Joe Peters
United States
24 years in Japan
I write articles for Japan Tourist, TripAdvisor, and have had Japan articles published in magazines and online news sites.
I have owned my recruiting firm in Japan for 10 years. See http://www.isearchworldwide.co.jp
Oct. 13, 2014http://youtu.be/jJvXx1eqI7QAs you wander around Tokyo you may see some little trucks driving very slowly along the street with a very loud announcement, and perhaps a bit of music, emanating from a loudspeaker system attached to the truck.Look at the truck and if you see ol…(296 words)
Joe Peters
Sounds Truck Tokyo Traditional
Most tourists to Tokyo hit the high spots of Asakusa, Ginza, Tokyo Tower, and see the Imperial Palace grounds.If you want to leave the tourist spots behind and get a taste of the real Tokyo though head for Asagaya in Suginami Ward on the northwest side of the city. Asagaya Station can be reache…(417 words)
Joe Peters
Asagaya Tokyo Shopping Food Walk City Hotel Asakusa Chinese dumpling
At the shrines, and in many shops, you’ll see these roly-poly dolls with blank eyes (if they are for sale) or one eye painted black (if they are on display and owned by the shop).These rotund dolls are known as Daruma (Dharma) and are modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Bu…(295 words)
Joe Peters
Daruma Souvenir Lucky
If you come to Japan during the rainy season (June / July) you'll likely see these little dolls hanging in the windows of homes, especially those homes where children are living.No, these are little ghost dolls to chase away the summer monsters, and they aren't angels to bring good luck, nor ar…(227 words)
Joe Peters
Teru Teru Bozu Summer Trip Outdoor recreation Children good luck Weather Dolls Rainy Day
There are plenty of places to get a cup of coffee in Japan. Every convenience store, a Starbucks or Tullys on every corner it seems, and numerous tea and coffee shops and restaurants.But, when you're ready for a really good cup it's hard to beat the little shops owned by someone who has an obvi…(273 words)
Joe Peters
Coffee Tea Milk Sugar Toast Coffee shop
Many visitors to Japan just stay in the cities with a few day trips to places like Kamakura (great place to visit), or Hakone, or a shopping tour to one of the many outlet malls (Gotanda is a poplular one). But, if you are the outdoorsy type, and want a bit of fresh air and lots of greenery, a …(196 words)
Joe Peters
Curry Karuizawa Kita Karuizawa Food
Flowing from high in the mountains of Yamanashi the Tama River makes its way to the ocean after traversing a nearly 140 kilometer long trail. The last several kilometers of the river is the dividing line between Tokyo and Kanagawa. The river is dammed along the way, forming Lake Okutama, a major so…(616 words)
Joe Peters
River Tama River Rafting Tokyo Sport Nature Tree Cruising Fishing and angling
Kaeru in Japanese means to return. The same sounding word, kaeru, means frog.Many Japanese return to the Juban Inari Shrine time and again to offer a prayer or see these two frogs that sit just to the right of the steps leading up to the shrine. This shrine is also one of the stops during t…(262 words)
Joe Peters
Frog Tokyo Jinjya (Shrine) Subway Azabu Juban Coin May
Salt. Salt of the earth. Pillars of salt. Earn your daily salt. Take it with a grain of salt.If you visit Shioya (Salt Store) in Azabu Juban you can get all the grains of salt you'll ever need, and then some.Opened just a few months ago Shioya does a booming business in all things salt or …(203 words)
Joe Peters
Building Visit Souvenir Subway Salt Walk Azabu Juban
Golden Week - that period of many holidays in Japan - is upon us! For some, the long holiday period started on April 29 (Tuesday) and will stretch through Sunday, May 11. A "hearty" few even took April 28th off, giving them 16 days of vacation time with only 7 days of actual vacation days used. Man…(489 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Park Shibuya Ginza Jinjya (Shrine) Onsen Harajuku Shinkansen Bullet Train Narita International Airport
If you see giant carp streamers flying over homes or in the fields at this time of the year it isn't because the home owner is bragging about the size of the fish he or she just caught.It's the celebration of Children's Day, which officially falls on May 5, during Golden Week.The village of…(118 words)
Joe Peters
Children Saitama Golden Week Children's Day (Japan)
Last Sunday was a rainy day in Tokyo. We had friends visiting from the states and they are getting ready to remodel their kitchen and bathroom at their home.On Saturday we had gone to Shiodome to see the Panasonic Living Center. You can wander through their four floors to see the latest in Japa…(291 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Park Shinjuku Toilet Rainy Day Shiodome Panasonic Lixil
