When asked to name words associated with Japan, ‘fish’, ‘sushi’, or even ‘sashimi’ are likely to make most people’s top 10 list. If you are like me, and love seafood, there is probably no better place than Tsukiji Fish Market to indulge in the freshest, most delicious, mouth-watering, and BEST sushi in the world.
Read the full story »Suffering separation anxiety when parted from your kotatsu? Sub-zero apartments and icy bike rides to school mean Gunma’s cold is already biting. Without wanting to sound like a doom-monger, the worst of the winter is yet to come! Meet the cold head-on and make your pad a hot-haven…
Read the full story »The thought of catching your dinner before you eat might sound a bit like hard work. But for a truly unique, and crazily Japanese experience, there’s a lively restaurant where you catch it, cook it and eat it.
Read the full story »Whether you’re working towards the JLPT or you’re just starting out with Japanese, the Gunma Study Games are here to help you level-up. Jen Hammer is organising the events and explains what they’re all about…
Read the full story »If you have yet to make a trip up into the mountains of Minakami for an art-filled day, slap it near the top of your Gunma bucket list. Takumi-no-sato (たくみの里) is an entire village filled with far too many hands-on traditional Japanese art workshops to even consider doing every one in a day.
Read the full story »Snow capped peaks are already visible around Gunma, hailing the start of the winter sports season. It’s time to wax up your gear and find out why Gunma has some of the best skiing and snowboarding in Japan. Whether you’re a master of the slopes or a powder first timer, there’s something for everyone…
I must confess my stupidity. During my first 12 months in Japan I have been confusing the Japanese emoticon for ‘smiley’ with the one for ‘angry face’. It suddenly dawned on me, with a cold chill of realisation, that every time I emailed a new friend for the first time, or made a plan to meet up at the weekend, or sent an SMS to one of the teachers at my school, I’ve done it with a dirty look.
Summer festival season is upon us. For many Japanese people it means garnishing portable shrines and dusting off traditional costumes to parade through town. For all people it means enjoying fun in the sun, food stalls and fireworks. Nothing tops off the festival season better than doing it in style!