Soba is one of Japan’s best-loved noodle dishes and something you will see everywhere, from tiny train station restaurants to high-end traditional eateries, but it can be a bit confusing. Our guide will help you tell your kare from your kitsune.
Culture Guides
Quick guides to some of the fascinating parts of Japanese culture you might spot on your Japan trip – anime, gachapon, ticket ordering – and more.
What’s the Difference Between a Shrine and a Temple in Japan?
It might surprise you to hear that these are not the same thing. Here’s the main difference between a shrine and a temple in Japan – and how to tell which you might be visiting.
The Quick Guide to Billiken – Osaka’s Cutest Mascots
If you spend time in Osaka, you’ll have seen a Billiken. They’re the fat-tummied, smiley statues you’ll find all over the city, particularly in the vibrantly-kitsch Shinsekai district. But what are they, and why are they everywhere? Here’s our quick guide to all things Billiken.
What is a Sarubobo? The Tale of the Takayama Mascot
If you’re shopping in Takayama, you’ll notice a little doll-shaped creature in many of the souvenir shops. It has pointy arms and legs and a big round head—but no facial features. This is a Sarubobo.
Explaining Seat Fees – and Otoshi – in Japan
Sometimes, when you sit down in a pub-style bar (aka an izakaya) in Japan, you’ll get served a small dish of nibbles you haven’t ordered. This is an otoshi, and, it’s part of the Japanese seat fee system. Here’s what’s going on…
Why Do the Japanese Drink Milk After an Onsen
If you visit an onsen in Japan, you may see posters telling you to drink milk afterwards or even find a vending machine selling cartons of milk nearby. But why? And is it a good idea? Why Did Milk Become The After-Onsen Drink It’s mostly down to the fact that at one point, sento, the … Read more
Japan’s Pink Feet Patches Explained
If you spend a lot of time in planning groups in Japan, at some point, you will see a picture of the packet below and hear people raving about these magic pink patches. Called kyosoku jikan, it’s said that if you put them on aching feet or sore legs at night, you’ll wake up the next morning raring to go. But, do you… and if you do, why? We checked them out.
Goshuin: How to Collect These Beautiful Stamps on Your Japan Trip
Goshuin are hand-drawn designs that you can collect from shrines and temples around Japan – and they make a beautiful souvenir of your trip. But, as with everything in Japan, there’s a little bit of etiquette involved with collecting them – so, here’s what you need to know. What Are Goshiun? Originally, goshuin were stamps … Read more