Celebrating the New Year in Tokyo

You know what they say: when in Rome, do as the Romans do . . . and we all know what the Romans do (they wear togas and watch gladiator battles, right?). But what if you are in Tokyo, and for the New Year, of all things? It seems safe to say that the bright lights and bustle of downtown Tokyo easily match the atmosphere in New York City, so there has to be some major excitement in Tokyo come the New Year. That’s exactly right. To spend New Years in Tokyo is to close one year and begin a new year with a really big – huge () – bang. If you plan on being in Tokyo around that time, then you are in for a real treat. Here is a guide to celebrating the New Year in Tokyo:

Japanese New Year
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5 Stunning Sites to See in Tokyo

Tokyo is a place that meshes the most modern of experiences and amenities with ancient, sacred sites. If you are planning a trip to Tokyo, then you will be pleased to find that there is a wide array of interesting, entertaining and unforgettable sights and sounds to take in for each and every type and age of person. Here are five stunning sites to see in Tokyo:

Kyokyo (The Imperial Palace). This is the actual home of Japan’s Emperor and the Imperial family – a modern reconstruction of the Meiji Imperial Palace, which was destroyed by bombers in WWII. It was also once the site of Edo Castle – the largest castle in the world – and, although the castle is gone, the impressive moats, defense walls, armories and watch towers still remain. Take a guided tour of the palace, itself, and then explore the on-site art museum and the opulent East Garden. And, yes, Aurelio did mention The Imperial Palace in his post 5 Free Attractions to Visit in Tokyo the other day – but this is one site worth mentioning again! Continue reading »

5 Etiquette Tips to Follow While Visiting Japan

Japan can a wonderful cultural experience for any traveler. The shrines, temples and customs of Japan can also offer a interesting learning experience. However, before you visit Japan, there are some things you should know about how to conduct yourself. Here are just five etiquette tips to follow while visiting this Japan.

Use a Proper Greeting
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5 Free Attractions to Visit in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan is a senses-stimulating experience of lights and colors – so much so that it can be a whirlwind for travelers who aren’t prepared with a targeted vision of exactly what they want to see while they are there. What’s more, it can be hard to separate all that glitters from the actual gold . . . and all that sight-seeing can add up. Fortunately, many of Tokyo’s most worthwhile attractions won’t bust your bank account. Here are five free attractions to visit in Tokyo:

Imperial Palace. This is the residence of Japan’s imperial family, and is in a picturesque park-like setting and surrounded by awe-inspiring moats, bridges, and massive walls. Take a guided tour through the palace, take in Emperor Showa’s art collection at the on-site museum, and walk through the majestic East Garden area for a taste of ancient Asia that you will never forget. Continue reading »

Visiting Tokyo’s Beer Gardens

Tokyo summers are sweltering, and one of the most popular ways to escape the Tokyo summer heat is to visit the Tokyo beer gardens. What are the beer gardens? Well, they’re not exactly what they sound like (if you are picturing a Willy Wonka-esque scene with rivers of beer . . . or is that just me?). Tokyo’s beer “gardens” are actually the rooftops of busy city retailers that want to offer their customers a little something extra when it comes to getting out of the summer sun. If you visit Tokyo in the summer, then you really should make it a point to tour the beer gardens. Here are some helpful pointers for visiting Tokyo’s beer gardens:

Variety. Each of Tokyo’s beer gardens has a little something different to offer. Most of them don’t have an actual garden, but some of them do – koi pond and all. What’s more is that some beer gardens require a bit of a hike, if you want to take in a bird’s eye view of Tokyo while you sip your malt beverage. You should definitely do your research before you trek out for your bar hop, and make sure you plan your trek through beer garden land.

Where to go. As I’ve already hinted, not all beer gardens are created equal. Imagine visiting your friendly, neighborhood bar, where “everybody knows your name,” and now imagine how each and every neighborhood bar has its own atmosphere and flavor. Most people who frequent Tokyo’s beer gardens have their favorite stoops, so you will want to visit several in order to find the beer gardens that are right for you.

Popular beer gardens. Of course, some beer gardens are more popular than others. Some of the most highly celebrated beer gardens include Mr. Takao’s Beer Garden (also called Beer Mount, because of the hike you must take to get to the amazing view), Hanezawa Beer Garden (which actually has a real garden), and Ginza Matsuya Rooftop Beer Garden (where you can have lamb grilled right at your table).

How to find the beer gardens for you. Do a search online for Tokyo beer gardens and you will find a lot of information about the variety of beer gardens available to you. Read the testimonials to plot out the course of your beer garden tour. You can also use Google maps if you have a smartphone in very worst case do a research and find best cell phone plan comparison and make sure it is smartphone and you can then use the Google Maps.

A visit to Tokyo just wouldn’t be complete without a visit (or more) to the Tokyo beer gardens. Do your research and choose which beer gardens you most want to visit, because once you are there you will want to stay a while.

Go Bento!

Photo Courtesy Of: miheco

A bento is a single serve portioned meal common in Japanese cuisine. This boxed meal can either be served in restaurants or eaten on the go as homemade packed lunches. The concept has many variations all over the world. Similar forms include biandang (Taiwan), dosirak (Korea), baon (Philippines) and tiffin (India).

