment

Yonex Japanese sports brand

Yonex is a Japanese sports brand that is widely known for its high quality Badminton equipment.

This wasn’t the companies first products, however.

It might surprise you to know that in 1946, the year Minoru Yoneyama founded Yonex, he began producing wooden corks for sake bottles and also floats for salmon fishing.

It wasn’t until another 11 years went by that the production of Badminton racquets started. By focusing on this western sport, the revenue of Yonex began to grow exponentially.

According to the history page on Yonex.co.jp, another reason Minoru decided to focus on producing Badminton racquets was because he grew up in a cold part of Japan and wanted to start making products where people could play the sport indoors.

Though Badminton is the sport that brought Yonex global recognition, they also have very successful tennis, golf, running, and even snowboarding product lines.

I’m unsure if Yonex would be the first place I’d check for a new snowboard, but with it’s innovative product creating history, it’s certainly not something to be written off entirely.

5. Descente

Founded: 1935

Website: www.descente.co.jp

Known For: High Tech sports equipment

Descente Japanese sports brand

From a company that dipped its feet in the world of skiing, to one that practically invented it.

Descente started its sportswear production with cream-colored baseball Uniforms in 1953 and capitalised on the Post-War Baseball boom as a result.

Following this success, Descente broke into the skiwear market shortly after in 1954, potentially changing it’s landscape forever.

After partnering with Japan’s first professional skier, Kazuyoshi Nishimura, Descente firmly established it’s roots as a ski brand.

Fast forward 3 years to 1957 and the announcement of the ‘RWSB Jacket’. It was a portable windbreaker that could be self contained in a pouch, and was also Descente’s first self developed and made product.

The rest is history.

From self heating Jackets to clothing for Japan’s first ascent of Everest, Descente certainly knows how to keep people warm and dry from the snow.

And we all know how much Japan can snow!

‘Design that moves’

On first visit to the Descente website, I get the feeling they’re trying to appeal to a younger generation. Potentially an entire different audience than some of the other Japanese sports brands on this list.

They sell a lifestyle before they sell the product, and that’s the kind of marketing a lot of people can get behind.

6. Butterfly

Founded: 1950

Website: www.butterfly.co.jp

Known For: Table Tennis Equipment

Butterfly Japanese sports brand

Last but definitely not least on this list of Japanese sporting brands is ‘Butterfly’.

Known almost entirely for it’s production of table tennis equipment, ‘Butterfly’ specialises in creating a wide variety of table tennis equipment to suite an individuals playing style. This individuality helped them stand out from the competition in the early days, and continues token them as one of the worlds leading sports equipment manufacturers.

Once again, like many companies on this list, the secret to Butterfly’s success is through innovation. The greatest success of the company in it’s early days was in 1967 with the introduction of SRIVER, an extremely popular rubber (The skin on a table tennis bat’s face).

According to it’s about page, table tennis is a sport in decline but through, contribution to the sport, continued innovation, and forward thinking, Butterfly aims to stop this downward trend.

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14 YouTubers In Japan You Should Be Watching

It’s time to celebrate another load of creators in the Japan space, something I absolutely love doing!

If you can’t get to Japan, what’s the next best thing?

Watching countless hours of Japanese content, of course!

In todays list, we discuss the 14 most binge-worthy YouTube channels based in Japan.

By the way, a couple of these are almost secrets I like to keep for myself. I’m not sure that’s possible with YouTube, but I like to think it’s a little corner of the platform that only a select few know about!

1. Abroad In Japan

Videos: 227 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 2.56M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2012

Who should watch it: People crazy for Japanese culture… Or British humour!

Chris Broad, the man behind ‘Abroad In Japan’ has to be one of my all-time favourite YouTubers.

His humor is perfectly British, often sarcastic, and always hilarious. Plus nowadays I’m fairly sure that some of his videos have a bigger budget than J-Dramas do!

What started out as just a way to document his experience on the J.E.T program has now become one of the top (top, in my opinion) Youtube channels in Japan.

If you’re planning on visiting Japan, the chances are high that you’ll come across one of his videos before your trip. And to be honest, even though his channel is necessarily a travel guide to Japan, a lot of the content is extremely informative and a very easy route to understanding Japan and its culture.

Hell, even if you aren’t planning to go to Japan I challenge you to watch one of his videos and not laugh… I’m honestly unsure if it can be done, but maybe I’m just a sucker for British humor…

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Abroad In Japan Youtube Channel

As you can see, a lot of the videos above are easy to watch and will likely appeal to a wide demographic of people.

If you’re looking for something a little more in-depth, Chris has produced a handful of extremely informative and well thought out documentaries about various issues and topics throughout Japan.

A personal favorite of mine is ‘Inside Fukushima: What Happened After the Nuclear Disaster’. Sadly I don’t think it did as well as Chris had hoped (at least in the beginning), but take it from me, it’s absolutely worth a watch.

Oh and if you prefer listening to watching, try the Abroad In Japan podcast. Just as funny, and perhaps more convenient for some people!

2. CDawgVA

Videos: 377 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 2.61M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2014

Who should watch it: People who love to binge wacky Japan content (ME!)

CDawgVA, or Connor, started his Japanese YouTube Channel career in 2014 and quickly gained popularity for his voice-over videos.

Since then, the majority of his content explores the weird, wacky, and wonderful side of Japan. Basically, the side that keeps you guys interested in this blog, and keeps me extremely interested in writing about it!

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of CDawgVA Youtube Channel

In fact, as I write this blog post I’ve already procrastinated for about 40 minutes whilst watching a video of his about spending $1000 on at the worlds largest crane game facility…

I have a feeling this might be a recurring theme with this article…

Connor is also a part of a weekly podcast called Trash Taste with ‘Gigguk’ and ‘The Anime Man’, the latter of which we’ll be seeing later on this list!

3. Sharmeleon

Videos: 541 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 705K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2011

Who should watch it: People interested in everyday life in Japan.

Born and raised in Canada but living in Sendai (North Japan), Sharla documents her daily life in Japan with classic vlog-style videos.

That’s not to say her channel doesn’t show the weird or ‘unique’ parts of Japan too, but it’s more about living in Japan as a country rather than a cultural oddity that some influencers like to take advantage of.

It’s a very refreshing view of a country that is ‘exploited’ for its ‘wacky’ side so frequently.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Sharmeleon Youtube Channel

Sharla also owns another Japanese YouTube channel called ‘Sharla In Japan’ which is reserved almost entirely for streamed content.

It’s a great place to get to know her and maybe even have the chance to ask her a few questions about life in Japan!

4. That Japanese Man Yuta

Videos: 450 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 1.16M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2014

Who should watch it: Those looking for an insight to the Japanese mind.

Yuta from ‘That Japanese Man Yuta’ claims to be one of the very first English-speaking Japanese YouTubers.

That makes sense to me, because he was the first English-speaking Japanese YouTuber I ever watched and I’ve seen a LOT of Japanese YouTube content!

Yuta’s most popular and well known videos seem to be his cultural videos, but the channel also discusses the Japanese language, Anime, and more recently Japanese pop culture.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of That Japanese Man Yuta Youtube Channel

The videos you’re most likely to have come across involve Yuta asking people on the street different cultural questions about Japan.

For example, ‘Do foreigners in Japan speak Japanese?’ and ‘Can Japanese actually write Japanese kanji?’ are only two of the binge-worthy videos on his channel.

He’s asking all the questions we wish we could!

5. Rambalac

Videos: 1,158 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 497K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2007

Who should watch it: Anyone looking for a long and peaceful video of Japan. Particularly good whilst you’re working/studying.

I have a love-hate relationship with Rambalac.

Not the man himself, but more the channel.

You see, about 4 years ago when I decided to move to Japan, I had two ideas. One was a blog (This one), and the other was a YouTube channel where I would film long videos to help people (tourists) who couldn’t get out to Japan feel like they were here in spirit.

Then Rambalac had to come along and yes, he’s been recording since 2007 but the videos didn’t get extremely popular until recently.

Anyway, I can’t really complain because the content he produces is fantastic. Whether you want to walk Inami Taisha, stroll through some cherry blossoms, or wander through Tokyo at night in the rain, there’s a video for you.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Rambalac Youtube Channel

With absolutely no talking, Rambalac lets Japan’s natural sounds take charge to produce atmospheric and extremely peaceful videos.

They’re perfect to have on in the background whilst you get some work done, or many you’re such a Japan addict that you’ll just watch them straight up from start to finish.

If that sounds like you, well done!

6. Life Where I’m From

Videos: 177 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 1.57M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2015

Who should watch it: Anyone hoping to learn about daily life in a Japanese family

Started in 2015, ‘Life Where I’m From’ was created by Greg Lam, a Canadian who lives in Tokyo with his wife and their Japanese/Canadian children.

‘Life Where I’m From’, a lot like ‘Sharla in Japan’, seeks to break the stereotype that all life in Japan is weird.

For instance, you may look at the thumbnail for the video above and wonder what the hell that stringy stuff is and why do Japanese people eat it for breakfast?

Well, those may be your presumptions going into the video but there’s a high chance that once you’ve finished it, you’ll have a different view.

And if you can’t be bothered to watch the video, It’s a food called ‘Nattō’ which is basically fermented soybeans.

My partner who grew up in Japan says that it’s a little like marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it. And apparently, if you haven’t grown up eating it, you’ll probably hate it.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Life Where I’m From Youtube Channel

I believe the initial plan was to show life around the world, not just in Japan.

Greg has stated on the ‘Life Where I’m From’ About Page that he hopes to change it in the future.

But if that takes a little longer than planned, I don’t think anyone here will mind, Greg!

7. The Anime Man

Videos: 1,258 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 3.17M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2013

Who should watch it: Otaku and Manga addicts

If you want to know anything about Anime or Manga, I honestly doubt you’ll need any other YouTube channel than ‘The Anime Man’.

Good friends with both CDawgVA and Abroad in Japan, Joey, who lives in Tokyo, make content on anime and Japanese-based gaming topics.

I’m pretty fond of any video he makes with Chris from Abroad in Japan, like when he visited Chris’s seriously cool Japanese studio!

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of The Anime Man Youtube Channel

I’ve also recently watched a video where he quizzes some of the top YouTubers on their knowledge of Japan.

Proud to say I got most of those questions right!

Anyway, a lot of his other content does explore the interesting and unusual aspects of Japan, which makes for some great easy watching just before bedtime!

I must warn you though, it’s extremely binge-worthy Japanese YouTube content!

8. Tokyo Lens

Videos: 308 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 483K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2017

Who should watch it:

Not only is Tokyo Lens an incredible film maker, he’s also the worlds best (or most well known) non-Japanese shamisen player.

In fact, as well as starting his YouTube channel to document his photography Journey, it was also mainly to ‘show the life behind his Tsugaru Shamisen’.

So what makes him so well known?

In addition learning for over 7 years, he was also accepted as an apprentice to none other than The Yoshida Brothers.

Definitely the two most famous people behind the Shamisen!

And I’m pretty sure I’ve read somewhere that he’s been on international television a few times, so not quite your average YouTuber!

If you fancy learning more about Norm and his life, I urge you to read this interview by Japan-Forward. It’s extremely in depth and a very interesting read.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Tokyo Lens Youtube Channel

A large amount of Norm Nakamura’s videos are documentary based, exploring interesting cultural differences from the western world.

I could tell you all of them are very sophisticated and intelligently presented (which they are), but that upload from 2 weeks ago doesn’t help me too much…

Long story short, Tokyo Lens is well worth a watch and Norm is an incredibly talented man and an equally talented creator.

9. Asu

Videos: 51 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 918K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2019

Who should watch it: People who love gardening and model making

Time to slow things down a little now.

I’ve already talked a little about Asu when I discussed the Top Japanese Instagrammers you should be following, and I’m very excited to include him again here!

For those who don’t know, Asu creates realistic miniature outdoor scenes which are extremely zen in all aspects of the word.

These scenes can include waterfalls, rock pools, lakes, and rivers. And lots of cute bamboo!

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Asu Youtube Channel

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say I’ve watched almost all of these videos. It’s that classic situation where you start with the intention to only watch one video and then suddenly you find yourself DEEP into YouTube rabbit hole.

I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m very glad to be in that hole, but it absolutely happens without me realising!

10. Chocolate Cacao チョコレートカカオ

Videos: 225 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 2.62M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2014

Who should watch it: People who love chocolate and Japan’s intricate style.

Whilst not all the content on Chocolate Cacao is specifically Japanese food, each video presents Japanese intricacy at it’s finest.

As I scroll down the hundreds of videos in this channel I come across familiar Japanese themes and faces such as Gudetama, Japanese wagahsi sweets, Jiggly Cheese cake, and cherry blossom flavour treats.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Chocolate Cacao Youtube Channel

Im honestly not great at cooking at all. There’s maybe 3 dishes I can make well…

And to add to that, I’m not particularly interested in it either. But even I can understand the skill and creativity in some of these dishes.

It’s easy to see why the emerald marine Chocolate mint tart is a favourite among YouTube viewers.

11. Comprehensible Japanese

Videos: 110 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 23.2K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2021

Who should watch it: Anyone who wants to start learning Japanese but isn’t a fan of textbooks

Comprehensible Japanese might be the smallest YouTube channel on this list by far, but it’s easily one of the most helpful.

I wrote a list of the best online resources to help people studying Japan, but annoyingly that was just before I discovered this gem of a channel.

Yuki, a native Japanese speaker living in Fukuoka has built a YouTube channel to help beginners start their journey of learning Japanese.

To aid in their learning, she uses easy to understand (or, comprehensible) ‘drawings, gestures, repetitions and rephrasing.

The idea is that after going through the playlists from start to finish, you should start to gradually pick up vocabulary and pronunciation.

The lessons are extremely simple, but that’s exactly what you need when you start learning.

And yes, all the videos are in Japanese but after a few lessons you’ll hardly even notice it!

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Comprehensible Japanese Youtube Channel

At the time of writing this, Yuki has 26 Complete beginner lessons, 66 Beginner lessons, and 18 intermediate lessons.

Plenty for the average beginner to be getting on with, and a great change of pace from a full on Japanese textbook!

12. Hanabira工房

Videos: 86 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 791K (As of February 2022)

Started: 2016

Who should watch it: People who love cute videos and miniature Japanese themed DIY

So you like Japan aye?

Annoyed you don’t own a Japanese home or can’t travel to the country yet? (Join the club…)

Well you’re in luck!

From building mini Japanese vending machines, to replica mini Japanese apartments out of craft materials, Hanabira makes miniatures, dioramas, and dollhouses as a hobby.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Hanabira Youtube Channel

Mini Anpanman, mini Totoro, mini rice cookers, mini Japanese houses, mini 7-Eleven, mini everything!

I’ve always wanted to be good at this kind of thing, but I’m actually pretty terrible at arts and crafts.

It all seems extremely peaceful, and with relatively long video times, Hanabira takes you through the entire process from creation, to building, to photographing the finished product.

They’re the perfect kind of videos to get lost in at 2AM when you really should be sleeping!

13. Peaceful Cuisine

Videos: 457 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 2.44M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2010

Who should watch it: People who love the satisfaction of food without the mess

Started in 2010 by Ryoya Takashima, Peaceful Cuisine has to be one of the most beautifully filmed food channels on the whole of YouTube.

A little like Chocolate Cacao, not all the videos on the Peaceful Cuisine plate to strictly Japanese food.

That said, the vast majority are, and my word do they look fantastic.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Peaceful Cuisine Youtube Channel

Each of the videos is backed by beautifully peaceful music, and the only other sounds are the that of the ingredients and the cooking itself.

It’s almost like you’d watch the videos just for the experience, not to actually figure out how to make the dish.

Watching the Buddha Sushi Bowl video, it’s so beautifully filmed and edited that it almost makes me a little bit emotional… almost…

A lot of his videos as far as I can see are actually completely vegan. What a result!

Now all I’ve got to do is figure out how to cook this well (and cleanly) and maybe I can actually enjoy some of the food!

14. にぎりっ娘。nigiricco

Videos: 722 (As of February 2022)

Subscribers: 1.11M (As of February 2022)

Started: 2014

Who should watch it: People looking for Japanese lunchbox ideas

If there was a way to niche down the YouTube food channel as much as possible, Nigiricco gets the award.

Instead of making YouTube content for Japanese meals whenever the inspiration strikes, Nigiricco does something a little different.

Each one of the videos on the channel are what she makes for either her husband or children lunch each and everyday.

Best Japanese YouTube channels
Screenshot of Nigiricco Youtube Channel

It reminds me a little bit of @yuko.makotsu but in a little more achievable way!

Each video has instructions in both Japanese and English, so who knows you might even learn a thing or two!

Conclusion

So there you have it, 14 of the best YouTubers in Japan you should be watching.

I honestly can’t tell you how many hours of my life I’ve given to these content creators, but one thing I can tell you is that I regret absolutely none of it!

If I’ve forgotten your favourite Japanese YouTube content creator, then please let me know in the comments below!

Until next time, またね ^_^

japanese sweets online
By wyinoue - Goodies
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8 Best Websites To Buy Japanese Snacks and Sweets Online

My love for Japanese candy and snacks knows absolutely no bounds, like many of you, I’m sure!

So, I’ve decided to trawl every forum imaginable and every single website in existence (…probably…) to bring you the ultimate list of websites where you can buy Japanese sweets and Japanese snacks online.

At least until you can get to Tokyo, anyway!

Before we start, if you haven’t seen it already I’ve written a post discussing 20 of the best Japanese snacks you need to try.

So, if you’ve been wondering where to buy Japanese snacks from, here’s the list for you!

1. Japan Centre

Japan centre japanese snacks
I’ve spent far too much money in this store…

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.

I flipping love this place!

It may only have stores in the U.K but thanks to it’s worldwide delivery, you can enjoy their huge selection of Japanese snacks (including cherry blossom snacks) and sweets no matter where you are in the world!

…With that said, they do offer free delivery anywhere in the U.K if you order over £50 with of items.

Like we needed an excuse!

From different flavour Mochi to Melon pan and whistle candies, The Japan centre is a fantastic place to order your weekly or monthly Japanese food shopping at as well as the snacks and sweets!

2. Amazon

Japan sweets amazon
Amazon, we love to hate it!

Surprise surprise, Amazon shows it’s face again!

If I had made this list a year ago, I doubt it would be on here but the situation seems to have changed.

By heading over to amazon and typing in Japanese Snacks, you’ll be presented with a huge selection of Japanese snacks and sweets.

Unlike some of the other websites on this list, there are a selection of different snack/sweet assortment bags for different budgets, tastes, and quantities.

Sometimes it’s nice to pick out the individual items of food, but other times it’s nice when someone arranges it for you!

3. Japanese Taste

japanese taste candy
Great website interface. It’s a yes from me!

‘Japanese taste’ offers international shipping and a big list of Japanese sweets and snacks for you to buy online.

Plus, if you’re feeling like spoiling yourself they also offer other grocery items, personal care items (like moisturiser etc), kitchen, and household products.

It’s these kind of websites that are most dangerous really.

You go there to buy a couple of snacks, and end up checking out with $500 worth of Japanese products…

What’s money for if you can’t enjoy yourself I suppose!

4. Gohan Market

snacks from Japan
The Calbee Potato Snacks are calling me…

With around 400 different snacks (If I’ve counted right!) you won’t be short of finding your perfect Japanese treat anytime soon!

If you’re looking for suggestion, I absolutely love the Calbee Potato Snacks in any flavour! …Well I did until I was vegan anyway!

As well as snacks and sweets, you’ll find other dry foods, Japanese speciality seasonings, drinks, and even a beauty/health section.

It’ll keep your brain interested, but your wallet light!

5. Neokyo

websites to buy Japanese snacks
Literally didn’t know wagyu beef jerky was even a thing until I started searching on here!

Neokyo is a Japanese proxy buying site that comes in handy if you’re after something extremely specific that the other sites on this list don’t have in stock, or don’t stock at all.

Of course, you can still find all the general Japanese sweets or snacks you want but it’s potentially not the easiest way to find them.

The reason I suggest only using this service for specialist items is because of the fees associated.

Normally if you’re buying products from Japan, they’ll probably be over $20 and worth it despite the fees as it might be a rare or limited edition item only available directly from the country.

However when it comes to food, unless you’re bulk ordering a single product then it’ll likely cost a bit too much.

Neokyo charges $2.18 for their services (buying the food from Japan and keeping it at their warehouse) per different item.

So unless you’re buying 40 packs of wagyu beef jerky, maybe take a look somewhere else.

6. OMG JAPAN

Japanese kitkat snacks
SO. MANY. KITKATS.

KitKat heaven!

With close to 48 (I think!) Kit Kats in their catalogue ready to buy, it’s a great place to try out some of Japan’s wacky flavours they’ve become so famous for over the years.

Couple that with some mad Pringle flavors, and you’ll certainly have your hands full for some time.

Like many of the options on this list, the site is full of really interesting snacks from Japan that literally come in all shapes and sizes.

I won’t spoil some of the items available because discovering them yourself is half the fun.

But I will direct you to Pokemon Curry because it’s just too fun not to share!

P.S It’s international shipping, so food for everyone! ^_^

7. Tokyo Treat

tokyo treat snack box
If I was a little richer, I’d subscribe to this thing for life!

A little different to the other shops, as with Tokyo treat you’ll be subscribing to a monthly box of goodies!

For some people who like this format, this will absolutely be the best way to buy Japanese snacks online, and if you have the money I honestly can’t blame you.

You’re guaranteed different Japanese candy each month as they’re hand-picked by a team to make sure you experience Japanese culture to the full.

Some months might be themed, some might not, but they’ll all be super tasty!

And you’ll get 15-20 items in a box, more than enough!

Here’s a full review of Tokyo Treat!

8. Japan Candy Box

Japan candy box
And I’d subscribe to here for life, too!

Imagine the box above, and now imagine that it’s filled entirely with sweet treats.

Now you’ve got Japan Candy Box.

It’s roughly $10 cheaper than Tokyo Treat so have a look at both of them and figure out which is the best for you (If a subscription box is something that interests you)

The great thing about Japan Candy Box is that they offer a fully fledged Japanese snack store to go with the box which means if you find something you like, you can probably order 100s of them directly to your home.

Whether you should or not is another matter!

are japanese cherry blossom worth it
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Is It Worth Seeing The Japanese Cherry Blossom? (Pros and Cons)

Chances are high if you’re visiting Japan in the springtime that you’ve got one thing on your mind, The Japanese Cherry Blossom. Japanese Cherry Blossom or Sakura (桜) is without a doubt one of the most popular ‘tourist attractions’ in the whole of Japan. But are they really worth traveling thousands of miles to see? Today we’re going to answer the question ‘Is it worth seeing the Japanese cherry blossom?’. Spoiler alert: The answer probably won’t surprise you!

Let’s take a look…

What month are the cherry blossom in Japan?

Trying to figure out exactly when the cherry blossom in Japan is going to bloom is often like finding a needle in a haystack. However, if you’re in the country from mid-March to early April you’re likely to be able to spot these incredible flowers.

What is so special about cherry blossoms?

Cherry blossoms aren’t just beautiful works of nature, they also hold extreme significance in Japanese culture.

To many people in Japan, Cherry blossom signifies Hope and renewal. The kind of impermanence that Wabi-Sabi so often talks about.

I’ve been to Japan a number of times and only been able to see either the end or beginning of their blooming. It’s only for around 1 week that they’re truly ‘perfect’.

Are cherry blossoms only in Japan?

Nope. So technically you don’t have to go all the way to Japan to see them.

In 1912, Mayor Osaka of Japan gave Washington D.C. 3,000 cherry blossom trees.

If you live anywhere near Washington D.C. and are struggling to get to Japan, this is one of the best places to see cherry blossom in America.

Just look how beautiful they are!

Cherry blossom in Washington D.C.
Who need Japan when there’s cherry blossom like this in Washington D.C.?? Well… I still do… :L

Pros of seeing cherry blossom in Japan

1. The cherry blossom are beautiful in full bloom

Cherry blossom by a Japan river
This is my kind of Sunday walk!

As I’ve said before, I’ve seen part of the cherry blossoms a few times in Japan and they were absolutely stunning.

Not only were they pretty much everywhere, but the colours completely overtook the Japanese urban landscape I was accustomed to.

And the craziest thing?

None of these times were the true full bloom everyone raves about!

I honestly struggle to imagine how much more pink these little flowers can get!

2. The weather

Yellow Japanese building
I literally love Japanese architecture…

If you’re visiting Japan for the cherry blossom, you’re going to be taking your holiday in the Spring, my favourite season.

One big bonus to having your Holiday in the spring is the incredible weather you’ll likely be given throughout your stay.

Not too hot, not too cold.

I’ve included a photo I took a few years ago whilst travelling through Japan that sort of shows how beautiful the light is in spring.

