Japan is known equally as a hard working, hi-tech company obsessed with miniaturising everything and as a land of ancient temples, martial arts and origami. Whichever definition appeals to you more, you will find plenty to satisfy you, from the bustling neon capital of Tokyo to the ancient temples and shrines of Kyoto. All set against spectacular natural scenery such as Mount Fiji and bubbling volcanic hot springs. On top of all this, the Japanese people are famous for being friendly and gracious hosts, especially to hotel ists who can expect a warm welcome to one of the most interesting countries in the Far-east.
Currency: Japanese Yen. (¥)
Time Zone: GMT + 9
Language: Japanese
Telephone Services: Country code +81, International access code 001
Emergency Numbers: Tokyo English Life Line 3403 7106, Japan Helpline 0120 461 997
Climate
In general Japan benefits from a temperate climate with cool sunny winters and very hot summers. The most pleasant time to visit is the milder Autumn and Spring seasons. Rain can fall throughout the year but is not generally too heavy. Typhoons can occur during September or October but generally don't last for longer than a day. Okinawa has a sub-tropical climate and Hoikkaido boasts a climate similar to that of Washington with Siberian blasts blowing in during the winter providing great skiing spots. Winter can get very cold with temperatures as low as 2 degrees C and in the North temperatures can drop to below freezing.
BASIC DO'S AND DON'T'S ( adapted from Japan Made Easy, by De Mente as featured in the Travel Japan Bookstore)
DON'T:
Eat food while walking down the street.
Blow your nose in public. Sniffling is okay.
Wear shoes or slippers on tatami mats!
Give someone 4 of anything( or any number that is
"even").The Japanese word for "4" is similar to the word for death.
Smile in formal pictures.
Stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice.
Wear shorts to temples or shrines.
Point your feet at anyone when sitting on the
floor. Its insulting.
Be direct.
Laugh with your mouth wide open.
Do:
Slurp while eating noodles.
Give a slight bow when meeting someone who is your peer.
Give a lower bow if they are your elder or boss.
Say "susimasen" after everything you say. It is the
all-in-one politeness word, meaning "excuse me",
"thank you," "hello" etc.
Give your business card, with a slight bow, immediately
when meeting a business colleage.
Give your seat up for children on trains.
Wear skirts or long pants, especially when visiting
temples or shrines.
Give a gift when visiting a Japanese home.
Listen to what is NOT said.
Wash before you get into the tub, and save the bath water
for others.
For more basic tips, go to:
Good Manners.
GIFT GIVING:
Unless you are not meeting with anyone in Japan, be prepared to give gifts. Gifts from your home area are especially appreciated. If there is a number to the items, like candy, try to avoid even numbers, especially "4." If you are meeting with a group, bring a consumable gift so everyone can enjoy it equally and no one is left out. Tee shirts with sayings in English are very popular in Japan. Pencils or pens with company or school name would be admired and plentiful to have enough for an entire group.
GREETINGS:
While some Japanese have become somewhat accustomed to shaking hands, it is still awkward for most. It is best to bow slightly when greeting someone. The lower the bow the more respect. If you are meeting someone for work-related business purposes, it's important to have a business card, preferably with a Japanese translation on one side. After bowing, with respect, extend an immaculate business card from a business card holder, preferably in a breast pocket or purse. When receiving a business card, admire it for a moment and keep it out to refer to. Don't fold it, write on it, or stuff it in a pocket. See this site for further information:
Bowing.
Visitors bowing before entering a temple.
SHRINES: Just a reminder: when visiting these beautiful shrines, please remember they are sacred--be respectful and wear long pants or a conservative skirt (no sleeveless tops or shorts).
VISITING IN THE JAPANESE HOME:
The Japanese will expect that you will be from another culture, but keeping these tips in mind will help the visit go more smoothly. The host family will want to "spoil" you, basically. They will want to have thought of your every need. If they realize you need something not already provided by them, they will be disappointed. Its best to graciously make do with what is provided and be thankful. If anything inconveniences your host, be apologetic. Before entering the house, you will leave your shoes where the others have left them outside the door. Then you will wear slippers provided or just your socks. Before entering a room with tatami mats on the floor(likely to be the main, multi-purpose room), its important to remove your slippers so as not to damage the mats.
For more information, see:
Customs in the Home.
