Category: FOOD

 Hot Weather, Cold Food In many Western countries, noodles like pasta or chicken noodle soup are always served piping hot. But Japan has brutally hot and humid summers. To survive the heat, Japanese people do something brilliant: they eat their noodles ice cold! Somen (The Ice Water Noodles) The ultimate summer food is “Somen.” These are incredibly thin white wheat noodles. Families boil them for just two minutes, then cool them down and serve them in a large glass bowl filled with cold water and floating ice cubes! You dip them into a savory, cold soy-sauce broth before eating.   Hiyashi…

The $100 Price TagForeigners are often shocked when they visit a Japanese supermarket. Fruits are generally more expensive than in the US. But if you visit a high-end department store, you will see something unbelievable: a single peach for $30, a bunch of grapes for $50, or a perfect green melon for $100! Jewelry, Not GroceriesWhy are they so expensive? In Japan, these top-tier fruits are not considered “daily groceries.” They are treated like jewelry. They are grown specifically to be given as luxury gifts for special occasions like weddings, hospital visits, or thanking important business clients. The “One Tree,…

Around March 3rd, visit a Japanese home with a daughter, and you will see a spectacular display. A 7-tiered red platform filled with elaborate dolls dressed in ancient court kimonos. This is “Hina Matsuri” (Girls’ Day). It is a day to pray for the health and happiness of young girls.

The Pocket Money ParadiseIf a Japanese child has 100 yen (about 70 cents) in their pocket, they don’t go to a fancy bakery. They go to a “Dagashi-ya” (a retro penny-candy store). Dagashi translates to “cheap sweets,” and it is the ultimate childhood paradise. Cheap and ChaoticUnlike regular snacks in supermarkets, Dagashi are specifically designed for kids. They cost anywhere from 10 yen to 50 yen. The packaging is incredibly colorful, featuring retro cartoon characters, and the flavors are wild—from sweet chocolate to savory “grilled squid” flavor! Playing with FoodDagashi is highly interactive. There are candies shaped like cigarettes, powders…

Around March 3rd, visit a Japanese home with a daughter, and you will see a spectacular display. A 7-tiered red platform filled with elaborate dolls dressed in ancient court kimonos. This is “Hina Matsuri” (Girls’ Day). It is a day to pray for the health and happiness of young girls.

Raining SnacksImagine you are walking down a quiet residential street in Japan. Suddenly, you see a crowd of neighbors gathered around a half-built house. Then, the construction workers and the homeowners climb onto the roof and start… throwing snacks and rice cakes at the crowd! What is going on? The “Jotoshiki” CeremonyThis chaotic and fun event is called “Mochi-maki” (Mochi Throwing). It happens during a ceremony called Jotoshiki, which celebrates the completion of the basic wooden framework of a new house. Sharing the LuckWhy do they throw things? In Japan, building a new house is considered a massive milestone that…

The Spring SweetnessIn March, as the weather slowly starts to warm up, Japanese families and couples flock to the countryside for a favorite seasonal activity: “Ichigo-gari” (Strawberry Picking). But it is very different from picking wild berries in a forest. The High-Tech GreenhousesJapanese agriculture is famous for producing giant, perfectly shaped, incredibly sweet fruits. Strawberry picking happens inside massive, climate-controlled greenhouses. The strawberry vines are often elevated to waist-height, meaning you don’t even have to bend down to pick them. It is a clean, premium experience. The All-You-Can-Eat ChallengeFor an entrance fee of around $15 to $20, you get 30…