It’s a little hard to explain without actually experiencing it for yourself, but the light falls on the ground like nowhere I’ve ever been before.

I dunno, maybe I sound a little mad. But go and experience it for yourself before you call me crazy!

3. Sakura culture throughout Japan

starbucks cherry blossom drink 2021
Copyright: Starbucks Japan

If it’s cherry blossom season, you can bet anything you like that the commercial side of Japan will be taking full advantage of the fact.

Last year Starbucks released a cherry blossom Frappuccino and other themed goodies to go along side it.

You can pretty much expect loads of themed menu items, clothing, adverts, food, etc throughout your stay in Japan if you visit during the sakura season. I absolutely loved it!

It’s like a ‘Secret’ side of Japan comes out for a couple of months a year and lets you try or buy limited edition versions of everything.

Right up my street!

4. Hanami – Flower Viewing

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo looks even better in Spring! – CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the biggest benefits of travelling to Japan to see the cherry blossom in Spring is that you’ll be able to partake in a yearly Japanese tradition called Hanami.

Hanami, or flower viewing, is the Japanese tradition of of admiring the cherry blossom during springtime.

It entails gathering under the cherry blossom with family and friends, and sharing food, drink, and happy memories.

If you have the chance to experience this when you travel to Japan, make sure you go to a local park for a slightly less busy experience.

It’ll be well worth your time!

Cons of seeing cherry blossom in Japan

1. Your holiday dates will have to be flexible

quiet Tokyo park
Any of your local parks look this chill?…

One of the most common problems of travelling to Japan purely to see the cherry blossom is that they don’t bloom at the same time each year.

Miss the full bloom by even a day, like I’ve done many times, and you’ll likely have to wait another year to see them at their best.

So even if you plan your holiday around the end of march, it isn’t guaranteed that you’ll see the blossom that year.

A little bit like the aurora, it’s sadly a possibility that you may never see the blossom as beautiful as nature intended.

2. Your plans when you’re in Japan will need to be flexible

Japanese street sign
At least the country is easy to get around!

Not only is the exact date of cherry blossom never certain, it also changes depending how far up or down the country you are.

So, if you’ve got to Japan a bit later than you planned, or the cherry blossom season is earlier than forecast, you may find yourself having to travel further up the country than you’d hoped for.

Of course, this is only something you’re likely to do if seeing the cherry blossom is the only reason you’ve come to Japan.

They’re beautiful, yes, but not worth ruining your itinerary over.

3. Other attractions throughout Japan will likely be busier

Crowds in ueno park
Still pretty, but a little busy! By Arisdp – CC BY-SA 4.0

At even the slightest sign of Cherry blossom, popular tourist attractions are likely to be packed.

Japanese residents and foreign tourists likely have the same idea of exploring during spring. Couple that with golden week at the end of April and it’s unfortunately quite a busy time.

If thousands of people at a famous attraction doesn’t bother you, then it’s not something you have to worry about.

But if your idea of Japan is a zen paradise that’s peaceful 99% of the time, it’s probably a time you should avoid.

Having said that, if you’re visiting a slightly more rural area this shouldn’t be a problem. You might spend your days in a busy city, but you’ll know you have a quiet base to come home to every day.

4. Everything will be more expensive

drink prices Japan
No one can stop me buying Ramune!

Unfortunately as you’ll be visiting Japan at the most popular time of year, you can expect it to be reflected in the price.

Japanese airbnb’s, convenience store snacks, attractions, and tours are just some of the things that are likely to have a price hike in the springtime.

This doesn’t have to be a huge holiday altering problem, but do make sure you’ve budgeted enough for the things you want and maybe a little extra just incase.

Still want to see the Cherry Blossom?

It truly transforms the Japanese landscape!

Springtime is beautiful in Japan but there are a few things to watch out for, like we’ve discussed above.

If you’re still determined to see them (which, let’s be honest you should be!) there’s a couple of things you should remember.

Here are my tips:

1. Don’t follow the crowd

Don’t lookup the best spots to see Japanese cherry blossom. This may sound counter intuitive but there’s a point to my madness.

If you look up the best places to see Sakura in Tokyo you’ll likely get suggestions like ‘Meguro River’ and ‘Chidorigafuchi’. Whilst they’re stunning examples of Japanese cherry blossom, they’re going to be absolutely packed.

Again, if lots of people don’t bother you then go right ahead. But if you’ve imagined Japan in a slightly different light, then it may ruin your image of the country.

What to do instead:

Ask a local and go for a walk

If you aren’t staying in central Tokyo, chances are that you don’t really know your way around.

Japan is full of extremely friendly people who genuinely want you to have a fantastic time in their country.

So make use of this by asking someone you meet.

Get your shoes on and go for a walk around a suburban area, ask a local where they normally view the cherry blossom, and you may even run into a secret location yourself if you walk far enough!

2. Don’t go just for the blossom

Don’t make the cherry blossom the main reason of your visit to Japan.

I know for some of you it will be the reason you want to go to, but Japan has so much to offer that even if you don’t get to see the flowers in full bloom I guarantee you won’t be dissapointed.

What to do instead:

See it as a bonus

Check out the visit section of the website for a load of ideas about how to plan your trip to Japan, fun things to do whilst you’re there, and how to make the most of your once in a life time trip.

Cherry blossom is just the beginning!

3. Explore the alternatives

Following on from the previous point

There are honestly so many different places to visit in Japan if you’re a flower or nature lover.

So many in fact that it’s absolutely worth me doing an entire blog post to show you!

Until that point, here are a few of the most famous cherry blossom alternatives in Japan that might be worth visiting.

Wisteria Tunnel – Kitakyushu

By そらみみ (Soramimi) – CC BY-SA 4.0

Admittedly quite a long way from Tokyo, but well worth the trek if you’re looking to explore a bit of the country.

Tickets for the wisteria tunnel in Kitakyushu are always ¥500 if purchased in advance, so it’s a pretty cheap day out if you manage to get down to Fukuoka.

Ashikaga Flower Park – Tochigi

By T.Kiya, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nice and close to Tokyo this time.

Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi is only 2hr 30mins from Tokyo by train so it’ll make and excellent day trip if you’re looking to avoid the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Hitsujiyama Park – Chichibu

By 京浜にけ – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Set in the foothills of mount Bukō, Hisujiyama Park in Chichibu is a great alternative to the cherry blossom in Japanese Springtime.

It’s quite a popular attraction with the locals at this time of year, but even so, I still think it’ll be less chaotic than some of the famous cherry blossom viewing locations in Japan.

Hitachi Seaside Park – Hitachinaka

By katorisi – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Last but not least on our list we have Hitachi Seaside park, in April with its beautiful display of nemophila flowers.

This is a great location to visit in Autumn too as its flowers are planted to bloom in each of the four seasons, giving a different experience each time!

So are the Cherry Blossom of Japan really worth seeing?

Whether you’re planning to see the cherry blossoms down in Osaka or up in Sapporo (worth a visit btw!), Cherry blossoms in Japan are absolutely worth seeing.

You just need to be careful with your expectations and try not to follow the crowd!

Japan is always going to be popular and more expensive in spring, but that doesn’t need to stop you from having the holiday of your dreams.

A little preparation goes a long way!

long haul jet lag Asia
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Easily Avoid Jet Lag When Travelling To Japan.

If you’re anything like me, you get super excited before any holiday flights and struggle to get any sleep during the nights before. Unfortunately, with somewhere like Japan that’s likely a pretty long journey, which means you’re going to need to prepare! So, how do you easily avoid jet lag when traveling to Japan?

Getting into Japan’s local time as soon as possible and staying with it, as well as not booking stop-over flights is perhaps the best way to avoid jet lag. Do your best to stay up during the day and don’t go to bed too early – after a day or two you should be as close to ‘normal’ as possible.

Couple this with understanding how to survive your flight to Japan, and some of the other top tips on this page, and you’ll end up in the land of the rising sun ready to go out exploring! Let’s get into it!

Before the flight

1. Get on the time schedule of Japan

plane window cloud to Japan
This view makes me want to be on a plane!

This is probably the most repeated suggestion about how to reduce jet lag in Japan, and that’s for good reason.

If you’re in the US, Japan’s time could be anything up to 14 hours ahead so you really need to plan your trip well. Especially if you’re slightly short on time.

This is likely to be a lot harder to achieve if you have a busy schedule or are part of a large family with kids, so your routine may have to be adapted rather than changed completely.

Any amount of change will make a difference in the long run, even if for just a few preceding days of your holiday, you get up and go to bed slightly earlier or later depending on when your flight is.

2. Pick a flight that flies overnight (allowing you to sleep and wake up early)

night view out of plane window
A view from a plane window seems so romantic to me…

When traveling on a long-haul flight to Japan, I’m always a fan of one that travels overnight. Not only does this allow me to catch up on some sleep if I’ve switched around my schedule over the last few days (to get on Japan’s time), but it also helps the time pass a lot quicker.

Another great bonus of traveling at night is that by arriving in Japan early in the morning, you’ve got the whole day ahead of you to spend how you like. That’s another reason why I love Japan’s last sleeper train so much!

It’s also much nicer to be able to actually see the place you’re traveling to when you’re on a transfer. Even if that transfer is just a walk from the trainstation to your hotel, that’s not as fun at night!

But then again, I find it easier to sleep at pretty much any time than force myself to stay awake. You may think differently!

3. Pack comfy clothes… And perhaps this dog if they let you…

jet lag comfy clothes Japan
Is this amount of blankets an option on a plane?

This technically won’t help you prevent or reduce jet lag to Japan directly, but I highly advise packing extremely comfy clothing. There’s absolutely nothing worse than being uncomfortable on your flight to Japan.

Obviously, I do imagine this is something most of you do anyway on most journeys, but it’s still worth mentioning because it’s such a good idea.

The theory is this: The comfier you are, the easier it will be to sleep, the more rested you are, the quicker you ‘Recover’, and the more you can make the most of your time in Japan.

You’re much better traveling to Japan in your comfy clothes and maybe feeling a little silly walking through the terminal with a dressing gown on than being extremely uncomfortable for 12 hours on a cramped flight. t’s just not worth it!

Saying that I remember my Grandad and Nanny used to get dressed up for their flights (Suits and everything) because it was such a special occasion.

Oh, how times have changed!

4. Don’t book stopover flights (If you can afford not to)

jet lag japan
Looks like a funky place to go!

I get it. We’ve already talked about why flights to Japan are expensive (and how to get them cheaper!), but sometimes our only option to actually get to a place is the cheapest one.

In this case, that means possibly booking a stopover flight.

As much as I’ve promised myself never to fly with a budget airline again, I’m getting on a Ryanair flight in 3 days’ time…

But, if you have the money and it’s not going to impact your life too much, then I highly recommend booking a direct flight to Japan to reduce jet lag.

The first time I went to Japan I had the most disjointed flight I’d ever been on. I flew from the UK-Italy, then changed airports using a cab, and finally flew on to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

Let me tell you now, trying to stay awake at 4 in the morning in an Italian airport to catch a delayed flight is really not ideal.

So the moral of the story is if jet lag is of huge concern to you and you have extra money to spend, choose the direct flight!

5. Get some exercise

how to avoid jet lag in Japan
You could try rowing this boat?…

Getting exercise before your flight to Japan is a great way to prepare your body for the long journey. You’ll prime yourself to be able to sleep when you need to, and feel much better when it comes to any potential jet lag effects.

So hit the gym, or exersise like the Japanese do. Either way, it’s a fantastic way to avoid Jet lag in Japan!

During the flight

6. Try to sleep

sleep on your trip to Japan
The amount of money I would pay to be this comfy on a plane doesn’t exist in the world.

If all else fails, trying to sleep on your flight to Japan is likely to be the best course of action.

Before you catch those Z’s, work out what time you’ll be arriving in Japan and try to work around it.

For instance, if you’re landing in Japan in the early evening then you probably shouldn’t sleep the entire flight away. A couple of hours here and there is fine, but if you struggle to get to sleep then technically you’ll want to be tired when you arrive at your destination.

I find wearing noise-canceling headphones (like these Japanese ones) (or earphones) works extremely well for me. Make sure whatever you wear, they are comfy and can be worn for hours on end.

Also, I’ve just got a set of Bluetooth earphones that cannot be used with the airplane’s system, so make sure you take that into account if it’s something that bothers you.

During my flight to Japan when I moved out here, we flew with etihad. The first plane was newer and had access to Bluetooth technology with our earphones, but the second plane required us to use the ‘old fashioned’ plug in style.

7. Don’t drink caffeine

don't drink caffeine jet lag
Matcha is more my kinda drink!

If you want to mess up your brain, circadian rhythm, and sleep schedule, the best way to do that is by drinking caffeine.

It takes anything up to 12 hours for caffeine to be completely gone from your system. That means it’s probably best to avoid the stuff from the moment you step out of your front door to the moment you arrive at your cute Japanese Airbnb.

If you’re looking for an alternative to coffee, I would suggest giving green tea a go. It’s relatively healthy for you, has less caffeine than a cup of tea, and rather than a short burst of energy, it works over a longer period of time.

And it’s keeping with the culture of Japan so it’s really a win-win!

Though, if you’re strongly affected by caffeine, I would give any drinks like this a wide birth until you arrive.

So when the drinks cart comes around, take a rain check on the coffee, but make sure you’ve packed your Tokyo Treat box!

After the flight

8. Stay with Japanese time

sunrise over Tokyo
If you’ve yet to see Japanese light in the spring, you’re in for a treat!

Don’t fall asleep. …or do, depending on the time you want to get there.

This is another reason I love arriving in Japan early, especially during spring. The sunrises are absolutely incredible so the ideal flight should land just before dawn and by the time you’re out of customs you should be presented with a beautiful golden glow.

It’s also a great chance to explore the city, even if you arrive at night.

Both airports are around an hour or so away from Tokyo with fantastic connections to the city with their world-famous train lines. Just be careful if you arrive too late, trains tend to stop just after midnight at the airport station.

Another great tip to get over jet lag (that can only be achieved once you’re off the plane) is grounding.

Grounding or ‘earthing’, is the practice of going barefoot as soon as possible to your destination to reset your internal body clock.

It works best with grass or dirt, but any outdoor surface should suffice. And there’s actually a lot of science to back this technique.

So it’s worth a try at least! ^_^

9. Visit an Onsen or Teahouse to help relax

natural Onsen Japan

If you know you’re highly affected by jet lag no matter how much you prepare, the only way to get over it is by resting.

Luckily you can rest and relax in Japan whilst still being culturally involved in the country.

There are a plethora of things to do in Tokyo (and the rest of the country) that are both extremely relaxing and culturally enriching at the same time.

I’ve written an entire post on the most relaxing spots in Tokyo to help you get over that first tiring day and make the most of your holiday to Japan.

At a glance, there are a few great options to choose from that can be found in almost any corner of Japan. And they’re perfect options if you have a day to kill but don’t feel like doing anything too active.

Tea Houses – Incredibly peaceful places all across Japan where you’ll experience a cup of tea like never before.

Onsen – Somewhere to rest your aching body after a flight a soak in the ancient waters of Japanese hot spring.

Parks – A place to rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul by connecting with nature on a Japanese forest bathing walk. Arriving in Osaka? This park is the one I recommend visiting!

FAQs about jet lag in Japan

1. Do you get jet lag flying to Japan

I’ve never really got jet lag flying to Japan, but then again I’ve never had it on any long haul flight.

However, a lot of people do experience jet lag when flying to Japan, particularly if they are travelling across multiple time zones.

The severity of jet lag symptoms can vary from person to person and can depend on factors such as age, health, preparedness, comfort, and the direction of travel.

2. How bad is jet lag to Japan?

Jet lag can be quite bad for some people, and my partner often experiences it quite heavily. With symptoms ranging from mild fatigue and difficulty sleeping to more severe issues such as headaches, nausea, and disorientation, it really does pay to be prepared.

However, perhaps the most important thing is that you’ll be wasting valuable exploring time if you have to deal with these affects!

3. How long does it take to get over jet lag from Japan?

It can take several days to fully recover from jet lag after travelling to Japan. Whilst I don’t think you’ll have this big of a problem, it’s always the reason that I suggest to people they should do something relaxing on the first few days of their holiday.

However, the exact duration and severity of jet lag can vary from person to person. Some people may be able to adjust to the new time zone relatively quickly, while others may experience symptoms for a week or more. My partner often falling into the latter of those two categories!

4. Do you lose a day flying to Japan?

Depending on where you are flying from, it is possible to lose a day when travelling to Japan due to the time difference. For example, if you are flying from the United States to Japan, you may depart on a Monday and arrive on a Tuesday, even though the flight itself may only take around 12 hours.

I’ve written more about this and how to survive your flight in detail!

5. When should you sleep on the flight to Japan?

Completely preventing jet lag on your journey to Japan is impossible, but there are ways to mitigate its effects. When to sleep on a flight to Japan can depend on a variety of factors, including the length of the flight, your usual sleep schedule, and the time of day you arrive in Japan.

If you’re doing your best to avoid jet lag (and we are!), if you are flying during the night, it may be a good idea to try to sleep on the plane so that you arrive feeling more rested. However, if you are flying during the day, it may be better to stay awake and adjust to the local time zone as quickly as possible.

It may sound like a bit of a hassle to work it all out, but the airline you travel with will usually adjust everything accordingly in the plane. So will it may be night time, they might turn the lights on because of the local time it is in Japan. Easy! And a great way to avoid jet lag without you having to think about it that much!

japanese cute train
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Does Japan Actually Love Cute Things?

Whether it’s cute clothing, food, or anime, it seems Japan and it’s people have a nationwide obsession with anything cute. But is that actually the case?

Cuteness in Japan is not just a subculture, but a huge part of many people’s lives. A big part of it is the desire of escapism, especially with the horrendously long hours most people are expected to work in Japan as well as increasing societal pressures for both men and women.

You may think you like cute things, but I reckon you’ll be surprised with the lengths some Japanese people go to, to fulfil their kawaii destiny!

The best place to buy cute Japanese products online

Kawaii Box

Kawaii Things

If you can’t get to to Japan but simply love the idea of having something cute or ‘Kawaii’ then this is easily the best option for you.

Kawaii box is a cute monthly Japanese subscription box that contains anything from plushies, sticker books, clothing, toys, sweets, and many more kawaii things!

Each month you’ll be treated to between 6 and 8 products and the shipping is always free no matter where you live in the world.

If you’re looking to Kawii-fy your life, it’s the perfect subscription box for you!

Kawaii-fy my life!

What does ‘Kawaii’ mean?

You’ll often find ‘Cute’ things in Japan being referred to in Japanese as ‘Kawaii’.

Explain what it means, the Japanese letters, how it’s used, where it’s used etc

Quick Vocabulary Lesson: Kawaii / かわいい – Cute

It’s a term that’s usually used to describe a broad section of Japanese ‘cute’ culture.

What I mean by this is that it’s a word often used to celebrate Japan’s love of ‘cute’. Anything adorable, charming, sweet, or endearing would usually wear the Kawaii badge with pride.

The history of Kawaii Culture

To fully understand Kawaii Culture, we need to go back to the beginning when the word was first defined by Lady Murasaki in the 11th century.

history of kawaii
With a clothing like that, I’m not surprised she’s famous!

In her book ‘The Tale of Genji’, Kawaii was referred to as ‘Pitiable qualities’.

Fast forward about 100 years to the shogunate period and this is where we see women included or referred to under the kawaii term.

The older definition and word still survives today in modern Japanese. Kawaisō, which has a rough translation of ‘pitiful’ or ‘sad’ or ‘poor’. I like to think it’s similar to someone saying ‘aw, you poor thing’.

Marui Ji – The cute handwriting of the 1970’s

The 1970’s is the first decade we truly see the ‘kawaii aesthetic’ take a physical form.

This cute handwriting was a style of handwriting used by many teenage girls throughout the decade and often made it extremely difficult for teachers to read.

Cute, but sort of illegible!

The main differences between Kawaii handwriting and normal writing were as follows:

  1. Written horizontally, not vertically
  2. Exaggerated letters
  3. ‘cute’ designs throughout writing

Because of it’s difficulty to read, it was eventually banned in schools. It was a trend that spanned the entire country though, which meant it was far from gone.

During the 1980s, several teenage magazines adopted the writing style as well as comics, toy packaging, and clothing.

Now the kawaii aesthetic had been pushed into the mainstream and commercialised, there was no stopping its influence around not only the country but also the world.

Why do people enjoy kawaii culture?

There really are quite a few reasons why kawaii culture is still popular in Japan to this day, not least because it’s (rightly or wrongly) become a relatively big part of their national identity.

The reason that I would like to talk to you about is escapism.

Whilst working days are supposed to only be 8 hours long in Japan, it’s often the case that people work an extra few each day.

It may not seem like a lot, but it’s the work culture that’s the main problem. Constant pressure to perform at 100%, not to let your company or family down, and to stick to the status quo.

It’s no surprise then, that the younger generation look for ways to escape the system, even just for a moment.

So as well as their form of escapism, it’s also a way for many people to express themselves that they are unable to do in other ways.

The aesthetics of Kawaii Culture

With Kawaii being used to describe many things in Japanese culture, it’s hard to pin down an exact visual style linked to the word.

Much of what you’re likely to see in the Kawaii landscape will have some variation of the colors below.

colors of kawaii aesthetic

Pastels are usually the most prominent colors with white playing a leading element in empty space. It’s also common to see a reduction in shadows to ‘increase’ positivity and happiness

The cutest things in Japan

Let’s talk a bit about specific things in Japan that fit the Kawaii definition.

PuriKura Machine – プリクラ

kawaii purikura machine
Pixelms, CC BY-SA 3.0

Purikura machines are dotted all around Japan and are aimed largely at teenage girls. They are similar to the passport photo machines you might be familiar with, but also include the ability to add stickers, frames, and effects to the photo.

If you come across one in your travels, you’ll likely see lots of girls prepping at the makeup station (yep, that’s a real thing) before hand to make sure their pictures are absolutely perfect. Normally they’ll include hair dryer, straighteners, and huge wall mirrors.

Cars

kawaii Japanese cars

Tiny cars for tiny spaces.

Not necessarily for the ‘Kawaii’ aesthetic, but I still think kei cars are cute!

Similarly to the trains below, you’ll often find cars wrapped from roof to tire in some sort of crazy or cute pattern. Often that’s for promotional and commercial purposes, but there are a few exceptions to the rule.

Trains

hello kitty train Japan
Testshawn, CC BY-SA 4.0

Riding on the Hello Kitty train is a big Japanese bucket-list item for me, and I’m not even ashamed to say it…

Not only is it covered in Hello Kitty pictures on the outside, it’s also completely themed on the inside as well.

And it’s not only the bigger trains that look cute, you’re often going to see themed trains on the subway and local rail system too.

Food

cute bento box design
@yuko.makotsu

Incase you haven’t read the article on incredible Japanese instagrams yet, let me explain.

The above photo is of Japanese bento boxes created by @yuko.makotsy on instagram. She recreates famous Japanese scenes and culture, and my word do they look tasty!

To me, this is the epitome of kawaii food, and it’s honestly not too far off what you’ll. regularly find in Japan.

Anime

big anime eyes

Big BIG eyes, airbrushed skin, and over emphasised emotions like crying or blushing.

It’s potentially the most well known part of Kawaii Culture that people don’t realise is a thing, if that makes sense?

Clothing

lolita Japanese clothing
Chris 73 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Technically this girl is wearing lolita clothing which is a subset of Kawaii fashion. It doesn’t have to be this overt, it’s just this photo helps emphasise the point a little more.

If you’re interested in seeing this kind of fashion when you go on your trip to Japan, head to Takeshita street in Harajuku. Having been their myself I can happily let you know it’s well worth a visit!

Conclusion

I think it’s extremely clear that, Yes Japan does love cute things. In some cases this may only be for commercial purposes or a smaller demographic of society, but kawaii culture is still a widely accepted and loved sub-culture of the country.

tips for skiing in Japan
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10 Things You Need To Know Before Skiing In Japan.

As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

I’ve been looking forward to starting a series on skiing in Japan. My top two favorite things! But let’s get one thing cleared up straight out of the gate. If you’re thinking about planning a ski trip to Japan, let me save you the trouble of reading this article.

DO IT!

It will without a doubt be the greatest ski trip of your life. Especially if you’re riding on one of these 11 Japanese snowboard brands, or these Japanese ski brands!

Sure there’s likely to be an increased expense due to its location and it’s probably a little more logistically challenging to arrange than North America or Europe, but that extra effort will pay dividends when it comes to skiing.

Do I need to learn Japanese?

I’m gonna have to level with you, sadly it’s not possible to become fluent in Japanese over the course of a few months or even a year. (HA! I wish…)

BUT! That doesn’t mean you can’t learn the basics of the language.

