Japan

How not to be rude in Japan: Japanese manners and etiquette

Izakaya in Tokyo, Japan

What I love about Japan is how friendly the people are to visitors. As a traveler, it is a great idea to know about simple Japanese manners and etiquette. Respecting the local culture and customs is something you should try to practice, no matter what country you may visit. This list may seem intimating to first time visitors to Japan, but the list is not set in stone. While some of these social customs are expected during business situations, many …

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Sights you should not miss at night in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward

Neon lights in the maze that is Tokyo

When you dream of Tokyo and Japan, you dream of Shinjuku and its neon lights, department stores, bars, love hotels, shrines, and futuristic skyscrapers. During the day, Shinjuku is a great place to visit for its Shinto shrines, endless shopping, and art galleries. As the sun goes down, Shinjuku comes alive. The neon lights, the crowds, and the energy make Shinjuku one of the most fascinating and bustling places in Tokyo. It’s everything you think Tokyo should be. A quick …

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How to get from Nagano to the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park

Snow monkeys hanging out at the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park near Nagano

One of the main reasons you should visit Nagano is for the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, a unique onsen, or hot spring, filled with wild Japanese Macaques. Yes, you read that correctly. There is a hot spring with wild monkeys that you can visit in Japan. The park, located northeast of Nagano, requires a little work to reach, including a 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) trek on a narrow pathway through a beautiful snow-covered (in the winter) forest. If you are …

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Going to Osaka? Here are 3 must eat street foods you should try

Dotonbori is the mecca of street food in Osaka

Most people think that Tokyo is a far superior city for food than Osaka. What they fail to realize is that Osaka is considered the food capital of Japan. Osaka is a city for food lovers and has just as great of food, or even better, than Tokyo. Some of the most famous and delicious foods in Osaka are those being sold by street vendors (and in restaurants all over the city). If you are visiting Osaka, make sure you …

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