A room at a Ryokan, a Japanese inn. Notice the tatami mats on the floor.
Golden Pavillion
Things to see and do
Unlike most cities, Tokyo is not a city littered with interesting or ancient architecture. Having been almost completely rebuilt after the heavy damage sustained during the Second World War the skyline is dominated by modern hi-rise skyscrapers. While in the suburbs some tradition clings on by its fingertips, certainly central Tokyo can be described as nothing short of a modern metropolis. Most visitors spend a lot of there time in the Ginza shopping district which contains boutiques, shops and galleries of all kinds. Its fashionable status does make Ginza somewhat expensive so unless you want to blow your whole trip's budget in one day it is best to take it easy here. Some of Japans finest museums and galleries are located around the Ueno-Koen park including the Tokyo National Museum and the National Science Museum.
After experiencing the new Japan in Tokyo there is no better place to discover a taste of old Japan than Kyoto. The city boasts literally hundreds of temples, shrines and gardens and was even the nations capital for over a thousand years. Although even here, modern buildings have started to encroach on the tiled roves and pebbled gardens of the temples there is still plenty left to see. There are a number of suberb temples including the Kinkaku-ji temple and the Sanjunsangen temple which houses 1001 statues of Kannon the Buddhist goddess of mercy. Also worth a look is the Imperial Palace in central Kyoto and the Himeji-jo Castle located just outside the city itself.
Those with a penchant for modern history often visit Nagasaki, the city decimated by the second nuclear bomb dropped on Japan during Worl War Two. The city has now been rebuilt as a prosperous example of Japanese urban life but its grisly past is recorded in the A-bomb museum situated at Urakami, the centre of the explosion. Also of interest in the city is the Fukusai-ji Zen Temple, Glover Garden and the Hypocentre Park which has a monument to mark the exact centre of the blast which decimated Nagaski.
Travel
When travelling in the mainland of Japan, it is dubious if the distances warrant air travel, however when travelling throughout the Islands it does become a viable possibility. Several airlines offer domestic flights throughout Japan and its islands including Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airlines and Japan Air Systems. Tickets can be bought from hotel operators, or at the airports from both airline counters and automatic ticketing machines in the larger airports.
Japan Railways Group is the rail operator throughout Japan. The service is one of the best in the world with some of the most hi-tech trains in existence. Many travellers will be familiar with the famous "bullet trains" which reach speeds in excess of 300km/h, which serve the busiest lines on the Japanese network with some routes offering as many as six trains per hour. Other lines run limited express, express or local services, generally each type of train ryokanries a different supplement with a further supplement being charged for travel in the first class "green" ryokans, seats on which must usually be reserved in advance. Tickets can be bought from stations, most commonly from automated vending machines. For some short distance, local trains, this is the only way to obtain a ticket.
A "Japan Rail Pass" is available, which is usually purchased through Japan Airlines or a hotel operator which is only available to foreign hotel ists. This pass allows unlimited travel on Japan Rail trains, buses and ferries. Passes start from £150 for a 7 day pass and are without a doubt one of the most economical ways to get around in Japan.
Bus travel is highly developed in Japan, but in most cities has been superseded by the underground metro system for local travel, similarly the rail network has mostly replaced the inter-city bus network. Services do still exist in appreciable numbers but the fare system are confusing and almost always highly automated so for most travellers it is wisest to just stick to the train.
Taxis are plentiful but they can be veery expensive, especially at night but if you are travelling in a group and can share the cost they could be a good transport option.
hostel, guesthouses in Japan are sub-divided between Western and Japanese style hostel, guesthouses. While the Western style hostel, guesthouses are much the same as those found in Western Europe the Japanese style ones are a unique experience. On arrival guests are given kimonos and rooms are decked out in traditional Japanese style complete with paper sliding doors and Japanese bathtubs. These Japanese style hostel, guesthouses are known as "ryokan and the Japan Ryokan Association can be contacted for more information. For general information on all kinds of hostel, guesthouses the Japan hostel, guesthouse Association can provide further information.
There are over 400 youth hostels in Japan which are regulated by Japan Youth Hostels Inc. In general guests must be a member of the International Youth Hostel Association although guest passes can be obtained from Japan Youth Hostels Inc's headquarters in Tokyo or from some hotel operators.
