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Gurunavi Navigates You Through Japanese Culinary Culture

Japan’s largest restaurant search engine, Gurunavi, expands its contribution beyond its useful online search tool. In order to help the Japanese culinary culture to flourish, they now educate consumers about food, history and etiquette to develop the future of Japanese gourmet culture. Master t[...]

Styles & Cultures in Japan

Omotenashi – The Heart of Japanese Hospitality

It's the spirit of service that goes beyond guest satisfaction. Muneyuki Joraku explains what goes into the heart of Japanese Hospitality.

Styles & Cultures in Japan

Mysterious Japan: Pilgrimage Routes and the Goddess Benzaiten of Tenkawa

Back in 2004, the “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range” were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stretches over Mie, Nara, and Wakayama Prefectures, the area consists of three sacred sites linked by pilgrimage routes. The first sacred site, Yoshino and Omine ([...]

Styles & Cultures, Tokyo, Trip to Japan in Japan

Ota City: Take a dip in one of the many unique hot spring baths

You may not know there are quite a few natural hot spring baths in Tokyo, especially in Ota City. Check out Public Bath Association’s multilingual website for more info! http://www.ota1010.com/e_main.html Myojin-yuIf you want to try a traditional public bath, Myojin-yu is the place to go.[...]

In Harmony with the Seasons, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Toji (around 22nd of December)

As the days begin to shorten and the breezes get chillier, it almost feels as though everything is going to fade and die off…it’s not hard to imagine how our ancestors struggled to survive the season and longed for the arrival of the spring. Toji, literally meaning the deep[...]

In Harmony with the Seasons, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Joushi (3rd of March)

There are five days across the year called “Sekku/Sechiku”. Each announces the change of the season in the traditional Japanese calendar. One of these is “Momo no Sekku (Girl’s Day)”. It is also called “Joushi” which is the Chinese name for this day. It is said that this event w[...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Kaiseki Manners Part 2

Generally speaking, a kaiseki meal is served as follows: Appetizer >> Soup >> Sashimi >> Simmered items >> Deep-fried items >> Grilled items >> Steamed items >> Rice, Soup and Pickles >> Desserts Let’s begin by looking at the grilled item which i[...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

FIVE TIPS for enjoying Hanami

1. Bring your bento box Bringing your bento box will make Hanami more exciting. When the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, you can view them while walking around, or you can just enjoy the single blooming tree tree in your neighbourhood. Eating outside with the spring air makes food – including e[...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Various styles of serving Sake

1. Who said you can’t drink sake in a wine glass? Apart from using traditional Japanese tableware, you can enjoy sake in a wineglass. For Junmai, treat it as if it were red wine at room temperature to appreciate the aroma of rice. For Honjozo or a dry type of sake, drink it [...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Ryokan

1. Take off your shoes When you stay at older ryokan buildings, you often need to take off your shoes at the main entrance and change into slippers. Nowadays there are some ryokans where guests don’t need to take off their shoes at the entrance. Though, when you enter your guest room, you al[...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Kaiseki Manners

1. Getting started When it is offered as a course, the dishes are usually served in the order below. ① Sakizuke(appertizers) ② Suimono(soup) ③ Mukouzuke(sashimi etc) ④ Nimono (boiling food) ⑤ Agemono (tempura etc) ⑥ Yakimono(grilled fish in season) ⑦ Mushimono(chawan-mushi etc) Rice/Ko-nomono [...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Transportation etiquette in Tokyo

When you travel, you tend to meet different kinds of people and be in touch with other cultures, but do you know about their local etiquette? Miss Wattention, SAKURA, and her little bear KUMATA will show you how to enjoy Japan’s unique culture in an authentic way. You won’t feel embarrassed if [...]

In Harmony with the Seasons, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Tanabata (early to mid August)

Traditional delicacies of the summer: “Somen (fine noodles)”were originally intended as a treat, dedicated to deceasedchildren so that they wouldn’t feel neglected. The paper mulberryleaves were used to write wishes on, later replaced by the colorfulstrips of paper used for Ta[...]

How to be a Good Traveller, Styles & Cultures in Japan

Onsen

An Onsen is a term for natural hot springs and is often used to describe bathing establishments and inns around the hot springs. Traditionally, Onsen is a public bathing place and even today, you often share the bathtub with others. There is an established code of etiquette for Onsen. If you fo[...]