Culture Experience Japan’s New Year: A Winter Guide to Japanese Traditions from Hatsumode, Osechi, to Otoshidama 2025年12月5日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment In Japan, the New Year season is a very special time when quiet moments of reflection on the past year coexist with festive celebrations welcoming the year ahead. From traditional year-end customs such as major house cleaning, eating toshikoshi soba, and listening to temple bells ring on New Year’s Eve, to New Year traditions like […] Read more »
Trip Complete Guide to Winter in Tokyo: Explore the City of Lights Through Illuminations and Christmas Markets 2025年10月21日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Winter in Tokyo is a special season when the entire city is wrapped in light. From November to December, areas such as Marunouchi, Omotesando, Roppongi, Ebisu, and Shibuya come alive with enchanting illuminations and authentic Christmas markets. The champagne-gold streets, the aroma and music filling the festive markets, and the illuminated Tokyo Skytree painting the […] Read more » Tokyo
Food A Graceful Taste of the Seasons: A Guide to Japan’s Afternoon Tea Culture 2025年10月19日 / 2025年10月19日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Japanese afternoon tea has evolved into a unique style that blends the elegance of British tradition with the beauty of Japan’s four seasons and the spirit of “omotenashi” — heartfelt hospitality. In spring, you can enjoy cherry blossoms and strawberries; in summer, matcha and tropical fruits; in autumn, chestnuts and chocolate; and in winter, special […] Read more »
Food The Ultimate Guide to Japanese KitKat: 400 Unique Flavors and the Cultural Evolution That Amazes the World 2025年10月13日 / 2025年10月13日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment The chocolate wafer bar “KitKat” is loved all over the world. Among them, however, the Japanese KitKat holds a truly special place. With over 400 varieties released to date — including matcha, strawberry, wasabi, and even sake — Japan offers an incredible range of regional and seasonal flavors. Thanks to the phrase “Kitto Katsu,” which […] Read more »
Trip Beppu Onsen and Jigoku Meguri Complete Guide: Experience Japan’s Ultimate Hot Spring Paradise 2025年9月30日 / 2025年9月30日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Beppu in Oita Prefecture is known as one of the world’s premier hot spring destinations, attracting countless international travelers every year. The sight of steam plumes rising throughout the city is breathtaking—so much so that Beppu is often called a “theme park of hot springs.” Among its most famous attractions is the Beppu Jigoku Meguri […] Read more » Oita
Culture Ultimate Tokyo Disney Resort Guide for First-Time Visitors: Tickets, App, Crowd Strategy, Getting There, Food & Shopping 2025年9月18日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) is one of Japan’s premier theme parks where you can enjoy not only attractions but also shows, gourmet dining, and shopping all day long. This article is designed for first-time international visitors and explains: Pre-departure prep: how to choose and where to buy tickets, and how to use the official app […] Read more » Chiba Tokyo
Culture Living with Pets in Japan: Essential Rules and Tips Foreigners Should Know 2025年9月6日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment When living with pets in Japan, the rules you must follow and the practical measures you should take vary widely depending on the type of housing and the terms of your lease. For foreigners in particular, differences in language and culture can make it easy to overlook important details, and an insufficient review of the […] Read more »
Culture Your First Japanese Apartment: The Basics of Amenities, House Rules, and Neighbor Etiquette 2025年9月1日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Japanese rental apartments are compact yet highly functional, and they come with their own set of amenities, house rules, and neighborhood etiquette. This article explains how to read floor plans and understand building structures before you sign, how to use bathrooms, hot-water controls, and utilities right after moving in, and the everyday rules, shared-space manners, […] Read more »
Food Complete Guide to Iwate’s Flavors: From Wanko Soba, Morioka Reimen, and Jajamen to Sanriku “Ichigoni” and Maesawa Beef 2025年8月27日 / 2025年8月27日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment Your culinary journey in Iwate begins with a tasting tour of the “Three Great Noodles.” Wanko soba, where lively chants keep the refills coming; Morioka reimen, a triumvirate of chewy noodles × clear, delicate broth × kimchi; and Jajamen, which you finish to your own taste. Beyond the noodles, there’s the rustic, nourishing dumpling soup […] Read more » Iwate
Food Savor Aomori’s Flavors! A Food Travel Guide Featuring Apples, Senbei-jiru, Ōma Bluefin Tuna & Mutsu Bay Scallops 2025年8月27日 by IROHA | Leave a Comment A trip to Aomori is most delicious when you pair what’s in season with where it’s grown. In spring, white apple blossoms blanket Hirosaki; in early summer, Mutsu Bay scallops turn sweet; and from autumn through winter, Ōma bluefin tuna peaks in the Tsugaru Strait. In Hachinohe, the humble “senbei-jiru”—Nanbu wheat crackers simmered in dashi—warms […] Read more » Aomori
