Fushimi Inari Taisha, or Fushimi Inari Grand Shrine (伏見稲荷大社). Beyond its famous red gates, we are talking about one of…
Toshiko SakuraiOctober 8, 2021
Having the world’s spotlight during the Olympics was the perfect opportunity for the Japan Cultural Expo to showcase the richness…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 27, 2021
It was impossible to avoid cyberpunk or sci-fi evocations while standing in front of the legendary Nakagin Capsule Tower. It…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 27, 2021
A samurai on the run. A distraught courtesan. A relentless fox. History and folk tales collide on stage, where a…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 18, 2021
How many video game franchises have worldwide International Championships to their credit? How many hold annual parades starring their most…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 10, 2021
While there’s an ongoing debate about the possibility of introducing vaccination passports to deal with COVID-19, many people begin to…
Toshiko SakuraiJuly 2, 2021
You'd have to have been hiding under a rock in 2016 not to have heard of Your Name (君の名は, Kimi…
Toshiko SakuraiJuly 1, 2021
If Japan is not the world's mecca of themed cafés and restaurants, it has to be missing very little. Any…
Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 17, 2021
This is Part 2 of a 3 part series of articles about the New Golden Route, a part of Japan…
Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 12, 2021
This is Part 3 of a 3 part series of articles about the New Golden Route, a part of Japan…
Toshiko SakuraiFebruary 12, 2021
What does Hello Kitty have to do with the US-Japan bilateral Treaty of Cooperation and Security and the May 68…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 23, 2021
Kanji. The bane of students of Japanese, of certain carefree T-shirt designers and tattoo artists victims of customers lacking enough…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 14, 2021
If you're in Tokyo on New Year's Eve, Oji is where you need to be. Oji is the magical neighborhood…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 4, 2021
The experience of sleeping on a futon (布団) remains one of the most appealing activities for travelers coming to Japan.…
Toshiko SakuraiDecember 4, 2020
We are the latest victims of Mr. Choppy, a voracious monster obsessed with swallowing the latest and craziest aesthetic trends.…
Toshiko SakuraiNovember 14, 2020
Every single country in the world has visa requirements for international visitors and Japan is no exception. Be it for…
Toshiko SakuraiNovember 5, 2020
To talk about Halloween in Tokyo is to talk about two parallel stories that only share a name. In another…
Toshiko SakuraiOctober 28, 2020
The Japanese seasonal change isn't just noticeable in the change in temperature or the number of clothing layers you have…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 15, 2020
I can’t help but feel overcome with nostalgia when I think about Oji (王子). It was in this neighbourhood where I spent…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 21, 2020
