A brisk shinkansen ride from Tokyo through the bamboo-covered hills and rice paddies will bring you to Kanazawa, a charming coastal town often compared to Kyoto and referred to as the hidden pearl of the Japan Sea.
A photo album and two flags recovered from Pacific battlefields were returned this week to the families of the fallen Japanese soldiers who carried them into combat during World War II.
Kyoto is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites packed into an area of around 828 square kilometers. Over 250 shrines, as many as 1,600 temples and other cultural properties within the city have been impressing foreign visitors for ages.
Japan, ramen is also popular down south.
Ramen Linya, near Camp Foster on Highway 58, is the place to go when you’re hankering for this popular dish.
Owner Ryo Kanai takes his task one step further by bringing something different to Okinawa: He specializes in Kyoto-style ramen – which uses chicken-based broth.
Not far from Kyoto, there’s a village that has been dedicated to the traditional craft of washi papermaking for more than 800 years. Kurotani village is lulled in quiet nature, with streams of clear water running down along the streets, between old Japanese houses. It is in one of these streams that we find Horie Sato, knee deep in water, treading...
Summer in Japan is perhaps the least popular season because it gets incredibly hot and humid, mosquitos attack at full force, while cicadas get obnoxiously loud.
From the dense forests of Nara, where deer roam free, to fascinating artisan villages that line up the spectacular northern coastline of Tango Peninsula, there is plenty to explore and enjoy in Kyoto Prefecture once you venture beyond the former Imperial capital. Uji is of such gem sites.
The famous Land of the Rising Sun is known for so many things, it’s hard to even mention them all: culture, history, pop culture, manga, anime, cosplay, sights, architecture...the list could go on and on.
Maintaining a healthy diet can be challenging. Unhealthy and cheap foods are easily accessible, making it tempting to go for those instead of the healthier options.
Kabocha korokke, is a common and very popular bento meal item. You’ll find this in many schoolchildren’s lunch boxes when autumn arrives as it’s a great way for moms to get their kids to eat more veggies.
SInce we are basically stuck at home for the time being, might as well head to the kitchen and make up some Okinawa soba noodles.
Okinawa Soba
Ingredients: (Serves 5)
For noodles
• 1.1 lb semi-strong flour
• Shikomi water (see next)
• Starch
Okinawan brown sugar, made from sugarcane grown in fields blessed with strong southern-island sunlight and minerals delivered by the ocean spray, is very rich in flavor.