Health
The provision of healthcare in Japan is excellent, easily on par with the standards of the US or western Europe. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers will provide English speaking doctors where appropriate and all western medications are widely available. Treatment costs can be extremely high in Japan so it is essential that you have adequate insurance cover when planning a visit to Japan.
There are no special precautions or vaccination recommended before visiting Japan, food and drink is considered safe and normal everyday precautions should be observed when buying food from street traders.
The gravitational pull of the moon and sun may serve as the last straw in triggering earthquakes, researchers have found.
Though the effects of the two heavenly bodies--known as the lunar and solar tidal forces, respectively--have only about 0.1 percent of the accumulated-strain energy that triggers a powerful earthquake, such a force could act as the last push for a major tremor when seismic strain strong enough to cause a quake has accumulated, according to the researchers, including Sachiko Tanaka, a research fellow at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention. (Yomiuri)
Police searched the apartment of a former bar hostess under arrest for murder-robbery Monday, suspecting she also killed and robbed a truck driver who was found drowned off Tottori Prefecture in April, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
The Tottori prefectural police believe Miyuki Ueta, 36, killed the truck driver to avoid paying money she owed him.
In both cases, the men died in similar circumstances. (Yomiuri)
One in three married Japanese couples is apparently "sexless," a startling proportion said to be swelling by the year. However, it's not just the marriage bed that's gone cold. Many young couples, too, are foregoing quality time between the sheets even before tying the knot. And while sex may be the most private part of our private lives, it's time to ask where the love has gone. (Mainichi)
Japanese authorities have found the body of a man in the landing gear of a Delta airliner that arrived in Tokyo from New York and said Monday they were seeking US help in identifying him.
The man, who was of dark complexion and dressed only in blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, was carrying no passport or personal belongings.
A mechanic found the body in the landing gear bay of the Boeing 777 after Delta Flight 59 landed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport at about 6:05 pm local time Sunday, a Chiba prefecture police spokesman said. (AFP)
Toyota's quality woes mounted over the weekend, with a reported decision in its home market to recall and repair the brakes on its latest model of the Prius, the hybrid that last year was the best-selling new car in Japan.
Company sources told dealers and the Japanese media that at least 170,000 of the cars in Japan would be subject to the recall, which will fix a software glitch in antilock brakes. Owners have complained that the car's brakes sometimes fail briefly on bumpy roads. (Washington Post)
Every day, Misa Tamura hand-punches gold and red-coloured maple leaves out of yuba - membrane-like dried tofu skin - to sprinkle on Japanese hotdogs celebrating Japan's figure skating Olympic hopeful Mao Asada.
The hotdogs, sold at her husband Noriki Tamura's popular Japadog street stand at Smythe and Burrard, are being snapped up these days by Japanese media in town for the Olympic Games, along with Japanese tourists and the stand's regular customers. (Vancouver Sun)
Hostilities broke out between Japanese whalers and conservation group Sea Shepherd in the Antarctic yesterday, where the two sides collided in their first meeting since the sinking of the Ady Gil.
The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker collided with the stern of the whale chaser Yushin Maru No. 3, leaving a metre-long gash in the side of the activists' vessel, the group's leader, Paul Watson, said last night. (Sydney Morning Herald)
The percentage of people in favor of the death penalty has reached a record high, with 85.6 percent of survey respondents saying capital punishment is "unavoidable," according to a government poll released Saturday. The highest percentage since the government began the surveys in 1994 indicates the public is seeking strict punishment for heinous crimes following a spate of such incidents, including a stabbing rampage in Tokyo's Akihabara district in 2008. (Japan Times)
Could the nation's autopsy system be so wanting that people are getting away with murder?
In 2009, about 160,000 people in Japan died suspicious, unnatural deaths. But autopsies were performed in only about 10 percent of these cases, according to the National Police Agency.
With police having started probes into several mysterious deaths that took place in Tottori and Saitama prefectures, there have been growing calls to make drastic changes to the nation's autopsy system. (Yomiuri)
Heavy snowfall and strong winds hit parts of northern to central Japan on Saturday, with the Japan Meteorological Agency warning of continued snow and winds as well as high waves on Sunday.
Heavy snow was seen in regions facing the Sea of Japan, including areas in Niigata, Aomori and Yamagata prefectures where close to 300 centimeters of snow had accumulated by Saturday evening, the agency said.