Most of the larger resorts will be properly set up to cater to foreign guests and will speak a good amount of English, but even trying to speak a few words here and there will go a long way to helping you get the most out of your trip and purely out of kindness to the locals.

If you’re venturing a long way out to a slightly smaller resort, take your phrasebook with you!

I’ve also got an entire section on the website devoted to learning the basics of Japanese, so check it out if you want to get prepared early!

Quick vocabulary lesson:

Both ‘Ski’ and ‘Snowboard’ are inherited from their English counterparts, hence the use of Katakana.

Skiing – Sukī (スキー)
Snowboarding – Sunōbōdo (スノーボード)

1. Don’t plan your trip around New Year

ski queue Japan
Ski queues really aren’t fun when the temperature is below 0°…

This is almost a universal truth with skiing, New Year is a busy time.

However, in Japan, it’s even more of a reality.

You see, in Japan New Year is a far bigger time for celebration than Christmas. And what does that mean for the slopes? They’ll likely be a LOT busier.

New Year’s day (January 1st) is a prime culprit as it also falls under a national holiday.

With New Year being a big celebratory time in Japan, people are more likely to take the time off from work, as opposed to other times in the year.

And with full-time employees in Japan only able to take 10 days of paid leave in their first year, you can bet they’re bound to make the most of it (by skiing!) rather than just sitting around.

Don’t let me stop you if you have your heart set on skiing in Japan around New Year, but it will likely be the busiest time during the ski season.

Remember, back-country is always an option if you’re up to the challenge. There’s even an option to Ski on Mount Fuji!

2. Japan is the snowiest place on earth

Deep snow on a Japanese house
It’s like they’ve taken this image directly from my dreams!

One great thing to know about Japan is that no matter when you book your trip for, it’ll be DUMPING the entire time.

If you’re interested in learning why that is and where the snowiest place in Japan is, take a look at this article.

Of course, not every year will be record-setting, But you can be confident there will be enough snow on your trip as the average amount is between 300-600 inches each winter season.

So what does this mean for your skiing holiday in Japan? It means you need to have the right gear.

It’s likely your all-mountain skis won’t cut it if they aren’t wide enough underfoot. By all means, take them with you if you can, but be prepared to hire out a set once you’re here. Even if it’s just for a day, it’ll be the best day of the holiday!

Also, make sure your clothing is up to scratch. At the very least that should mean a powder skirt in your jacket, quality gloves, great socks, and no holes in any of your clothes!

Ideally, you should have some bib trousers, but I understand if that’s not possible because they can be a little expensive.

Japan’s snow, often referred to as ‘Champagne Powder’ is normally extremely dry which should make the whole experience and lot more pleasant. Nothing worse than being soaked through after a day on the mountain.

So grab some fat powder skis, and a snorkel, and charge through those trees!!

3. Taking an Onsen is a right of passage

Onsen after ski in Japan
Okay, maybe not with monkeys, but you get my point!

Whilst you may be used to taking a dip in a hot tub after a hard day skiing, in Japan they do things a little differently.

I’ve been lucky enough to ski in the alps a number of times and had access to a hot tub from the chalet. However, I’ve been a number of other times where that isn’t the case and I realize it isn’t exactly the norm.

In Japan, everyone has access to an Onsen!

Public Onsen:

  • Often less than $10 per person to access
  • Many different options throughout your local town
  • Pretty much anywhere throughout Japan
  • Definitely the most authentic Japanese experience
  • Often separate baths for men and women
  • Normally no bathing suits are allowed

Private Onsen:

  • Probably best for families
  • Clothing allowed
  • Men and women allowed in the same baths
  • Prices are often higher than public Onsen
  • Sometimes harder to find in smaller (or sometimes any size) towns
  • It may be more suited to the experience you’re looking for

Whichever route you chose, make sure you have one after you go skiing.

I would recommend going for a public Onsen if you get the chance because it’s honestly unlike anything you’re likely to find around the world.

Plus, most of the larger ski resorts in Japan understand that tourists from the west may be uncomfortable bathing without clothes and around strangers so they’re set up accordingly.

Just type the name of the ski resort you’re in (or planning to go to) to google and then either ‘Public Onsen’ or ‘Private Onsen’ after it.

Hopefully, it’ll show a few results for each and you can make your decision.

Make sure to double-check with your hotel because it’s likely you’re closer to a Japanese Onsen than you think!

One day soon I’ll write an entire guide on visiting Onsen in Japan, but until such a day, that’s your best bet.

4. Apres ski is likely different from what you’re used to

soba après ski japan
Contemplating turning this entire blog into one about Japanese food because DAMN that looks good!

Your mileage may vary, but Après Ski in the Alps consists of French beer, Cheese fondue, and wine!

Side note: If you love Après Ski and happen to be in France, take the time to visit La Folie Douce. They’re the purveyors of incredible Après Ski.

I hear it’s slightly different in the U.S and Canada, but having yet to ski there, I can’t comment.

Japanese Ski resorts take it a slightly different way… Well, very different!

As we’ve already discussed, Après Ski in Japan almost always starts with an Onsen no matter who you are or where you’re staying.

After your Onsen, you’ll probably head out to one of the local restaurants for some Japanese cuisine. It’s extremely likely that the food options you’ll have here will be very different from those you’d have at a European or North American ski resort.

Even if you aren’t too adventurous with food, I urge you to try your best as Japanese cuisine is absolutely incredible.

If you’re headed out to Niseko or another Japanese resort with a group of friends or family, Shabu Shabu is a great meal to share.

Think of it like a hot pot. It’s a broth served with meats, vegetables, and other things like udon, rice, and dumplings on the side (to dip in). It’s an easy way to experience Japan’s food culture and not too daunting!

After the meal, you’ll be heading to an Izakaya (Japanese pub) where the rice wine and saké will be flowing freely into the small hours of the morning.

If you’re lucky, you’ll have stumbled into a Karaoke club. A venue extremely popular with people from Japan on a night out.

So get your singing voices ready!

P.S You’re likely to be put in a karaoke club with a group of strangers if there aren’t enough of you. A great way to make friends!

5. It’s incredible for those chasing off-piste tree-skiing

deep japanese powder skiing with trees
Get your snorkels out, folks!

We’ve already established that Japan has a huge amount of snowfall every year, and that’s great news for you powder hounds!

Whilst you’ll probably be greeted with incredible amounts of the stuff no matter where you go, there is one place that year after year proves to be the best.

Niseko in Hokkaido.

As someone who recently made the trip from Sapporo to Niseko by train for an epic ski trip, I can attest to the fact that it truly is an awesome place to go riding!

So make sure to book your trip there if you really want the best chance of great ski conditions!

Due to its topography, Japan also benefits from thousands of trees on its slopes. Perfect for those of you who have mastered the art of tree skiing.

6. It’s equally incredible for beginners learning to ski

beginner ski runs in Japan
They look like pretty chilled-out runs!

3 years ago I took my partner for her first ski holiday in Chamonix. Those of you who know anything about that resort will know that maybe it’s not entirely ideal for beginners.

A popular resort that’s easy to get to from many countries nearby, high difficulty runs, and no ski in-ski out facilities. In hindsight, it probably wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had…

Japan on the other hand is somewhere I would 100% recommend for beginners IF you are able to get out there.

Pros for beginners learning in Japan:

  • Quieter slopes – For lots of people, Japan is a bucket list destination and that’s largely due to its location. I imagine lots of people from America would rather opt for an internal ski holiday due to the convenience, especially if traveling with family. The problem is that most people have the same idea and slopes inevitably get more crowded.
  • Beginner-friendly terrain – Very few of the slopes in Japan top 2,000 meters which means a lot of the time you’re skiing on a flatter gradient than in many places in Europe.
  • Great Conditions – Even though Japan isn’t home to the highest of resorts, it doesn’t need the altitude for the extreme amounts of snow it gets every year. Siberian winds blow in the snow from the northwest which means less ice, more snow, and an all-around more pleasant skiing experience for beginners.

Of course, I can’t guarantee this will be your experience, but it’s absolutely more likely that other ski destinations.

7. A ski guide might be worth the money

Bluebird days are PERFECT to go touring!

Less steep mountain faces make the perfect conditions to give ski touring a go.

In fact, it’s likely you’ll probably be at the level to ski off-piste far before you think you are. And the main reason for this is easy gradients and friendly conditions.

Of course, only you know if you’re truly ready, but it’s something you shouldn’t just outright rule out before you go.

Almost all of the resorts in Japan will offer some sort of off-piste tour with varying difficulties depending on who is in the group.

If you can fork out enough for a chalet, some of the top ones in Hokkaido even include a cat skiing tour.

That’s an absolute dream of mine so if you do end up going, make sure you send me a picture!

Even if you don’t think you’re at the level to be touring, Japan offers the perfect landscape to give it a try.

8. You’ll need to carry cash

Carry cash skiing in Japan
Hopefully, cards will become more popular in the future, but it’s not happening for a while.

You don’t need to learn every small detail about Japanese culture to go skiing in Japan (You can do that here if you want to!) but there are a few things to remember that will make your life a lot easier.

The first, and likely most important thing to keep in mind is that Japan is a cash-centric country.

There are quite a few reasons for this, but as far as you’re concerned it just means you need to exchange some cash before you fly over.

You can take it out of a cashpoint when you’re here, but they don’t operate like other places and it’s all a little confusing so probably best to do things beforehand.

9. The smaller resorts ooze charm and culture

small japanese ski resort
bigger isn’t always better!

Let me start out by saying that when you plan a ski trip to Japan, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to resorts.

Take a look at this list of Japanese ski resorts and tell me you aren’t impressed.

Sure, you’ve probably heard of the big few like Niseko, Rusutsu, and Hakuba, but some of the most intimate and authentic experiences can be found in the smaller towns.

And yes, you might not get the best nightlife or the most incredible terrain, but it will give you the feeling that you’ve truly immersed yourself in Japan’s culture.

Some of the best and smallest resorts are:

Seki Onsen: One double chair lift, one single chair lift, and a whole load of powder! It’s a family-run ski resort with a hell of a load of old-time character for those of you who just want to ski.

I’ve skipped this video to 5:20, such an incredible documentary about an amazing resort.

Hakkoda: With only 5 marked ski runs, this is absolutely going to be one of the smallest resorts you’ve ever visited. Most of the terrain is geared towards intermediate skiers, but the resort’s main pull is the stunning backcountry. Best to visit in January and February, when there is the highest chance for some deep pow!

10. It’s a snowboard heavy country

Japan snow is perfect for boarders
With snow like that, are you surprised?!

Whilst I don’t have conclusive proof that snowboarding is more popular in Japan than skiing, it’s certainly a destination that’s well suited to the borders.

Skiing down icy mountain faces in the alps is something I strangely enjoy, but it’s not so easy to enjoy it on a board.

We use fat skis to give us more ‘float’ in the snow, so the extremely wide snowboards are truly at home only when they’re drowning in powder.

And as we’ve seen previously, Japan is the snowiest place in the world and has some of the best quality snow for powder skiing making it the perfect hangout for snowboarders.

Almost all of the Japanese ski accounts I follow on Instagram are pretty much entirely boarders. Maybe that’s some evidence of its popularity, or perhaps I’ve got stuck in an Instagram rabbit hole…

Here’s a list of my favorite Japanese Instagram accounts you should be following!

11. It’s Just special.

skiing in Japan is special
It’s like being on another planet

At the end of the day, skiing (or boarding) in Japan is just undeniably special.

If you’ve never visited the country before, it’s likely to be a culture shock. And that’s before you’ve even got the slopes.

It may be an over-romanticized view that I have, but it honestly feels as though you’re in a completely different world. Extremely kind people, the snowiest place on the entire planet, incredible food, and hot springs.

What more could you honestly ask for on a ski trip?

If you get the opportunity to go, take it with open arms!

Tokyo hands stationery
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9 Best Japanese Stationery Websites To Buy From

As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

I won’t lie, I love Japanese stationery. Sadly the closest I ever got to it was a few fruit-smelling erasers during primary school. I mean, granted, they were absolutely amazing, but after a little look at the list below it’s bound to make any stationery lover have a meltdown!

Anyway, now that I live in Japan I have access to some of the most impressive stationery I’ve ever come across. But for people who don’t (yet!) live in Japan, what are the best places to buy Japanese stationery online?

I’ve taken the time to personally vet each and every one of these sites to make sure they have the best stock, service, and experience you could ask for while buying Japanese stationery. So get your wallets at the ready, these places are awesome!

Is Japan famous for stationery?

Quick Vocabulary lesson: Stationery – Bunbōgu (文房具)

Japan is a country that prides itself on perfection, in some ways at least.

Handwriting is still seen as an important skill in today’s digital landscape, and as we’ve seen before, analog bureaucracy is here to stay for a while yet. I’m sadly reminded of the time I had to wait over 3 hours for a signature at my local government office here in Japan…

Because of this, stationery companies continuously compete for consumers’ attention and money. This means they have to be at the top of their game in terms of innovation, marketing, and user experience (especially because Japanese people prefer shopping in actual shops than they do online).

All you have to do is visit Itoya in the Ginza district of Tokyo to see how incredibly seriously these stationery companies take their job.

Itoya Ginza farm japanese stationery online
Yup, this is a picture from Itoya (the stationery shop in Ginza) and YES that is a lettuce farm… By RachelH_ – Lettuce growing at the top of Itoya stationery store, Ginza, CC BY 2.0

With that said, as we’ve seen with the rest of Japan’s Outdated Technology, the shift towards digital working has seen Japanese stationery sales continue on a downward trend for the last decade. So, many of these shops now provide a website and offer their products to a wider audience.

Why does Japan have the best stationery?

Its innovative, quality designs have stood the test of time and its cute designs have garnered a worldwide appreciation and an almost cult-like following.

As we learned in the $22,500 melon article, Japanese citizens have come to expect the best, so there’s really no other possible way for the companies to operate other than providing the absolute best stationery in the world.

Is stationery cheaper in Japan?

Whilst it’s honestly not that expensive to order high-quality authentic Japanese stationery from the comfort of your sofa, it will tend to be cheaper in Japan.

This is largely because of shipping fees, Japanese proxy buying platforms, and ‘convenience’ tax.

To buy quality stationery in Japan, you need only to venture to the nearest Daiso shop (¥100), or even a local convenience store!

japanese stationery in convenience store
Perfectly organized stationery and fresh white shirts in a local FamilyMart – Kyle Taylor, CC BY 2.0
Japanese stationery websites to buy from

This is a photo I took from my local family mart, packed full of Japanese stationery. You could enter any family mart and you’ll always find a load of Muji bits. I’m pretty sure they have a collaboration with them?

Unfortunately (or not?) when you buy online, you’re stuck with specialty buyers.

How can I order stationery from Japan?

One of the simplest and quickest ways to order stationery from Japan is to use Amazon. It’s not technically a Japanese stationery store, but they stock a lot of bits from Japanese sellers and resellers. It is possible you’ll pay a bit of a premium for that convenience, so that’s something you’ll have to weigh up.

Simply type ‘Japanese Stationery’ into the search bar and you’ll be presented with a page that looks like this. More on that later!

Now, onto the list!

1. The Journal Shop

Website: thejournalshop.com <- 15% off your first purchase when you use this link!

online Japanese stationery store
It oozes minimalism, and I’m TOTALLY ok with that!

‘The Journal Shop’ is an online Japanese stationery store based out of the UK that ships worldwide.

According to its creators, the entire site is ‘Deeply inspired by our trips to Japan and our affection for their craftsmanship and culture’ and it’s extremely easy to see this when browsing the many items for sale.

They do, however, have a specific section on the website entirely dedicated to Japanese stationery.

That’s what I’m interested in!

Once you’ve navigated yourself toward this section, you’ll be greeted by a large page filled to the brim with stationery from Japan.

If you’re looking for genuine quality stationery used in Japan and you don’t want to mess around with third-party buyers, this is the site for you.

Having said that, it does still feature one or two Kawaii items, namely the Convenience Store Erasers. I don’t write very much on paper anymore, but damn I want these!!

2. Amazon

Website: Amazon – Japanese Stationery

buy Japan products off amazon

Once again Amazon rears its face in one of my Japanese shopping lists, yet it’s not the Japanese version I’m talking about here.

All you have to do is type ‘Japanese Stationery’ into the amazon search bar and you’ll be given a page like this.

That’s the US page, but I’m sure if you type it into the search bar if you live somewhere else that you’ll more than likely to stumble across something similar.

SO MUCH CUTENESS!!!

In fact, Amazon has recently made its very own Japanese shop. Not specific a specific Japanese stationery store but extremely interesting to look around if you’re as interested in products from Japan as I clearly am!

It’s a fantastic curation of Japanese products from bigger companies as well as small, boutique craftspeople.

Have a look around and you’re bound to find something you fancy.

At least, I know I am!

3. TOKYU HANDS

Website: hands.net

Tokyo hands Japanese stationery store
Sadly this is the only Tokyu Hands I’ve been to, and now they’ve changed the design so it doesn’t even look like this anymore – By DeepSkyBlue, CC BY-SA 3.0

Yes, I know I know. This isn’t a picture of a website to buy Japanese stationery from, but it is a Japanese chain store that does have a great website to buy from! Although I’m still a little bitter about their rebranding to ‘Hands’ due for completion in 2024, I can’t have this list without the Tokyu Hands Japanese stationery store.

To make things a little more simple, I’ll link you to the search page for stationery.

If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to type ‘stationery’ into the search bar in Japanese (文房具)

You’ll need to translate the page to English, but not through the website (because that takes you to a different page for some reason). I use Safari which comes with an in-built translation tool that works most of the time. On the rare occasions that it doesn’t, Chrome comes to the rescue.

After it’s translated, it’ll look a little something like this:

Tokyu hands website

It might sound a little confusing, but the site does offer some easy ways to pay.

As you can see from the popup it’s a similar situation to the other online Japanese stores where they work with a proxy company to deliver around the world.

That means there’s no need for a Japanese address, though one day I WILL have one! (As of 2023, I have one! ^_^)

A bonus of ordering somewhere like this is you’ll always be getting the newest gear that typically won’t be available anywhere else.

Unless you live in Japan, but if you’re reading this list then I doubt that’s the case!

4. Muji

Website: muji.us/collections/stationery

Muji Japanese stationery store

Ahhh Muji, my favorite online Japanese store.

Come to think of it, it’s probably my favorite physical Japanese stationery store too (in the UK), after the Japan center in London. That place has so much tasty food…

Muji is a great place to shop if you’re looking for a simple ordering and delivery experience that’s available pretty much anywhere in the world.

The shop sells a lot more than just stationery, but they do have a specific stationery section that’s nothing to be sniffed at.

While there may be a few more ‘authentic’ stationery products from some of the other websites, Muji is the place to shop if you’re looking for that minimalist Japanese style.

And let’s be honest, I know that’s why most of you are here!

I’ve done a full (or at least more in-depth than this one) write-up of the online Muji store and clothing department if that’s something of interest to you.

5. Tofu Cute

Website: tofucute.com/kawaii-stationery

cute Japanese stationery store

I imagine the reason a lot of you clicked on this search result was that you hoped to find a quintessentially Japanese stationery store.

Well, we’ve already gone over the minimalism approach, now it’s kawaii time!!!

We already know Japan loves cute things, but what about stationery?

Well…

Just look at those erasers!

Not only do they stock an incredible amount of interesting and unusual stationery items (Like these ultra on-theme pencils!), but they also have cute plushies and a range of oiishi snacks!

And whilst the shop offers free UK delivery, it also ships to anywhere in the world so my friends from across the pond won’t feel left out! 😉

6. Japan Stationery

Website: japanstationery.com

luxury japanese stationery store

If you’re looking for the best of the best in Japanese stationery, this is the website you need to visit.

‘Japan Stationery’ is (believe it or not) a Japanese stationery store devoted to sourcing bespoke and luxury stationery products exclusive to them.

They also work with small independent Washi paper masters that literally grow their own plants to make the Washi (Japanese Paper) from scratch.

Take a look at their about page if you’re interested in learning more.

Among other things, you’ll find the most prominent item on the website is, of course, the Washi Paper.

In all the colors and designs you could think of, they stock some truly incredible pieces of work that are bound to fulfill your needs, whether for a gift or just because you love handmade Washi paper!

7. Oshoppu

Website: oshoppu.com

cute japanese stationery store

A cute yet sophisticated online Japanese stationery store that imports products from Japan, Korea, and Europe.

One thing I love about this site is the variety of items it stocks.

It has a load of cute products, but they aren’t as ‘cliche’ as some of the other options on the list.

I mean don’t get me wrong, I love clichéd items as much as the next person, but a lot of these have more of a ‘refined’ cute Japanese feel rather than a crazy one.

They have a wide selection of Washi tape, notebooks, stickers, journals, and other stationery essentials that are begging to decorate your home office with their sweet designs!

8. Notebook Therapy

Website: notebooktherapy.com

japanese notebook stationery store

Everything you’ll find at ‘Notebook Therapy’ is extremely aesthetically pleasing.

I mean sure, it’s more important to have high-quality products (which I’m sure these are), but who doesn’t love buying Japanese products purely for the way they look!?

As well as having an incredibly beautiful portfolio of products to offer in their catalog, this Japanese stationery store also has things like bags, diffusers, and phone cases.

It’s truly a website that caters to everyone!

Not only do they have a following of over 1M people on Instagram, they also employ an extremely eco-conscious working policy that helps make a difference around the world.

Just take a look at this page to see everything they’re doing for the planet.

If that’s not reason enough to buy from them, then I don’t know what is!

9. Tokyo Pen Shop

Website: tokyopenshop.com

japanese pen stationery store

I’ll give you three guesses about what this shop stocks…

Nope, it’s not noodles!

It’s pens!

Tokyo Pen Shop is a Japanese stationery store online that was created with the intention to bring fine Japanese stationery to those who can’t readily access it.

If you’re a Japanese language beginner or have been studying it for a while, you’ll know how precise some of those annoying kanji can be.

So what does a complicated Kanji need to be properly written? A fine and precise pen.

And as it says on the website, ‘The quest for the perfect pen began’.

So if you’re after a technical or specific sort of pen from Japan (or for your Japanese studies) Tokyo Pen Shop is probably a good option.

You can also purchase notebooks too, so no excuse not to be studying!

P.S. If you’re on a computer, (or a Japanese laptop) hover your mouse over the little hedgehog in the pen pot, it’s the cutest little animation!

does Japan use forks
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Do People In Japan Use Forks?

As an Amazon Associate I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

Some topics on this website takes hours of research to come to a conclusion. This was not one of those posts!

In almost all cases, people in Japan use chopsticks and not forks, knives, or spoons.

Let’s take a look at why the vast majority of people in Japan would prefer to use chopsticks rather than knife and fork.

How many people use chopsticks around the world?

According to Pagoda Projects, around 33% of people worldwide use chopsticks on a daily basis.

So it’s clear that chopsticks are very popular around the world, now let’s find out why!

Why do people in Japan still use chopsticks?

Japanese man eating with chopsticks

Quick vocabulary lesson: Chopsticks – Hashi (箸)

Japan is a country that, by many, can be considered high tech.

As we’ve seen before though, it’s a country that likes to hold onto its traditions and even uses retro technology to this very day.

So for some people it might seem a little strange that they eat with (mostly) wooden chopsticks and not metal cutlery.

There are two reasons I believe people in Japan still use chopsticks and haven’t (and won’t) change over to knife and fork.

1. It’s not broken, so why change it?

A similar reason to Japan clinging onto their fax machines, because they work.

In fact it’s actually a lot simpler than the fax machine quandary because one is neither better or worse than the other.

It is purely a matter of personal choice to use chopsticks or not. And it seems everyone prefers using them over western cutlery.

2. Deeply routed in Culture

Let me pose a question to you:

Is it cheaper to create two small straight sticks from the fastest growing plant in the world, or to craft two separate and more intricate implements from metal (that has to be found)?

Cheap, quick, and effective. Those are three reasons Japan originally adopted the chopsticks from its neighbour to the West, China.

And even before they were widely used, chopsticks were used as a way to connect to the gods.

Hashi (はし) means chopstick (箸), but it also means bridge (橋).

According to JapanVistor, chopsticks were offered to deities and would then become inhabited by that god. When they were eventually used to eat with, it could be suggested that the chopsticks were the ‘bridge’ between god and man.

What are the benefits of eating with chopsticks?

health benefits of eating with chopsticks

Perhaps surprisingly, the humble chopstick has a few hidden benefits over is larger metallic brothers and sisters.

Many of these benefits are likely big reasons that Japan continues to use them and why everyone else should give them a try!

1. Mindfulness of the situation

By using chopsticks to eat food, it’s likely (unless you’ve grown up using them) that you’ll have to concentrate.

I’ve known how to use chopsticks for as long as I can remember, and it still takes an active effort from my brain to pick up food.

