Visit Japan Now

Japan’s Fast Food Restaurants

robin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:00:10 +0000

Besidetake outs American fast foods like McDonald’s, you can find traditional Japanese fast foods all over Japan. Noodle dishes are very popular, like ramen, udon and soba noodles. My favorites are ramen with miso broth with meat and vegetables added and yakisoba, which is a stir-fried soba noodle with vegetables and meat. I’ve never tried the chuka-soba, but it sounds really good. It is boiled soba noodles with meat, vegetables or seafood. Rice dishes like sushi, donburi and curry rice are also very popular.

For people who are nervous about trying Japanese food, I recommend a good donburi bowl with tempura (tendon) or beef and onions (gyudon) on top of rice. Other street foods like oden (stew), yakitori (skewered meat or vegetables) and okonomi-yaki (pancakes filled with pork, seafood, cabbage and more) are also popular. I haven’t had the opportunity to try them, but the oden especially sounds tempting.

Some of My Favorite Japanese Snacks

robin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:03:15 +0000

Some of my favorite Japanese snacks include mochi, which is a pounded, glutinous rice cake. It can be ice creamprepared in many ways. I like the deep-fried, puffed mochi, or the mochi ice cream balls, which are small round servings of ice cream covered with a layer of mochi. My favorite flavors for the ice cream includes green tea and chocolate. I’m anxious to try onigiri, which is a snack made of shaped rice with a filling. Since I haven’t found them ready-made at my local Asian market, I’ll have to try making them myself.

My friends and I really like Pocky sticks in several flavors. These are skinny hard sticks that sort of resemble tiny bread sticks that have been dipped in chocolate, strawberry and other flavored frostings. My friends also enjoy the Hello Kitty marshmallow treats. Personally, I find them a bit too sweet, but they love them so much they fight over them. The honey sesame candies are also extremely tasty.

Rice in Japanese Cuisines

Enjoying an Traditional Japanese Lunch

robin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:06:39 +0000

Like most traditional Japanese meals, the traditional Japanese lunch is made of some rice, miso soup, a vegetable and meat dish, another vegetable dish, some pickled vegetables and salad. Some Westerners complain that traditional Japanese meals are like eating dinner for every meal, but that doesn’t bother me. I eat leftovers for breakfast and lunch all the time, so eating the same types of foods at each meal is not a problem and I love Japanese food! These dishes could also be packed into a Bento box for lunch on the go. Families eating in a traditional style will have Mom cook a couple of new dishes every day. At every meal, the new foods are laid out along with leftovers from the previous day or two. Each dish is set out at every meal until it is gone. I may need to try that at home with my family… it would sure use up leftovers!

These No Reason to Fear Sushi

robin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:30:28 +0000

I was intrigued when I first saw sushi, but I was a little bit afraid to try it. Sushi is raw fish, right? Well, I have since learned that “sashimi” is raw fish, and sushi actually means “vinegar rice.” The first sushi I tried was a California roll, which is a fairly safe choice for newbies. Made with imitation crab, avocado, cucumber, mayonnaise, nori and rice, it is a tasty way to get acquainted with this interesting cuisine.

I’ve since taken the plunge and tried raw fish on my sushi. This variety was a nigiri, which is a small ball of rice covered with a piece of raw fish. The tuna nigiri was tasty, especially when a drop or two of soy sauce was added to the fish. This style is also made with cooked shrimp if you prefer a cooked version.

The last sushi bar I went to, we sat at up front at the bar so we could talk with the sushi chef, or Itamae (pronounced ee-tah-may). He made us a specialty that wasn’t on the menu that featured eel, another of my phobias when it came to sushi. It was so good! I’d looked at the eel sushi before, and it just didn’t look appetizing, but I was completely wrong. The chef told us that for three years, all he did was make sushi rice. After that time, he was allowed to progress to learning the art of making sushi. He had been training for eight years so far, and it would be another twenty-two years before he was considered a full-fledged sushi chef. All I know is if he makes such tasty treats now, I can only imagine how incredible his food will be when he finally finishes his training!

