Any list of the worlds best public transportation systems are bound to include Japan. And because we specialize in small groups, we are able to take full advantage of that system. Traveling like and with the Japanese people gives you much better inset of the culture and people. Not to mention there is so much...Read More
In Hiroshima, it is called “okonomiyaki”. But everywhere else in Japan it is called “Hiroshimayaki” to differentiate it from the Osaka-style okonomiyaki. While there are similarities between the two, there are also differences. For those who do not know what okonomiyaki is, it can best be described as a savory pancake. Other than the basic ingredients...Read More
Explore the world of digital artwork in a 10,000 square meter interactive digital art museum. The experience is different than any other museum you’ve been to before! The digital art collective teamLab now has a permanent home at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum. Announced as the world’s first digital art museum in June...Read More
This month’s number is 342. There are 342 Shinkansen everyday between Tokyo and Osaka (171 in each direction). The trains will normally start operating about 6:30AM and stop at about 12:30AM. That means there is a train every 6.3 minutes. 1964 – The year the Shinkansen started operating 285/177 – Maximum speed of the Tokaido...Read More
During the month of May you will find hundreds of young students in uniform at historic spots in Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima. You may think they are skipping classes in a group but actually they are enjoying a field trip. School trips are a part of the school education in Japan and it’s compulsory for most of...Read More
On April 25, 2019, the Hiroshima Peace Museum fully reopened after being partially closed for several years for earthquake-proofing renovations. While the work continues on the outside of the building, the inside has been completed and the museum and all of its exhibits have been completely redone. Since we take many tour groups there, I...Read More
Hello! My name is Tara Schmitz and I have been with Samurai Tours for just over a year. I am in the registration department, and often I am the first person you will have contact with when you register for a tour with us. I enjoy helping our clients with all of the details of...Read More
As with many words in Japanese, the word “onsen” (温泉) has different meanings. The two main meanings are either a hot spring, or a group of traditional inns and hotels that have been developed around a hot spring. For the purpose of this blog, we will use the latter meaning. Since it is a geothermally-active...Read More
Whether you call the foods eaten everyday soul food, comfort food or “Mom’s Home Cooking”, Omu Rice (オムライス-omuraisu in Japanese) is certainly one of the most popular foods of that category in Japan. There is not one area where it is popular. Instead it is popular everywhere in Japan. It is common at “shukudo” (low...Read More
