jjwalsh
United States
20 years in Japan
jjwalsh's Advice List
jjwalsh
United States
20 years in Japan
Miroku-no-sato: Hiroshima's Futuristic Budda Village Amusement Park
If you are living or visiting the Hiroshima area with your family, or have an interest in old-style Japanese amusement parks, head over to Fukuyama city and Hiroshima's only amusement park, Miroku-no-sato. The name can be translated as "Futuristic Buddha’s Village" which seems like a rather unusual…(968 words)
jjwalsh
Family-fun Amusement park Hiroshima Train Visit Japan City Food Summer English
Hiroshima's Botanical Gardens
A visit to Hiroshima city in Spring or Summer should include a stop by the Botanical Gardens in Saiki-ku, only a 30 minute drive from Hiroshima city center or a 40 minute bus ride from the bus center (inside Sogo department store). It is an easy stop-off on the way to or from one of Hiroshima's…(311 words)
jjwalsh
Hiroshima Botanical Gardens Picnic City Visit Summer Event Trip English Spring
Quality Jewlery- Nozomi Project
If you are looking for beautiful gifts that can also help in the rebuilding of a broken community in Japan, the Nozomi project is a great place to shop.The Nozomi project is based in Ishinomaki, Tohoku. Nozomi means "Hope" which is perfect for this company as it helps rebuild the lives of peopl…(273 words)
jjwalsh
Shop Disaster Jewelry English History Business Holidays Christmas Traditional Work
Watch out for misleading labels in Japan
There have been some convenient, but very misleading trends in consumerism in Japan leading non-Japanese reading visitors and residents to making annoying and sometimes dangerous mistakes.For example, above you can see a だし Dashi (soup stock) vending machine right next to a normal drink machi…(185 words)
jjwalsh
Drink Easily Mistaken Misunderstood May Children Juice style Fish Kirin Cocktail
Hiroshima Landslide - visiting & volunteering
As many of you have heard, there was a horrible landslide triggered by a severe thunderstorm that hit Hiroshima city in the early morning of 8/20/2014. As of 9/10/2014, 72 people were killed and 2 remain missing and over 830 people have lost their homes. The city center did not have any serious…(304 words)
jjwalsh
Hiroshima Visit Disaster Train City Summer Hotel Train station English Zone
Yukata Festival in Hiroshima
Tokasan festival is one of the big festivals of the year in the Hiroshima city center. Food, drink and game stalls to enjoy as well as a dancing area to take part in traditional Japanese "obon" style "odori" dancing around the central drum and music tower. Tokasan is held on the first weekend i…(314 words)
jjwalsh
Yukata (Light kimono) Japanese festivals Tourism Hiroshima city annual Stalls Traditional Dancing Obon Odori dancing early summer event
"Uni" Sea urchin & "Horumon" guts
Considered delicacies (urchin) & eco-soul food (guts) these two get extreme reactions from dai-fans (big fans) who cant believe you wont try it, to those who can't stand sitting next to someone eating it! I've tried both & fall into the latter group of avoiders - uni tastes like dirty socks & the…(77 words)
jjwalsh
Sea
Local Shops Have Great Prices Too
Daiso is actually a Hiroshima company that is now in Australia and other countries around Asia as well. However, none of the products are actually made in Japan. Of course it is fun to walk around and see all the cheap Chinese made products, but you can actually find most of the good things they ha…(387 words)
jjwalsh
Tokyo City Shopping History Harajuku Okonomiyaki Hiroshima Daiso 100 yen shop Yamaguchi
Enjoy walking around central Tokyo
I have never lived in Tokyo, but I love day trips there. I would spend a few hours walking around Omotesando and Harajuku- interesting people watching and window shopping, great dining, shady streets, very international & trendy cafeshttp://en.japantourist.jp/index/search?q=omotesandoI al…(171 words)
jjwalsh
Tokyo Yokohama Shopping Ginza Asakusa Akihabara Anime
Fun for Kids & Families to enjoy all over Japan
Of course there are amusement parks, including Disneyland and Universal Studios in Japan; fun playgrounds and adventure parks too. But I think even the day to day can offer fun experiences for kids. Kaiten-sushi (sushi train) shops are lots of fun, soba and udon noodle shops, buffet dining and …(292 words)
jjwalsh
Hiroshima, Peace, Reflection, Remembrance and Hope
Hiroshima is one of the most visited cities in Japan because of its tragic history, but also because of its vibrant rebirth - a testament to the strength of the Japanese spirit to never give up. If you are interested in how Japanese people respect their lost loved ones and ancestors, a visit here i…(233 words)
jjwalsh
Hiroshima Park Museum River History Graveyards Trip
Buddhism experience in Japan
The way of the warrior may not be easy to experience, but Buddhism and traditional Japanese religion is an insight into the power and culture of the warrior spirit.I experienced a few hours of Zazen meditation practice and a traditional Buddhist vegan lunch in the Setoda-cho area of Onomichi, H…(158 words)
jjwalsh
Tera (Temple) Lodging Hiroshima Shikoku
Japan offers many great options for vegetarians if you know where to look & how to order
As a long-time resident of Japan who eats a vegan diet most days, vegetarian and yes have to cave and be pescatorian at times (due to necessity of eating foods made with fish stock), it is easier than many other countries I have lived in and visited. All shops, convenience stores and supermarke…(199 words)
jjwalsh
Convenience store Milk Salt Onigiri (Rice ball) Sugar
Lively Drinking Spots in Japan: Beer Gardens and Izakaya Japanese Pubs
You can find Beer Gardens atop department stores around Japan and Izakayas along any busy restaurant area in any city in the country.Although also popular with groups of friends or coworkers, you will find Japanese style pubs "Izakaya" popular with men- they serve many small dishes that go well…(220 words)
jjwalsh
Beer Izakaya Tokyo City Restaurant Drink Department store Sea Sake (Rice wine) Shochu Natto (Fermented soy beans)