The Tokyo Thai Festival is one of the largest ethnic festivals held in Japan. One of the most anticipated, too, it’s held in Yoyogi Park each spring. It’s a great place to find excellent Thai food, as well as enjoy a diverse stage schedule including martial arts demonstrations, musicians, dancers, and artists. The festival’s main selling point is Thai food and drink, in copious quantities, prepared by virtually every Thai food restaurant in Tokyo, but you can find a great deal more than that!

Whether you are after pad-thai, green papaya salad, or just a few Singha beers, you will find them all here, as well as a diverse array of entertainment and cultural opportunities.

Ando R Group H’S Japan Info Swap  Shares Full Event Details In Their Post: Thai Festival In Tokyo .

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Japan Info Swap Is Operated By The H Ando R Group As Part Of Its Relocation Service, To Assist Expats In Japan By Providing Useful And Easily Accessible Information To Enhance Daily Living. Visit Their Blog , Sign Up For Their Newsletter , Or Download Their FREE E-Book about living in Japan.

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Daiyuzan Saijo-ji is a breathtaking Buddhist temple that was built more than 615 years ago. Although it is still frequented by devout worshipers from all across Japan, it remains one of the less talked about magnificent places in Kanagawa Prefecture. This is probably due to the fact that Daiyuzan Saijo-ji is obscurely located in the mountain forests of Odawara’s Hakone – but trust me, that’s all the more reason you should visit. No matter how many times I go, it remains one of the most impressive places I’ve ever been to.

The path leading to the temple is surrounded by an ancient grove of towering cedar trees (allergy sufferer’s beware) that cast otherworldly shadows across the sprawling temple grounds. Legend has it, the assistant to the founder is said to have been turned into an eternal caretaker in the form of a goblin, which is why you’ll be astounded by the numerous statues of goblins and goblin related items at the temple.

Words can do no justice to how marvelous Daiyuzan Saijo-ji is. Whether you enjoy temple hunting, hiking, or taking photographs – Daiyuzan Saijo-ji will simply blow you away.

And if you happen to love beer, then you can always hit the nearby Asahi Brewery for a free beer tour!

Without a car, it’s not the easiest location to reach – but not impossible. I guarantee the trip will be worth it, though.

Click here for area and access information.

*Article by Lee Reeve, originally published on Deep Japan
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Nagano Prefecture has it all

Nagano Prefecture is famous for its winter skiing and summer hiking but with its fair share of historic castles, shrines and temples, and most of all its stunning natural scenery and the hospitality of its people and the freshness of its healthy food.

Nagano is often called the roof of Japan, or Japan’s Switzerland, because of its many spectacular and high mountain ranges and its position in the center of the main island of Honshu. The mountain ranges are covered in deep green forests and wildflower meadows and topped by snow clad rocky peaks. Between the mountain ranges are swift flowing clear rivers with wide fertile valleys and basins which make the prefecture one of Japan’s largest agricultural producers and a place for fresh and delicious fruits and vegetables. Its no wonder that the people of Nagano are the longest lived in Japan.

Nagano Prefecture Mountains

Nagano is landlocked and yet it straddles some of the major inland road and rail routes between Tokyo in the East and Nagoya/Kyoto/Osaka in the west. This makes it easily accessible within 2 to 3 hours travel time for the visitor coming from Tokyo, Nagoya or Kyoto by train, bus, or car.

Since Nagano hosted the Winter Olympics in 1998, many foreign visitors have been coming to Nagano in winter to enjoy its deep powder snow and its relaxing hot spring resorts. Places like Hakuba, Happone, and Nozawa, offer the best kind of snow holiday you can get with great hospitality and plenty of excellent Japanese cuisine at a cost that is much less than what you would pay in Europe or North America. On top of that, what could be more entertaining than watching the monkeys enjoying hots spring baths in the snow.

In summer, many Japanese escape the hot and humid weather of the cities to Nagano’s higher plateaus to enjoy the cooler and dryer weather. There are a number of picturesque summer resort towns, like Karuizawa, Tateshina, Kiyosato and Nojiri where outdoor activities such as golf, tennis, cycling, parasailing, rafting etc. are very popular. And if you enjoy hiking, then Nagano has a smorgasbord of varied and interesting hiking trails with well-equipped mountain lodge. For a challenge, the spear-like Mt Yarigatake at 3190 meters is a worthwhile but tough climb. The charming mountain resort of Kamikochi is the perfect base for a range of easy to difficult walks into the high peaks of the Northern Alps.