History of the Bento

Bento boxes were originally served during a hanami or tea party. Later on it became common to bring food during travels or while sightseeing. Since concessionaires were not common then, people who came to see kabuki or other shows ate their bento boxes during intermissions. Through the years it evolved as a take away meal that adults and children took with them for lunch and during picnics or day trips. These delicious meals are often cooked at home, but they have been sold commercially since the late 1800’s.

Bento bako or the lunchbox itself was initially made of woven bamboo leaves and then it evolved to wooden boxes. During the Taisho period (1912-1926), aluminum bento boxes were used because they were more sturdy and reusable. Nowadays, lacquer bento boxes are used for special gatherings and in restaurants, while plastic ones are used on a daily basis. Disposable bento boxes are also sold commercially.

Character Bento

Photo Courtesy Of:  leafar.

Types of bento

Makunuochi bento is a bento meal served for formal meals and in restaurants.

Kouraku bento is for sharing and it is also known as a picnic bento.

Ekiben bento is for travelers and is often sold in food halls, train stations and convenience stores.

Charaben or kyaraben is the art of making ‘character bento’ which often resembles anime or cartoon characters.

The Japanese follow two traditions in preparing food

Goho meaning five ways of cooking -boiling, grilling, pickling, frying, simmering or steaming gives further balance to every meal.

Goshiki  means five colors –white, red/orange, green, yellow, black/purple/brown. It is a Japanese Buddhist thought that balances aesthetics and nutrition in every meal.

Picnic Bento

Photo Courtesy Of: kimubert

How to assemble a bento box

The traditional bento box ratio is 4-3-2-1. Four parts contains carbohydrates such as rice or noodles, three parts protein such as meat or fish, 2 parts vegetables for fiber and vitamins and one part dessert such as fruits or baked goods for a daily source of sugar.

Why bento?

Bento boxes are healthier options since food is portioned according to your daily needs. This can vary or change though, depending on one’s diet. It is also earth friendly because food is served in reusable containers, thus reducing waste from plastic and paper bags or other forms of disposable packaging. Going bento does not necessarily mean eating Japanese food. These healthy lunchboxes can also contain sandwiches or dishes from other cuisines.  So if you are tired of your usual boring lunch, be creative and make a bento box today.

Umami is for Delicious and Savory

Japan is one of the few places in the world that offers the most unique and the tastiest of delicacies and cuisines, whether fried, steamed, or even raw. As the Land of the Rising Sun rises with its amazing food selections, another revolutionary offering about food is the innovation and development of the fifth taste called “umami” found from MSG or monosodium glutamate. We have been familiar with sweet, sour, salty, and bitter flavors, but umami, not known to many, has been tasted way before, even though it was only discovered in 1909 by a Professor of the Tokyo Imperial University, Kikunae Ikeda. He found this tang when he experimented with kombu seaweed and sought for the reason of its palatability.

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Discover Enka

Eastern music is something quite different from what the west has to offer. With the constant exposure to each other’s cultures, however, the juxtaposition of musical elements is inevitable. Still, it is inevitable that indigenous music remain the same. This holds true to a genre in Japan called enka.

The truth is that enka is used to refer to two kinds of music. The first one hails from way back in the Meiji and Taisho period when speeches were made into music. The idea was to avoid the disapproval of the government towards political speeches by masking the words in music. The second genre refers to music that emerged after the war, during the Showa period. This type of enka is quite popular and has been compared to American country music (not because of the musical style but because of the theme and audience).

Though you might find varying descriptions and definition of enka, I like the one presented in Okada:

Enka is usually singing sad aspects of life, irrecoverable destiny, desertion by the lover. It is an expression of love, but love will never be successful and sorrow and tear follow happy memories. It can also be a song of a woman who is resentful to her destiny as her lover is gone to another woman. Anyhow Enka is song of resignation. Resignation must be sweet so that it is endurable.

Indeed, with that definition, it makes you think of country songs. Want to hear some enka? Visit Barbara’s Enka Site. I learned a lot from it.

Is Sushi Good For You?

I finally satisfied my sushi craving the other day when I went out to eat with several friends. It was actually a funny meal because I had just spent the whole afternoon at the hospital getting some tests done and then met up with my friends for dinner. While gorging ourselves on the delectable pieces of sushi that the chef whipped up, we found ourselves talking about the health benefits of sushi.

Does sushi really have health benefits or is it just good to eat?

Well if you think about it, sushi is simply rice and fish. Of course, different varieties would have vegetables, other kinds of seafood, and sometimes sesame seed. Whether the fish is cooked or not, the fact that sushi has very low fat content remains the same. More so, sushi also has low cholesterol and caloric content. That is good, isn’t it?

In addition to these things, having seafood as the main ingredient implies another healthy reason to eat sushi. Certain seafood have a healthy does of Omega-3 fatty acids. Technical term aside, this simply means that seafood is good for your heart! As such, sushi is not only low in fat and other stuff, but it also has something good for your body!

Last, take a look at vegetables and the seaweed that is used to wrap the sushi in. These ingredients are definitely high in nutrients and other healthy things (notice that I cannot enumerate them). Cheryl Koch over at Yahoo Health says that phytochemicals are present as well.

I guess I have presented my argument quite convincingly, huh? Sushi is indeed good for the health.

Photo courtesy of breezeDebris