If you’re looking for a quality local craft beer from Osaka you must try Minoh Beer. Minoh beer is probably the easiest Osaka-based craft beer to find. You might be able to find it in a restaurant or craft beer bar. You can certainly buy it online from their shop, and you can occasionally find…
The area around Toudaiji and the Deer Park in Nara is constantly packed. If you’re looking for something that is less crowded, don’t skip the beautiful Isuien Gardens. One creative feature in Isuien Gardens is their use of stones tied with rope to indicate areas that guests should not enter. This is great. The stones…
Board games are great. I have bought, sold, and traded for quite a few over the past few years. One thing to know about board games is that their prices can fluctuate wildly. It’s not uncommon to find relatively new games on sale for 30-40% off of the MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) on major…
I was looking for a cheap tiny chess set to use with my kid while hanging out at the in-laws. Something that I could leave behind tucked away in a corner that wouldn’t take up much space. Something not heavy that I could bring on short overnight trips. Something so inexpensive that I wouldn’t cry…
Do you want to really geek out on Japanese Shochu? Check out these two videos featuring Stephen Lyman, America’s leading expert on Japan’s national distilled spirit: shochu. Shochu is a nice, distinctly Japanese drink. Like whisky, different shochu labels have memorably different tastes and qualities. You can drink shochu on the rocks, split with warm…
The Nintendo Switch is region free, and many (not all) games, including Octopath Traveler, have the full Japanese text and audio available in the U.S. release of the game. No need to import from Japan! This is an amazing resource for gamers who are learning Japanese. Here’s my latest grab! Japanese: 火事場の馬鹿力 Hiragana: かじばのばかぢから Romaji:…
I had the opportunity to visit Chusonji in Iwate Prefecture winter 2017. You can read a lot about Chusonji online, and I recommend that you do. If you’re looking for an impressive Japanese temple to visit that is far enough off the beaten path that it isn’t crowded with tourists, this is a great choice….
What do Japanese people traditionally eat for breakfast in Japan? Many Japanese these days eat a more western breakfast with eggs, toast, and coffee. However, if you’re at Japanese inn or hospital or something you may get something more traditional, like this. So what’s in this photo: White rice Natto (a dish of fermented soybeans,…
Here’s a fun print and play board game called Raging Bulls by Mark Tuck that really only needs a single sheet of paper to enjoy. Ideally, you’ll have paper, a pencil, three six-sided dice (3d6), and a straight edge — but you can totally play this using virtual online dice and you can free-hand the…
Sometime in 2007 I took a short trip outside of Osaka city to visit one of architect Tadao Ando’s works, The Church of Light, at Ibaraki Kasugaoka Church in Ibaraki. It’s less than one hour from Osaka station, so it’s an easy day trip. The inside of the main chapel is striking with the cross-shaped…