Now that the sakura blossoms are nearing their end, at least in Tokyo, the next 'season' coming up in Japan is Golden Week. (If you still want to see sakura head north and it's possible to have another couple of weeks or more of sakura blossom viewing.)Golden week this year starts from Tuesday,…(253 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Train Visit Cherry blossom Train station Onsen Golden Week
There are maps you can download on your iPhone or iPad for several cities in Japan.To find them do a search in the app store for "gpsmycity japan" (quotes are not necessary).The screen shots attached here show you what the apps look like. There are free versions and paid versions (.99).…(207 words)
Joe Peters
Convenience store Internet iPhone apps for Japan Lawson Walking Tours
Japanese, and many foreigners who have lived here for a time, have a particular love for sakura season. Of course, the blooming of the sakura trees does herald the arrival of spring and - hopefully - the end of a cold winter. The sakura maps that are popular on TV news, newspapers, Facebook, and ot…(575 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Park Cherry blossom Jinjya (Shrine) River Cherry Suginami Wadabori Yaezakura
I have a friend who always used the euphemism, “going to the Toto,” whenever he was headed for the men’s room. He called it that because Toto is one of the most famous toilet and urinal makers in Japan. (Toto is the abbreviation of Tōyō Tōki which means oriental ceramics.)First time visitors to…(631 words)
Joe Peters
Toilet Washlet Toto
Il Cavallo is a bit hidden away on the 3rd floor of Tokyo Design Center Building, but access is easy as it's right in front of exit #7 of Gotanda Station.Set lunches range from 1,050 to 4,000 yen. I had the Pranzo B which included a choice of soup of antipasto and a main course (pork on the day…(141 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Restaurant Music Coffee Lunch Dinner Italian cuisine
March 3rd, is Girls' Day in Japan. It's also called Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival).Those who have sets of Hina Dolls display them in their homes on a platform - in tiers- and the tiers are covered with a red cloth. The dolls are called hina-ningyoh. They represent the Emperor, the Empress, and …(515 words)
Joe Peters
Dolls Tokyo Jinjya (Shrine) Chiba Sashimi (Raw fish) Hinamatsuri
I had a lot of fun filming an episode about the decorated trucks of Japan for the Travel Channel. Below is the story I wrote about the experience.The rumble of powerful engines, air perfumed by diesel exhaust, bright lights flashing in the night: all ambrosia to the senses of the owners of the …(851 words)
Joe Peters
Decorated Art Hobby Truck Utamaro Decotora Cross cultural communication
We've been to Okajoki a few times with friends. We've sat at the counter - okay if just a couple of you; and we've had a private room - better for groups.The food is typical Izakaya food and they have a good variety of drinks.Prices are reasonable. Service is good.Getting there: take …(119 words)
Joe Peters
Izakaya Tokyo Evening Beer Sake (Rice wine) Lunch Dinner
At 599 meters, or just under 2,000 feet, Mount Takao - Takaozan in Japanese - isn't an especially high mountain. However, with over half a dozen trails leading to the top, in addition to a cable car and chair lift that goes about halfway to the summit, Takaozan offers a great place for a day outing…(822 words)
Joe Peters
Takao Tokyo Train Restaurant Shinjuku Trip Soba noodles Jinjya (Shrine) Shoes Mountain
Rikugien is a very nice garden for walking the park paths, up the gentle hills, and around the pond while taking in the sights and sounds of this park within the confines of a busy city. The garden was created based on the theme of Waka poetry. It's a typical example of the gardens of the Edo perio…(175 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo City Park Subway Visit
Washi is handmade paper and is typically made from the fibers of one of three types of bushes; gampi, mitsumata, or paper mulberry.Washi is actually amazingly tough, even more so than paper made from normal wood pulp. It's used in a variety of items such as Japanese kites, lamp shades, woodbloc…(335 words)
Joe Peters
Many people overseas have heard the "Sukiyaki Song" which of course, had a very different title in Japanese. But the real sukiyaki is a tasty dish.Many have heard of, or may have tried some version of, sukiyaki. It's a popular and well known dish consisting of beef (usually), mushrooms, other v…(297 words)
Joe Peters
Winter Beef Tofu (Soy bean curd) Hot pot dish Shabu shabu Sukiyaki
The Yanaka area of Tokyo (in Taito Ward) is a wonderful place for a day's outing. Start at the south exit of Nippori Station (Yamanote line). Exit the station, turn left, at the end of the walk take the steps to your left up to Tennoji Temple. It was founded over 500 years ago, but was destroyed in…(1247 words)