Especially anything that isn’t sticky!

The great thing about this is that your mind has to centre itself in the moment and won’t be allowed to wander off to the worries and problems of the day.

You’ll stay grounded in the moment and and enjoy the entire experience a lot more.

2. Appreciation of the food

Using chopsticks to eat your meal doesn’t only help centre you in the present moment, it also allows you to appreciate the food in-front of you.

You’re consciously thinking about how to use the chopsticks, eating smaller amounts, and eating the food more slowly.

If you need some help understanding how to increase your appreciation of the food, try the following:

  1. Examine the taste and texture of the food as you eat it. You’ll be surprised how often we eat food and take the flavours and texture for granted. When was the last time you really truly thought about the food on your plate?
  2. Contemplate where your food comes from. It’s all too easy to pick up anything from the shops, ignoring its origins. Instead, it’s important to to realise whether the food you’re eating sits correctly with your morals in life.
  3. Find appreciation for the person who has cooked it. This applies no matter where you are or who’s cooked your meal.

Most of these principles come from Zen: The art of Simple Living – A book I highly recommend that talks about the intricacies of Japanese Zen.

3. Slower eating means improved digestion and a happier body

The smaller each mouthful and the slower you eat your meal, the easier your stomach will be able to digest the food.

Another benefit to eating slower is you’ll end up listening to your body more so than you would if you were to eat with a knife and fork on autopilot.

Slower eating means you’ll feel full far more quickly than you would normally, which in turn means a healthier relationship with food.

4. Lower the G.I (Glycaemic index) of your meal

Let’s make it extremely clear that I am in no way a doctor and I’m pretty much figuring this all out at the same time you are!

Studies have shown that just by using chopsticks, foods end up having a lower number on the GI scale.

I’m not entirely sure what this all means, (This is a Japanese blog, not a health blog!) but as far as I’m aware, it’s a more healthy way to consume food that with a fork or spoon!

Do I have to use chopsticks in Japan?

Japanese gyoza and chopsticks
I really enjoy food… Especially Japanese food…

Technically, no. But that does depend on where you are in the country.

If you’re in the middle of nowhere and enjoy exploring off the beaten track, then the likelihood of finding western style cutlery dramatically reduces.

If you’re travelling in some of the more touristy areas or are near to any of the bigger cities in Japan, you’ll probably be able to find knives and forks. But again, this is always at the discretion of the owners as to whether they’ll actually ever have some.

Forks are by far the least common of the three western cutlery pieces.

Spoons are often found in Ramen bowls, and knives will come with certain meat dishes.

Im always extremely humbled by the polite and accommodating attitude of Japanese workers, so there’s no doubt that if you ask for knives and forks, you’ll likely be given them with absolutely no judgment.

Don’t worry about feeling rude or offending your hosts. And it’s not some unspoken taboo where you’ll be whisked off to the police station.

The most important thing for them is that you’re having a good time!

Should I use chopsticks in Japan?

Whether you have to use chopsticks is out of your control and simply depends on where you decide to eat. Whether you chose to use chopsticks when you dont necessarily need to is entirely up to you.

Im one of those people who loves exploring small independent food options, rather than worldwide chain brands.

…Though if you’re stuck for WI-FI or want to catch a few ZZZs at a moments notice, McDonalds can be invaluable!

I dont judge those who chose to eat western food in a Far Eastern country, but I feel like if you have the opportunity to try something different then you should give it a go.

takoyaki with sauce
To be fair they actually look pretty good here…

I tried Takoyaki the first time I went to Japan and honestly it was a big no from me…

Okonomiyaki was far more my kinda food!

So just in the same way I think you should try as much Japanese food (and all the snacks!) as you can, I think it’s important to try and learn how to eat with chopsticks.

Not only is it a great skill to learn, but its also extremely polite when you’re in a different country to learn as much about their culture before you go as you can.

Plus you can always do some Radio Taiso afterwards if you eat too much!

outdated japanese technology
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Why does Japan still use outdated technology?

On the surface, it’s easy to write off-Japan as a country of flying cars and robot butlers.

However, as with countless things surrounding Japan, the actual situation is a lot more complex.

Today we’re going to discuss Japan’s unusual and perhaps surprising relationship with technology.

Let’s get started!

History of Japanese technology

The basis most people have for Japan being a technologically advanced country does have some truth to it. Well, actually quite a lot!

We’ll talk about it in a little more detail further on in the post, but for now, let’s discuss what makes Japan such a

What old technology does Japan still use?

Let me show you a few pieces of retro technology still very much in use over in the land of the rising sun.

1. Fax machines

fax machines Japan
Mr.ちゅらさん, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ahhhh, fax machines.

Japan’s guilty pleasure of old tech.

In 2019, the Japanese government did a study to see just how heavily used these machines are.

It turns out basically all Japanese companies and at least 1/3 of households own and use a fax machine.

That’s quite astonishing when you realise it’s a technology from over four decades ago.

Why does Japan still use fax machines?

Well, this can be put down to a few interesting reasons.

The first reason Japan still widely uses the fax machine is because they worked

What I mean by this is between 1970-1990, Japan’s economy grew extremely well. Part of this was because of America’s intervention, which led to a ‘Technology focused’ vision from the Japanese government over many years.

And what piece of equipment flourished as a result of that success?

The fax machine!

Since that time, fax machines and economic (as well as business) success have pretty much gone hand in hand.

Numerous companies are still under the mindset of ‘If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it’, which may partly be to blame for Japan’s current technology plateau.

So even to this day you’ll likely find many Japanese companies where fax machines hold pivotal roles in their infrastructure.

With that said, the last couple of years may have triggered a nationwide attitude shift.

As a wave of ‘work from home’ jobs start to appear, Japan is just as likely as other countries to be a part of that movement. Even if it might adapt a little slower, it’ll still get there in time.

With a complete working environment switch, Japan has realised it’s not set up well enough to cater for its workers to work from home on a full-time basis

That’s why, over the next 5-10 years, I wouldn’t be surprised if email and other productivity and messaging services boom.

The second reason fax machines are widely used is because they’re extremely secure. Though, this is a vision that’s becoming less and less supported.

It’s not that fax machines aren’t secure, it’s just that other equally safe options are popping up every day.

But as we know, Japan is a creature of habit, so will they make the extremely needed change?

The third and final reason why fax machines are still used in Japan is because the ‘individual’ doesn’t technically exist.

Put another way, the little man doesn’t have a voice. And if he did, he’d make sure not to use it.

Though switching from fax machines to modern technology is possible (given enough time), a wide shift is still likely to cause someteething problems.

Nobody wants to be responsible for those difficulties, not even the big companies.

When you realise that simply getting something wrong at work is often a cause for extreme shame in Japan, if starting a countrywide shift of outdated technology had even one small issue, it’s likely to be life changing.

2. DVDs

dvd shop in Japan

With over 200 streaming services available around the world, it’s hard to believe a country whose favourite hobby is watching online videos would still use DVDs.

In fact, revenue of dvd sales in Japan was $580,551,510 in 2020.

That’s ‘billion’, not ‘million’.

Though that number has been steadily declining over the last few years, it’s still far higher than the US.

In the same year, Americans spent only $32.5 million on DVDs. That’s a huge difference.

Why does Japan still use DVDs?

Let’s attack this problem from two directions.

The first reason many people in Japan still buy DVDs is a cultural one.

Here in the UK, I’m often met with a miserable face as I hand over my money to a shop assistant, and they throw my item back at me like I’ve caused their terrible day.

Service and customer happiness is definitely an afterthought in most shops, that’s for sure.

But if you’ve ever shopped in Japan, you know it’s the polar opposite.

Not only do the majority of shops have a designated greeter that proudly exclaims ‘いらっしゃいませ!’ (Irasshaimase!) meaning ‘welcome’, or ‘come in!’, but the entire customer journey is often different.

Everyone I’ve ever encountered in a Japanese store goes above and beyond what is expected of them, and yet never seems to pester.

My debit card (if the shop accepts them) is handed back to me with two hands, and my item is wrapped up and finished off with a beautifully decorated piece of Washi tape.

It’s an experience that not even people who have grown up with will take for granted, and that means shops aren’t going anywhere for a long time yet.

Consumers typically take this appreciation into unboxing, using, and storing their purchases, potentially a reason for Japan’s thriving and immaculate second hand market.

The next reason DVDs are still used and bought in Japan is a slightly more technical one.

For many of us here in the west, we take streaming services for granted.

Whilst lately Japan has seen a rise in the usage of these sites, there are still a huge amount of CD and DVD rental shops around the country that are extremely popular with the regulars.

Similarly to CDs, it’s also the case that many people don’t really know these streaming services exist.

It’s not to believe when you realise that broad consumer usage of the internet is still a relatively new things in Japan.

And damn do those websites look like they were made in the 90s…

3. CDs

cd shop Japan
inazakira, CC BY-SA 2.0

CDs, much like DVDs, are still extremely popular in Japan.

I won’t repeat myself too much, but most of the reasons are extremely similar to DVDs

Are CDs popular in Japan?

CDs have seen a steady decline over the last few years with the strong influence of streaming services, but they aren’t out of the game yet.

However, when you compare the numbers to those of countries across the world, Japan still sits very high.

Physical media, it would seem, still holds a spot in the hearts of many Japanese people.

It’s actually quite refreshing to find a nation not entirely overcome by digital services when the rest of the world has gone mad for them.

Why are CDs still popular in Japan?

Let me answer this question with another question.

Do you know of anywhere in your home town, or country, that actively sells CDs?

No?…

Well in Japan, there’s a place called Tower Records which does exactly that.

It’s a shop that used to have outlets in several other countries around the world, however with the introduction of digital media they all ended up closing.

That in itself should show you just how popular CDs are in Japan.

If you’re interested in learning more, take a look at the most popular hobbies in Japan post I recently wrote. It explains in detail why people in Japan prefer CDs to streaming services like Spotify and Tidal.

4. Retro Phones

retro phones Japan
Takashi Hososhima from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0

As far as outdated technology goes, old phones are probably my favourite.

Does anyone remember having that really chunky blue Nokia phone that had ‘Snake’ on it?

The one that if you dropped it on the floor, you’d have to check the condition of the floor before you checked the phone?

Ahhh, good times…

Are flip phones still common in Japan?

Flip phones are probably the most common type of ‘Garakai’ phone used on the market today.

These ‘Feature phones’ are popular in Japan because of their practical uses for everyday life.

For example, we already know Japan’s work culture can see people working upwards of 50 hours per week, which means they need a phone that can operate for an extended number of hours at any one time.

Smartphones, though ‘smart’, cannot keep up with such a schedule reliably.

Plus, without the inclusion of data in a phone contract, you’ll end up paying far less of a premium than usual. And Japanese phone contracts are steep at the best of times.

So what does this look like in terms of countrywide adoption?

Well back in 2015 a smartphone market penetration survey was conducted, and it found 88% of people in South Korea owned a smartphone, 58% of people in China, but only 40% in Japan.

The rest of each population own a standard non-smart phone.

Do Japanese high schoolers use flip phones?

Japanese high schools are probably one of the most popular places to find people with flip phones.

Many students are likely to either have older phones passed down to them or to be bought new phones due to their cheap costs, practicality, and robust exterior.

When a child first makes his or her way to the nearest high school, they likely have no need for the full features of a smartphone, but instead need a way to contact their parents in case of emergency.

Of course, the cheaper smartphones become, the less you’ll start to see smartphones in Japanese high schools.

But for now, they still have their place.

5. Newspapers

newspapers in Japan

Are newspapers still popular in Japan?

Well, according to the NYTimes Japan ‘maintains the largest circulation of print newspapers in the world’ so that’s a resounding yes!

According to Reuters institute and the University of Oxford, Japanese newspapers still sell over 40M copies each day as of 2016. That’s a country with an internet penetration rate of 94%.

And almost 40% of the population get their news from printed media, quite an impressive statistic in this day and age.

Again, as with many of these 5 outdated technologies, it is slowly being overtaken by digital services. Though when I say slowly, I really do mean slowly.

Until Japanese websites become more consumer friendly and their services are advertised more frequently to readers, I think physical newspapers will continue to be as popular as they are today

Is Japan falling behind in technology?

Despite its shiny exterior, Japan isn’t necessarily the futuristic city it’s consistently portrayed as.

Whilst Japan is home to some huge tech corporations, it’s been falling behind in the technology race for quite some time now.

The World competitiveness Center Rankings placed Japan at number 28 in 2020, that’s a drop of 4 places.

In my opinion, this decline in technology competitiveness can be put down to a highly underdeveloped digital administrative system (Bad digital solutions and continued use of fax machines in important places), and a relatively low startup budget when compared to the rest of the world.

Like we’ve already discussed, Japanese people tend not to praise those who go out on their own.

So you’d have to imagine starting a company where almost 90% are doomed to fail is a giant leap of faith.

Why does Japan still use outdated technology?

Hopefully, the last 2,000 words or so have shown you why Japan still uses outdated technology and their attitudes towards them.

If not, here are 4 of the main reasons that Japan has continued to use outdated technology:

1. A society and culture that simply doesn’t want to make a change

Lots of people are just ‘comfortable’ with how things are. Technically nothing is broken, so why bother fixing it?

2. Less access to digital availability

Though it’s likely to change in the near future, Japan has been one of the slowest countries to adopt digital living in the same way western countries crave it daily.

3. A love and pride for objects of history

All you have to do is take a look at the second hand markets available both online and offline to see how absolutely incredibly they treat their retro or antique objects.

There’s a reason why almost everything you buy from Japan on Ebay is in mint condition!

4. A culture that doesn’t praise those who go it alone

With a culture that doesn’t encourage people to take risks and take the untrodden path, it’s unlikely to promote the constant innovation needed to keep up in today’s competitive market.

Conclusion

It’s clear things in Japan are changing. I would imagine in 20 years, or even 10 years, the digital-old technology market will look vastly different than it does today.

Yes, they may hang on for a while longer than most places because of cultural differences and technical challenges, but nothing lasts forever.

why is Japan so fit

Exercise The Japanese Way (Without Going To The Gym)

If you live in the United States or United Kingdom, as most of you do, it’s likely you’re constantly bombarded with gym culture on social media.

But maybe not so if you happen to live in Japan.

So, in a country that has the highest life expectancy in the world, how do people stay fit in without hitting the weights?

Let’s find out!

Do Japanese people really not go to the gym? 

do japanese go to the gym
Unsure I’ve ever seen a gym this empty…

Quite honestly, not really.

Whilst you or I may think it’s fairly normal to attend the gym 3-4 times a week, this simply isn’t the case in Japanese society.

From a study conducted in March 2020, Japan had around 2.57M active gym memberships. That’s around a 5% market penetration rate. 

Compare this to a country such as the US where the penetration rate of gym memberships is over 20 percent and you start to see how low Japan sits in the list.

Let’s spend a few moments looking at the reasons behind Japan’s less than busy gyms. (change sentence)

Gym Prices in Japan – More Expensive Than Most

japanese boxing gym
Hiroki Ioka Boxing Gym

Back when I was a student I managed to get away with paying £8 ($10) a month for the local city gym. 

Whilst it was nothing to write home about, I felt for such a cheap price there really wasn’t anything to lose.

In Japan, however, you should expect to pay anywhere from ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 a month for a private gym. That’s $90 to $180 every month for a gym that might not be top quality…

So why are they so expensive? 

Simply because there just isn’t the demand for it like there is in western countries.

Whilst many people in the west idealize the muscular body type, it’s not as widely worshipped in Japan.

There is the possibility of going to a public gym which costs around $5 (depending on exchange rate) ago but the difference between quality at public gyms can be incredibly large.

Besides, if you ended up going more than a few times a month it would probably be worth paying the extra to attend a private venue.

So if people don’t go to the gym, then how do they continue to be the fittest country in the world?

Let’s find out.

Why are people in Japan so fit?

japanese school trip

So if the participation in ‘working out’ or going to the gym is so low, then how come Japan is constantly touted as the healthiest and fittest place on the planet?

Because fitness is an integral part of their lifestyle, not a separate activity.

For instance, almost all children in Japan commute to school on their own. And though this might include a few forms of Japanese public transport, you won’t find a car in sight for the morning school run.

That means that from a young age, children in Japan are not only encouraged to think for themselves but also to rely on their own form of transport. 

Legs!

Whether that means biking, walking, or skipping, it’s a far healthier alternative than almost any other country.

japanese school children walk to school on own

And this has been going on since the 1950s so it’s extremely well ingrained into public opinion.

So as well as (in general) one of the healthiest diets in the world, Japan has the fittest population primarily because of walking.

Do Japanese people walk a lot?

do japanese people walk everywhere

A large number of Japanese people walk pretty much everywhere.

To the shops, to school, to work, and more.

And if it’s a little too far for the feet to handle, they’ll likely just pop onto Japan’s world-famous public transport system

Of course, that’s not to say people don’t own cars in Japan. 

In fact, driving is one of the most popular hobbies in Japan. But that’s from a hobbyist approach, not practical.

What we do know about Japan and cars is that they’re a little different, practically speaking, from a lot of cars in the west. Especially larger countries like the United States

Kei cars are tiny, boxy, slow vehicles that get people from A-B. They work well for their designed purpose, but not much else.

If we dig a little deeper, we can see that as of 2019 just over 69% of people in Japan own a car.

In that same year, the US reported a far higher number of 91.3%.

We can surmise this shift in thinking from other countries is down to a few things.

Firstly, as we’ve previously read, it’s deeply ingrained within most Japanese people to walk from a young age.

When surveyed about exercise habits, a large portion of people stated they didn’t exercise despite having the highest average steps per day of any country in the world.

(Insert graph of average walking steps in the world)

And finally, the idea of walking and keeping fit has always been backed up by officials and the government. They’ve even created thousands of miles of walking routes just for that reason. 

Daily exercise every morning

Can you think of any other ways people in Japan may have been exposed to ‘Exercise’ as a part of their daily routine?

If not, let me introduce you to something very special.

Radio Taiso

Radio Taiso is an exercise routine that’s broadcast several times a day on the radio and television, and it’s extremely popular.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out video consumption has sky rocketed since the start of 2020, but Radio Taiso has been popular since its release 100 years ago.

Even to this day around 27 million people participate in the stretching routine at least twice a week, that’s more than 10 times the amount that have gym memberships.

Trust me, it’s harder than you think!

It may look a little silly, but it’s an extremely healthy way to start your morning that only takes a few minutes and can be completed in the comfort of you own home.

As far as I’m aware the only way to watch these workouts is through NHK Radio.

So unless you have a radio satellite dish and tuner, download their free app and listen along!

Unfortunately I’m not sure on the exact time of the Radio Taiso broadcast, but just remember early morning in Japan probably doesn’t mean early morning where you are!

The healthiest place on earth – If you like vegetables…

why are japanese so fit and healthy
Those vegetables look good enough to eat! …Obviously!

Although this is an article about the exercising habits of the people in Japan, it wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t mention their diet.

As well as exercise, the majority of Japanese people also eat extremely healthy food. That’s something that goes hand in hand with fitness and should not be forgotten.

The few staples of Japanese food are Rice, Fish, and vegetables.

They eat very little dairy and meat, maybe once or twice a week.

And the food portions are far smaller than their western counterparts.

Healthy food (Use photos from folders or Unsplash

Yes, of course, people do like sweet treats and believe me when I tell you, Japanese snacks are some of the best in the world.

But if we take a broader look at the Japanese diet as a whole, it’s vastly superior for one’s health than almost anywhere else.

Conclusion

So yes, exercise like the Japanese do and incorporate as much walking as you can into your day but if you’re upgrading your fitness regime, then consider spending some time fixing your diet, too.

Japanese minimal clothing brands
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7 Minimal Japanese Clothing Brands.

Japan is well known for it’s …’Overt’ fashion trends. *Cough, Harajuku, Cough*

Don’t let your assumptions of Japanese fashion fool you, though.

The country is home to far more than you often see on the T.V and in pictures.

It’s clear that Japanese fashion can sometimes get a little ‘Loud’ but one branch has stayed the same, and that’s minimalism.

Why is minimalist clothing popular in Japan?

Quite simply because minimalist clothing is timeless, especially in a fast paced country such as Japan.

And even though Japans washing machines have a strange secret, they’re still easy to wash!

What does minimal clothing?

The minimalist style can be achieved with any type of clothing but it must adhere to a few rules.

  1. Keep it simple.
  2. Muted Colours
  3. No branding

Building the perfect Japanese minimal wardrobe, or in fact any minimal wardrobe does involve some work on your behalf.

There is no one shop that will stock everything you’re after. Instead you’ll need to bounce around a few different stores and until you find what you’re after.

Of course there are certain stores like the ones on this list that will specialise in a minimalist design in one way or another. Technically though, you can find minimal clothing at just about any Japanese clothing brand.

If you’re here just for the inspiration then by all means read on but you’ll also have huge amounts of success by typing ‘Minimal Japanese Clothing‘ into Pinterest.

That’s how I find my next outfit anyway… Ha!

1. MUJI – More Than Just Clothing.

Website: muji.com

Physical Stores: 1,029 Worldwide

Year of Launch: 1980

Concept: Kanketsu

Muji minimal clothing tokyo
The huge flagship MUJI store in Tokyo – Yanfogum 2322, CC BY-SA 4.0

The first offering on the list is MUJI, and it’s much more than a minimal Japanese clothes store.

Founded in 1980, MUJI is the epitome of minimalism and practicality in every aspect of life.

Not only do they have an extensive collection of high quality clothes, but also food, housewares, Health and beauty, a car (not even joking, take a look!), and everything else in-between.

I’ve stepped inside the doors of MUJI in more countries than I care to remember, and the experience is still as refreshing and calming as it was the very first time.

And the same can be said for their website experience.

It’s cool, clean, and an absolute joy to click around.

Muji minimal clothing Japan

Of course you came here to find minimal Japanese clothing brands, so let’s take a moment to understand what MUJI has to offer in that department.

At their stores you’ll find a variety of cotton, linen, and organic clothes. You’ll also find a lot of clothing in earthy colours, following the concept of Wabi Sabi (Metals, woods, Earth materials, as much organic as possible)

A couple of the entries on this list may be a little hard to navigate or get your hands on, but I’m confident in suggesting MUJI is the most accessible Japanese minimal clothing brand no matter where you’re located on the globe.

2. UNIQLO – Casually Compelling.

Website: uniqlo.com

Physical Stores: Over 1000

Year of Launch: 1984

Concept: ‘Made For All’

minimal clothing Japan
UNIQLO in Alberta, Canada – Photo by Rowanlovescars, CC BY-SA 4.0

UNIQLO takes the medal for being the second most accessible and widely available Japanese clothing store world wide with a total of 1000 stores and a big online presence.

Founded in 1949, Yamaguchi, Japan, UNIQLO is a clothing brand that focuses on quality, simplicity and casual clothing.

What I specifically like about UNIQLO is how their clothing range seems to fit for almost any occasion and yet it stays understated and natural.

Minimal clothing store Japan

Lots of clothing brands these days seem to focus on standing out and being unique. Whilst I won’t deny that UNIQLO certainly achieves this, they seem to have gone back to basic designs and focused on upgrading the quality of them.

They aren’t reinventing the wheel, rather… improving it.

Tadashi Yanai, the owner and founder of UNIQLO has had a huge impact on the companies success. He encourages employees to suggest improvements to the company and their respective stores, and keeps the company hierarchy completely flat.

That’s not to say there are no managers, but the process of suggesting and having influence over parts of the company is achievable for anyone no matter their job role.

Anyway I digress…

Moral of the story is, it’s a quality company that definitely deserves some of your time!

3. GU – Fast Fashion?

Website: gu.com

Physical Stores: 422

Year of Launch: 2006

Concept: ‘Your Freedom’

gu clothing store Tokyo minimal clothing

I’m going to start this section off by saying I don’t have a lot of money. That wouldn’t usually be too much of a problem, but I flipping love Japanese minimalist fashion and I’m very happy to buy some bits when I’m out here.

As such, I’m doing everything I can to find affordable Japanese fashion brands like Muji, because I think they’re a little too expensive for me.

Luckily enough, GU is just that. I would imagine one reason why it’s so cheap is because it’s fast fashion, something that makes Japanese clothing brands affordable.

Owned by the same parent company as UNIQLO, GU cheaper yet perfectly acceptable alternative that specializes in minimal clothing

If UNIQLO was the epitome of high-quality minimal clothes, GU is the less luxury, though still totally fine for what I’m after.

That’s not to say if you buy from GU you won’t get high-quality minimal clothing, but the materials used are different from their sister company.

gu clothing store tokyo minimal clothing

Due to it’s substantially lower price point, GU may appeal to a younger generation of shoppers who frequently change style or fashion.

They understand this is a large portion of their customer demographic and so use slightly more ‘disposable’ materials to make their clothing.

