To understand what Oyakodon is, it is best to first translate into English. “Oya” means parent, “ko” means child and “don” is short for donburi which is a rice bowl. The name of the dish is a poetic reflection of the fact that chicken and egg are served over rice. (Chicken is the parent and...Read More
I got on the bus with the group that I was meeting upon their arrival in Japan. It was a late arrival, and I knew they’d be tired from the long day of travel. I suggested to them that they could get dinner at the convenience stores in the basement of the hotel. After all,...Read More
Kinosaki Onsen Kinosaki Onsen is located in northern Hyogo Prefecture on the coast of the Sea of Japan. This pleasant town, built along a willow-lined canal, is one of the top onsen destinations of the Kansai Region and is popular with people from all over Japan. Overall Onsen Rating Atmosphere Hot springs were...Read More
If you go shopping at convenience stores in Japan, you will see a variety of packaged rice balls lined up on the shelf. These Japanese rice balls are generally called “Onigiri (おにぎり)” or “Omusubi (おむすび)”. Onigiri is commonly used in the eastern part of Japan, whereas Omusubi tends to be used in the western part....Read More
Written by: Ota-san, Samurai Tours Japan Staff Takayama is the largest city in Japan in terms of size, bigger than Tokyo, but this city is surrounded by mountains and its population is only 90,000. This area was once abundant in timber and produced minerals such as iron, gold, and lead so the Tokugawa military government...Read More
Nikko is situated at the entrance to the Nikko National Park. This small town is a couple hours north of Tokyo and known for natural beauty. Once you arrive in Nikko you can have access to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, exquisite shrines, temples, and outdoor attractions. As you enter Nikko to visit the...Read More
Curry and rice (カレライス – curry rice) is Japan’s most popular “mom’s home cooking” soul or comfort food. Ease of preparation, and the wide variety and availability of instant curry mixes, has made curry rice very popular. It can be found anywhere and everywhere in Japan, and it is very popular at home as well...Read More
Written by: Ota-san, Samurai Tours Japan staff The Shinkansen, known as the bullet train, is one of the fastest trains in the world. It’s a network of high-speed railway lines, which runs at about 200 kilometers an hour on average and connects the main island with other two smaller islands. 900 trains run to carry...Read More
Are you a voluntary or involuntary corona virus shut-in, and tired of watching Gilligan’s Island reruns? How about a virtual tour of Japan through Japanese movies. Watching Japanese movies is a great way to learn more about Japan, its people and culture. Here are some of our suggestions. I have tried to provide a wide...Read More