Interspersed along the mountain valleys are small cities and towns which are steeped in the rich history and culture of Japan. Nagano City, the capital, is famous for its Zenkoji Temple, founded in 642 AD and a National Treasurer. Matsumoto City is famous for its castle, also a National Treasure built in 1604, and Suwa Jinja, one of the most famous shrines in Japan, is famous for its Onbashira Festival – a must see event held every 6 years when brave men ride huge logs that are slid down a mountain to the shrine. And if you are seeking out the famous cherry blossoms of Japan, you must go to Takato, where 3,000 strikingly pink trees are lit up at night for a spectacular display. Or if you are seeking spectacular fireworks displays, then Lake Suwa is the place to go in August where you can see the Japan fireworks championships at play every night over the lake.

So, when you come to Japan make sure to visit Nagano Prefecture where you can combine an exhilarating outdoor and nature experience with a deep Japan culture and traditions experience.

*Article by Phil, originally published on Deep Japan
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Deep Japan – Experienced Senpai living in and enjoying Japan offer inside-knowledge on how to make your trip real, interesting and above all, unforgettable.

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Wherever your tastebuds lie on the shellfish enthusiasm, scale, Hiroshima’s diverse methods of preparation, the season’s swell of availability, and related drop in prices, are sure to keep your mind and mouth open to the possibilities.

If you’re most familiar with your oysters served on the half-shell, you may be surprised to discover some of the popular Japanese options. Although you can find some delicious ‘nama-gaki’, raw oysters, around Hiroshima, the Japanese specialties usually involve some heat. Most common is the ‘kaki fry’ or fried oysters, which are served mostly in set meals with Worcestershire or tartar sauce on the side.

The fried oysters are widely available at many restaurants and even supermarkets during the winter months in Hiroshima. A set meal featuring kaki-fry will usually set you back between 1000-1500 yen, and you can typically buy a package of them at the grocery store for around 500 yen.

Hiroshima Oyster Road 
This is the name given to a few restaurants that open both seasonally and year-around for oyster-lovers in Hiroshima. Here are two of its popular restaurants to try:

Oyster Hut Ujina
Open: (seasonally from October 24, 2015) 10:30am-9:00pm
Location: in Hiroshima Minato Park, Ujinakaigan 1-chome, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City
Official Website (Japanese): http://www.hiroshima-oyster.com/area/

Oyster Hut Fukuromachi
Open: (all year) 5:00pm-12:00am
Location: 8-11 Fukuromachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Closed: Sundays
Official Website (Japanese): http://umihei.com/

If you make your way to Miyajima island, there are many stalls that sell another version of the oysters, grilled. It’s a great way to test out the idea of cooking the shellfish that won’t break the bank. At most stalls you can buy 3 shells for 500 yen, and during this season the streets are even more crowded with vendors selling the juicy dish.

The most popular area to get your oyster fill is anywhere along Omotesando, the shopping street.

Omotesando
Reference website (English)

To continue reading a full story and learn about Oyster Season in Hiroshima, please click Getting Into the Spirit of  the Hiroshima Oyster Season

*Original article published on Japan Info Swap, which is full of timely and useful information in English about Japan for expats by the H&R Group.
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A short trip to Kusatsu Onsen

You may be on a business trip in Tokyo, with jet lag and many meetings weighting heavily on your shoulders and mind. You do have one day and a half though to discover something about Japan. Something you don’t know. This is not your first trip to Tokyo, you’ve been to Roppongi, Asakusa or Aoyama. You enjoy the urban atmosphere and your travel partners but what you really need this time, is time for yourself, to restore your mind and your jetlag.

There is one place you can visit to do just that and discover a Japan that you did not know still existed. So, close your eyes, and listen:

« When I fear losing honesty with myself I climb to Snow Country. From a long tunnel, I emerge to behold the night sky overspreading a strange world of mountains, hot springs, and mysterious geishas. »1

Well, maybe not the mysterious geishas, but you’ll get the mountains, the snow and the hot springs. Kusatsu Onsen is a small and rural town located three hours from Tokyo. You board a shinkansen in Tokyo and when you get off in Takasaki, you are in another world, slightly different from the nowyou have known. The air is crisp and fresh, no high-rise building at the horizon, ladies showing off their hobbies in the train and, incredible but true, no one killing time with a smartphone. Did the train take you to another dimension? Well, maybe.

When you know Tokyo and Japanese big cities, your mind is hoaxed into believing that the whole country looks like Shinjuku.

