This week’s Monday Morning Trip is to Asakusa and Senso-ji! Asakusa (浅草) is an area in Tokyo, Japan, where much of the old-Tokyo can still be seen. Asakusa can be found in every guide book about Japan, as it is the home to Senso-ji, the oldest temple in Tokyo. The Asakusa area was heavily damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt after the war. Long ago, … Continue reading Discover Asakusa: A Journey to Senso-ji Temple
A comfortable place to stay can become the second biggest cost on your trip if you are not careful. The great news is that there are plenty of affordable options in Japan, whether you want to sleep in a traditional ryokan like a samurai or surrounded by flashing lights in Shibuya or Akihabara. HOSTELS Let’s start with the super-cheap option—Hostels. There are many hostels in … Continue reading Affordable Accommodation Options in Japan
So you’ve made it to Japan, and now you need to get to all of the cool, fun places in your schedule. Well, there are several “cheap” options for transportation in Japan, but it all depends on where you want to go and how far you want to travel. SUICA/PASMO First, I would recommend staying in the Tokyo-area for your first trip. Trust me, there … Continue reading Affordable Transportation Options in Japan
Japan is known for many cool things, like its amazing food, tons of anime and manga, and having some of the most convenient and cute trains! And of course, Japan has a train that looks like a fish. On April 28, 2016, Nankai Electric Railway Co. introduced a train that is themed on red sea bream, known as the Medetai Train (“tai” means red sea … Continue reading Explore Japan’s Unique Medetai Train Experience
“Kodomo no Hi” or Children’s Day is the last holiday in the Golden Week party. Children’s Day is celebrated on May 5th, and was designated as a national holiday in 1948. History It was originally known as “Tango no Sekku” or Boy’s Day, and as the name suggests, was a festival for boys. Japan also set aside a festival for girls known as “Hina-Matsuri” or Doll … Continue reading Celebrate Kodomo no Hi: Understanding Children’s Day in Japan
So you’ve decided to live your anime, manga, and samurai dreams, and want to head to the Land of the Rising Sun—Japan! But what about the flight? Flights are usually the most expensive part of your trip, and frankly one of the toughest things to find cheaply. However, if you follow these tips, you can really save a lot of money. How much? Last year … Continue reading Cheap Flights to Japan: Tips for Budget Travelers
Looks like McDonald’s Japan and the Pokémon Trading Card Game are teaming up again! Mysterious posts featuring Pokemon shadows has fans convinced a new Pokémon Happy Meal promo is on the way, likely celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. Fans are already excited… and a little nervous. Last year’s promotion sold out fast, with long lines and scalpers causing enough chaos that McDonald’s had to limit purchases. … Continue reading Pokémon and McDonald’s Japan: Exciting Happy Meal Collaboration 2026
One of Japan’s most beautiful times of year is Sakura or Cherry Blossom season. The Sakura are so important to Japan that much of the country comes to a standstill when they bloom. Right now the Sakura are blooming in Japan, and though many of you are not able to see them in-person, you can still enjoy their beauty. Sakura symbolize the ephemeral nature of … Continue reading Experience Japan’s Breathtaking Sakura Season
Den Den Town (Nipponbashi) is the go-to place in the Osaka downtown district during March, for its very popular annual Nipponbashi Street Festa–an otaku-matsuri extravaganza. Den Den Town is known for its electronic shops that are lined with a mix of old school, new school, hip trending fashion, anime, manga, movies and games–reminiscent of what you might see in Akihabara in Tokyo, Japan. The matsuri … Continue reading Den Den Town: Nipponbashi Street Festa
Tanabata (七夕) also known as the “Star Festival”, is a popular festival in Tokyo, and is celebrated on July 7th each year. This festival celebrates the meeting of the gods Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair). Legend of Two Lovers Orihime (織姫 Weaving Princess), daughter of the Tentei (天帝 Sky King), wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the Amanogawa (天の川 Milky Way). Her father loved the clothes, but Orihime was sad because she … Continue reading Tanabata Festival!
