Stories and Objects
Deep from within Japan
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Pack It Up: All About Bento and How to Choose The Perfect Bento Box
What's in a bento box? We dive into the history of the Japanese bento and offer some tips on choosing the perfect one for you.
Make Sushi at Home: Tools, Techniques and Perfect Sushi Rice
Sushi-making at home is easier than it looks once you master sushi rice and the rolling techniques. We walk you through the process, show you how to avoid common mistakes and give tips on plating s...
Nakiri: The Japanese Vegetable Knife for Perfect Prep
The Japanese vegetable knife known as nakiri makes light work of slicing and dicing. But do you need it if you already have a santoku? Find out who should invest in a nakiri, how to choose one - an...
Where to Buy Origami Paper in Tokyo
From origami specialists to variety shops, here's a complete guide to buying origami paper in Tokyo.
Don't know which origami paper is best for you? Here's a guide to choosing the paper best suited to your needs.
Santoku Knives: Japan's Blade of Three Virtues for Home Chefs
Born in postwar Japan, the santoku knife was shaped for everyday cooking. Find out its three virtues, how it differs from a Western chef knife and how to choose a size that fits your hand.
Ramen Bowls: Choosing the Right Bowls for Japan's Noodle Soups
Ramen bowls shape the way that noodles, broth and toppings come together. Find the right bowl by understanding how size, design and material affect heat retention, presentation and the overall dini...
Types of Japanese Noodles: Ramen, Udon, Soba and Beyond
A detailed guide to Japanese noodles covering soba, udon, ramen, eating etiquette and how to make fresh udon noodles at home.
Warm Up with a Classic Japanese Stew: How to Make Oden at Home
How did oden evolve from tofu skewers to become one of Japan’s most beloved one-pot dishes? We serve up chunks of dashi-soaked history plus a recipe for making oden at home.
Discover Kyoto in February: Setsubun Demons, Beans and Plum Blossoms
Kyoto in February means demon-banishing rituals and the first plum blossoms of the year. This festival guide covers where to join in the bean-throwing fun - and where to sit down to tea with appren...
Cafes in Kyoto: Best Places For Breakfast near Kyoto Station and Beyond
Whether you want your Kyoto breakfast to be a spread of Japanese cuisine or you can’t handle anything more than coffee and toast, the city has you covered. This guide introduces some of the best pl...
Egg Customs from a Long Tamago at Japan’s Shrines
Are eggs all they're cracked up to be in Japan's shrines? Find out here.
Praying to Gourds: Japan’s Vegetable Shrines and Temples, Part 2
Table of Contents Introduction Aubergines Cucumber Kanpyo Squash (Kabocha) Nozawana Introduction A new year’s resolution to eat more vegetables is probably made easier by getting a large variet...
Toka Ebisu Festivals: Seeking Luck with the Help of a Laughing God
Ebisu, Japan’s beaming god of good fortune, anchors the lively Toka Ebisu festival season, from Nishinomiya Shrine’s Lucky Man race to Osaka’s large-scale celebrations and Kyoto rituals featuring g...
A Hotline to the Gods: Wishing on Ema in Japan Shinto Shrines
Seen hanging at shrines throughout Japan, ema plaques transform hopes for love, health and success into offerings to the gods. Here’s how to write one, where to find memorable designs and how to re...
Festivals and Things To Do in Kyoto in January
Looking for events in Kyoto for January? This guide highlights New Year rituals, Heian-period games, shrine festivals and flea markets.
Radishes, Rhizomes, and More: Japan’s Vegetable Shrines and Temples, Part 1
From Japanese ginger to garlic, these shrines and temples are where you can give thanks for the marvelous plants that make our food tasty.
Manju Buns: Japanese Confectionery that's Sweet - and Steamy
The buns known as manju have evolved from temple food into an icon of wagashi culture. This guide traces the sweet's origins, its regional forms and its enduring place in Japanese culture.
Kyoto Year-End Dining Guide: Restaurants Open Over the New Year
Finding an open restaurant in Japan during the New Year holiday can feel like spotting a rare Pokemon. If you're looking for places to dine in Kyoto from Dec 31 to Jan 2, here are tips and restaura...
Food of the Imo-rtals: Every Single Sweet Potato Shrine (and One Temple) in Japan
Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew — learn about Japan's relationship with sweet potatoes and the history of the shrines that venerate them.
Ring in the New Year in Kyoto: The Temple Bells of Joya no Kane
A New Year’s Eve guide to joya no kane in Kyoto and where visitors can line up to ring the temple bell.
Send Noods: Shrines and Temples for Your Favourite Japanese Noodles
Here are places in Japan to thank the gods for the noods that keep you going.
December Kyoto Events: Festivals and Celebrations
From the kaomise performances at Minamiza to the fiery Shinto ritual of okera mairi, December events in Kyoto offer a front-row seat to more than a thousand years of Japanese culture.
Oodles of Unagi: Japan’s Eel Shrines and Temples
Here are way moray shrines celebrating eels than you ever thought possible.