When you step outside the urban life, even a throw of a stone away, somewhere just like Kusatsu hot spring, you enter a dimension you did not know existed: the rural Japan where time flows normally, where the night is dark and stellar, and where people are genuinely interested in you, saying hello when you cross them in the street, and providing information if you need it.

Kusatsu is on an isolated mountain hot spring and it smells like it. The sulfate water is green and hot. It infuses the city with fumes that remind you your college chemistry lab.

Kusatsu is a small town and you can easily wander in the forest and walk a certain time without meeting anyone, which is quite a success on its own in crowded Japan. You can also enjoy freely the public bath anytime you want. You will be surprised to see that Kusatsu people also come to the bath. Lucky people. The hot water works wonder to take that heavy weight from your shoulders.

There is a lovely museum of a television celebrity who happens to be a very fine artist and autodidact: Kataoka. His work is mainly calligraphy and Japanese aquarelles. He has re-invented traditional art into contemporary impressions. He draws fishes and flowers, and writes poetry. Somehow, his shrimps, not something that we would usually draw, I admit, look funny and alive.

You can leave your luggage in Tokyo and just take the train. In Kusatsu, all you will need is a towel and a good book about vain love and mysterious geishas.

—1 KAWABATA, Yasunari, Snow Country, 1948. First lines as translated by Edward Seidensticker.

How to access Kusatsu:

There are several ways to go there but the simplest one is to take the Shinkansen to Takasaki (1 hour), to take the local Agatsuma line to Naganohara Kusatsu (1 hour and a half) and then a local bus waiting for you at the station. It is all smooth and straightforward, well synchronised. Strange enough, everything is in Japanese, but you will manage your day because everyone is so kind and ready to help.

*Original article by Claire published on Deep Japan

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Join the Deep Japan Senpai Team – Anyone currently living in Japan for a year or more who can write tips for visitors in English is welcome to register on Deep Japan as a writer.

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Women Leaders, Awa-Odori Spunk and Much Laughter in Tokushima

This place was the Awa Han (Awa Clan), across the mountains from Kochi, where Ryoma Sakamoto began his effort to forge a new future for Japan.

I spotted the dancers as soon as the escalator neared the first floor of the newly opened airport terminal building. Behind my hosts, through the huge windows I glimpsed the Awa-Odori dancers of all ages, caught in joyous dance by cool gray stone; an able mason’s rendition of this locales prized tradition.

My hosts in their somber deep blue suits whisked me to the awaiting car and off I went to experience the people of Tokushima for the very first time. This date in Shikoku was for a speech about globalization and how Japanese can have much confidence in their ability to take on the exciting possibilities of growing tourism and the changing “norm” in an internationalized world.

Delicious food and interactions in Tokushima

After a quick stop at a delicious local Soba shop where I enjoyed zaru soba (cold soba on a mesh to be dipped in chilled soup filled with shallots and the sharp, fresh taste of Wasabi, we headed toward the town hall.

I asked my host what the specialty of Tokushima was, and they pointed to a beautiful mountain, Bizan (the Chinese character used refers to the curve of the mountain resembling an eyebrow), which they noted appears in Japan’s oldest known text, Manyoshu, and that it is the Mt. Fuji of Tokushima.

Adding the mountain was the backdrop for a popular piece of art by Masashi Sada (one of the silver generations most popular performers). When they mentioned Sada san, a touch of nostalgia played in my mind as I remembered my late mentor, Hiromasa Ezoe’s love of Sada-san’s meaningful lyrics and soothing voice. I realized the people I met in Tokushima were contemporaries of Ezoe san and I automatically felt drawn to their depth of experience and again was grateful for the opportunity to interact with the core group, the ones who literally “built” modern Japan.

My speech and the event about 1.5 hours hence, with no waiting room or coffee shop nearby, I was able to sit inside as everyone set up. My biggest surprise was that EVERYONE REALLY WAS setting up. I knew from previous email exchanges that Mr. Okada was the central leader for the event, but someone without that knowledge, would never guess. I’ve been in multiple situations where set up was required for an event. Ladies arranged the flowers, organized papers and name tags on the reception desk, brought in the signs and organized the handouts on each chair. Men did the “heavy work” setting up chairs, moving around the podium, checking the screen and projector, climbing the ladder to tack up the event poster, etc. This time though, there was no division of responsibility by gender. Everyone did everything, very naturally, very much in a positive fashion.

Women CEOs Abound!