UNIQLO, the sister shop, focuses on high quality materials that are likely to last a lot longer.

We can assume that UNIQLO will target older (Not old, just not teenagers) customers with bigger wallets and a specific style, whereas GU focuses on younger people and stocks a larger variety of clothing yet still has a minimal vibe throughout.

If you’re wondering where to start looking if you’re in a store on online, take a look at their cult favorite ¥990 ($8.70) Jeans! Affordable Japanese minimalist fashion is incredibly popular across the world, and GU really fills that gap in the market.

4. LOWRYS FARM – Freedom of Expression.

Website: lowrysfarm

Physical Stores: 134

Year of Launch: 1992

Concept: ‘She Follows Her Own Feelings’

minimal clothing brand Japan
MEIAFU Haomsa, CC BY-SA 4.0

Lowrys Farm is a Japanese clothing brand that provides a minimal style for women in their 20s to 30s. (Of course, anyone can wear the clothes, but that’s the companies demographic and target audience.)

It was created to juxtapose the often eccentric Japanese fashion scene in Shibuya and Harajuku, but still retain a sense of personal expression and fun.

Lowrys Farm is a clothing company that helps women all over the country feel young and free with a large selection of casual clothes without a hint of pretentiousness.

In store and online you can expect loose fitting clothes, relaxed fits, playful photos and shop designs, and an all round friendly atmosphere.

The company frequently interacts with it’s customers on an active blog and continuously asks for feedback to improve customer experiences. This adds to the laid-back and relaxed atmosphere of the brand as a whole.

Buying products online from Lowrys Farm is definitely harder than some of the other minimal brands on the list, but not impossible.

The website now uses something called ‘Worldshopping‘ which is pretty much a proxy buying company from Japan that will buy it on your behalf and send it over to you.

It’s great because navigating a fully Japanese website when you dont speak Japanese or have a Japanese bank account can end up causing a whole load of problems.

I’ve written an entire post about Japanese proxy buying services, so take a look here if you’re interested! Incidentally it’s the same post that shows some really interesting online Japanese stores you may want to purchase from!

5. Blue Blue Japan – Indigo Madness.

Website: bluebluejapan.com

Physical Stores: N/A

Year of Launch: 1996

Concept: N/A

online minimal Japan store

Quick Vocabulary Lesson: Blue = Aoi (青い)

Blue Blue Japan is a minimal clothing company in Japan that specializes in, you guessed it, Blue!

Of course, it’s a little more in-depth than that, but at the same time maybe it isn’t?

Let me explain…

Unlike some of the other Japanese brands on this list, Blue Blue Japan focuses on one thing and absolutely perfects it.

I don’t know if ‘Takumi’ can refer to more than one person (or a company in this case), but it’s an extremely appropriate term to use with Blue Blue Japan.

In case you don’t know, Takumi refers to someone (usually a craftsperson) who has honed their skills for many years (usually over 25) and is unrivaled in whichever field of work they’re in.

They dedicate their entire lives to the pursuit of absolute perfection and usually pass their skills down so the craft continues to live on.

So what is it that Blue Blue Japan specializes in?

Hand dyed Indigo clothing, hand-stitched material, and traditional Japanese techniques like Sashiko (刺し子 – Embroidery).

Even just a quick browse on the website shows you how much effort is put into each one of these garments.

Because the process is more handmade than machine-made, you can expect this to reflect in the price, but thankfully not too much.

6. MR. OLIVE – The Luxury One.

Website: mr-olive.net

Physical Stores: N/A

Year of Launch: 2003

Concept: Stylish & Simple

luxury minimal Japan store

At number 6 on our list we have MR.OLIVE, is a luxury Japanese clothing brand with a minimal style.

Whilst MR.OLIVE doesn’t have its own stores, their clothing is available from many different stores around Japan and also online at ZOZOTOWN.

If you’re looking for minimal clothes to wear on a special night out, or just something with a sense of grandeur, then MR.OLIVE might be for you.

Having said that, if you dig a little deeper on the website, you’ll find a few funky designs that resemble a toned-down version of Harajuku street fashion.

But still, the prices of these clothes are likely to put off a lot of people that could find similar designs somewhere else.

7. BEAMS – Cultural Mashup.

Website: beams.co.jp

Physical Stores: 150

Year of Launch: 1976

Concept: ‘Life as a Journey’

online Japan minimal store

Last but absolutely not least in this list of minimal Japanese clothing brands is BEAMS.

Now, unless you’re a fashion addict or extremely well-researched in Japanese clothing brands then you probably haven’t heard of BEAMS. And I wouldn’t blame you if that’s the case.

Luckily, unlike many online Japanese stores you can quickly and easily order from their website to just about any country in the world.

As you browse through the online shop (Or physical shop if you’re lucky enough to be in Japan) you’ll notice a heavy American vibe to a lot of their clothing.

It’s this mashup of cultures that have helped BEAMS rise to the heights it’s at today and create an incredibly unique minimal clothing line.

Though the company was launched in 1976, the first women’s label didn’t release until 1984. Partly due to location, and partly to popularity.

BEAMS also made a name for itself with cross-brand collaborations from specially designed mobile phones to clothing that could accommodate specific digital devices.

Conclusion

So there you have it. 7 minimal Japanese clothing brands that you can buy right now!

I’m constantly on the hunt to make my wardrobe a little more minimal but before I did the research for this post, I didn’t look any further forward than UNIQLO and MUJI.

Whilst those are absolutely fantastic clothing brands and will continue to make up the majority of my wardrobe, it’s clear there are other brands that definitely deserve some time on your next shopping trip!

japanese arcade machines

10 Most Popular Hobbies in Japan.

I have 3 main hobbies.

Well, to be fair I’m interested and love learning about everything on the planet BUT…

If I had to narrow it down it would be: This website (and Japan), Photography, and Reading.

I frequently bounce around and enjoy exploring other activities I’ve never heard of. Not from fear of missing out, Just because I LOVE exploring whatever is available to me.

So it got me thinking, What are the most popular hobbies in Japan?

Having researched this country and its culture for many years, I had a rough idea about what would appear on the list.

Some of the entries, though, I really wasn’t expecting. Have a think now and see if your guesses end up on the list!

Oh and just so you dont think I’m plucking these hobbies out of the air, this entire list is backed up by Statista and their incredibly detailed sources!

10. Shopping – 買い物

Japanese shopfront
Might just be me, but Japanese shops look so flipping aesthetic…

In at number 10 on our list of the most popular hobbies in Japan is shopping.

From the outside, it’s easy to pigeonhole Japan as a technological metropolis from the future.

For those of you that have spent any extended amount of time in the country, you’ll know it’s actually a cash-centric country.

In a lot of the stores in bigger cities, you’ll probably still need to withdraw your yen before any purchase you make. And if you’re located further afield, not having cash handy will make things extremely difficult.

One big impact of Japan’s reluctance to pull away from physical cash is people often tend to shop in Brick and Mortar stores rather than online.

I mean, damn… Have you seen some of those website designs?! I wouldn’t input my financial data into something that looks like it was created on a potato!

So with the majority of an average households monthly expenses coming from physical shops rather than online, shopping at stores is something set to stay around for a good while yet.

Hint: Click here if you’re looking for the best online Japanese stores to buy from

9. Digital Communication (Twitter, messenger, LINE)

LINE app in Japan
I may or may not have downloaded LINE purely to look at stickers…

If you’ve been to Japan (Or literally just seen it on tv), it probably won’t be a surprise to you that messaging made it into the top 10 list of most popular hobbies in Japan.

Maybe I wouldn’t call this one a hobby, but it’s for sure an activity that millions of people in Japan (And lets be honest, the world) spend hours doing each and every day.

Next time you’re in the country, I challenge you to step into a train carriage that doesn’t have everyone staring down at their phones.

LINE is by far the most used messaging platform in Japan, and that can be put down to a few basic reasons:

  1. It’s designed by Japan for Japan – Whilst platforms like WhatsApp are designed for a western audience, LINE is created to be as useable as possible for a Japanese audience. You’ll also have to imagine that the majority of advertising for LINE will be domestic and likely more frequent than WhatsApp
  2. STICKERS! – In a nation that LOVES anime and cute emojis, it’s not hard to see why the stickers from LINE quickly became a national love.

People can even create and sell their own! So if you consider yourself arty, it could be worth a go ^_^

There are of course many other reasons this social media platform does so well, but those can wait for another article!

8. Watching Movies (Cinema) – 映画

retro japanese star wars poster
Where do I buy these!? Take my money!

Even though a large majority of movies dont tend to release in Japan as early as they do in the west, the Cinema continues to be one of the most popular hobbies in the country.

Though cinema admissions aren’t as high as they were in Japan in the 1950s, over the last few years (2019-2020) there has been somewhat of a resurgence.

Anime’s such as “Your Name”, “Demon Slayer – The Movie” and “Weathering With You” have all been a hit with the younger audience and have kept cinema alive, especially through the tougher years.

It’s a great way for people to socialise, especially the younger generation who would instead just be watching tv or movies at home by themselves.

7. Walking – 歩く

japanese man walking
If you haven’t seen the way light falls in Tokyo during spring, put it on your bucket list!

I attempt to get 10K steps a day, but usually average around 3K instead.

Not great, I know…

Japan as a nation has a huge walking culture with the average adult walking 6,500 steps every day.

Men in Osaka placed first with an average of 8,762 a day, and it’s the prefecture of Kanagawa where women walk the most at around 7,795 steps.

They must be doing something right, because they’re the longest living people on earth!

6. Eating out – 外食

Japanese man eating in a ramen shop
Ramen, Anyone?…

Eating out may seem like a treat (at least to me it does), but the citizens of Japan tend to do it frequently.

Let me clarify that when I say ‘eating out’ I mean anything from buying pre-made food from a convenience store and heating it up at home, to dining at an Izakaya or ramen takeout on a station platform.

A study from Statista shows that as of February 2021, 71.4% of people had eaten out since the start of the year. And that’s based on specifically eating out at major restaurant chains.

This may be down to small living spaces or perhaps social and work culture.

Either way, it’s a vital and positive part of Japanese society.

5. Driving – ドライブ

JDM scene Japan
I dont actually drive, but that’s absolutely a cool looking car!

I’ve already talked at length about Japanese Kei Cars, and the country’s fascination with interesting cars doesn’t end there.

If you’ve seen any of the fast and furious movies, you know Japan is home to some incredibly skilled Drifters, street racers, and beautiful four-wheeled machines.

Whilst the 80’s and 90’s were the peak years for street racing in Japan, if you’re in the right place at the right time (Honestly no idea where that could be, sorry!) you’ll still catch the odd race or two!

Tip: If you’re happy enough seeing these beautiful cars in a legal way, head over to the Daikoku Parking area in Yokohama. Do yourself a favour and dont look it up online if you plan to go!

There is literally so much I could say about Japan’s obsession with cars but it really would take an entire article.

If you really wanna see something ‘Japan Crazy’ type in ‘Dekotora Trucks’ to google images.

I dare ya!

4. Domestic Travel – 国内旅行

Japan river boat trip
If this was my daily commute, I might actually get a proper 9-5!

Domestic travel comes in at number 4 on our list of most popular Japanese hobbies, and rightly so.

According to these sources, the most popular form of domestic travel in Japan is overnight travel.

Apparently the expenditure of overnight travel is also slightly more than same-day travel. Then again, that’s not too shocking to believe if you’ve ever stayed in a Traditional Ryokan or incredible airbnb.

Those places are literally stunning!

Domestic travel has taken a hit since early 2020 (Because of the event that shall not be named…) and has likely had a negative impact affect on the Japanese travel economy.

Since this time, however, I’ve seen numerous internal travel advertising campaigns, so I’m sure those numbers will inflate again fairly soon.

3. Listening To Music – 音楽

Japanese vinyl music
Tenno, listen to Tenno and thank me later!

Listening to music in Japan is extremely popular.

But maybe not in the way you think!

Take a moment and think about where you’ve listened to music over the past year.

I’d wager the majority of you would probably say an audio streaming platform like Spotify, and that’s totally understandable.

They’re easy to use, can be listened to anywhere, and have a huge library of music.

In 2017, the Recording Industry Association of Japan showed the second most popular way to digest music in Japan was through CD’s.

Just me that remembers carrying a CD walkman? What an awesome blast from the past!

Youtube was the most popular at 42.7% of people using it to listen to their favourite artists. And Spotify came way down the bottom with a measly 6% of people listening to the streaming platform.

Why is music streaming not popular in Japan?

According to the RIAJ, people just dont know about it. Take a look at these figures from a survey of 2,216 people:

15.5% of people knew they (streaming services like Spotify) existed

Of those people, only 11.2% said they would consider paying for it.

As the second largest market in the world for recorded music, there’s clearly a space for streaming services to boom, but that all depends on whether people want to adopt it or not.

For now, physical music like CD’s and vinyl are still king!

2. Reading (For Pleasure) – 読む

deer in Japan reading
Even Deer like to read sometimes!

Though you’ll mostly catch people on trains etc on their phones messaging and gaming, take a little closer and you’ll likely see a large number of people reading throughout the country.

Quite a few of these people may be reading on digital devices, but they’re reading none the less.

According to Statista, in 2018 84.5% of people read paper books, and 35.6% read E-Books. Honestly a much higher percentage for books than I first thought.

I have a kindle and absolutely love it, but something has to be said about turning physical pages in a book.

Kindle’s really can’t compare on that front!

1. Watching Videos – ビデオ

To be fair, this could probably be anywhere in the world…

Did you guess it?

I’m pretty certain some of you did, because it’s honestly not that much of a suprise.

Everywhere you go in Japan, you’ll see tons of people on their phone.

Often they’ll be gaming, or messaging, but apparently watching videos is by far the number one most popular hobby in Japan.

From a survey conducted December 2020, 38.9% of people stated they watched online videos (on YouTube, Social Media, or TV) at least once per day.

It also states at least 73.1% of people watch videos online at least once per week.

With the way the world is headed, I dont see that number slowing down any time soon. In fact I’d love to check in again around 5 years time to see how high that number has climbed.

If we take a look at this old NY Times newspaper from the 1980s it says that people in Tokyo watch on average ‘8 Hours 12 minutes a day’ compared with ‘6 Hours 44 minutes’ in the US.

This put Japan WAY ahead of any other country, and that was over 40 years ago! So it’s clear Japan has quite an obsession with watching videos, just the medium they’re watched on may have evolved.

valentines day Japan

Japan’s Reverse Valentines Day.

Ahhh, holidays.

Love them or hate them, they come around every year without fail.

And for some reason (to me) it seems as though they are a little more commercialised each time, at least in the west.

So whilst valentines day here in England is supposed to be about showing those who you care about how much you love them, it can sometimes feel a little like those who spend the most money love the most instead.

And what about Japan?

Japan absolutely celebrates valentines day, but it also celebrates a reverse valentines day…

Curious about what that is?

Let me tell you, it was a rabbit hole I wasn’t prepared to venture down…

The origin of Valentines day in Japan

old couple in cherry blossom season
My kind of valentines day ^_^

Surprise Surprise, Valentines day was imported from the west. And almost definitely to commercialise another aspect of Japanese society.

After a little digging, it turns out that Valentines day was initially introduced to Japan in the 1930’s through the confectionary adverts of Morozoff Limited, a Kobe Confectionary Company.

This was done with the idea of attracting foreign interest and bringing money into the country.

It was a failed attempt.

After not catching on the way Morozoff had hoped, the citizens of Japan had to wait another 4 decades until the thrills and love drenched atmosphere of valentines day became a popular yearly occurrence.

They did start creating heart shaped chocolates in the later half of the 50’s but it didn’t do much in the way of helping the popularity of the holiday.

Valentines Day culture in Japan

old couple valentines day Japan
Although some traditions seem to die out with older generations, valentines day in Japan (with some tweaks) seems set to stay.

It’s no overstatement when I say Japan is a patriarchal society.

So it should come as no surprise that valentines day started (and to some extent still is) as an opportunity for women to show their love to men.

Whilst western countries may see valentines day as an opportunity for both parties to exchange special gifts, that’s not typically the case in Japan. (More on this later!)

In Japan, women buy men chocolate on valentines day, not the other way around.

What is the Valentine chocolate known as in Japan?

On the 14th of February, there are two types of chocolates exchanged in Japan.

Honmei choco (本命チョコ, “true feeling chocolate”)

honmei choco
Honmei Chocolate has a highly premium feel to it (and probably a highly premium price tag!) – By Kousuke Sekidou – Flickr: バレンタイン・チロルチョコ, CC BY-SA 2.0

This type of chocolate is something women give to their special someone.

It’s often a premium chocolate, and means all the more to the receiver if it’s hand made.

You wouldn’t catch Honmei Chocolate being exchanged between friends. It’s purely for those who have a romantic interest.

Giri Choco (義理チョコ, “Obligation Chocolate”)

giri obligation chocolate
Ooops, You just got friend-zoned!

Ahhh, is it really Japan without a little social pressure?

Giri Choco, roughly translated as “Obligation Chocolate” is a gift given from women to men purely out of politeness to co-workers, and friends. There are absolutely no romantic connotations with such a gift.

We all know that Japanese society as a whole hates causing offence. So how is that supposed to make women feel whilst deciding who to buy friend chocolates for?

Colleagues, bosses, friends?

As it turns out, more and more women (and men) seem generally opposed to this tradition considering it outdated and not needed.

Japan Today reported that up to 40% of male and female office workers considered the practice ‘Power Harassment’

Tomo Choco (友チョコ, “Friend Chocolate”)

A relatively new offshoot of Giri Choco, Tomo Choco (translated as friend chocolate) is marketed towards women buying chocolate for close friends, especially other women.

I cant find any photos of chocolate specifically marketed like this, but it can be assumed they look similar to the obligation chocolate.

Of course, they’ll no doubt come with differing quality depending on your budget.

White day – A second valentines day?

White Day Cake Japan
Classic ‘White Day’ Cake in Japan

What is White day in Japan?

To my utter surprise, it turns out Japan has a day where men are expected to repay the favour of the previous month. I suppose that’s a step in the right direction for Japan’s gender equality!

Welcome to White Day.

Celebrated on March 14th, White Day was created in the 1970’s by Fukuoka based company Ishimura Manseido, a small confectionary company.

Whilst browsing through a magazine, one of the executives of Ishimura Manseido came across a woman questioning why women had to give so generously to men on valentines day but the thought would never be returned.

She then went on to suggest gifts she would be happy to receive, and that list included marshmallows.

After bringing up his finding during a board meeting, that executive along with the women at the company agreed on the 14th March to be the day that men would return the favour.

And they’re likely expected to times any gift’s value by around 3.

三倍返し, ‘triple the return’

Those marshmallows that were originally suggested become a component of the very first gift marketed on ‘Marshmallow Day’.

Chocolate stuffed inside white marshmallow paste.

As soon as the next March 14th rolled around, the company agreed to change the name to the slightly broader term ‘White Day’.

Final thoughts on valentines day in Japan

Why are there so many pretty lakes in Japan?!

Honestly, with ‘Obligation Chocolate’ and potentially humiliating social pressures for women, my first thought about Valentines day in Japan was ‘I can’t imagine it’s particularly fun for either parties’.

That said, we shouldn’t cast such sweeping statements on a national holiday that’s probably experienced differently by many different people.

Plus with an entire day, one month after valentines, devoted to repaying women’s generosity (三倍返し, ‘triple the return’), I suppose everyone get’s their fair share.

After taking a look at some google data, it actually seems as though White Day is the more searched for topic in Japan.

On the whole, both search terms seem to be somewhat increasing over the last 5 years, but valentines day is absolutely lagging behind as far as internet searches go.

Yes, valentines day is an extremely commercialised holiday in Japan just like in the west, perhaps even more so, but in a country that often struggles with social interaction I wouldn’t deem it impossible that it actually benefits a lot of people too shy or scared to speak their mind.

Jinsei Game
By Tam Tam from Shizuoka, JAPAN, CC BY-SA 2.0

20 Japanese Themed Board Games You Need To Play.

As an Amazon Associate I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

Any time I get to dedicate a large portion of my time to researching Japan themed things and call it work, is a flipping great time.

Today we’re taking a look at 20 of the most interesting examples of Japanese themed board games.

You can expect to see both board games set in Japan and board games that take inspiration from Japan. And then pretty much everything in between (this is Japan we’re talking about, after all!)

That reminds me, if you’re interested in finding a list of video games set in Japan, check it out here!

Modern vs Themed Games

Whilst the traditional Japanese board games could potentially be seen as coming from anywhere, the modern Japanese games all tend to have a theme involved.

Perhaps this is because the Japanese board game scene isnt that large, at least by European standards, or maybe it’s because the cult following of Japan themed products has grown exponentially over the last decade.

Either way, it’s a treat for any Japan loving board game enthusiasts like me! (And you, I hope!)

How popular are board games in Japan?

To be honest, not quite as popular as they are around other parts of the world. But the scene is still active.

Take a look at this graph created on the google search term ‘Board Games’ for people based in Japan:

'Board Game' Search Term In Japan
‘Board Game’ Search Term In Japan

As you can see, it’s not a sustained interest.

Compare that to ‘Shogi’ (A traditional Japanese variant of Chess) and you get a completely different result:

'Shogi' Search Term In Japan
‘Shogi’ Search Term In Japan

Though not consistently searched for, Shogi is still a far more researched search term in Japan than ‘Board Games’

So why is this the case?

Well from what I can gather, most of the games coming out of Japan are either relatively small scope and indie, or extremely experimental, even for the gaming community.

Whilst we do have some big publishers like Oink games that produced the astonishingly good ‘Deep Sea Adventure‘, the majority of games seem to stay local and off the international radar.

Even though the board game scene in Japan isn’t too huge (to the levels of Europe of America), it’s still worth a look if you’re interested in doing a few deep dives on the Board Game Geek Forum.

Plus, they have a whole host of children’s games that may be a great way to help you learn Japanese!

Without further ado, let’s get into the list!

Here are the top 20 Japanese-themed board games…

1. Tokaido – A Zen Experience

japanese theme board games - Tokaido
The next game on my bucket list!

Players: 2-5

Average Experience Time: 45 Minutes

Fun Fact: The Tōkaidō road was a real route in Japan during the Edo period. It connected the two biggest cities in Japan together, Kyoto and Edo (Modern day Tokyo). Commonly known as the ‘East Sea Road’ (東海道), Tōkaidō was by far the most important connecting route in the entire country.

Tokaido may just be the most beautifully designed zen board-game on the market today. And it’s quintessential Japan!

Players must travel through the famous ‘Tokaido Road’ whilst immersing themselves in Japanese culture.

Your chilled out and relaxed journey will include: Eating Japanese food, Relaxing in Onsen, Painting the landscape, collecting souvenirs, and becoming one with Japanese culture.

With no dice and little (on the surface) in the way of rules, it’s very easy to see ‘Tokaido’ as an experience rather than just another Japanese themed board game.

If you’re looking for an almost meditative gaming experience and miss (or massively want to) travel through Japan, Tokaido might just be for you!

2. Takenoko – Care For a Giant Panda

japanese board games takenoko
Ever wanted to care for a giant panda? Now you can!

Players: 2-4

Average Play Time: 45 Minutes

Fun Fact: Giant pandas have six digits on their hands. 5 fingers, and a thumb (that’s technically an enlarged wrist bone)

Sometimes I think my life is missing a certain element of cuteness.

Up until now I had no idea how to remedy it, but Takenoko is just what I needed!

No list of Japanese board games would be complete without at least one of them being about giant pandas, so here we go!

Takenoko (Meaning bamboo shoot in Japanese) is a game about building a bamboo garden with the help of the resident giant panda, a gift from the Emperor of China.

Players take turns moving the panda and gardener as well as choosing a number of different actions that affect the games trajectory.

These actions include laying down new garden plots, drawing objective cards, building new irrigation channels, and of course moving the characters. There’s also a separate die that controls the weather on each turn, also affecting what you can and cant do during your action stage.

The aim of the game is to keep your giant panda happy by building the three types of bamboo and keep them irrigated.

We wouldn’t want to disappoint the emperor now, would we!

3. Kanagawa – Paint the Japanese landscape

japanese style board game
Become one of Master Hokusai’s disciples.

Players: 2-4

Average Play Time: 45 Minutes

Fun Fact: Deer walk around freely in a town called Nara, very close to Osaka. Check out this interview I did a while back with photographer Yoko Ishii, aptly based in Kanagawa but often photographs this strange phenomenon.

Just like Tokaido, Kanagawa is another beautifully illustrated Japanese themed board game.

Kanagawa is a collection based game which sees players under the watchful eye of the legendary painter ‘Master Hokusai’ (Yes, the person who created that wave drawing you probably have in your head) all trying to prove themselves as worthy apprentices.