Winds of more than 100 kilometers per hour blew through parts of Niigata and Akita prefectures on Saturday morning. (AP)
Despite the criticism of Toyota over car safety, Japanese citizens still largely view the world's largest automaker with pride -- so much so that some people here wonder whether pressure on Toyota in the U.S. is a ploy to boost American auto producers and undermine Japan Inc. That notion may seem far-fetched to the millions of Toyota owners in the United States and around the world whose confidence in the company has made it the world leader -- and are now simply worried about the safety of their cars.
(BusinessWeek)
Like most 14-year-old girls, Rebecca Flint likes to dress up and dance. But unlike most girls, she records and posts her performances on YouTube.
The results have made her an internet phenomenon in Japan, home of the anime cartoon characters she imitates. More than eight million people have watched Rebecca performing as Beckii Cruel, dancing to bouncy J-pop (Japanese pop music) and anime theme songs in the attic of her home on the Isle of Man.
Her success has led publishing giant Tokuma Japan to sign up Beckii, teaming her with 18-year-old French college student "Sara Cruel", from Lyon, and a 16-year-old student from Portsmouth known as "Gemma Cruel". The trio -- Beckii Cruel and the Cruel Angels -- release their debut album in Japan on Wednesday, when it is expected to reach the top of the charts. (guardian.co.uk)
The ancient capital of Nar is celebrating the 1,300th anniversary of its founding throughout 2010 with hundreds of events that officials hope will bring in nearly 13 million visitors and raise the city's profile domestically and internationally as a historical and cultural tourism center. But questions are growing about how successful the celebrations will ultimately prove, with concerns over the effect of the weak economy on events and attendances, a lack of foreign language tourism information and a local populace that has been slow to embrace the festivities. (Japan Times)
Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Tomohiro Ishikawa, Ichiro Ozawa's former aide now under indictment for cooking the DPJ don's financial books over a shady Tokyo land buy, made bail Friday.
After paying ¥12 million through his lawyers, Ishikawa left the Tokyo Detention Center in the evening.
Mitsutomo Ikeda, an ex-aide of Ozawa, and Takanori Okubo, a current aide, also were released after making bail. Okubo paid ¥7 million and Ikeda ¥3 million. (Japan Times)
Just before 5pm on a sunny autumn afternoon, Tetsuhito Aikawa strode into the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Japan, an unprepossessing eight-storey building in Tokyo's Nagatacho district.
Guards stationed on the ground floor saw nothing suspicious about the 24-year-old part-time worker from Yamanashi Prefecture, who was wearing a black suit and tie and making his way to the ruling party's seventh-floor reception desk.
When he emerged from the lift, Aikawa pulled out a 53-centimetre wooden sword and charged up a set of emergency stairs to the unattended office of the Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, where he began smashing a computer server until he was finally overpowered by security.
"I thought I could put a stop to the party's policies," Aikawa was reported to have said, in a reference to a proposed bill that would give permanent foreign residents the right to vote in local elections.
His ambitious plan was the surest indication yet of rising resentment among Japan's right-wing groups about the government's plan. (Sydney Morning Herald)
In Japan there is a proverb, "If it stinks, put a lid on it." Alas, this seems to have been Toyota's approach to its burgeoning safety crisis, initially denying, minimizing and mitigating the problems involving brakes that don't brake and accelerators that have a mind of their own. President Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder, was MIA for two weeks and the company has appeared less than forthcoming about critical safety issues, risking the trust of its customers world-wide. (Wall Street Journal)
A third Brazilian suspect was arrested Friday over a hit- and-run in Nagoya earlier in the week in which three pedestrians were killed, police said.
Fabricio Rocha, 26, was wanted on suspicion of dangerous driving resulting in death and committing a traffic law violation as the driver of the car, which was allegedly carrying four Brazilians and failed to stop after hitting the three victims past midnight Monday. (AP)
Emperor Akihito has been infected with norovirus, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.
Other imperial family members, including Empress Michiko, and the agency officials have shown no symptoms of enteritis caused by the virus, and the infection route is not known, according to the agency.