Later, I asked another person about the specialty of Tokushima and he noted that this prefecture has the highest percentage of women CEOs. This confirmed the hint I had from the how everyone cooperated to set up the room.

After two speeches, an essay contest for neighborhood schools about the “Kizuna” or bond in families, much laughter and home made cake to end the evening and a dip in the 100 percent natural onsen on the roof of my Sunroute Hotel accommodation: I was ready to come back.

When I do, it will be for the beloved Awa-Odori festival in summertime. Another specialty of Tokushima that spans some 400 years, they say even your heart will dance as you watch the rhythmic moves and let yourself alight on the choppy waves of Shamisen-centered music. Lines and lines of brightly dressed Awa-Odori dancers stream through the streets, and the stars above Shikoku together with the undulating slopes of Bizan are awash in the magic of this ancient land.

If you are headed to Shikoku to walk the 88 Temple journey, I definitely recommend a stopover in Tokushima, a succulent bite of Tokushima Ramen, a few interactions with the refreshingly frank people and a moment of peace from the bright blue ocean, meandering Yoshinogawa River and the easy curve of Bizan Mountain.

Also, don’t forget that Tokushima might just be the “girl power” capital of Japan. Go go go Yamato Nadeshiko (Samurai Ladies)!

*Original article by RuthieJ published on Deep Japan

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As well as religious activities, there are many other non-secular events in Tokyo at the turn of the year, and below are Japan Info Swap’s pick of the bunch.

Meiji Jingu Hatsumode

As one of the top three shrines in Japan Meiji is the most popular shrine to visit for Hatsumode, and will attract over 3.1 million people over the first three days of the year. In recent times it has been considered a power spot, from where pilgrims can draw power for the coming year.

As can be expected, with so many visitors, people queue for hours to for their first prayer, though many do not wait to get to the front of the queue, instead tossing their coins far over people’s heads in order to make their ritual donation.

Meiji Jingu Shrine
1-1, Kamizono-cho, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
03-3379-5511
www.meijijingu.or.jp/english
Map

Asakusa Kannon Hatsumode

Asakusa shrine is one of the 840 important shrines in Japan and is another popular hatsumode spot. In previous times the Sensoji temple closed its doors on New Year’s Eve, only opening them at midnight, however as the temple has grown in popularity this practice has been discontinued to protect the thronging crowds. At midnight parishioners ring the joya-no-kane (New Year bells) 108 times and amulets go on sale to promote good luck for the coming year.

From January 1 to 6, a Buddhist ceremony called Shushou-e is held to pray for good luck and happiness in the coming year and to drive out evil spirits.

Asakusa kannon Shrine
2-3-1, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
03-3844-1575
www.asakusajinja.jp/english
Map

To continue reading a full story and learn about Hatsumode in Tokyo, please click Hatsumode in Tokyo -Shrines to Visit for New Years

*This article is brought to you by Mark Guthrie from Japan Info Swap, which is full of timely and useful information in English about Japan for expats by the H&R Group.
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Image: flicker.com “People making their prayers” by Edmund Yeo (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Image: By Rs1421 (Own Work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Image: By Aimaimyi (Own Work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

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As soon as you enter, you’re greeted by the tea master, who shows you every step of the process. After watching a video that explains the proper flow and etiquette of the ceremony, you clean your hands to prepare yourself to make and enjoy the tea. Next, dried tea leaves are ground to make a fine, bright green powder. The beauty of matcha is how simple it is — just the ground leaves and hot water — elevated by the precision and elegance of the ceremony.

Once you enter the tea room, the tea master cleans all the utensils used to make the matcha. After that, she prepares one cup of matcha at a time for each guest. While the tea is being made, you’re invited to enjoy some traditional Japanese sweets. Each is truly a work of art in itself.

After each guest has been served their tea, it’s time for them to try their hand at making a cup of matcha. The tea master provides step-by-step guidance to walk you through it.

The ceremony doesn’t take very long, which makes it an activity worth checking out while you’re in Tokyo. Afterwards, you can go next door to Kabuki-za or do some shopping in Ginza. The environment is warm and welcoming and I look forward to taking guests back in the future.

Ginza Chazen

Cost: 3,500 yen per person

Address: 5F Ginza Ishikawa Bldg., Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Call for Reservations: +81-3-6264-0690

http://chazen-us.com/

*Original article by Petra published on Deep Japan

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Join the Deep Japan Senpai Team – Anyone currently living in Japan for a year or more who can write tips for visitors in English is welcome to register on Deep Japan as a writer.