A Heathy Choice: Traditional Japanese Breakfast

robin — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 01:00:00 +0000

The Japanese breakfast isn’t a whole lot different than their other two meals of the day. I like rice at almost any time of day, so that part suits me fine. I also like miso soup, which is another important part of a traditional Japanese breakfast. I’ve even made this simple breakfast a few times. Mine didn’t include all the features you’d get in Japan, though.

Fish plays a big part in a traditional Japanese breakfast. And it really is a good protein to begin your day with. It sustains you for quite a while. The fish can be eaten separately, mixed with the rice or rolled with rice in a piece of nori like makeshift sushi. How fun… you get to play with your food while you eat it! I think I may be tempted to try it.

The pickled vegetables may give me a little pause. It seems so early in the day to eat them, but then again, it may be really good. While fixing a traditional Japanese breakfast takes longer than pouring a bowl of cereal, it might be worth a try. It must be healthier than eating a stack of pancakes and syrup. We can all stand to eat a little healthier, can’t we?

Bento Boxes: What Fun and Food They Store

robin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:30:26 +0000

I first discovered bento boxes when I first started watching anime. The girls in the stories frequently tried to impress the boys they liked by making cute little lunches for them. After that, I looked them up online. Wow! I was amazed at how many different styles of bento boxes there were. They come in metal, wood and plastic with fun anime characters as well.

Bento boxes are divided into individual compartments. Sometimes they have a second or third layer that all stack together for holding a meal. The main ingredient in the lunch is either rice or noodles. Then they add the fun stuff. The side dishes, or okazu, can be made of meat, eggs, fish, tofu, vegetables or fruit. The okazu is cut and prepared in bite sized pieces that work well with chopsticks. In children’s meals, the vegetables may be cut into cute shapes. They even have molds for boiled eggs! When I saw a picture of a boiled egg shaped like a teddy bear, I couldn’t believe it was an egg! They can also mold the rice into shapes. Some of the pictures I’ve seen have been extremely artistic and imaginative. The women who spend time making these bento box lunches are really creative. I’m tempted to buy a few of these lunchboxes at the local Asian store and try my hand at it. It sounds like a lot more fun than making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Rice in Japanese Cuisines

robin — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 01:20:47 +0000

I used to watch Iron Chef and marvel at the many ways they used rice, and it made me more interested in finding out more about Japanese food in general. Now, I’m hooked.

Rice is used at every meal… just plain steamed white rice. I admit I thought brown rice would be more popular than it is in Japan. It is amazing how many ways rice can be used. Rice cakes are used as a dessert, often stuffed with red bean paste or other sweet filling. Mochi is a chewy sweet or savory sheet of rice-y goodness (is that a word?) that can be cooked and eaten on its own or may be found wrapped around other goodies like bites of ice cream. I’ve since managed to try some of these tasty treats from Japan and they really are good.

I want to learn more ways to use rice. Learning about how the Japanese utilize it has inspired me. It is an amazing grain that feeds a large portion of the world’s population. It deserves more attention from those of us in the West.

Famous Mountains in Japan

robin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:00:25 +0000

Japan is a very mountainous country, yet there are a few majestic peaks that stand above all the rest. If you plan to visit Japan, you must see at least one of them. These picturesque peaks show off the natural beauty of Japan.

Mount Fuji
This is the tallest mountain in Japan. Mount Fuji is a perfect peak… it has the classic pointed cone that is often depicted in artwork and admired the world over. A dormant volcano, Mount Fuji is revered in Japan for its beauty and perfection. Mountain climbing and skiing are activities that are common around this mountain. Climbing is done only during a short period in the high summer as attempting the climb the rest of the year is very dangerous. Mount Fuji rises to an impressive height of 12,388 feet above sea level.

Mount Tate
Mount Tate is 9892 feet above sea level. It is located in the Toyama region of Japan. This mountain is known for its impressive fall beauty, when all the trees are draped in bright colors. The Oyama Shrine is located at the peak of Mount Tate. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful Shomyo Falls while they make the climb to the plateau.

Mount Haku
Mount Haku is also a dormant volcano. It stands 8783 feet above sea level. This mountain is a designated national park and remains pristine. Hiking is allowed and wildlife abounds here. Seasoned hikers may choose to take some of the rougher trails. They offer quite a challenge and can be very treacherous. Mount Haku is at its best in the late summer and fall.