The emperor suffered stomachache and had a mild fever earlier this week, but his condition is stable, it said. (AP)
Several Mongolian newspapers on Friday featured articles on their front pages, reporting that a conspiracy was behind former grand champion Asashoryu's decision to quit sumo over his alleged assault of a man in downtown Tokyo.
Most of them failed to mention Asashoryu's problematic behavior, instead stressing that Japanese sumo officials had pressured him to retire for fear of the fiery yokozuna breaking sumo legend and former yokozuna Taiho's record of 32 title wins. (AP)
Troubled sumo grand champion Asashoryu announced his retirement from the ancient sport at a tear-filled news conference on Thursday, following a probe into reports of a drunken scuffle in Tokyo last month.
"I have caused great trouble to everyone, as well as to the Japan Sumo Association," the 29-year-old said, dabbing his eyes at times.
Asashoryu has often been in hot water outside the sumo ring but is beloved by fans for his exploits in it. Japanese broadcasters flashed new bulletins with his plans to retire, later telecasting his farewell announcement. (Reuters)
An annual snow festival began Friday in Sapporo in Hokkaido, featuring some 240 snow sculptures at three sites in the northern city.
Organizers expect more than 2 million people will visit those sites during the festival through next Thursday.
Among the sculptures are those of polar bears and penguins from popular Hokkaido zoos and that of the Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Germany, which is the highest on record in the annual events at some 26 meters high.
(AP)
Kanae Kijima, arrested on suspicion of murdering a male company employee she had been dating, lived in the lap of luxury, attending expensive cooking classes and visiting beauty salons frequently while shifting from one rented Tokyo condominium to another.
Kijima, 35, who has also been indicted on fraud and related charges, did not have a regular job and reportedly received more than 100 million yen from several men she was acquainted with, some of them through Internet matchmaking sites.
Saitama prefectural police investigators say the string of incidents involving her was a result of her penchant for high living in costly Tokyo. (Yomiuri)
As many businesses continue to shake their heads over how tough it is to make sales in these financially difficult times, "cheaper is better" is the strategy of the day, with shops slicing prices for everything from "gyudon" (beef on rice) to jeans. But one thing consumers - especially female ones - will loosen their purse strings for are those little drops of heaven that are sure to melt their darlings' hearts come Feb. 14, say chocolate retailers, whose customer-oriented strategies have seen both luxury brands and affordable sweets fly off the shelves at equal speed. (Japan Times)
If you are in the Kyoto or Kansai area and missed the chance to have nanakusagayu (seven-herb porridge) on the seventh day of the new year, Jonangu Shrine should be your main destination on Japan's National Foundation holiday. Traditionally, Japanese people eat the rice porridge with seven specific spring herbs on Jan. 7 in order to live healthy throughout the new year. (Japan Times)
Australia is the number one destination for Japanese school excursions and study tours, according to a report by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. In the 2007-08 Japanese financial year, 43,669 Japanese students visited Australia, of whom 34,802 arrived for school excursions and 8,867 came for language study tours. After Australia, the next most popular destinations for students are the United States (including Guam and Hawaii) and Korea. (ftnnews.com)
JAPAN
|
Overview|
Entry/Visas|
Employment|
Phrase Book|
Hostels|
Traveller Comments|
Entry requirements
A valid passport and a return ticket is required by all visitors to Japan. Visas are not required by US or EU nationals for a stay of up to three months. Further visas and visas for other nationalities are issued at the local Japanese Embassy or Consulate and their exact validity and price varies widely with nationality.
Addresses
Visa and immigration related enquiries should be directed to the nearest Japanese Embassy of Consulate;
Embassy of Japan
101 Piccadilly
London
W1V 9FN
Tel: (020) 7 465 6500
Fax: (020) 7 491 9348
If you require UK representation while in Japan you should contact the British Embassy;
British Embassy
No 1 Ichiban-cho
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102-8381
Tel: + [81] (3) 5211 1100
Fax: + [81] (3) 5275 0346
embassy@tokyo.mail.fco.gov.uk
Japanese authorities have found the body of a man in the landing gear of a Delta airliner that arrived in Tokyo from New York and said Monday they were seeking US help in identifying him.
The man, who was of dark complexion and dressed only in blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, was carrying no passport or personal belongings.
