foodanddrink
Japan is a wonderland of conveniences. And yet, there are many Japan life hacks that some foreigners visiting and livinghere—especially for the first time—may not know about. Whether because Japan is a high-context society where things are not always explicitly pointed out or because of the language barrier, plenty of things slip under the radar in our daily existence. That said, here are ten Japan life hacks to improve your time in Japan. While most of these are probably “duh” moments for most, we hope there are at least one or two that will have you smacking yourself and saying, wait, what?!...
GaijinPot
A lot is made about Japan’s “four seasons.” But whether you think that’s special or not, one thing you absolutely must do in Japan is try seasonal food. Known as shun, this untranslatable word reflects the idea that food has the best time to be eaten. This is true for things like fruits and vegetables but also seafood. What does it mean for fish to be in season? Well, ignoring farm-raised varieties, different species pass close to Japan at different times of the year, so that’s when fishermen head out to catch them. Certain fish may also taste better during certain seasons. With that in mind, ...
GaijinPot
One of the things you may have noticed about living in Japan is the cheap price of tamago (eggs). For as long as many of us can remember, you could get a week’s supply of eggs for just under ¥200. Unfortunately, those days may be long gone, as eggs in Japan have recently soared in price, rising 31% to around ¥275 per kilogram. In some parts of the country, prices are around ¥335 for a carton of medium-sized eggs. The horror! Okay, still not that crazy compared to other countries, like the 60% increase in the U.S.A, but still quite a jump. What’s going on? GaijinPot looks at the reasons for thi...
GaijinPot
Since Chinese immigrants first modified their noodles for Japanese locals in Yokohama Chinatown in the early 20th century, ramen has spread throughout Japan, with each area changing it to suit local tastes. This has given us the basic soups of shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bones), plus all manner of variations, from toppings to the consistency of the noodles themselves, While local varieties have become popular nationwide, like Tokyo’s shoyu, Sapporo’s miso and Fukuoka’s tonkotsu “Hakata ramen,” there’s a lot more out there. And while you might find a shop serving reg...
GaijinPot
Along with the pleasant smiles of its hospitable owners, Awajishima Fruit No Orchards (Awaji Island Fruit Farm) is a welcoming place accompanied by the mouthwatering aroma of fruit. The farm spans 10,000 square meters and hosts a variety of seasonal fruits. The founders are natives of Awaji Island and consider their farm an intimate way to introduce tourists to the island’s spirit. Visitors can feel like a farmer for a day by harvesting and eating the crops. You can pick a wide range of crops grown on the farm, such as strawberries, blueberries, oranges and grapes. The farm has an online calen...
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Greenarium is located in the hilly north of Awaji in Hyogo Prefecture and has a natural setting with lots of vegetation. This peaceful location is most famous for its greenhouses that offer unique and seasonal fruit-picking activities. There is also a spacious playground area and cafe, making spending a whole day trip there easy. While there are a lot of activities to explore, the “Strawberry Picnic” is the star of the show at Greenarium. Strawberry picnicMost strawberry farms offer strawberry picking where you are given a basket and get to pick strawberries freely with some scissors. However,...
GaijinPot
Japan certainly has a taste for excellent coffee. For example, it is one of the biggest importers of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, one of the most expensive brands in the world. Japan’s coffee culture is one of the most developed in the world. One unique element of Japan’s coffee culture is the international diversity—Scandinavian, New Zealander, Italian and American are among the cafe offerings in major cities. With such a vibrant coffee culture, you might be wondering why you would even want to brew at home. Price is definitely one factor—for the ¥500 you might spend on one coffee, you can ...
GaijinPot
While you may recognize it under a different name, for instance, Mikado in Europe or (up until 2014) Rocky in Malaysia, the product is the same: irresistible sweet chocolate biscuit sticks that give a satisfying snap in your mouth. Hence, the origin of the name: “Pocky” which comes from the Japanese onomatopoeic word for that satisfying crack: pokkin (ポッキン.) Pocky has garnered international fame, which is quite a feat considering all the chocolate snacks out there. But even the Guinness World Records says Pocky is the “world’s largest chocolate-coated biscuit brand.” The treat is so popular in...
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Karuizawa is a serene and upscale resort town in Nagano Prefecture. It’s accessible in just over an hour by bullet train from Tokyo, making it a perfect day trip destination. It has made a name for itself as a summer mountain resort town near the active volcano, Mount Asama, an image that came about for it in the late 1800s. Its main draw during summer is because its relatively high altitude makes it a cool escape from the overbearing heat of Tokyo and its surroundings. There’s a little bit of something for everyone in Karuizawa. While it is widely known for its upmarket and westernized atmosp...
GaijinPot
We’ve talked about some of Hokkaido’s famous dishes before. Still, the snowy land is known for so many different foods we couldn’t possibly leave it at just five. In Japan, Hokkaido is known for its locally sourced ingredients, largely because of its great climate that is perfect for all sorts of farming. Hokkaido (also a great place to adventure and work) is the top national producer of various crops, it’s also the top dairy producer. And to top it all off, they’re surrounded by great fishing waters and produce high-quality seafood that brings in tons of visitors annually. So it’s no wonder t...
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