Joe Peters
Trip Puppets Ronin
If you're at the counter it's easy to see the case where the fresh fish is kept. If you don't know the names of the fish just point at what you want to eat and the itamae (sushi chef) will make that for you. Normally, you'll get two pieces, but you can ask for just one piece also.If you're …(311 words)
Joe Peters
Sushi
Mochi - rice cakes - can be eaten anytime of the year, but many people like to enjoy toasted mochi during the colder months. Wrap a strip of nori (pressed seaweed) around the mochi, bruch a bit of soy sauce on it, and pop it in the over toaster (do NOT use a western style toaster - you'll ruin it)…(339 words)
Joe Peters
Mochi (Rice cake) Soy sauce Toast Umeboshi New year Winter
There are a few international supermarkets located around Tokyo. Some of the better known markets are:1. National Azabu, located close to Hiroo subway station (Hibiya Line). See the website: http://www.national-azabu.com/e_index2.php2. Meiji-ya (Meida-ya) has a few locations around Tokyo an…(393 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Train Shopping Convenience store Coffee Wine Subway Flower Isetan Japanese style shopping arcade
Okuribito isn't exactly a Jidaigeki film, but since many samurai are sent to their great reward in the big castle in the sky Okuribito can be remotely related. In any case, it's an excellent film and if you haven't seen it you should. Watching it will give you a better understanding of the Japanese…(144 words)
Joe Peters
Samurai Castle Comedy Film
Omizu (mizu if you're not using the honorific "O") is the Japanese word for water. If you're visiting Japan you can be assured that the water from taps is safe to drink wherever you're visiting. However, if you really insist on paying 100 to 200 yen for a bottle of water you'll find plenty of brand…(279 words)
Joe Peters
Drink Convenience store Tera (Temple) Jinjya (Shrine) Onsen Saitama Summer
Get your caffeine fix in JapanCoffee - the sort that is ready to drink - is available all over Japan. If you're a Starbucks fan you'll find shops in most major cities and even a few drive-throughs along the roads.Then there's Tully's and even a branch or so of Seattle's Best. Doutor is a lo…(232 words)
Joe Peters
Convenience store Drink Tea Coffee Mountain
Actually, travel coupons are few are far between in Tokyo. You can see coupons for hotel discounts if you are signed up for Groupon Japan, or Ponpare (like Groupon), but you'll have to be able to read Japanese or use the Google translate function on your browser to get a fair idea of what the coupo…(180 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Train Hotel Subway
Fall in Japan can still be quite warm. Of course, it all depends on where you are. If you are in Tokyo expect dayttime temperatures in the high 60s (F) or even higher in the early part of fall and even into late October. Nights usually drop to the lower 50s, sometimes a bit cooler.Bring along a…(162 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Mountain Uniqlo Trip
Actually, here's not a tip. Japan is not a tipping society so you don't need to tip in restaurants, taxis, etc. In fact, my daughter actually had the waitress chasing them down the street once when she left a tip on the table. The waitress thought she had forgotten to take her money. Some highe…(219 words)
Joe Peters
Hotel Japanese inn
If you want to be in the city for an extended stay the best option is to check out the serviced apartments. An online search for Tokyo Serviced Apartments turns up a myriad of options.If you're just staying a few days, but don't want to stay in a hotel, check out a vacation rental property. www…(117 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo City Hotel Ueno Saitama
In years past very few streets in Japan had names other than some of the major thoroughfares. These days it's possible to find more streets with names, but other than the major ones, most people won't know where "such and such" a street is located.Some use the word "kaido" in their name. The "…(337 words)
Joe Peters
Tokyo Building Shibuya Roppongi Police Trip
There are groups who dress up in camouflage clothing and run about in various settings - woods, countryside, even urban - shooting at each other with air guns. These outings are actually organized and some of the participants will own several models of air guns. They even have magazines dedicated t…(75 words)
Joe Peters
Otaku Hobby
The 45th floor observatory of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office (City Hall / Tochō) in Shinjuku offers sweeping views of Tokyo and across the Kanto Plain to Mount Fuji (on clear days). Entrance is free. Take the observatory elevator from the 1st Floor of Main Building Number 1. H…(67 words)
Joe Peters