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The image I had of Ginza Aster before lunch was one of being quite expensive. While a little more expensive than the standard Chinese restaurant the quality of the food, the great service and décor represented really good value.

As I had not been there before I wanted to try the dish that they claim to be most well known for – Ginza Aster noodle. There were three of us so we ended up ordering several dishes each and sharing – a good decision indeed. We had a mix of shumai, shrimp mayonnaise (ebi mayo), Ginza Aster noodle and fried rice. All were great – all were presented beautifully even after the staff were kind enough to split each dish into thirds. All the food we had was so good that it was difficult to choose a favourite. All produce used was obviously very fresh and The ebi mayo included pieces of pineapple which was a little unusual but complemented the texture of the perfectly cooked shrimp nicely – probably the best I’ve had.

The Aster noodle dish was a great end to the meal – medium thickness round noodles in a very rich chicken broth (I thought it was beef) that was lighter than it first appeared with the pretty standard toppings of pork, shrimp, Chinese mushrooms, greens and bamboo shoots (takenoko) – certainly a must try.

This is not the usual saucy Chinese food but Chinese food taken and in the Japanese way influenced and enhanced to take it to something quite different and higher quality than usually expected. The food is full of flavor, not weighed down by excess grease like a lot of ‘standard’ Chinese food, and the presentation is fantastic.

This is the kind of place that I would recommend to go to for a special occasion – an anniversary or when friends or family are visiting for dinner, or maybe just when you feel like a bit of a special lunch. You’ll enjoy the upscale setting but you won’t feel rushed while you savor each bite of the Chinese delights offered on their menu.

The Ginza Aster Flagship Restaurant

Address: 1-8-16, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3563-1011
Open: 11:30-22:00

*Original article by Adstev73 published on Deep Japan

The post Ginza Aster – A Unique Experience of Chinese Cuisine for the Japanese appeared first on Jarman International KK.

Much of the Sushi Experience is Non-Verbal..making it perfect for International Guests

When expressing himself, Shimizu-San talks with his entire body – with his hands and fingers, even with his eyes. That’s why booking a Sushi class with Tama Sushi close to Tsukiji Fish Market will make you understand a lot about the history and art of sushi, even if your Japanese language skills are rather poor – like mine – and even though the course is entirely conducted in Japanese.

Because language fades into the background: it’s now all about developing skill, feeling and tact to be able to produce the perfectly shaped rice portion (shari) – and believe me: this is indeed an art in itself.

Being instructed by an Itamae (sushi master) with 45 years of experience can be considered an unforgettable memory – I have attended various cooking classes in this country, but I have never had the honor to put on a sushi chef uniform and slip behind the counter in a famous sushi restaurant for a true hands-on lesson.

Every single step was demonstrated thoroughly

Despite the fact that everything was in Japanese, I was totally able to follow the instructions, mainly because our Sushi-Sensei demonstrated every single step thouroughly (and did not get tired to show it over and over again with admirable tranquility and patience). As we were only three students (the classes are limited to four people maximum), our Sensei had sufficient time to keep his trained eyes over our shoulders and comment on our progress with a stern gaze, but always with a twinkle in his eyes. Also: Shimiten-Sensei wasn’t spare on praise. After rolling ten rice balls my debutant fingers started to get used to the unfamiliar movement, I got rewarded with a huge smile and a big thumbs up: my shari were now pretty enough to top them up with thin slices of yummy fish.

And be assured: the pleasure of enjoying sushi, made by your own hands, doesn’t compare to any other gourmet experience – especially after I learned that you are totally allowed to eat sushi with your fingers.

My friends who are visiting from Europe always ask me where to book a cooking class – I will totally encourage them to try out Tama Sushi. For the price of 8000 Yen you can get instructed by a real super skilled Sushi Master in a very authentic pleasant atmosphere – and participants even get a certificate, which I will definitely put up on my kitchen wall to impress guests.

Just in case you worry about the language barrier: At Deep Japan we are happy to help with finding a good interpreter for your experience!

Here is where you can sign up for the class via Gurunavi: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/jge/en/entry/post-000814.html 

Check out Tama Sushi’s English Website here:
http://www.tamasushi.co.jp/english/ 

*Original article by Katharina published on Deep Japan

Deep Japan – Experienced Senpais living in and enjoying Japan offer inside-knowledge on how to make your trip real, interesting and above all, unforgettable.

Join the Deep Japan Senpai Team – Anyone currently living in Japan for a year or more who can write tips for visitors in English is welcome to register on Deep Japan as a writer.

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