As the game progresses, each player will chose his or her preferred subjects to paint and begin collecting them.

But watch out for the changing seasons, and remember to increase the size of your studio to fulfil your dream of becoming Master Hokusai’s favourite apprentice.

4. Onitama – A Game of Martial Arts

japanese themed board games
Lead a group of monks to martial arts victory

Players: 2

Average Play Time: 10-20 Minutes

Fun Fact: One of the oldest temples in Japan is Hōryūji (法隆寺) Temple in Nara. It was found in the year 607 by Prince Shotoku and happens to contain the worlds oldest wooden structure. A definite must visit for anyone travelling near Osaka!

Deep in the ancient mountains of Japan lies the mysterious temple of Onitama.

Masters of martial arts travel across the country to prove their worth and be crowned the ultimate warrior.

Along the way, you’ll summon the power of animal spirits and apprentice monks to help them on their journey to defeat any opponent that comes their way.

A quick and simple game, Onitama is the perfect game to dip in and out of with a minimum setup time and easily explained rules to newcomers.

It’s also small enough to take with you if you’re traveling, unlike some of the more in-depth themed board games on the list.

5. Machi Koro – The City Builder

Japan themed board games
Be the Mayor of your own city

Players: 2-4

Average Play Time: 30-45 Minutes

Fun Fact: With around 32.5 million people, Tokyo is the largest and most populated area in the world!

Ever fancied building your own city? Well, now you can! …Kind of!

To start off with, players’ cities are nothing but a wheat field and a bakery. It’s time to gather resources, steal some coins, and hope you manage to build four landmarks before your opponents.

And you thought building a city would be hard! 😉

7. Jinsei Game – The Game of Life

japanese themed board games
The Japanese Game of Life

Players: 2-6

Average Play Time: 90 minutes for both junior and standard stages, 30 minutes for Junior only and 60 minutes for standard ages

Fun Fact: If you’re lucky you might be able to find the PS2 version of the game on some Japanese auction sites. Take a look here to find out how to do it.

It’s that family favorite game, the game of life! This time, however, it’s in Japanese.

Jinsei (人生 – Human life) game is the Japanese version of the North American classic ‘Game of life’.

Unlike many of its international counterparts, the Japanese board game starts when you’re a toddler and features Elementary school, junior high school, and high school, mirroring the paths of many children in Japan.

An example of some of the various events from ‘Jinsei Game’:

  • $3,000 for cold treatment
  • $25,000 for a lost mobile phone
  • $3,000 reward for repairing UFO

Pretty standard life costs… right!? Ha!

In the end, the format remains vastly similar to the original American version of the game and the player with the most money at the end of the game is victorious.

Unfortunately, the trickiest thing about this game is getting your hands on a copy of it.

My recommendation is to either visit the Japanese Amazon, or attempt to find it on Rakuten.

For more information on both of these strategies, take a look at my guide on buying from online stores in Japan.

8. Shogun – Strategy Board Game

Japan themed board games
Take control over medieval Japan!

Players: 3-5

Average Play Time: 120 minutes

Fun Fact: The Sengoku period of Japan which lasted around 148 years was a period of pretty much constant civil war among the states at the time.

Take on the role of a Daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) and lead your armies to victory during the Sengoku period of Japan’s history.

And the victor? Become Shogun of Japan.

Shogun is an in-depth ‘Risk’ like a simulation of ancient Japanese warfare.

I won’t go into too much detail about the rules and instructions (there are quite a few) but if you’re interested in learning more before you buy then you can take a look at the board game geek website here.

The most interesting and unique mechanic this game offers is how the victor is decided during battles. Cubes (which represent troops) from each opposing army are thrown into the tower and whichever has more is the winner, and fewer is the loser.

It’s a nice touch that helps differentiates itself from other war strategy games and makes the entire experience more interactive, which can’t be a bad thing!

9. King of Tokyo – Live out your Kaiju dreams

Japan board games
Fight your way to victory in the streets of Tokyo.

Players: 2-6

Average Play Time: 30 minutes

Fun Fact: The literal translation of Kaiju is ‘Strange beast’

King of Tokyo sees you play as monsters, giant chickens, and terrifying robots. And with a number of expansion packs, pretty much everything in between as well.

You must chose your play style (which may be offensive or defensive), whilst balancing your health, special abilities, and equipment choices.

Should you chose to take victory points over these other options, you’ll be on your way to becoming the undisputed king of Tokyo.

…Or if you like, you can just destroy every other monster.

The choice is yours!

10. Godzilla: Tokyo Clash

Japanese monster board game

Players: 2-4

Average Play Time: 45 minutes

Fun Fact: There’s a Godzilla statue on display outside the Hibiya Chanter building in Tokyo.

From one Kaiju board game to another, Godzilla Tokyo Clash has you playing as the most brutal and formidable monster of them all, Godzilla!

And also his rivals: King Ghidorah, Mother, and Megalon, but if you have the choice and you aren’t picking Godzilla, your’e doing something wrong!

As a game of tactics and strategy, throw trains, destroy buildings, and dominate your opponents in an all out war.

11. OH! Sushi Game – Chopstick Jenga

Japanese themed board games
It’s time to play chopstick Jenga!

Players: 1-6 depending on variation played

Average Play Time: 15-30 minutes

Fun Fact: Sushi rice was originally not eaten. It was instead used to create Umami , a distinct Japanese taste.

Taking a trip to Japan?

Well, it’s about time you brushed up on your chopstick skills!

OH! Sushi Game is, at it’s core, a Japanese themed Jenga game.

Players must use the provided chopsticks in order to build a tower of sushi.

But the creators have also included another 9 variations of this game and others making it the perfect all in one Japanese board game.

12. Ticket to Ride: Japan Expansion

Japanese style board games
Ride on the best railway system in the world!

Players: 2-5

Average Play Time: 30-60 minutes

Fun Fact: Japanese trains are often exactly on time. Right down to the second!

While technically not a standalone board game, this is a Japanese expansion pack to one of the most renowned and famous board games ever made, Ticket to Ride.

Not only will you be able to play ticket to ride throughout the entire Japanese rail system, but the other side of the board allows you to play through Italy as well.

The aim of ‘Ticket to ride: Japan’ is exactly the same as the base version.

Claim as many routes as you can. Connect multiple cities to create longer routes and ultimately score the most points, leading you to victory.

13. Ohanami – Build a Zen Garden

Japan theme board games

Players: 2-4

Average Play Time: 20 minutes

Fun Fact: The original purpose of a Japanese zen garden was to help monks meditate and to encourage inner reflection. Whilst this is still the case, they’re often used purely for aesthetics though still deeply routed in Japanese mindfulness culture.

Sadly I’ve never had a space big enough for my very own Japanese zen garden (Other than my Japanese animal crossing island), but maybe this game can fulfil at least some of my garden dreams.

Ohanami is a card based points game in which players attempt to finish with the highest score and intern the ‘Most Zen’ Japanese garden.

Each game consists of just three rounds and only takes around 20 minutes each time making it the perfect game to pick up at a moments notice and soak yourself in Japanese themed goodness!

14. Sushi Go! – Sushi Card Game

Japan sushi board game

Players: 2-5

Average Play Time: 15 minutes

Fun Fact: Trainee sushi chefs go through many years of difficult and rigorous training. In fact, it takes on average 10 years before one can call themselves a ‘Master’ sushi chef.

A simple pick and pass card game with an extremely cute illustration style.

Collect a the most points by choosing the correct cards to keep each round and become the ultimate sushi master in only 15 minutes!

It’s simple, cute, and easily portable.

What’s not to love!

15. Yahtzee Cup Noodles

Japanese theme board game

Players: 2-5

Average Play Time: 15 minutes

Fun Fact: Trainee sushi chefs go through many years of difficult and rigorous training. In fact, it takes on average 10 years before one can call themselves a ‘Master’ sushi chef.

Here we have an example of a classic game with a modern Japanese twist!

Yahtzee, the dice shaking game has been repacked into the iconic Japanese Cup Noodle pot!

Fancy trying some instant noodles from all over Asia? These are my recommendation! This way you get to try 10 at once before you bulk order your favourite flavour.

…If you dont have a bulk supply of instant noodles, who even are you!?

16. Maki Stack – Sushi Stacking!

Japanese sushi game

Players: 2 or 4

Average Play Time: 15 minutes

Fun Fact: International sushi day is the 18th of June each year!

From one sushi themed board game to another, Maki Stack shakes things up.

Players must play in pairs where one describes the sushi to stack and the other must build the sushi tower whilst blindfolded.

It’s always nice when board games are slightly more interactive than a standard card game.

And Sushi stacking is a great idea for a Japanese theme!

…maybe I’ll be a little more successful at this than actually making sushi… …Maybe.

17. Miyabi – A Japanese Garden game

Japanese theme board game

Players: 2 – 4

Average Play Time: 45 minutes

Fun Fact: Traditionally the elements of a Japanese garden are rocks, trees, ponds (bodies of water) and waterfalls.

Back to zen gardens now with the next entry on our list, Miyagi.

Miyagi is a 2-4 player object placing game with a fairly intricate set of rules.

The aim of the game is for each player to collect the most points by placing the most elements of a traditional Japanese garden as they can.

It’s not just as simple as placing rivers and stones wherever you want, though.

Only the best designed zen garden with manage to accrue the most points to win the game.

One thing I absolutely love about this game is that it has a (small) height element to it. As I’ve said before, any game that attempts to break the mould of a 2 dimensional card game is always worth a look in my opinion.

18. Four Gardens – 3D Garden Building

Japanese board game

Players: 2 – 4 (Best with 2)

Average Play Time: 45 minutes

Fun Fact: Traditionally the elements of a Japanese garden are rocks, trees, ponds (bodies of water) and waterfalls.

A Japanese themed board game with a 3D rotating pagoda? Now you’ve got my attention!

Four Gardens is a board game that has you compete for the queens crown by creating the most pristine and beautiful garden around the base of the pagoda.

Collect your resources, lay the ground work, and build a beautiful panorama below the pagoda!

Only the gods can decide on the winner… Will it be you?

19. Niya – A Game of Conspiracy

Japanese game

Players: 2

Average Play Time: 10 minutes

Fun Fact: The imperial palace in Tokyo has around 379 acres of land including a moat, gardens, and a forest.

Help position your clan in the correct place at the imperial palace and win control of the garden.

Each turn of Niya has players replacing one of the tiles on the board with one of their clan tokens.

The player on the following turn will have to replace a tiles with a similar set of symbols to continue playing.

The goal of the game is to achieve 4 in a row (diagonal, vertical, or horizontal) or in a square.

It’s a simple Japanese board game for any aged player and can be picked up and set up extremely quickly making a great board game to have in your arsenal!

20. Sekigahara: Unification of Japan – Fight In The Most Pivotal War Of Japan’s History

Japanese game

Players: 2

Average Play Time: 2 hours

Fun Fact: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu were the three Daimyo (feudal lords)that eventually unified Japan by 1590.

It’s time to talk about the heaviest (literally and mentally) game on the list.

Sekigahara: The unification of Japan.

Sekigahara is an relatively in-depth war game based upon the unification of Japan. Playing this game will see you fight in backcountry skirmishes as well as all out war.

As there is no dice in the game, movement is decided through playing cards (110 of them).

The entire game is full of uncertainty but also sees gameplay mechanics like battles complete themselves fairly quickly.

This keeps the relatively in depth game constantly moving and keeps each player interested right from the outset.

Prices can be a little steep, but if you’ve got the cash and a fair amount of time to play this beauty then you absolutely won’t be disappointed!

Bonus: Traditional Japanese Board Games

Traditional Japanese Game
Traditional Japanese Board Games Are Fantastic!

If you’re looking for something truly different than the options I’ve given you, why not try some of Japan’s traditional board games?

They often offer low barriers of entry and are fairly simple to setup and play.

Take a look and let me know your favourite (mine is Go!)

Conclusion

So that was 20 (and a bonus) Japanese board themed and inspired board games that you might like to play!

I hope it’s given you a little bit of insight into the world of board games as well as Japan.

Until next time!

I’m off to put my hands in ice from all this typing….

cool bento box
@yuko.makotsu
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11 Japanese Instagram Accounts You Should Be Following.

These are always my favourite posts to make. There’s nothing better than collaborating with people who love the same things as you do and if I have the opportunity to promote those people, you can bet that’s what I’m going to do!

One of my guilty pleasures in life is finding niche or secret Instagram accounts that post incredible content but aren’t too widely known.

This got me thinking that perhaps I knew of a few Japanese instagram accounts that needed to be shared with you all.

Turns out, I do! (though sadly, lots of them aren’t as secret as I might have liked…)

Whether you’re looking for inspiration before your trip, or you’re just bonkers about Japan and it’s many fascinating subcultures, these are the Japanese instagrams you should be following.

1. @yeuuuum – Perfectly Timed Ghibli Highlights.

@yeuuuum

Ahhh, yeuuuum… By far the most relaxing Japanese instagram account I currently subscribe to.

Run by @th.ngn98, @yeuuuum is an instagram page that shows only the most heartwarming moments from Ghibli movies.

Whilst they may only be just a couple of seconds long, the videos perfectly capture the mood we know and love from Studio Ghibli.

Watch enough videos and you’ll likely come across my favourite ones, the food!

Without saying too much, I never thought I understood ASMR until I watched these… HA!

So all I can suggest is cosy down in your bed, slap on a chill out playlist, and have a good old rummage around the videos on Yeuuuums instagram!

2. @naaa_japanese – The Best Way To Learn Japanese, Probably.

@naaa_japanese

If anyone could make learning Japanese a little easier and less intense, it’s this guy.

I first featured Dai on the site many months ago with an exceedingly large list of resources to help you learn Japanese online.

Since then, my Japanese hasn’t honestly improved as much as it should have done. And be honest with yourself, have you studied as much as you said you would through lockdown?

Yeahhh, thought not…

But if there’s one thing that will continuously bring me back to the Japanese language in a fun and light hearted way, it’s Dai from Casual Nihongo.

I find it way too easy to get bogged down in hard to understand Japanese study material, and sometimes I honestly can’t find the motivation to open up a fat textbook and start studying.

Even though there is a time and a place for those kind of things, make sure you’re subscribed to @naaa_japanese on instagram so your head doesn’t melt from the sometimes way too confusing task of learning Japanese!

Top Tip: Watching Japanese game shows probably isn’t the best way to learn Japanese! …But damn are they funny!

3. @zerowaste.japan – Japan, But No Waste.

@zerowaste.japan

Let’s be honest, Japan doesn’t have a great reputation for plastic free living.

Just look at this article from a few years ago on VICE which details the sometimes laughable packaging used for everyday items.

And yes, that’s absolutely a banana in plastic wrap…

Introducing @zerowaste.japan, run by a Japanese mother of two, Ran Nomura, attempting to live an eco and #zerowaste lifestyle in Japan.

On @zerowaste.japan you’ll find daily zero waste ideas that not only work in Japan, but can be implemented anywhere to ensure you live as Eco friendly as possible.

To attempt a zero waste lifestyle is one thing, but to attempt it in Japan? That’s pretty damn brave.

For me, this is exactly what social media is for. It’s progressive, inspirational, and has the ability to influence thousands of people to take care of the world they call home.

With over 166k people and climbing, I truly believe Ran is having an outstandingly positive impact on the world around her. Hopefully we’ll see more instagram accounts like this in the coming months and years.

4. @asu_green11 – Miniature Garden Landscapes.

@asu_green11

I try not to get envious of other people, but looking at asu_green11’s instagram, I start to struggle.

Quite simply, Asu creates realistic miniatures of zen like scenes.

This can include waterfalls, rock pools, lakes, rivers, etc.

You name it, he’s probably created it.

Not only does he have a thriving instagram account, but also a YouTube channel with close to 1 million subscribers.

It’s that kind of content where you realise you’ve watched an entire hour of a man building little trees and absolutely think your time was well spent.

And before you ask, yes, I found his account whilst inside the YouTube rabbit hole. Totally worth it!

5. @tokio_kid – Shooting The Best Parts of Japan.

@tokio_kid

Ideally I wanted to be in Japan just under 2 years ago (as of writing this post in October 2021) but sadly something global meant that couldn’t happen just yet.

Whilst I dream about putting my photography degree to good use, I like to live vicariously through other extremely talented creators in the area.

And who’s one of my top choices? @tokio_kid

Japan’s landscapes almost always have to be experienced for you to be able to appreciate their full beauty, but Yuto Yamada is one such creator that seriously does them justice.

Oh, and did I mention he’s a Lightroom ambassador?

Pure talent!

I just hope that the next time I manage to visit, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom like they are in some of his photos. PLEASE!!

@marutaro

Is there anything greater than tapping onto instagram in the morning only to be presented by a fat Shiba bum?

I think not.

Welcome, Maru! Possibly the most famous and popular dog in Japan.

Not only is Maru cute, fluffy, and oh so smiley, but he’s also a national star.

In 2015 it was announced that he would become the tourism ambassador of Mie Prefecture. He’s also been on tv, advertising campaigns, and has his own shop.

This little guy has been everywhere!

And at 2.5 million instagram followers, he won’t be leaving us any time soon.

So whilst your instagram feed might already be full of cute insta dogs (I dont blame you), save a little room for Maru and his owner Shinjiro, because boy do they deserve it.

7. @bonpon511 – The Best Dressed Couple in Japan.

@bonpon511

Bonpon511. Potentially the most stylish couple on instagram. (Japan, certainly)

Tsuyoshi and Tomi Seki, both in their 60’s, used to live a quiet life in Sendai.

But one day in 2016 when their daughter posted photos of them on instagram, that all changed.

The couple now have 842k followers, have launched their own clothing line, and have become world wide viral sensations.

It’s honestly extremely refreshing to see accounts like this that have really taken off. It definitely restores my faith in social media, that’s for sure!

If me and my partner can look like this in our old age, then I’ll certainly be happy!

P.s If you’re looking for similar style clothing, you should find what you’re looking for right here!

8. @kokoronotane – Tasty, Tasty Food.

@kokoronotane

If you’re a foodie, you’re gonna love the next two Japanese instagram accounts on our list.

Kokoronotane posts immaculate examples of oishii Japanese food.

Couple this with perfect lighting conditions, original surroundings, and fantastic presentation, and you’ve got yourself one of the top Japanese food instagram accounts.

With over 2000 posts, I find myself continuously scrolling in search of meal ideas, and that idea is never too far away.

One way I would enjoy my flight to Japan even more, is if the plane food looked as good as this!

Oh well, one can only hope! Haha.

9. @yuko.makotsu – Beautiful Bento Boxes.

@yuko.makotsu – If this doesn’t scream ‘JAPAN!’ I dont know what does!

I mean, do I even need to write anything for this?

Just look at that design!

Yuko Makotsu creates outstandingly realistic and intricately designed bento boxes. So good in fact, I dont know if I’d want to eat it! …Can I hang it on my wall?…

From Anime to GBA, and from bullet trains to pandas, Yuko has captured almost every facet of Japanese culture in her meal art.

Whilst I have talked about food on this site before, none of them have come close to what you can find on @yuko.makotsu instagram.

As much as I would love to be able to create some of these at home, It’s widely beyond my culinary skills. But if you’re considering giving it a go, email your results to adayofzen@gmail.com because I’d love to see them!

10. @japanoninsta – The Biggest #Japanese Community.

@japanoninsta

If you’re a long time reader of this blog, then you probably understand how easy it is for Japan to continuously blow your mind when you thought it couldn’t get any cooler, stranger, cuter, or weirder!

@japanoninsta brings you multiple (That’s dedication!) daily posts about all things Japan. This could be in the form of facts, pictures, how to guides, and trip planning tips.

As I’ve mentioned before, I like to think I know a thing or two about Japan but following instagrams like this just proves to me that there’s always something else to be surprised by.

So if you’re looking for a quick and easy to access place to find out almost everything there is to know about Japan, give @japanoninsta a follow!

I won’t lie, I’m pretty jealous my own instagram doesn’t look like this, I’m sure it would do the world of good for the blog… Ha!

Oh well. One day, maybe!

11. @okinawa.island

@okinawa.island

We’ll close off this list with an old favourite.

If you haven’t already seen the absolutely incredible Japanese inspired animal crossing towns (and most of you have!) you should really check them out!

The creativity and originality of some of these places never ceases to amaze me, and none more so than @okinawa.island

It’s a beautiful little island incorporating Japan’s countryside and urban style, whilst still retaining a sense of originality from the creator.

Whether you play animal crossing or you dont, It’s easy to be inspired by the amount of work these creators put into their designs.

So check out @okinawa.island and the rest of the creators, and give em some love!

Conclusion

Well, there you have it!

A list of my current favourite Japanese instagram accounts. Whilst they may never be a replacement of actually visiting Japan, they’ll be your best friend until that day arrives!

Know of anymore Japanese instagram accounts that should have been on my list? Let me know in the comments below, I’m eager to find out!

Japan Mountain
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How many mountains are in Japan?

Quite often I find myself pondering strange questions about Japan. In the past, that’s led me to find out why Japanese cars are so boxy, why Japan is so clean, and why it snows so much. But today, we’re going to find out just how many mountains there are in Japan.

In short, there are in between 16,667 and 18,032 mountains in Japan. The discrepancy between these two numbers depends on the classification used at the time. For example, the JAC (Japanese alpine club) suggests that there is 16,667 mountains but only classifies those listed on a 1/25,000 topological map.

In this article we are going to take a deep dive into Japans mountains including the countries smallest, largest, most famous, and best to visit on your holiday.

The tallest mountain in Japan

It should come as no surprise to most of you what the name of the tallest mountain in Japan is…

Mount Fuji – Yamanashi

Standing at 3,776 metres tall (12,388 feet), Mount Fuji is bar far the tallest mountain in Japan.

Not only is Mount Fuji the tallest mountain in Japan, but this giant rock situated on the island of Honshū is also the second highest volcano on an island in Asia.

How does Mount Fuji stack up against the rest of the mountains in Japan?

As you can see from the table below, Mount Fuji is almost 600 metres higher than the second highest mountain in Japan, Mount Kita.

MountainHeight (Meters)
Mount Fuji3,776
Mount Kita3,193
Mount Okuhotaka3,190
Mount Okuhotaka3,189
Mount Aino3,180
Mount Yari3,141
Mount Warusawa3,120
Mount Akaishi3,110
Mount Karasawa3,106
Mount Kitahotaka3,101
A table of the top ten highest mountains in Japan

How big is Mount Fuji compared to other mountains in the world?

So you might be thinking that Mount Fuji is a damn big mountain, and relative to your local hill you’re probably right.

But comparing Fuji to the other mountains around the world, it’s nowhere close.

With some mountains in the world reaching over 8,000 metres (14 of them, to be exact), little old Mount Fuji doesn’t even make it into the top 100.

What is the smallest mountain in Japan?

We’ve just found out that the biggest mountain in Japan is Mount Fuji. Surprise surprise!

But what about the smallest mountain?

Well, once again that depends on how you classify a mountain vs a hill.

In this case we are going to be using the classification used by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.

It cites that the term ‘Mountain’ is used only when a level of elevation is shown on a topographic map published by the GSI.

So with that in mind, what is the smallest mountain in Japan?

Located in Minato-Ku, Osaka, standing at only 4.53 metres tall is Mount Tenpō.

The summit of Mount Tenpō

Yep, you read that right, just over 4 and a half metres.

And that picture above? No word of a lie, that’s the summit.

So you might be asking yourself, why is Mount Tenpō so ridiculously small?

Let’s take a look at it’s history and find out exactly why that is.

The history of Mount Tenpō

As you can see from the photo above, Mount Tenpō is situated in front of a river called the Ajigawa.

In 1830, this river was the main river into the then capital of Japan, Osaka, and was in dire need of upgrading to accomodate bigger ships as well as to prevent flooding.

After piling up the earth from the dredged river, it amounted to a ‘Mountain’ the height of about 20 metres.

Fast forward to 1868, and the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Part of the mountain had to be levelled to accomodate an artillery unit.

This levelling, continued industrialisation, and overuse of ground water made the mountain roughly the same height as it is today.

Unfortunately, this continued lowering led to the mountain being taken off of topographic maps thus removing it’s classification of ‘Mountain’.

However after protests by much of the local population, this was quickly reinstated and has remained that way ever since.

Three Holy Mountains – 三霊山

Japanese culture and tradition holds three mountains in extremely high esteem.

One of which you’ve heard of, but the other two you probably haven’t.

1. Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji shot from the International Space Station in 2001

The first and probably most famous of the three holy mountains that has been worshipped for it’s entire existence.

It doesn’t seem like much of a stretch to understand why Mount Fuji is one of the the Three Holy Mountains.

Due to Mount Fuji being the tallest mountain in Japan, a pilgrimage up to the top will allow you to walk amongst the clouds and reflect on how small you are and how big the world really is.

