If you ever visit Japan, you’ll often see prints and recreations of old Ukiyo-e, such as “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”, or “Kanagawa-oki Nami Ura” (神奈川沖浪裏), that were originally made via Mokuhanga. But it’s possible to get an even more enriching experience when it comes to Ukiyo-e instead of just buying a modern print reproduction of one. That’s what I want to tell you about today in recounting a super unique experience I had while in Japan – and one that you can have too!
Now, I don’t know about you, but I love to travel to Japan (duh)! And while I’m there, I’m always up for trying out new foods. However, that doesn’t mean I can afford fancy dine outs for every meal and sometimes, I just need a restaurant where I can sit back in a cushy seat and take a load off while I order something I know I’ll like. So here are my solutions: 14 (+2 bonus) restaurants worth stopping by in Japan if you’re in the mood to eat out, but maybe not looking to have your wallet emptied.
For the month of January 2021, the featured artist of the month is Marie Kondo! Born in Tokyo, Japan, Marie Kondo is a professional organizing consultant, sometimes known as “KonMari”. With 4 books under her belt, with most translated into 30+ languages, Marie specializes in turning places of clutter into tidy spaces. Her most popular book is titled “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
Shinzou wo Sasageyo, Minna-san! I’ve been in a bit of a revitalized good mood primarily due to rewatching episodes of the anime 進撃の巨人 (“Shingeki no Kyojin”), so I thought I’d relate an experience I had while living in Tokyo in 2015 called “Attack on Wall Tokyo” as well as another one I had during a trip to Sapporo in 2016 called “Attack on Wall Sapporo”.
This is surprisingly, another one of those “I can’t believe I haven’t written about this sooner” posts. But then again, when you’re in Japan, there’s next to no time, zilch, to really document it other than via photos. As such, 4 years later, let’s talk about concerts in Japan, and specifically, my first concert in Japan.
Recently I appeared as a guest writer on the Japan Living and Lifestyle blog run by the lovely Urano family. What did I write on? Well of course, one of my favorite places on earth: Ikebukuro (池袋)! More specifically though, I discussed some of my favorite places to get great sweets and treats in and around the Sunshine Street and City areas. So in addition to that article, today, I’m sharing here a little more on my favorite place in Ikebukuro for sweet things: Milky Way!
Throughout my time living in Japan, I tried to do things that I had never done before. My first Kabuki experience though, was a no joke, INTENSE experience steeped in rich Japanese history and culture.
I’ve retold this story many a time for friends and family alike, but I’ve never written about it here, which feels like a glaring flaw on this blog. This is because, as it was my first experience in Japan, I would say that even though it wasn’t when I moved to Japan, it is certainly important enough to document (at least in my mind anyway). So what happened? How did I get there anyway? And what made it my first night so memorable? To tell the whole story, we have to start back in 2012.
My first time going to a Kabuki (歌舞伎) show and the significant reunion was in 2015. I stood in a striped black and white shirt and a black vest finished with a black skirt in the Ginza (銀座) district in Tokyo (東京) in front of the theater, Kabuki-za (歌舞伎座), holding onto the strap of my purse and my phone waiting nervously, hoping I’d be easy to spot. My eyes darted around, trying to find someone I knew in a sea of faces.
A long time ago, I was a gaijin (外人), or foreigner there. I was fresh off the boat in Japan with a tiny studio apartment. I didn’t even have a phone at the time. None the less, I was determined to experience EVERYTHING I could in this country. And I learned early on to ALWAYS GO FOR IT when in the land of the rising sun. Trust me, it’s worth the risk. 😉