Other mountains in Japan include Mount Aso, Nantai-san, Akaishi-dake and Hachimantai. If you truly love the mountains of Japan, check out the book “100 Famous Japanese Mountains” by Kyuya Fukada. Written in 1964, it celebrates the mountains of Japan and gives their history as well as climbing tips. It maybe out of print where you are so you may want to pick up a copy of Hiking in Japan instead.

A Brief Look at Modern Japanese Music

robin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:00:39 +0000

If you have an interest in the culture of a country, it is worth lending an ear to its music, and Japan is no different. Traditional Japanese music is beautifully distinctive and remarkable, and Japan’s music has its own traits that distinguish it from the music of many other countries. Take some time and think about some of the music that you might hear in Japan today; it is an eclectic mix and there is a great deal of influence from other countries as well.

For instance, heavy metal is an important genre of music in Japan. Power metal and neo classical metal are both important genres and there are many Japanese bands from the eighties and ninties that are classified as speed metal. Loudness is the most successful Japanese heavy metal band that tours outside of Japan while Sabbat and Sigh are two very popular domestic groups.

As early as the eighties R&B and dance music started to become popular in Japan. Some of the early stars of this genre of music included Ayumi Hamasaki and the group Every Little Thing, and today, the tradition continues with stars including Hikaru Utada and and the all girl group Morning Musume. Some current R&B singers that currently enjoy a fair amount of attention in Japan include Shota Shimizu, Beni Arashiro and Thelma Aoyama.

Though Japanese hip-hop is a relatively newer form of music to hit the Japanese scene, it has become extremely popular in a short period of time. The hip hop scene itself is a fluid and open space and both independent and major label artists can share space and impressive amounts of attention.

Every since the sixties, Japanese rock bands have enjoyed an impressive degree of appreciation and acclaim. Today, there is an extremely varied underground rock scene that will cover bands like Boredoms, which is a noise rock band to alternative acts like Shonen Knife, which achieved a fair degree of popularity in the west due to acclaim from popular musicians there. Some of the bands which have achieved acclaim include Eastern Youth and the Band Apart.

Though a slightly smaller genre, theme music is also an important part of the modern Japanese music scene. One way for bands to get publicity is to write songs for anime series films and television series, either the opening or closing tracks, and positions on soundtracks are a fairly hot commodity. There are many groups that have spent their careers composing for theme songs and other visual media, and some of the more famous ones include Does, JAM Project and The Pillows.

Take some time and consider what your options are when you are thinking about listening to Japanese music; there are plenty of choices and something to suit every taste!

Learning More About Traditional Japanese Music

Winter Months in Japan – What Should You Wear?

robin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:21:32 +0000

If you’re traveling to Japan during the winter, you may be concerned about what kind of clothing to bring with you.

Instead of thinking bulky clothing, think layers. While it may be cold outdoors, when you go indoors at retail shops or on the train it will be very warm. Layers allow you to easily adjust to your comfort level by removing adding a layer or two. Tee shirts layered with fleece and then a light to moderate jacket is usually sufficient unless you are planning on doing outdoor winter activities like skiing.

Layers are also better for packing. Instead of packing a heavy coat that takes up a lot of precious luggage space, thin shirts that can be worn together take up much less room. You can also check out some of the outdoors type retailers for thin, lightweight shirts made of fabrics that will keep you warm.

If you are staying at a traditional ryuken, the heating will not be set too high. In this case, you may want to bring some thermal garments to keep you warm while you are enjoying your stay. They tend to be a bit drafty, so pack some thick socks (these also come in handy if you are planning to visit temples and other shrines, since you will need to remove your shoes) to keep your feet warm.

A good warm hat and some gloves will keep you happy outdoors. Fleece is always a good choice for a hat. You may be able to find some while you are there featuring some of your favorite anime faces like Kirara from Inuyasha. You can be fun and warm at the same time! Choose one that is small enough to take off and stick in a pocket when you go indoors.

Determining What Clothes to Wear in Japan June – August