Local know-how
Akihabara vs Nakano Broadway vs Ikebukuro: Anime Shopping Guide
Akihabara for figures and cards, Nakano Broadway for retro finds, Ikebukuro for female-oriented fandom. Here's how to pick, plus the new tax…
Category: Local know-how
17 guides
Local know-how
Sencha vs Hojicha vs Genmaicha: Japan’s Everyday Teas Explained
Sencha, hojicha or genmaicha? What Japanese people really drink at home, how much caffeine each one has, what 100 g costs and…
Local know-how
Shiroi Koibito vs Royce vs LeTAO: Which to Bring Home
Shiroi Koibito, Royce or LeTAO? Compare price, shelf life, heat, and where to buy in Hokkaido or Tokyo, so the right sweet…
Local know-how
Izakaya Etiquette in Japan: Otoshi, Ordering and Paying
At an izakaya, a small starter called otoshi is your cover charge. Here's how to order by tablet, share plates, catch last…
Local know-how
Japan Public Holidays 2026–2027: Dates and Crowds to Plan Around
Japan's 2026–2027 public holidays from the Cabinet Office, plus when trains sell out at New Year, Golden Week and Obon, and what…
Local know-how
Antenna Shops in Tokyo: Food From Every Prefecture in One Day
Tokyo's antenna shops sell food, sake and snacks from regions all over Japan. Here's where they cluster in Ginza, Yurakucho and Nihonbashi,…
Local know-how
Japanese Regional Snacks (Gotochi): What to Buy and Where
Gotochi snacks are Japanese treats sold in one region only. Here are the famous ones, the Tokyo shops that stock them, and…
Local know-how
Regional Foods Worth a Shinkansen Detour in Japan (and Which Pass)
Sendai gyutan, Hiroshima okonomiyaki, Hakata ramen, Kanazawa crab: which regional foods Japanese people travel for, and which rail pass fits the trip.
Local know-how
100-Yen Shop Japan: What Locals Buy at Daiso, Seria, Can Do
What Japanese shoppers actually buy at Daiso, Seria and Can Do, which items now cost more than 100 yen, and what to…
Local know-how
Seasonal Japanese Sweets: What to Eat in Japan Month by Month
Sakura mochi from late February, kakigori from May, chestnut from September, strawberry from late winter. Here's which sweets will be out during…