On my first trip to Japan, I really wanted to get a fortune (called o-mikuji (御御籤, 御神籤) at one of the many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples offering them. But I didn’t, because I was absolutely terrified of accidentally bringing bad luck home. Japanese Fortunes: Don’t Bring Bad Luck Home You see, in Japan, fortunes […]
As I’ve said many times here before, I can’t resist any souvenir that brings good luck. I’ve collected many lucky souvenirs over my travels, but my favorite symbol of good luck is the Maneki-neko cat from Japan. The maneki-neko (‘beckoning cat’) is a popular Japanese lucky charm, originating in the Edo period. The Maneki-neko cat […]
In Japan, there is a culture of cute known as “kawaii” (critical note: the “i” is pronounced like “Hawaii” not “Kauai”–which means the opposite of cute– dreadful. Trust me once you make this mistake once your Japanese friends will never let you live it down). Symbols of kawaii are absolutely everywhere in Japan. While you would […]
When thinking back on favorite experiences in a country, sometimes it’s not the big attractions that stand out in your memory so much as the unusual quirks. Which bring me to the wonderland of the Japanese 7-Eleven, one of the more memorable stops in Japan. And it’s not just me who is obsessed with Japanese […]
If you are visiting Tokyo on a short trip and need one-stop shopping for Japanese souvenirs, Asakusa market is the place to go. For one, Asakusa is not just a shopping destination– it’s also home to Tokyo’s oldest shrine, Sensoji, which is absolutely worth a visit in its own right. Second, by shopping the centuries […]
Before I visited Japan, I imagined the entire country to be filled with crazy fashions and cosplay, maid cafes and trendsetters. On arrival in Tokyo I quickly learned this was not the case. Salary men in near identical suits and briefcases walked the streets at a clipped pace. Elegantly but somewhat conservatively dressed women were […]
