Yvonne Tanaka, Author at VOYAPON

Yvonne Tanaka

I'm a German girl from Berlin, who found her second home in Japan. Since 2012, I travelled at least once a year to Japan, before I moved to Tokyo in 2017 as an exchange student. After just a few months back in Germany, I ended up in Tokyo again in 2019 - ready for telling you more about this amazing and traditional country! :)

23 articles

Articles by Yvonne Tanaka

Viewing Cherry Blossoms Throughout Tokyo

March 31, 2026 Cherry Blossoms, Gardens & Parks, small featured, Spring, Temples & Shrines, Tokyo, Tokyo

It’s that time: cherry blossom season in Tokyo has reached its peak. But where is the best place to enjoy the delicate white and pink hues? That’s exactly the question I set out to answer, embarking on a personal exploration...

How To Say ‘I’m Sorry’ in the Japanese Language

September 30, 2025 Culture, Etiquette, First Time in Japan, Language, small featured

Apologizing in Japanese is more than just “sumimasen”. This article looks at how to say sorry in varied degrees of seriousness, and how to use them properly

PokéPark Kanto to Open its Doors in Spring 2026

September 22, 2025 Anime & Manga, small featured, Theme Parks, Tokyo

Pokémon fans around the world should mark this in their calendars — PokéPark Kanto will open its doors in spring 2026.

What are the Most Popular Dog Breeds in Japan?

August 12, 2025 Animals, Culture, Things to Know

In Japan, dogs are more than just pets; they’re part of the family. From small toy breeds like toy poodles, dachshunds, and Pomeranians to iconic Japanese dog breeds such as the Shiba Inu, you’ll see furry companions everywhere. Some have...

Tips for Vegetarians and Vegans in Japan

July 28, 2025 Food & Drink, Vegetarian & Vegan

Eating in a foreign country can be a bit of an adventure if you don't speak the language. And Japan is no exception. Thanks to Japan's three alphabets (kanji, hiragana, and katakana) understanding menus can be a real challenge, which...

Tokyo With a Baby: Important Tips and Advice for Your Trip

June 12, 2025 Tokyo, Traveling With Kids

Traveling with small children, and especially babies, can be challenging, not only for parents but also for the little explorers. Therefore, good preparation is key when traveling far away. But contrary to what you might think, Japan is the perfect...

Earthquakes in Japan: Why are They Common and What to Do When One Happens

January 24, 2025 Fukushima, Hyogo, Safety, Tokyo

Anyone who has experienced an earthquake in Japan knows that most tremors are brief, barely noticeable and last only a few seconds. With approximately 5,000 minor earthquakes recorded annually — over half measuring between 3.0 and 3.9 on the Richter...

Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios in Osaka

Nintendo Museum in Kyoto: What Gaming Fans Should Know

October 16, 2024 Autumn, Culture, Kansai, Kyoto, Kyoto, Language, Museums & Galleries, Near Osaka and Kyoto, Theme Parks

In autumn 2024, the day that gaming fans had been waiting for finally arrived — the new Nintendo Museum opened in the city of Uji, located in Kyoto Prefecture. Voyapon is happy to reveal the first official details about the...

My Japan: An Insight of Our Life as an International Family

September 19, 2024 My Japan, Tokyo, Traveling With Kids

Welcome to the next installment of Voyapon's My Japan series, in which we introduce you to our more or less everyday lives in the land of the rising sun. I’m Yvonne, the German editor and creative assistant of Voyapon. And...

Maruoka Park in the Hitoyoshi Kuma area.

Exploring Hitoyoshi Kuma by Bicycle and Trying Local Cuisine Suitable for Vegetarians and Vegans

March 9, 2023 Cycling, Historic Sites, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Vegetarian & Vegan

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Explore the Jewels of Shizuoka City

February 28, 2023 Culture, First Time in Japan, Luxury Accommodation, Mount Fuji, Shinkansen, Shizuoka, Sponsored

Shizuoka Prefecture's fame comes from being the home to Japan's iconic volcanic mountain, Mt. Fuji, but this prefecture offers so much more than being one of the best viewing spots of this natural landmark. Its same-named capital, Shizuoka City (静岡市),...

Imperial Palace East Gardens: What to See on the Grounds of the Former Edo Castle

December 15, 2022 Castles, Gardens & Parks, Historic Sites, Museums & Galleries, Tokyo, Tokyo

Located in the center of Tokyo and on the grounds of former Edo Castle, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace are awaiting you with over 210,000 m² of a wide variety of trees and flowers. Let’s check out the...