A mechanic found the body in the landing gear bay of the Boeing 777 after Delta Flight 59 landed at Tokyo's Narita International Airport at about 6:05 pm local time Sunday, a Chiba prefecture police spokesman said. (AFP)
Hostilities broke out between Japanese whalers and conservation group Sea Shepherd in the Antarctic yesterday, where the two sides collided in their first meeting since the sinking of the Ady Gil.
The Sea Shepherd ship Bob Barker collided with the stern of the whale chaser Yushin Maru No. 3, leaving a metre-long gash in the side of the activists' vessel, the group's leader, Paul Watson, said last night. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Like most 14-year-old girls, Rebecca Flint likes to dress up and dance. But unlike most girls, she records and posts her performances on YouTube.
The results have made her an internet phenomenon in Japan, home of the anime cartoon characters she imitates. More than eight million people have watched Rebecca performing as Beckii Cruel, dancing to bouncy J-pop (Japanese pop music) and anime theme songs in the attic of her home on the Isle of Man.
Her success has led publishing giant Tokuma Japan to sign up Beckii, teaming her with 18-year-old French college student "Sara Cruel", from Lyon, and a 16-year-old student from Portsmouth known as "Gemma Cruel". The trio -- Beckii Cruel and the Cruel Angels -- release their debut album in Japan on Wednesday, when it is expected to reach the top of the charts. (guardian.co.uk)
The ancient capital of Nar is celebrating the 1,300th anniversary of its founding throughout 2010 with hundreds of events that officials hope will bring in nearly 13 million visitors and raise the city's profile domestically and internationally as a historical and cultural tourism center. But questions are growing about how successful the celebrations will ultimately prove, with concerns over the effect of the weak economy on events and attendances, a lack of foreign language tourism information and a local populace that has been slow to embrace the festivities. (Japan Times)
Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Tomohiro Ishikawa, Ichiro Ozawa's former aide now under indictment for cooking the DPJ don's financial books over a shady Tokyo land buy, made bail Friday.
After paying ¥12 million through his lawyers, Ishikawa left the Tokyo Detention Center in the evening.
Mitsutomo Ikeda, an ex-aide of Ozawa, and Takanori Okubo, a current aide, also were released after making bail. Okubo paid ¥7 million and Ikeda ¥3 million. (Japan Times)
In Japan there is a proverb, "If it stinks, put a lid on it." Alas, this seems to have been Toyota's approach to its burgeoning safety crisis, initially denying, minimizing and mitigating the problems involving brakes that don't brake and accelerators that have a mind of their own. President Akio Toyoda, grandson of the founder, was MIA for two weeks and the company has appeared less than forthcoming about critical safety issues, risking the trust of its customers world-wide. (Wall Street Journal)
Troubled sumo grand champion Asashoryu announced his retirement from the ancient sport at a tear-filled news conference on Thursday, following a probe into reports of a drunken scuffle in Tokyo last month.
"I have caused great trouble to everyone, as well as to the Japan Sumo Association," the 29-year-old said, dabbing his eyes at times.
Asashoryu has often been in hot water outside the sumo ring but is beloved by fans for his exploits in it. Japanese broadcasters flashed new bulletins with his plans to retire, later telecasting his farewell announcement. (Reuters)
An annual snow festival began Friday in Sapporo in Hokkaido, featuring some 240 snow sculptures at three sites in the northern city.
Organizers expect more than 2 million people will visit those sites during the festival through next Thursday.
Among the sculptures are those of polar bears and penguins from popular Hokkaido zoos and that of the Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Germany, which is the highest on record in the annual events at some 26 meters high.
(AP)
As many businesses continue to shake their heads over how tough it is to make sales in these financially difficult times, "cheaper is better" is the strategy of the day, with shops slicing prices for everything from "gyudon" (beef on rice) to jeans. But one thing consumers - especially female ones - will loosen their purse strings for are those little drops of heaven that are sure to melt their darlings' hearts come Feb. 14, say chocolate retailers, whose customer-oriented strategies have seen both luxury brands and affordable sweets fly off the shelves at equal speed. (Japan Times)
If you are in the Kyoto or Kansai area and missed the chance to have nanakusagayu (seven-herb porridge) on the seventh day of the new year, Jonangu Shrine should be your main destination on Japan's National Foundation holiday. Traditionally, Japanese people eat the rice porridge with seven specific spring herbs on Jan. 7 in order to live healthy throughout the new year. (Japan Times)