Matsuyama, Japan is a destination full of connections. Located in Ehime prefecture in Shikoku, it’s a place where striking up a conversation with a stranger at the train station is commonplace, and someone tapping you on the shoulder and offering you a mikan (mandarin), the prefecture’s renowned fruit, as a currency of kindness, is just […]
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Shichi-go-san: Japan’s celebration of kids aged 7 5 3
Shichi-go-san (七五三) is a Japanese festival held annually in November. Shichi-go-san literally means ‘7 5 3′ and celebrates the health and longevity of girls aged 3 and 7, and boys aged 5. It’s an important rite of passage for young children and is an occasion for the whole family to get dressed up, go the […]
Halloween in Japan is unlike anywhere else (where to celebrate in Tokyo)
If you’ve seen recent photos of Halloween in Japan, you might be surprised to learn that Halloween has really only become “a thing” here over the past several years. When we moved to Japan going on a decade ago, there weren’t the huge street parties or number of parades there are now. Halloween was more […]
Japan’s Tori-no-Ichi: The Rooster Market That Sells Rakes
The Tori-no-Ichi (酉の市 – rooster market) is an open-air fair that takes place annually on the ‘Days of the Rooster’ in November according to the Chinese zodiac. On the days of the event, festival-goers visit temples of the Rooster, notably Juzaisan Chokoku-ji Temple in Asakusa, or shrines of the Washi (Eagle) to ask for good […]
Listings on Airbnb in Japan drop by 80% practically overnight
At the beginning of June 2018, Airbnb in Japan went from more than 62,000 listings to just 13,800. With such high demand for rooms ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it seems to be a trend that defies logic. So, what exactly did happen to vacation rentals in Japan that saw Japan’s Airbnb listings […]
Blood Type Personality: What does your blood type say about you?
Strike up a conversation in a bar or head out to a dinner party in Japan and the likelihood is that the conversation will, at some point, steer towards blood type (ketsuekigata 血液型). Foreigners are sometimes perplexed about this Japanese fascination with blood type, which is often used as small talk when meeting someone for […]
Sapa Homestay: The Most Authentic Homestay in Sapa, Vietnam
This post is a special personal essay on our homestay in Sapa, Vietnam with a Black Hmong family. Here you will see a completely different side to Vietnam – a place where two legs or four are the main modes of transportation, where the air is fresh and skies go on forever, and where there […]
5 Breathtaking Things to do in Yakushima, Japan’s natural wonder
Yakushima may be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it’s still one of Japan’s best-kept secrets. Located just south of Kyushu mainland, this island full of natural wonders really has to be seen to be believed. Here are 5 things to do in Yakushima that are an absolute must! Table of Contents See the magnificent […]
White Day: Japan’s Answer to Valentine’s Day
You may feel like one Valentine’s Day a year is enough, but Japan’s confectionery industry thinks otherwise. In addition to celebrating Valentine’s Day on February 14th, Japan also has a second Valentine’s Day on March 14th known as ‘White Day’. Table of Contents What’s the difference between Valentine’s Day and White Day?What is White Day […]
What women are expected to do on Valentine’s Day in Japan
You might be surprised to learn that Valentine’s Day in Japan is celebrated rather differently than in much of the rest of the world. Firstly, it’s a day when only women give gifts to men, usually in the form of chocolates or cookies. And, secondly, it’s not an exclusively romantic holiday. Valentine’s Day in Japan […]