Food and Travel

Tochigi strawberries Tochigi Prefecture is a "strawberry kingdom" that has kept its position as the largest producer of strawberries in Japan sinc...

Spooky treats Halloween has become more popular in Japan in recent years. With its rise in popularity came the rise in Halloween-themed treats.  H...

Udon with tempura There are many types of udon all over Japan, but one of the most famous is Sanuki udon. It’s so popular that the area is called ...

Boiled veggies ‘Washoku’ refers to traditional Japanese meals consisting of rice, miso soup, side dishes, and pickles. However, in the context of...

Tea field Tea, especially green tea, is an indispensable part of the Japanese lifestyle. Learn the different types, the best ways to brew each, an...

Sake and rice grains What is sake? Sake is liquor brewed from rice. Its basic ingredients are 1.3 parts water to 1 part rice, the magical Aspergi...

Green tea with an autumn leaf-shaped sweet What are Wagashi? Wagashi is the term used to distinguish traditional Japanese sweets from their Weste...

Noodles with Yakumi condiments  What is Yakumi? A culinary term for the herbs and botanicals used in washoku (Japanese traditional cuisine) to spi...

Soy sauce and soybeans Types of soy sauce Most are familiar with soy sauce. The indispensable, all-round seasoning for washoku (Japanese traditio...

Assortment of sansai Sansai is the name given to wild edible plants in Japan. They are believed to have health benefits and are popular in the Jap...

Shabu Shabu pot with typical ingredients Toward the end of the 1800s, eating meat became very popular in Japan. It was considered high-end and mod...

Selection of tempura Although Japanese deep-fried food was around before tempura, it was not until Iberian missionaries brought the style in the 1...