It’s a great place not just for the stunning views, but also the inner reflection it allows you to achieve.

2. Mount Haku

Mount Haku – By Alpsdake – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Situated on the borders of Gifu and Ishikawa, Mount Haku (Hakusan) is one of Japans dormant volcanoes.

Mount Haku is also home to a shrine where people have come to for years for prayer (Hakusan Shinkō).

According to matcha.jp it’s also been worshipped as a god of water due to it being a source of the Kuzuryū, Tedori, and Nagara River.

3. Mount Tateyama

Mount Tate and the Mikuri Pond

The third and final mountain from the holy trio is Mount Tateyama in Toyama prefecture.

This is a mountain that people worship as a place where spirits of the dead come back.

This is likely because many years ago, people believed the spirit of ones dead body would travel to the top of high mountains.

Does Japan have any mountain ranges?

It certainly does!

In the lower half of Honshu you’ll find the Japanese alps.

Encompassing over 36 mountains, the ‘Nihon Arupusu

Hida Mountains (Northern Alps)

Hida Mountains – By Alpsdake CC BY-SA 3.0

Elevation: 3,190m

Prefectures: Niigata, Toyama, Nagano, Gifu

Fun Fact: Northern Alps in Japanese is ‘Kita Arupusu

The Hida Mountains is is the only mountain range in Japan to hold a glacier.

Three of them, in fact.

These small glaciers exist in Mount Tsurugi and Mount Tate.

Kiso Mountains (Central Alps)

Kiso Mountains – By Alpsdake CC BY-SA 3.0

Elevation: 2,956m

Prefectures: Gifu, Nagano

Fun fact: Central Alps in Japanese is ‘Chūō Arupusu

The highest peak in the Kiso Mountains is Mount Kyō sitting at 2,296.25 m.

The range also features four foothills called” Mount Nenjō, Mount Nagiso, Mount Kazakoshi (Kiso), and mount Kazakoshi (ena).

Akaishi Mountains (Southern Alps)

Akaishi Mountains

Elevation: 3,193m

Prefectures: Nagano, Yamanashi, Shizuoka

Fun Fact: Southern Alps in Japanese is ‘Minami Arupusu’

If you’re lucky to visit the Southern Japanese alps at the right time of year, you might just be able to spot some of the local wildlife including: Rock Ptarmigans, Sika Deer, and spotted nutcracker.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about the Japanese mountains and I’ll do my best to answer them! ^_^

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A Complete Guide To Traditional Japanese Board Games.

As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

I won’t lie, I love a good board game.

In fact, it surprised me when I realized I haven’t yet spoken about Japan’s history with these tabletop marvels.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan and are looking for a few ways to connect with the locals and soak up the culture, try finding an opportunity to play a few classic and traditional board games.

You’re likely to find these opportunities in parks, game parlors, or if you stay with a host family for a few days (Highly recommended).

Board games are, for the most part, a universal language. Especially once you’ve learned how to properly play!

About the list:

Just because these games are classed as traditional Japanese games, doesn’t mean they’re popular. In fact, many of the games on this list did not originate in Japan but have since become extremely popular around their time of discovery.

This is a list of 8 of the most influential and famous traditional Japanese board games throughout the country’s history.

But first, a commonly asked question about traditional Japanese board games:

What is the most popular traditional Japanese board game?

According to Buyee Blog, the most popular traditional board game in Japan Is Shogi. Slightly similar to chess in some ways, Shogi is a timeless board game that’ll undoubtedly stick around for a long time.

However, if we’re talking about the most popular traditional Japanese board game based on my own experiences of visiting Japan then I’d have to say Mahjong. Over the many times I’ve visited the country, Mahjong has been the prevalent board game of pretty much everyone in Japan.

Japanese Mahjong is just as popular outside of Japan, too, with plenty of online variations that let you enjoy what is arguably one of the most interesting solo board games out there. But it is inside its home country that the game has a cult status.

Most Ojiisan (Grandpas) are partial to a game or 20, and whilst it may not be as popular with the younger generation, they don’t tend to play board games all that much anyway.

When I visit my partner’s childhood home in Japan, If I don’t see her grandad smoking in the courtyard you can bet anything you like he’ll be in his room playing Riichi Mahjong!

So to sum up, Shogi is the most popular game according to what I could find on the internet, but Mahjong is the most popular from my own experience.

Are traditional Japanese board games hard to play?

As you read through this article, you’ll likely come across some board games you have heard of and some you haven’t.

Some of those games, like Sudoku, are as simple as they come. But others like Riichi Mahjong may well take a little longer to learn.

Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily suggest all traditional Japanese board games are hard to play, from the first and second-hand research I’ve conducted it seems quite a few of them are very hard to master.

GO, for instance, is a Japanese game you’ll find that’s easy to learn the basics but will take years and years to call yourself a master (if ever).

A final reason you may assume that traditional Japanese games are hard to play is because of the language barrier. The Japanese language is formed of three separate alphabets, making it an intimidating language at best.

The truth is, few of these games actually require you to know any Japanese. And even in those cases, there are English versions, so you can be sure you won’t miss out on any of the fun!

Contents:

1. Shogi – Japanese Chess / Game of generals

2. Japanese Mahjong (Riichi Mahjong)

3. GO

4. Gomoku – A Japanese variation of Go

5. Sudoku – The game you all know

6. Daifugō – The Grand Millionaire

7. Karuta – The Japanese poem game

8. Sugoroku – The Japanese propaganda machine?

1. Shogi – Japanese Chess / Game of generals

shoji board game japanese chess
By Oliver Orschiedt – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Number of players: 2

Average game time: Up to 2 hours

Fun fact: The longest known game of Shogi was 538 moves long between Piket and Lautier

How do you play Shogi?

Basic rules:

As with a lot of the games on this list, Shogi is rather complex to sum up in a few brief sentences.

But I’ll do my best!

Players start with 20 pieces with the main aim of the game being to capture or kill an opposing teams king.

Each piece on the board can only move in a specific way. (A lot like regular chess)

The players take turns moving their pieces and attempt to place the king in a position where he cannot escape. (Again, much like the regular variant of chess)

Where Japanese chess, or Shogi, differs from the chess that you or I may be more familiar with is that pieces can be captured and turned into an ally to accompany you on your quest for victory.

Though the western version of chess and Shogi do share a few similarities, it’s this espionage ‘esque’ element that truly sets the games apart.

I’m yet to play Shogi, but after figuring out the rules it’s definitely on my to-do list!

Incase my rules aren’t in-depth enough for you (or lets be honest, if I’ve totally butchered them) then you should take a look here for the written rules or underneath for a video explanation.

Commonly asked questions about Shogi:

Is Shogi harder than chess?

To learn the basic rules of it? Probably not.

But to master? Technically, yes.

To put this into perspective, a Shogi professional told the New York Times in 1999 that chess has around 10^120 moves whereas chess has 10^220 moves.

That’s the number 10 followed by either 120 or 220 zeros depending on the game. So whilst chess is clearly a tough game to master, Shogi takes it one step further.

A final way Japanese chess could be deemed harder than regular chess is that pieces can swap side which might make for a pretty confusing end game.

But if you ask me, that’s all part of the fun.

Is Shogi older than chess?

old photo of men playing shoji
Men Playing Shogi in Japan (1916-1918) By A.DaveyCC BY 2.0,

Unfortunately this isn’t such a simple question to answer.

Records state that chess is the older of the two, but not it’s current form.

It wasn’t until around the 15th century that both games become the recognisable versions we see today.

Where can I buy Shogi?

You can grab a simple Shogi board from amazon here!

2. Japanese Mahjong (Riichi Mahjong)

japanese riichi mahjong

Number of players: 3-4 (Though can be fewer with slight game variations)

Average game time: Up to 2 hours

Fun fact: After more research, it turns out there is a factual backing to my original assumption about Mahjong being the most popular game in Japan. As of 2008, there were around 7.6 million Mahjong players in Japan with another 8,900 mahjong parlors to satisfy their cravings. In the same year, these parlors did over ¥300 billion in sales. Then in 2010, it became the most popular board game (or table game) in the country according to Metropolis, a monthly Japanese newspaper and guide.

About Japanese Mahjong

Japanese Mahjong is a variation of the original Mahjong that was first brought over in 1924.

It was at this time that a soldier named Saburo Hirayama introduced Japan to the game of mahjong by starting a club, parlor, and school.

To make the game open to the most amount of people, a few of the Chinese rules were removed and as time went on, a new set of Japanese rules were added to further develop the game.

This formed the basis of what we now know as Riichi Mahjong. (Japanese mahjong)

How do you play Japanese Mahjong?

The answer to this question is extremely specific to the variation you’re playing. As such, we’ll stick to the basic version of Japanese Mahjong. (A variation in itself from standard mahjong)

As I may not do justice to the game, it’s best you hear the instructions from someone with a little more knowledge.

Maybe one day soon I’ll be able to eloquently write out my own set of rules, but that day is not today!

Though it might be a little tricky to pick up at first, I urge you to stick with it!

Take a look at The Cool Old Games explanation if you’d prefer not to watch a video.

Commonly asked questions about Mahjong:

Is Mahjong hard to learn?

I downloaded a simple variation of Mahjong onto my Nintendo switch in the hope to play it during journeys or just before I fell asleep.

Immediately, I was bombarded with thousands (that might be an exaggeration on my part, but you get the idea…) of unending rules about how to play the game.

Now whilst I don’t entirely blame the traditional game of Mahjong for what was probably the video game’s fault, it still didn’t seem like an easy game to get into.

Bear in mind, that’s all the experience I have with properly trying to learn the game. If you were to get taught by a competent player or learn from another source then I’m sure you’d be absolutely fine with a little patience.

Is Mahjong harder to win than chess?

Let’s compare it to chess. Just like most of the games on this list probably will be, haha!

Technically chess would be considered the harder of the two games to win, and this comes down to only one reason.

Luck.

Whilst Mahjong does have an element of luck involved, there is absolutely none in chess.

That means if you have a good grasp of the rules of Japanese Mahjong, you’ll likely stand a better chance of defeating more seasoned players than you would in chess.

Where can I buy Japanese Mahjong?

You can grab a basic Mahjong board from Amazon!

3. GO

japanese go board

Number of players: 2

Average game time: 20-90 minutes (A lot longer for professionals, and a lot shorter for someone as bad as me…)

Fun fact: Go is the oldest game in the world to still be played in its original form. It’s at least 2,500 years old, with some estimates putting it as high as 4000.

About Go

My favorite traditional Japanese game! (That’s technically Chinese, but I’m still counting it.)

‘Go’ or ‘Igo’ is a traditional Japanese tabletop game that originated in China, but found its way over to Japan in the 7th century CE.

By the 8th century, it became extremely popular in the Japanese court, and by the 13th century, it was finally popular with the general public.

How do you play Go?

Go is a game that pits one player against another in a battle for territory, victory, and the ultimate bragging rights.

Players will start on a 19×19 board, one will take the roll of black and the other white.

The player using the black stones makes the first move by placing his or her stones at an intersection of two lines.

The aim of the game is to capture as much land as possible. This is done by touching two separate sides of the boards, interrupting enemy chains, and capturing pieces.

Once again, below is a video example of how to play Go.

Commonly asked questions about Go:

Is go harder than chess?

It’s a game that’s pretty easy to learn, unlike some of the other entries on our list, but that doesn’t mean for one minute it’s an easy game.

It’s incredibly hard to master and one reason for this may be the simple movement of the pieces and the large board size. It means more experienced players can still be challenged by amateurs meaning they’ll always have to keep on their toes.

I like to think of it as the dark souls of board games, haha!

Is Go a fun game?

That really depends on your personality.

If you struggle to keep your attention in one place for more than half an hour, then it may not be for you. Check out these video games set in Japan for something that may be more up your street!

If however you enjoy meditative experiences and challenging your brain over an extended period of time, then it might just be for you!

I like to think of each game as two armies going against each other in a battle for territory. It helps me stick with it through the slow games…

What is the hardest board game in the world?

Technically this isn’t a question asked about Go, but it’s one with Go as the answer!

When you’re talking about a game that has more moves than there are atoms in the universe, you know you’re taking on a beast.

Where can I buy Go?

Your friendly neighborhood amazon should have you covered here! If not, just type in ‘Go Board’ on the amazon search engine and you should be good to go!

4. Gomoku – A Japanese variation of Go

Gomoku

Number of players: 2

Average game time: 20 minutes

Fun fact: Gomoku translates to ‘Five Pieces’ in Japanese. ‘Go’ means 5, and ‘Moku’ is the counter word for pieces (Oh how we love Japanese counters!)

About Gomoku:

‘Gomoku’, sometimes known as ‘Five in a row’ is a strategy board game commonly played with the same pieces as the previously mentioned ‘Go’.

Unlike Go, Gomoku is traditionally played on a 15×15 board instead of a 19×19.

Gomoku has been played in Japan since the Meiji Restoration, an event that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868.

emperor meiji and the procession
The palanquin (where the emperor sits) and procession of Emperor Meiji.

Since then, the game has become popular in Korea, China (unusually for the games on this board, after it was introduced in Japan as it is a Japanese variation), and also Britain where it was named Go Bang.

How do you play Gomoku?

Finally! A simple traditional board game that I can explain!

The basic rules of Gomoku are as follows:

1. One player is assigned to black, and the other is assigned to white.

2. Players then take turns placing their pieces one by one on the intersections, similarly to Go.

3. The winner is the player who manages to place exactly 5 stones in a row either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. It must be no more than 5, otherwise, the game continues.

Commonly asked questions about Gomoku:

Is Gomoku harder than chess?

Similarly to Go, Gomoku is relatively easy to learn but near enough impossible to master.

In fact, the game is so new that many of the top players are easily able to beat the best computer programs out there. Something chess players could only wish to be able to do.

Where can I buy Gomoku?

As Gomoku is a variation of Go, you’re unlikely to find any dedicated boards. I would instead advise you to buy a Go set from here, and then section off a 15×15 area to play Gomoku!

5. Sudoku – The game you all know

sudoku on window

Number of players: 1

Average game time: 10-30 minutes depending on skill and difficulty

Fun fact: There are 6670903752021072936960 possible Sudoku grids. Good luck trying to solve all of them!

About Sudoku:

Sudoku is a Japanese… Well, is it Japanese?

Technically (unfortunately for Japan) it isn’t.

Modern Sudoku (The type you and I know) was actually originally created by a gentleman called Howard Garns.

Howard was a 74-year-old retiree from Connersville, Indiana, who designed and published the first ‘Sudoku’ puzzle in a 1979 Dell magazine.

By 1984, the puzzle had made its way over to Japan through Maki Kaji, the then president of the Nikoli puzzle company.

It was in April of 1984 that Sudoku was first shown to the Japanese people and become a nationwide hit.

How do you play Sudoku?

Another game that I personally know the rules to, who would have thought!

A standard sudoku board is formed of 3×3 big squares, with 3×3 smaller squares within them.

To win the board and complete the game, a player must fit the numbers 1-9 in each 3×3 square, along the horizontal rows, and the vertical rows.

All small squares must have only one number in them, and no number must be repeated in the medium squares, the verticals, or the horizontals.

Commonly asked questions about Sudoku:

Is sudoku good for your brain?

Anytime you challenge your brain, you build up its mental reserves. Just as you would exercising your body, exercising your brain should be no different.

But can Sudoku help with that?

Well, yes!

A 2007 paper titled ‘Exercise on the Brain‘ by Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang suggests that practicing Sudoku can certainly ‘Make people better at sudoku puzzles or help them remember lists more accurately’.

Where can I buy Sudoku Puzzles?

It’s likely you can buy a simple Sudoku book from any of your local convenience stores.

If you’d prefer to stay at home to work on your Japanese, you can find a whole range of Sudoku books on amazon.

6. Daifugō – The Grand Millionaire

playing cards pile

Number of players: 3-8

Average game time: 10 minutes+

Fun fact: Daifugō also translates to ‘Very Rich Man’

About Daifugō:

Daifugō (Grand millionaire/very rich man) is a traditional Japanese card game that is played with 3-8 players.

It falls under the category of a ‘climbing game’ meaning each player must beat the previous player by playing a higher (or better) card.

The game was introduced in China in the 1970s and became popular in Japan around the 80s and 90s.

How do you play Daifugō?

Another Japanese board game (or card game in this case) that I don’t understand!

Here is my extremely basic understanding of the game.

The end goal of Daifugō is to get rid of your cards as quickly as possible by placing an increasingly better hand into the middle of the table.

For instance, if I am to play second and my opponent has just placed a single 5 then to stay in the game I will have to place a higher number card.

You must play the same amount of cards as the leader (the person who goes first). For example, you must play a 2 of a kind or more if that’s what the leader has placed.

Jokers can act as any card, meaning it can trump any card placed on the table and help you get two of a kind (or more) in situations where it’s needed.

If you cannot place any more cards, you must pass the round.

In case that description of Daifugō made absolutely no sense (don’t worry, I won’t be offended… much…) then here is a great little video that goes over the rules of this traditional Japanese card game.

Commonly asked questions about Daifugō:

Is Daifugō hard to play?

Nope.

Contrary to my diabolical explanation, Daifugō is a simple and easy traditional Japanese card game that everyone in the family can understand. Well at least, the parts that I understand of it anyway.

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if there was an entire other part to this game I’ve never heard of…

Where can I buy Daifugō?

No need to buy it, Just use a regular set of playing cards and you should be good to go!

If you don’t have a set of playing cards, these guys should absolutely be on your wishlist!

Yep, that’s right. Studio Ghibli playing cards.

I don’t need them, but damn, do I want them!

And if Studio Ghibli isn’t your thing, how about a set of playing cards that help you learn Japanese whilst you play? Again, I absolutely don’t need them, but I have to have them!

7. Karuta – The Japanese poem game

Karuta cards

Number of players: 2+

Average game time: 5-10 minutes

Fun fact: There are both Portuguese-derived karuta, and original Japanese Karuta.

About Karuta:

Karuta stems from the introduction of playing cards to Japan by Portuguese traders in the mid-16th century.

It wasn’t until the end of the 16th century that the initial version of Karuta was born in the town of Miike in Chikugo Province.

How do you play Karuta?

One nominated player will act as the reader of the Yomifuda ‘Reading cards’.

The others will all be going after the appropriate Torifuda ‘Grabbing cards’.

Shuffle both the reading and grabbing cards.

The reader then reads the reading cards which in turn give the grabbers a clue as to which card to grab!

If a player grabs the wrong card, they must forfeit the next turn by placing their hands on their head.

The person with the most cards at the end of the game is deemed the winner!

Commonly asked questions about Karuta:

Is there an English version of Karuta?

Yes!

Ogoola offers two versions of Karuta for English-speaking players:

Ogoola English Karuta – A fully original English-style Karuta with English poems and quotes.

Hyakuninisshu English Karuta – An English version of Japanese Karuta that has been translated

Where can I buy Karuta?

You can buy this version of Karuta called ‘Whack a Waka‘ which is both English and Japanese, and original Japanese versions (for helping you improve your Japanese in a fun and unique way) from amazon.

8. Sugoroku – The Japanese propaganda machine?

suguroku painting
Ban-Sugoroku (The one similar to Backgammon!)

Number of players: 2

Average game time: 5-60 Minutes

Fun fact: Ban-Sugoroku is pretty much identical to Backgammon, and e-Sugoroku is almost identical to snakes and ladders.

About Sugoroku:

‘Sugoroku’ is a term that refers to two separate traditional Japanese board games.

The first is called ‘Ban-Sugoroku’ meaning Board-Sugoroku, and the second is ‘e-Sugoroku’ which translates to Picture-Sugoroku.

Ban-Sugoroku was brought to Japan through China (surprise surprise) around the 6th century.

It was actually made illegal several times during its introduction because of the luck elements in the game which pretty much categorized it as gambling.

E-Sugoroku surfaced a lot later in the 13th century and featured picture block cards with things like religion, politics, and actors.

In today’s day and age, Ban-Sugoroku is near enough obsolete. So if you ever hear the word ‘Sugoroku’ being mentioned, it’s almost always referencing E-sugoroku.

How do you play Sugoroku?

Ban-Sugoroku

The first of our two games is Ban-Sugoroku, and it’s practically identical to Backgammon.

To that end, you’re best off first learning how to play backgammon properly and then following the 4 differences as set out by this wikipedia page (Yes I know, not a great source, but it’s the best I can find at the moment!)

E-Sugoroku

e-suguroku board
A 1925 E-Sugoroku board.

To play e-Suguroku, players will need access to a die and figures or characters to play the game with (think similar to monopoly characters).

Everyone participating in this game will start on a square called the furidashi and aim to finish on a square called the agari.

Each platform on the game board stipulates where a player must move to next which may include rolling a specific number.

If a player fails to roll the stipulated number, they must miss that turn out and wait until the next one to try again.

Commonly asked questions about Sugoroku:

How did the Japanese government distribute Sugoroku games?

As we’ve previously learned, e-Sugoroku games can cover all manner of topics and this is something the Japanese government used to its advantage.

During the early 1900’s, the Japanese government released e-Sugoroku games free in the daily newspapers which served the educational purpose of instructing civilians how to be good members of society.

This would also have included games about national pride, war propaganda, and any other messages the government wanted to release to a large proportion of Japanese society.

Where can I buy Sugoroku?

Possibly the most elusive board game on this list!

Other than a few handmade options on Etsy (one for e-Sugoroku and one for Ban-Sugoroku), your options are fairly limited.

One way to have your pick of e-Sugoroku boards is to take a look at the Japanese Amazon. They have absolutely loads of them, but the language barrier may be a bit intimidating to some.

To find out what options you have when ordering from Japan and other Japanese stores that might be of interest to you, take a look at this article where I discuss the 7 best online Japanese stores.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it!

A pretty thorough look at the traditional Japanese board game landscape. Let me know below if you’re planning on learning one of these old games, or maybe you’re already a master at them all!

Until next time, またね! ^_^

kpop vs Jpop
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J-Pop vs K-Pop: Which is more popular?

As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

I like to think I have a pretty varied musical library. One moment I could be listening to French rap and the next it’ll be Japanese lo-fi or classical. I even have a few J-Pop songs mixed into my Spotify playlists here and there.

But you never seem to hear about J-Pop unless you’re actively searching for it. K-pop on the other hand is all over the place whether you like it or not.

That got me thinking, which is more popular and why?

In short, K-Pop is far more popular and has a much larger fan base. This is due to multiple reasons including reinvention, struggling economies, approachability, and international investment.

Also, in case you’re interested, here are 9 of my favorite Japanese music artists you should absolutely listen to!

The history of J-Pop

J-Pop (Japanese popular music) is a musical genre that’s been established in Japan since the early 1970s and eventually went mainstream in the 1990s.

It came about through the heavy influence of 1960’s rock music (like the Beatles, beachboys, Rolling stones, etc) and culminated with a live performance by Happy End in 1971 which took the first step in introducing a new wave of pop music to the people of Japan.

Wanna see the performance?

Here you go then!

J-Pop vs K-Pop: Interest in Japan

j-pop vs k-pop
Google Trends graph comparing J-Pop and K-Pop

One of the more interesting revelations I discovered through my research is that K-Pop is vastly more popular in Japan than its own domestic music.

We can see from the graph that in around May of 2011, K-Pop overtook J-Pop and has stayed that way ever since. J-Pop on the other hand had been steadily declining for around 2 years before this date, adding to the clear and decisive win by Korea.

If I delve a little deeper and compare the two genres of pop music by sub-region in Japan I can see just how widespread K-Pop’s popularity is in comparison.

j-pop vs k-pop
Google Trends graph comparing J-Pop and K-Pop

In every prefecture, K-Pop’s popularity sits at around 65% or over making it a clear victor.

If this isn’t a sign that J-pop needs to reinvent itself, I don’t know what is…

J-Pop vs K-Pop: Interest worldwide

j-pop vs k-pop
Google Trends graph comparing J-Pop and K-Pop

Is K-Pop currently more popular than J-Pop worldwide?

Absolutely!

Looking at the graph above we can see that K-Pop overtook J-Pop in terms of popularity around the world at roughly the same time as Japan.

This time, however, their popularity has soared far higher than it did in Japan.

j-pop vs k-pop
Google Trends graph comparing J-Pop and K-Pop

The map above shows how much more popular K-Pop is around the world. K-Pop is red and J-Pop is blue.

Is there even any blue?…

Reasons J-Pop isn’t as popular as K-Pop

So we’ve seen the facts, now let’s find out what’s led to the ‘downfall’ of J-Pop and the widespread popularity of K-Pop:

1. The industry isn’t targeted to an international audience

One of the biggest reasons that J-Pop is nowhere near as popular as K-Pop is that the Japanese music industry as a whole has little to no international investment.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never actively searched for K-Pop music but still seen it on TV.

