JapanTravelTips 6/8/2015 Tokyo,Okonomiyaki&Koyasan

Mostly when people think about Japanese food it’s sushi or miso that springs to mind. One popular snack that probably won’t be pictured is kare pan – curry bread. Essentially, this is a crunchy, coated deep-fried doughnut about the size of a bread roll, stuffed with curry.

It took me five years to finally make it to Mount Koya, although I lived in Japan at the time. Maybe because it is quite a train ride (or better said several train rides) to get there, but actually the journey itself is already worth the trip.

Tokyo is the city where you can enjoy all kinds of international cuisines; and even within this Tokyo, Nakameguro in the Meguro ward is famously known for its delicious restaurants. From luxury restaurants to causal ramen shops, Nakameguro has it all.

Few temples in Japan are opened after 4PM, and even fewer are lit after nightfall. This small temple on Teramachi-dori in Kyoto, called Yata-dera, does all these things and by night, when it’s brilliantly lit by dozens of chōchin paper lanterns, it is really a wonderful sight…

Japan is apparently number one in the world for most umbrellas per person. This is said to be not because of the heavy rainfall amount but as a result of our long tradition for umbrellas since the Edo period (1603-1868). Our important notes on traditional umbrellas will help you make your purchases.

The temperature is soaring and it’s still only June, which means one thing: we’re in for a looooong summer. Love it or hate it the summer heat is unavoidable but it’s a good time to enjoy delicious seasonal treats such as watermelon, shaved ice and cold noodles.