Real Life in Japan– category –
Work, family, relationships and social questions in Japan, with space for differences across generations, regions and individual lives.
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Sunshine City in Ikebukuro: Pokémon, Penguins and Tokyo Above
Discover Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Tokyo: rooftop penguins at Sunshine Aquarium, Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO, TENBOU-PARK observatory, the 1978 history and visiting tips. -
Tokyo Tower: A Familiar Shape in a Changing City
Discover Tokyo Tower through its postwar story, observation decks, Shiba Park surroundings and changing night-time lights. A thoughtful guide to a first visit. -
Shibuya Crossing: Finding Your Way Through Tokyo’s Famous Scramble
Visit Shibuya Crossing with a clear first-timer’s plan: find Hachiko, compare street-level and elevated views, and continue into Tokyo’s lively Center-Gai. -
Japan’s Shinkansen: Enjoying the Journey Between Cities
A window seat, a station lunchbox and time to watch Japan pass by: discover the pleasures of travelling by Shinkansen. -
Japan’s Coin Lockers: The Freedom to Put a Bag Down
How Japan’s coin lockers change a day out, from their 1964 arrival at Shinjuku to cashless storage, station errands and the practical details worth checking. -
Oden: Inside Japan’s Winter Pot
Discover Japanese oden through daikon, eggs, fish cakes and simmering broth, with regional flavors from Shizuoka and Himeji and a closer look at everyday meals. -
Tatami: The Floor That Shapes a Japanese Room
Discover Japanese tatami mats: woven rushes, skilled fitting, futon bedding and surface renewal, plus the ways this traditional floor adapts to modern life. -
Maneki Neko: Why Japan’s Lucky Cats Raise One Paw
Discover Japan’s maneki neko: the meaning of each raised paw, Gōtokuji’s temple story, and the ceramic cats made in the pottery towns of Seto and Tokoname. -
Yaki Imo: The Roasted Sweet Potato That Tastes Like Autumn
Discover yaki imo, Japan’s roasted sweet potato: fluffy and sticky varieties, the science behind its sweetness, and its journey from street vendors to shops. -
Furoshiki: Japan’s Wrapping Cloth for Gifts and Everyday Life
What is furoshiki? Discover Japan’s reusable wrapping cloth, its uses for gifts and bento, how materials differ and whether the recipient keeps it.