Mega K-Pop Idols ‘BTS’ have been on pretty much every talk show known to man, penetrated global music markets, and have worldwide fame for more than just their music.

Don’t get me wrong, there are some Japanese pop groups you’ll probably have heard of (AKB48, Babymetal) but their fame is almost entirely constricted to Japan.

Although saying that, we’ve already seen from some of the above graphs that J-Pop has been steadily declining in popularity (in both Japan and worldwide) since 2009.

Whilst J-Pop is popular in Japan, it’s nowhere near like it once was.

2. J-Pop doesn’t adapt

Japanese pop was once extremely popular. Especially when bands like AKB48 put on regular shows at their theatre in Akihabara and did meet and greets, photos with fans, and generally did a lot to be inclusive of their fanbase.

At the time, it was something no other bands or types of music did but now times have changed.

Many bands have adopted the same style of ‘Advertising’ and that’s led to J-Pop losing its sense of mystery and what once made it unique is now just expected by everyone.

Instead of reinventing themselves and finding other ways to push the boundaries of the J-Pop music scene, most managers and producers have stayed with what they know and failed to adapt.

Go onto youtube and search through a few J-Pop songs from different artists.

99% of them sound so similar, and it’s because virtually no one is willing to adapt to what’s being produced (and is popular) elsewhere in the world.

Ahhh, that classic stubborn Japanese attitude!

It’s not even necessarily a bad thing, especially if the artists are performing the music they love. But it’s a fact that may stop them from becoming incredibly popular overseas.

Obviously, Japan isn’t as insular as it once was, but it’s times like these that make me feel it still has a ways to go.

3. You’ll probably listen to K-Pop, but won’t like J-Pop

A lot of J-Pop is weird, like really weird. And that’s coming with someone who has an unhealthy obsession with Japan.

It’s almost an unwritten rule that a large majority of J-Pop bands wear apparently ‘Cute’ clothing, act childishly, and sing less-than-relatable songs.

Of course not every J-Pop band is this way so that’s quite a huge sweeping statement, but still I struggle to take anything like that seriously, and those artists often take the spotlight away from the other incredibly talented Japanese music artists.

K-Pop on the other hand is, on the whole, relatable, normal(ish), and the vast majority of the time just has a general appeal to a wider audience than its home country.

Let’s take two songs as an example:

The first is by Japanese pop singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

Annoyingly I can’t embed it but you can open it in a new tab by clicking here.

I’m not saying it’s not fun to watch, but I just don’t understand it. Like, does it have a point?

Why is she running down the road with toast in her mouth?

What the hell is “chewing love”?

And why are they in such weird costumes?

Annnnnd why are girls always portrayed as young and cute?

It seems as though it’s been produced for an extremely specific audience and potentially has a ‘shock’ value for westerners but for the vast majority of people that’s as far as it goes.

Although I must stress that not all J-Pop is this weird, I just chose it because it proves my point.

There are actually a few fantastic J-Pop songs (like this one by King Gnu), but they Consistently get overshadowed by stuff like this.

PONPONPON gets a free pass. That song is untouchable!

Here we have a song by ‘Stray Kids’, a South Korean pop band.

Its video is still a little weird, but definitely not unreasonably so.

Lyrics are provided by the band in English (subs) and they make a lot more sense than someone running with toast in her mouth.

The beat is also a little more recognizable for western audiences and it’s easy to say something like this could be on the charts without much problem.

Again, this isn’t the case with all K-Pop, but it’s the overwhelming feeling you’ll get if you listen to a few of them.

4. Fans are insular

Obviously, this is also quite a big sweeping statement but stick with me.

Japan isn’t exactly the most open or free-spirited country in the world, and this often rubs off on the people who live there.

As we’ve already figured out, the J-Pop music industry was specifically catered to Japanese people.

And it’s an industry that’s probably far bigger than we realize with over 3,000 idol groups currently active, each one of them fighting for devout Japanese fans’ attention.

In fact, people are so loyal to their group, that even the implication that they could listen to another band is unheard of (for a lot of fans).

Couple this with the increasing competition from newly emerging groups, and you’ve got yourself a country that’s fighting with itself to determine the most popular group.

It wouldn’t be a stretch to consider this a reason that J-Pop doesn’t do well in other countries around the world.

5. It’s not approachable for a western audience

Japan is famous for having an extremely stubborn entertainment industry.

As such there’s very limited fan activity online, especially on YouTube where songs are often taken down or copyrighted.

That means no lyric videos, no translations, and sometimes no covers.

It’s quite clear from this that the foreign market is something Japanese band producers and managers just aren’t interested in conquering.

It also means you might not even be able to listen to your favorite J-Pop artists’ new songs if they’ve region-locked it in your country.

Sure you can grab a VPN and change your location by that’s a lot of extra effort to go to when it’s obvious they won’t be going to the same amount of effort for you.

Conclusion

So, Japanese pop music just isn’t as popular as K-Pop.

And potentially not even in Japan, that’s absolutely mad!

Let me know in the comments below what your favorite J-Pop and K-Pop band are, I need some new material to listen to whilst I write these posts!

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18 Important Ways To Prepare For Your Trip To Japan

As an Amazon Associate, I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. At no extra cost to you! ^_^

Going to Japan might seem like a big logistical ordeal.

I’m here to tell you that it really doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, I think it could be quite enjoyable but maybe I’m just a research nerd!

This article is part one of a (currently) two-part series on how to prepare yourself for your trip to Japan.

The second article is all about the best ways to survive your flight, something often overlooked by a lot of bloggers!

So be sure to check it out if you’ve booked a flight ^_^

Enough of the waffle, let’s get to the travel tips!

1. Plan your trip based on seasons

The very first thing you need to do before anything is choose when you want to travel to Japan. Whilst I think you’d be happy traveling to Japan at pretty much any time during the year, you may have some requirements that are only possible at a certain time.

One of the biggest deciding factors on when you should travel to Japan is the seasons.

Here in the U.K, we have pretty, ‘Mediocre’ seasonal weather. The summers aren’t that hot and the winters aren’t particularly cold.

But in Japan, this really isn’t the case.

Here’s a summary of what you can expect during each season and reasons why it may appeal to you:

Spring (March-May)

Japanese translation: Haru

Kanji:

Best for: Sightseeing both natural and man-made Japan

Traditional Japanese garden Yokohama
Sankei-en, Yokohama, Japan. BEAUTIFUL!

This is without a doubt the most popular time to visit Japan and for good reason, too. Springtime in Japan is the stuff dreams are made of. You’ll feel as if you’re in your very own anime!

To start with, Springtime in Japan is when the Japanese cherry blossom starts to bloom.

Unfortunately, they are notorious for being hard to catch in full bloom, but as a rule of thumb, you should expect them somewhere in Japan from Mid-March to early May. If this is especially important to you, you may want to check the available cherry blossom forecast for the year you plan on going, like this one for the 2022 season.

Undecided on whether to travel during cherry blossom season? I’ve made a guide to help you figure that out!

Spring sees the best weather out of the year in Japan when it’s playing nice. I’ve been to several different places around Japan at this time of year, and let me tell you that weather conditions will absolutely vary.

Don’t be surprised if one day you’re in the city and it’s a beautifully hot 20°C allowing you to wear short sleeve tops and shorts, and the next day it plummets back down to as low as 5°C.

The moral of spring weather in Japan is indecisiveness. So pack accordingly!

Aside from the Sakura (cherry blossom) and the perfect weather conditions, spring is considered the low season in terms of plane travel.

The cheapest month to travel to Japan is usually April with return flight tickets averaging just under $1000, but cheaper tickets are available if you are willing to compromise on air carrier and flight times.

Summer (June – August)

Japanese translation: Natsu

Kanji:

Best for: Relaxing near water, definitely not city exploration!

Naoshima, Kagawa, Japan.
Naoshima, Kagawa, Japan.

Hot, Humid, Muggy, Sweaty, Gross, I can’t breathe, It’s way too hot, I miss bad weather.

These are all things I’ve said whilst wandering around Tokyo in the height of summer.

If however, you’re looking for a summer holiday destination (and preferably aren’t wandering around the streets of Tokyo) then Japan in summer is an absolutely fantastic choice!

From crystal clear waters to sand dunes, and even world-class surfing, Japan is a great choice in the summer if you’re looking for a specific type of holiday.

Autumn (September-November)

Japanese translation: Aki

Kanji:

Best for: Sightseeing of the natural landscape and cities

Lake Kawaguchi, Fuji.
Lake Kawaguchi, Fuji.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Japanese cherry blossom season, Autumn might be an ideal time to visit Japan.

Temperatures and weather conditions are all-around more stable than in spring and summer making exploring cities, towns, and the countryside a nicer experience.

Autumn is also a time for viewing Japan’s stunning red leaves, almost as famous as the pink cherry blossom earlier on in the year.

Winter (December – February)

Japanese translation: Fuyu

Kanji:

Best for: Snow activities, skiing, winter festivals

Sapporo, Japan.

I recently experienced Winter in Sapporo, and my goodness it was cold!

As a country that plays host to the snowiest place on earth, Japanese winters are sure to satisfy even the pickiest of winter holiday enthusiasts.

There are over 500 ski resorts all over the country and plenty of snow festivals to make it a winter holiday to remember. There are a few things to remember if you’re planning a ski holiday in Japan, but once you’ve got them down, it’ll easily be the best trip you’ve been on!

2. Check the visa requirements of your country

^ Your damn cool passport when we can all travel again

Sometimes, visiting Japan isn’t just as simple as turning up. Be sure to check the visa requirements before you plan your holiday, and especially before you board the plane!

The earlier you get this done, the less stress you’ll feel during the run-up to your holiday.

Do I need to apply for a visa before going to Japan?

Passport holders from all EU countries, the United States, Australia, Canada, Iceland, and 61 other countries do not need to apply for a visa before going to Japan.

Upon landing in one of Japan’s airports, you will be issued a landing card. You’ll then fill it out with some travel info, take that through to customs, and have your passport stamped.

Technically you’ll now be traveling with a tourist visa, but there’s no need to apply for one before leaving.

If you are in doubt or have any concerns about traveling to Japan with a visa I suggest contacting your local Japanese embassy.

They should be able to clear up any trouble you might have and set you on your way to a destination of a lifetime!

3. Book your flights early

sunset out of a plane window Japan
What I wouldn’t give to see that view now!

Due to the constant changing of flight prices, it’s hard to give you an exact time to book flights for your trip to Japan. However, if you want a rough answer I would say around 6 months before your intended holiday is when flights will be at their cheapest.

I’ve written an article detailing why flights to Japan are so expensive (and how to get them cheaper!), so check that out to make sure you’re getting all the best deals!

That shouldn’t stop you from checking earlier though, especially if it’s a holiday you’ve been planning for a while. I would suggest signing up for a travel notification email via one of the comparison sites.

That way, you won’t have to stay up until 3 in the morning to get the best prices. Instead, you can stay up until 3 in the morning playing animal crossing on your Japanese island.

Priorities, people!

4. Grab a pocket Wi-Fi or sim card

free wifi in Japan
Contrary to the picture, there’s rarely free Wi-Fi inside…

Finding free Wi-Fi in Japan is notoriously difficult.

I remember coming out of an Airbnb in the middle of Shinjuku one time and for some stupid reason completely forgetting to use the available Wi-Fi to look up our route for the day.

After about half an hour of walking in random directions in the hope of finding an internet café (do those things even exist anymore?!) we stumbled across a Mcdonald’s, which thankfully had free wifi for us to plan things for the day.

Although I honestly love getting lost in Tokyo and would even actively encourage it, sometimes you have a destination you want to get to and time restraints can apply.

The point of the story is if I had prepared for the holiday in the first place, I would have known that getting a pocket Wi-Fi or sim card before the trip would have saved a load of time.

This is especially important if your holiday to Japan is a once-in-a-lifetime trip and you only have a couple of weeks, but equally important in any situation.

I recommend using Sakura Mobile.

They’re simple to use, give great service, and offer a variety of options to suit your travel needs.

Click on the image below if you’re interested in finding out more!

5. Don’t travel without travel insurance

cancelled flights Japan
No one want’s a delayed or canceled flight, but sometimes it can’t be helped.

Probably the single best way to prepare for your trip to Japan.

DO NOT!

I REPEAT.

DO NOT TRAVEL WITHOUT INSURANCE!!

Yes, it can be an annoying expense that you’d rather forget about. And maybe you don’t plan on bungee jumping out of a moving plane, but no one can predict the future.

We’ve talked before about how safe Japan is as a country, but even the safest parts of the world aren’t free from crime.

Besides, you don’t just get travel insurance for Japan in case something happens to you on your trip.

Other reasons you should get travel insurance before you go to Japan include:

Cancellations

This could include (depending on the type of travel insurance you have) flights, hotels, car hire, tour companies, transport, and events.

Normally the higher tier travel insurance you purchase, the more you’re illegible to claim for if something was to go wrong.

Delays

Japan is a long way from a lot of countries.

As such flight times are normally pretty long, especially if you’ve got a stop or two on the way.

In fact, whilst we’re on the topic of stopovers you should seriously consider flights with 12 hours+ stops in other countries. If you don’t need visas to enter you could make it part of your holiday to Japan and consider it a mini holiday.

Though you’ll probably be super tired if you attempt it, it might save you a few bucks if you work things out properly.

Anyway, my point about Japan being so far away from other countries (a good 12 hours for most) means you’ll really want to enjoy every last second of your time there. It’s especially hard if you’ve put months into planning your dream holiday only to have a 12-hour delay that severely messes with your itinerary.

By booking travel insurance before your go to Japan you may be able to claim back the time you lost. While you cant literally recoup the time, any money you get towards it may ease the inconvenience.

Lost items

We all know the drill.

Get in the car to the airport, check your passports and tickets are in the bag about 684 times.

But, sometimes they may get lost or other items may be stolen during your trip. With travel insurance, you know you’ll always be able to get home no matter what happens.

Air carrier goes bankrupt

This isn’t normally something you need to look out for when booking travel insurance, but the events over the last few years have shown us that things like this can and do happen.

So whilst you may not need it, it could be nice put your mind at rest

Final thoughts on travel insurance for Japan:

Many different travel insurance companies will also cater to your situation and the time you intend to stay in the country for.

For instance, if I’m heading out to Japan for a year then I’ll search for a specialized travel insurance company rather than if I’m going for 2-3 weeks.

Other important factors would be who I’m traveling with (whether it be by myself, with a family, or with a spouse) my age, current health, and history)

Search around for the best Japanese travel insurance for your circumstance so you can enjoy yourself whilst you’re over there and not have to worry about the repercussions if anything was to happen.

Hint: If you pay house insurance, own a credit card, or work for a company, check to see if you’re already covered for your trip. It’ll make the already easy task of finding travel insurance even easier!

Well, this turned out to be a long point… Onto the next one!

6. Grab a Japanese box

Kawaii Things

I’m one of those people who get massively excited before a holiday. 

As in, can’t sleep the night before, and can’t stop talking about it to literally everyone I meet.

With a holiday destination as big as Japan, the chances are high that you’ve booked a fair amount in advance (a good idea if it’s possible!)

That leaves months or longer where you’re stuck in your hometown, gazing out of windows whilst imagining the place you’d rather be.

Unfortunately, I can’t fast forward time to bring your trip to Japan forward, but I can offer something of a compromise!

Introducing the Japanese kawaii box!

Probably the cutest way to experience Japan at home, probably.

This kawaii Japanese gift box comes Jam-packed with snacks, plush toys, and other cute Japanese souvenirs.

You can expect about 8-10 gifts in each of the monthly boxes. So you can be sure that by the end of the year your house will be filled to the brim with Japan-related goodness!

Interested? Click here to read about their latest monthly box!

And if cute Japanese gift boxes aren’t for you (who even are you!?) then maybe you’d prefer one with entirely Japanese food.

The best way to prepare yourself for your trip to Japan might well be by trying all their food before you go!

bokksu Japan box
The best way to experience Japan from home!

Inside ‘Bokksu‘ you can expect only Japanese snacks which is the perfect way to give you a taste (pun intended) of Japanese cuisine without scaring you off!

Or, if you’re looking for ANOTHER Japanese subscription box, click here for my favorite one! (It’s literally amazing…)

7. Read these travel guidebooks

Japanese woman reading book

Another great way to get excited about your upcoming trip to Japan is by reading a travel guidebook.

Not only will this prepare you for certain situations you wouldn’t have otherwise thought of, but you’re also extremely likely to find places to go that you haven’t heard of before.

For this reason, I like to be as specific as possible with guidebooks.

For example, a general book about Japan is far less likely to provide you with secret hidden gems than a book specifically relating to the area you’re staying in or specific to your interests.

Here are 3 of my favorite:

A Geek in Japan

A geek in Japan gives an informative overview of all aspects of Japan. Culture, history, technology, and more, Hector Garcia decodes thousands of years of mystery into a concise yet incredibly interesting book.

He’s also someone who isn’t under the illusion that Japan is ‘the perfect country’. So if you’re after an unbiased opinion, this might be for you!

Tokyo Maze

An extremely practical for the explorers among you. If you happen to find yourself in Tokyo, a little strapped for cash, but still want to search out the local culture then Axel Schwab’s Tokyo Maze could absolutely be the book for you.

I’m a big fan of hopping on a train in the city and then traveling to a random local stop in the suburbs. Though, I’m also a big fan of riding Japan’s last sleeper train. What an experience that was!

I would highly suggest doing this in all countries, but the stark difference between central Tokyo and some of the suburban neighborhoods is quite impressive.

If you love the idea of exploring in this way but don’t know where to start, grab this Japan travel guide!

Super Cheap Japan

Super Cheap Japan is a favorite of mine!

Tokyo (and Japan in general) is unfortunately not the cheapest place in the world, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your trip to Japan on the cheap.

Learn how to budget your Japan holiday in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Hiroshima.

Hint: Stay in a capsule hotel to save those pennies!

8. Learn some basic phrases

aligator in Japanese

Potentially the best way to prepare for your trip to Japan is by learning some of the local lingo.

Now it’s important to mention that I’m not fluent in Japanese but I do have a range of thoroughly researched and checked articles here.

They should help point you in the right direction and start your journey into the exciting world of the Japanese language.

If you’re looking to delve a little deeper than a few holiday phrases, I would recommend tofugu, a blog based entirely on the Japanese language and one that can explain the nuances of the language far better than I can.

9. Survive your flight to Japan

plane flying to Japan
It’s been a long time since I’ve been on one of these… :'(

Less significant than learning some survival phrases but no less important is surviving your probably very long flight to Japan.

And what’s the best way to survive it? To prepare!

Luckily for you, I’ve written an entire article dedicated to helping you survive your flight to Japan.

It’s part two of our series and well worth a read for when you’ve booked up your flight!

…or maybe you’re just a massive Japan nerd and love dreaming about that future flight.

You’ll get there one day!

10. Stay somewhere different

Japanese tempe garden

Please please please do not go all the way to Japan and just stay in a chain hotel.

Prepare your dream trip to Japan by planning some of your accommodations before you go.

I say some, not all. We’ll get to why in a bit.

Look, I understand how convenient chain hotels might seem but you’re truly missing out on an entire side of Japanese culture.

The easiest way to do this is through Japan’s Airbnb network. The country is filled to the brim with traditional, unique, and sometimes truly weird places to stay and it’s super easy to book.

Take a look here for my top Airbnb recommendations in Japan ^_^

If you’re feeling even more adventurous, you may consider staying in a traditional Japanese ryokan or maybe staying a night in an ancient Japanese temple.

Japanese ryokans are by far the best way to experience traditional Japanese culture and they don’t have to cost your entire budget either.

If you did want to splurge a little, you could book yourself a night in Tokyo’s very first ryokan. It’s an urban oasis!

11. Consider the Japan Rail Pass

Japan rail pass

I won’t lie to you, sometimes transport costs can add up a little. Especially if you want to fit in as much as humanly possible during your stay.

Whilst Japan’s network of trains is considered the best in the world, it can be easy to forget how much you’re spending each time you hop on and off.

I always find that whenever I go traveling that I spend more freely than I would do if it was my own country’s currency. Almost like it’s ‘play money’ rather than actual hard-earned cash.

If like me, you plan to travel pretty much nonstop during your trip then you may benefit from a Japan Rail Pass.

The best way to prepare yourself for the cost of transport in Japan is to buy it before you go from here (their website).

But if you aren’t sure whether it’s right for you, you can use their fare calculator to see how much you could save.

It might turn out that it wasn’t as much as you’d think or maybe it’s nothing at all, but it’s still worth having a look beforehand.

Though you can buy it directly from the airport when you land, it’s always nicer to have everything before you set off so you’ll know there’s nothing to think about when you’re there.

They also offer a regional pass in case you’re thinking about traveling specifically in one area.

This could save you more money than the nationwide JR pass and end up being far more convenient.

12. Understand the culture

Japanese gong temple

If you want to make the most of your trip to Japan, you’ll stand the best chance by learning about the Japanese culture before your trip.

I’m not going to tell you what you should or shouldn’t learn because that depends on what you’re looking at getting out of your trip in the first place.

Instead, I’ll point you to a couple of posts I’ve written that shed light on some of the cultural aspects of Japan you may not be familiar with.

13. Read through some Japanese blogs

Japan header

Another way to get you prepared and let’s be honest, excited, is by reading through a few different blogs about Japan to find out what you’re in for.


Here are a few of my favorites:

http://adayofzen.com – Who’d have thought it, my own blog about Japan is one of my favorites!

https://tokyocheapo.com – Great for location guides, and lots of free ideas

https://tofugu.com – Mentioned earlier in the article, a great place to learn the intricacies of the Japanese language

14. See more by seeing less

deers at Miyajima island
Miyajima Island

Obviously, you’ll be going to Japan completely hyped up and I wouldn’t be surprised if your itinerary for the trip was overly Jam-packed.

Whilst I do understand that you’d want to fit in as much as you possibly can during your (potentially) once-in-a-lifetime trip, sometimes by seeing less, you’ll understand and experience more.

Lots of Japanese tour operators will advertise the complete opposite of what I’m suggesting.

The usual route taken would be Tokyo->Kyoto->Osaka->Hiroshima->Tokyo.

I’m not saying this isn’t something you should do during your first trip to Japan, but there are some Pros to seeing less.

ProsCons
Seeing MoreYou feel like you’ve seen more of the countryYou’ve rushed your way through the sights over a few weeks
Seeing LessYou can spend longer in a certain place and immerse yourself in the local cultureMaybe you can’t do everything you originally planned
The pros and cons of seeing more or less on a Japanese holiday

Unsure what to see and where to go?

That’s why I’ve created the Ultimate Japanese bucket list for Osaka and Tokyo including accommodation options, food options, and things to do for every budget!

15. Schedule time to get lost

tokyo tower sunset

Japan is a big place.

Following on from the previous point, whichever direction you chose to take your trip in, make sure you have at least some time to get lost.

Getting lost in Japan has brought up countless interesting experiences and also led me to some truly awesome locations like impromptu vegan restaurants (somewhat of a rarity in Japan) and even the biggest manga shop in the world!

So, give yourself enough time to wander around without purpose because you might just find something you didn’t expect.

Hint: As a foreign tourist in Japan you, you are required to carry your passport with you at all times.

16. Take cash with you to most places

Japanese yen coins in hand

As futuristic-looking and technologically advanced as Japan is, it’s primarily a cash-based society.

That means you’ll still have to convert your current currency into JPY (Japanese yen).

You can do this through a currency exchange in your hometown or if you’re feeling brave you can wait until you’ve passed through customs after you come off the plane.

In the past, this was the best way to secure the best rate possible through currency conversion. However the rates seem to be getting closer together, so do your research beforehand!

17. Use public transport

cute funny train face Japan

If I got 1 yen for every time I’ve mentioned how amazing Japanese public transport is… I’d probably have about 50 yen…

BUT it honestly cannot be stated enough.

My two favorite methods of getting around in Japan are walking and getting the train. Taxis are also handy for getting to those hard-to-reach areas, but can quickly eat into your holiday budget.

Contrary to the title, the above blog post shows you how (almost) perfect Japanese transport can be!

18. Consider your souvenirs carefully

Japan vinyl record

Japan is a country full of wonder and mystery, so don’t be surprised if you come away with more than a few souvenirs.

I hope that your trip to Japan will inspire you to bring some of the cultures back home to you more than some cheap plastic toy.

Whilst this is something you’ll only be able to decide once you’re in Japan, it might help to take a sneak peek at your options before you go to Japan.

That way you’ll know what to look out for when you’re out there!

Hold on! Don’t close this tab just yet! I’ve got one more piece of advice that can make a huge difference in your travel experience to Japan: How to avoid jet lag. Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights and grumpy mornings due to jet lag, and I don’t want the same to happen to you!