Looking for some interesting people to follow on Twitter who tweet about Japan and Japan related things? Here’s a random smattering of tweeps that I have found interesting over the years. @hikosaemon tweets the news, to put it simply, and he’s all over it. He also as an active YouTube channel that is worth checking…
Extending your Visa in Japan
In another bout of personal trouble caused by the coronavirus, I found myself “stuck” in Japan on a tourist visa in danger of exceeding the 90-day stay limit granted upon entry. I had to go to the Osaka Regional Immigration Services Bureau to apply for an extension of my tourist visa status. Here’s how it…
Japanese Craft Beer: Ginga Kougen Beer from Iwate prefecture
Whenever I’m in Japan (or anywhere for that matter) I try to drink craft brews when I get the opportunity. Here’s one of my consistent favorites, Ginga Kougen Beer from Iwate Prefecture. The deep blue bottle stands out. The beer is tasty and refreshing. You can find it outside of Iwate frequently. I recently found…
Into the Breach for Nintendo Switch
Into the Breach for Nintendo Switch is great. If you’re like me and enjoy turn-based games, retro graphics, and sci-fi themes, then you’ll probably love Into the Breach. Yes, this game came out years ago, but my backlog is waist deep so this is where I’m at and this is what you get. At the…
Japanese Lesson from Games: Use them with your chin (?!)
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! The phrase I want to…
Tom Bihn Aeronaut Review
I purchased a Tom Bihn Aeronaut in ballistic nylon way back in October 2013 and it’s still my favorite carry-on bag to travel with. It’s going strong and looking great. This is not a cheap bag. Tom Bihn doesn’t make cheap products in any sense of the word. I paid almost $400.00 USD for this…
Mid-day Visit to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto on a Weekday
On Thursday, March 12, I went to Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto just before lunch to see if I could enjoy a day there without crowds. Fushimi Inari has become one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Kyoto so the thought of a visit off peak season was appealing. I expected crowds to be…
Imakumano Kannonji Temple in Kyoto
I decided to visit Imakumano Kannonji after looking for a place in Kyoto that wouldn’t be crowded with tourists. Imakumano delivered. There was hardly anyone around when we visited in February 2020, perhaps the Corona Virus had something to do with it, but it is so out of the way I expect that it never…
Corona Virus Japanese-English Vocabulary List
Here are some terms you may find used in the Japanese press regarding the Corona Virus COVID-19 and their English translations. These are unofficial translations. I got a lot of these translations from the classic WWWJDIC. For more information on the COVID-19 situation in Japan, see this Reddit r/JapanTravel thread. Wash your hands. 新型コロナウイルス /…
Cat Print Car in Osaka, Where else?
In 2008 I saw a cat print car in Osaka. They say that Osaka ladies like animal print items. The term for leopard print in Japanese is ヒョウ柄 (hyou gara). Hope this car is still kickin’ it!