June in Japan is the season of tsuyu (the rainy season)—soft gray skies, glossy hydrangeas, the sound of umbrellas opening, and streets that shimmer like watercolor. It’s also a month of quiet work and renewal: rice fields filling, seedlings being planted, and communities moving in rhythm […]
Osaka is known for its nightlife and busy streets. With Dotonbori, the Glico running man, and even Universal Studios stealing the spotlight, it can be easy to miss the quieter spots of this vast city. But what about visitors looking for a slower pace of life […]
June is a special time to visit Kyoto. The city feels calm and fresh as the rainy season begins, bringing out bright green nature and colorful flowers everywhere. While it may not be peak travel season, that’s actually part of the charm: fewer crowds, cooler air, […]
In the quiet corners of Kyoto’s Nijo neighborhood, Way of Matcha offers an intimate look at the city’s tea culture through the lens of a lived-in traditional townhouse. Founded in 2024, this inviting space moves away from the crowds to focus on the authentic role of […]
June is a really nice time to visit Osaka. The weather gets warmer, people start wearing summer clothes, and the city slowly comes alive with festivals and traditions. It’s not too crowded yet, which makes it perfect for exploring at your own pace. One great place […]
June in Tokyo is a transitional and atmospheric month. The city enters tsuyu (梅雨, rainy season), when soft rain brings out lush greenery, shimmering streets, and some of the most beautiful seasonal flowers in Japan. While it is wetter, June is also one of the most […]
Summer in Kyoto… that intense, humid heat you only get in a city surrounded by mountains. It can feel pretty overwhelming, right? But thanks to that very heat, Kyoto created one of its most magical summer traditions: kawadoko. If you’ve been avoiding it thinking “It’s probably […]
Japan has a way of pulling you in with its iconic cities, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka are the most famous ones, but there’s so much more waiting beyond the typical travel route. If you’re open to exploring somewhere different, you’ll discover a different side of the […]
What food do you want to eat the most when you go to Japan? For me, there are countless dishes like oden, sushi, udon, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, etc. Now, do you know what they all have in common? It's dashi (fish stock). While broths around the world […]
Ever wondered how sushi chefs get those cuts so clean and precise? It’s not just skill, it’s also the knife. Japanese knives are tools of precision, tradition, and craftsmanship. Have you ever wondered what types of knives are used in Japan? Whether they're made specially for […]
