• The Christmas Gift Dilemma
    December 18th, 2012By Category: Arts & Entertainment, Shopping
    There's only a few days left before Christmas. Have you bought gifts for your loved ones or still going back and forth to that particular shop and not really deciding on getting something because of a tight budget? Well, the only comfort in there is that you're not al ... » Continue Reading
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    Christmas Trees Around the City
    December 14th, 2012By Category: Play
    Have you ever wondered how the Christmas tree came about? We see Christmas trees everywhere especially when the holiday seasons are approaching. But very few of us know how this tradition was formed. According to history, the first tree was put up in the Strasbourg C ... » Continue Reading
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    Osaka, Japan: Kukuru Restaurant
    December 14th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Kukuru's banner inside the restaurant Takoyaki is a famous snack in Japan and almost everyone (who's not allergic to seafood or batter) knows how it tastes and how it's made. But before digging in to have a piece of this tasty treat, here's a little info: Takoyaki w ... » Continue Reading
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    The Backwaters of Tokyo
    December 13th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Tokyo is a quintessential stop on the trail of any traveler, both for foreign tourists on holiday and expats looking for a weekend away. But the popularity of the destination doesn’t mean that it must be a common trip. Having tapped out the tourist circuit the last ... » Continue Reading
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    Accommodation options in Japan
    December 12th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Japan offers a wide range of accommodation from the budget to the high-end luxury. You can find accommodation in either Japanese style or Western style. In Japan there is a person rate per room, which means if you are sharing a room with another person the rate will ... » Continue Reading
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    Kabuki With Kids In Kuromori
    December 12th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Last year when our class was told that we would be seeing a kabuki performance outside Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, I was not sure what to expect. I have seen traditional kabuki in Yamaguchi-ken three years ago and a more modern adaptation of kabuki at the Korakukan ... » Continue Reading
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    Zen Feng Shui & Yin Yangs
    December 11th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    You walk into a house, above the door is a Ba-Qua mirror. There is a Zen sand garden in one of the corners, a bamboo plant in another, and a painted yin yang hangs on the wall. Paper lanterns hang down from the ceiling. A fat Buddha, becomes you into the room, and i ... » Continue Reading
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    Japan’s Internet Piracy Laws
    December 7th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    A new law in Japan makes downloading copyrighted music and video punishable by up to two years in prison, and a penalty of up to 2,000,000 yen. News articles talk about how the new law has hurt the music industry. Japanese people are buying less music now. The go ... » Continue Reading
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    Winter Warmers
    December 6th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Tokyo is famous for its cold, dry air in the winter.  Here are some great items to keep the chill off the silly season. HEAT For the great outdoors, Tokyo has plenty of items to keep warm. A pack of 10 heat patches lasting 10 hours at Y300 can be bought at any dru ... » Continue Reading
  • Mount Mitake

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    Mount Mitake
    December 5th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    Mt Mitake also called Mitake-san (御岳山) is a great day trip from Tokyo that you will not find in most travel guides. It’s the prefect escape from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and a place to appreciate some beautiful nature and views. At this time of the year it is ... » Continue Reading
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    When The Travel Bug Bites
    December 5th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    While living in the US I volunteered two summers at an English school that had many students from China, Korea, and you guessed it, Japan. Although the students grew up with different languages, habits, and cultures, they all shared some common goals in their new Am ... » Continue Reading
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    Preparing for Winter
    December 4th, 2012By Category: Uncategorized
    I wrote two different guides about surviving winter in Japan in my blog, as in Part I and Part II. After three winters in Japan and preparing for a fourth one (am I becoming a lifer?!), I think I covered the basics and can give adequate advice- after all, I'm Can ... » Continue Reading

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