Japanese Cuisine

When I first think of Niigata, I imagine trekking snow-covered mountains, skiing  slopes sipping sake. However, Niigata is so much more than just a winter destination. The small city of Tokamachi, internationally famous for...

Niigata Prefecture, Japan’s top producer of rice, is often characterized by stretches of terraced fields and rustic countryside scenery. Nevertheless, the old street of Niigata is also worth visiting for its amazingly nostalgic atmosphere...

The secret to Niigata’s rice—especially the famous rice variety Koshihikari—lies in melted snow and run-off water which contain an abundance of nutrients and minerals. The area is also known for producing prestigious sake and...

Standing on top of a hill, I look down at the beach and glittering sea over a fence of wild flowers. The beautiful natural arch of Umanose-Domon is only a short hike away, and...

Although Kagurazaka is close to Tokyo’s entertainment district, Shinjuku, it has a character all of its own. As a prominent hanamachi (geisha district) that thrived from the Edo Period (1603-1868) to the Showa Period (1926-...

If you are interested in the history of Japan, then you cannot miss the chance to visit Nagano city. In this historic district, ninjas and warlords familiar from games and manga lived and played...

Togakushi Jinja Shrine Discover mysterious legends and powerspots Togakushi Shrine consists of five shrines located at the base of Mt. Togakushi. According to Japanese mythology, a grief-ridden Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, hid herself in a...

Depachika roughly translates to “an underground floor of a department store”, but it is much more than just a location. Not to be confused with an ordinary supermarket, a depachika, as is the case...

No conversation about Japanese food can go without mentioning sushi, since the popularity of this particular seafood dish has made waves around the world. As mainstream as sushi is within the global vernacular, you...

Few food symbols are as iconic as the golden, crispy batter-covered shrimp tempura. In Japanese kanji the “ten” in “tempura” uses the character for “heaven”, and the addition of this traditional cuisine to the...