How Do I Get an Internship in Japan?

May 16, 2022 First Time in Japan, Language, Visas

In most cases, an internship is an essential part of studies or training. So-called mandatory internships are intended to help us determine which path we would like to take in our professional future by applying the theory from our studies...

How To Live In Japan: A Guide To Different Types Of Long-Term Visas

November 5, 2021 Costs, Culture, Language, Saving Tips, Visas

How to live in Japan? Let’s be honest, who of us hasn’t asked this question before? And how often have we ultimately failed because of the bureaucratic jungle that denied us possible options for long-term visas? In this guide, we...

Horses in Japan: From Divine Companions to Cult Objects

November 25, 2020 Culture, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Summer Festivals, Temples & Shrines

Us horse lovers all have something in common. Even on vacation in a foreign country, we feel we can't survive without sitting high up in the saddle of a horse or at least caressing the soft nostrils of our loyal...

New Years in Japan: A Niigata Family Gathering to Celebrate the New Year

November 4, 2020 Chubu, Local Buses, New Year's, Niigata, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Temples & Shrines

It’s that time of the year again. The New Year is awaiting us, and with it, one of the most traditional seasons in Japan is around the corner. Because what Christmas is for us in Europe and the US when...

Japanese Cemeteries: The Traditions of Japanese Burial Sites

September 12, 2020 Culture, Historic Sites, Obon, Religion, Temples & Shrines, Traditions

Japanese traditions contain numerous customs and rituals that may seem unusual to Westerners. However, these customs make sense when one considers the religious and philosophical teachings of Buddhism and Shintoism. The traditions surrounding Japanese cemeteries (墓場, hakaba) are, of course, no exception, and...

Hitachi Seaside Park: A Blue Ocean of Nemophila

June 24, 2020 Gardens & Parks, Ibaraki, Local Buses, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Spring, Summer

What would be Japan without its flowers? The list of flower-centered attractions is long: pink sakura blossoms, orchards of peach blossoms in Yamanashi, deep pink flame flowers at the Shibazakura Festival in Chichibu, and Nemophila at the Hitachi Seaside Park....

Café inside of the Sakuranoyu Kanko Bussan Center

Toon City – A Jewel in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan

April 6, 2020 Culture, Ehime, First Time in Japan, Language, Local Buses, Onsen & Sento, Shikoku, Sponsored

Toon city, located in the northwestern prefecture of Ehime in Shikoku, is one of the undiscovered jewels of the prefecture. With incredible hospitality, culinary highlights and impressive nature, we were lucky enough to visit Toon at the end of February....

Japanese ceramic at Tomi Soba, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan.

Tobe Ceramics and Sake – A Craft Experience

April 6, 2020 Culture, Ehime, Shikoku, Souvenirs, Sponsored

Already on our way to Tobe we discover the flagship craft of the city – Tobe ceramics! Japanese ceramics are popular worldwide, but the city of Tobe, Ehime on Shikoku, expresses its love for ceramic production on a whole new...

Tram in Matsuyama, Ehime, Shikoku, Japan.

Matsuyama, Japan – Shikoku Pilgrimage and Dogo Onsen

April 6, 2020 Luxury Accommodation, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Shikoku, Sponsored

Matsuyama in Shikoku, Japan is known for the Dogo Onsen, but also as a stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail. We were lucky enough to experience the many facets of Matsuyama city in Shikoku during our three-day trip, and of...

Top 6 Resorts with Beautiful Sea Views in Setouchi Area

March 15, 2018 Beaches & Islands, Ferries, Kaiseki, Ryokan, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

Sponsored by SETOUCHI Tourism Authority. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, sit back and listen to the sounds of nature as you enjoy the combination of tradition and modernity. This is what makes the hotels...

Miyajima island with cherry blossoms in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Experience Top 6 Luxurious Ryokans and Onsens in Setouchi Area

March 15, 2018 Culture, Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Luxury Accommodation, Onsen & Sento, Ryokan, Sponsored

Sponsored by SETOUCHI Tourism Authority. What the Auberge is in France is the ryokan in Japan. The traditional guesthouses, which have been named after the Edo Period, have always made the special charm of Japan's hospitality. Accordingly, it is actually...

Articles by Yvonne Tanaka

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