Tidying Up Made Easier at This Japanese Inn
For two days, two lucky applicants will be able to stay at a traditional Japanese inn where slippers, tables, cushions and even TV remotes slide back to their original spots by just the click of a button.
Japanese Manholes: Art Under Your Feet
There is so much to see in Japan. You can look up at the skyscrapers of Tokyo, look in the distance to see the peak of Mount Fuji, look along every one of Kyoto's ancient cobbled streets. But did you know that there is a lot to see right under your feet?
Kairo: Japan's Top Secret to Warmth in Winter
Here's our quick guide to the different heating pads you can purchase in Japan to keep your whole body warm.
For Custom Fabric Colors, Go to Sumida-ku
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Place an order with a swatch or color chip, and shops in this Tokyo district will delve into a formidable databank of colors amassed over the history of the craft to instantly dye your fabric to the exact color of the sample.
2 Modern Masters of Woodwork & Lacquer
Local Creators' Market Ishikawa
Working by hand at scales that can at times only be seen with a magnifying glass, these two artisans are heirs to a 400-year-old legacy of woodworking in Ishikawa Prefecture.
How Japanese Pearls Are Processed
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
How are pearls processed? Prized Akoya pearls are sorted in front of a north-facing window, where the low-angled natural light reveals any scratches and irregularities, and practiced artisans recognize flaws as slight as a tenth of a millimeter.
The Organic Beauty of Kaga Lacquerware
Local Creators' Market Ishikawa
A mountainous land dotted with hot springs, Yamanaka in Ishikawa Prefecture is a major center of lacquerware production, thanks to woodturners who emigrated to this area 400 years ago.
10 Ways to Save Money on Electricity in Winter
Electricity costs in winter can go through the roof because more energy is needed for heating and your time spent indoors increases. If you want to survive winter in Japan at the lowest possible cost, follow these helpful tips for saving on electricity.
AAJ Adventures — Tokyo Auto Salon 2018
Bringing you the best of Tokyo Auto Salon 2018, from the impressive cars to the alluring Can-Gals.
Taking Denim Beyond the Jean Jacket
Local Creators' Market Hiroshima
Hiroshima is known for its denim. But the denim being made here may not be the kind of denim you know!
A Home Embracing the Art of Clutter
An Osaka-based designer created a house to showcase the beauty of having a personal hoard.
How to Build a Full-Scale Japanese Igloo
Have you ever wanted to build an igloo? Yokote in Akita Prefecture is very famous for its igloo making festival, called 'kamakura.' We'll show you the traditional method of building snow huts just like they do in Yokote.
Top 5 Chocolate Snacks in Japan for Loved Ones
Although Valentine’s Day in Japan is said to have become the biggest merchandising opportunity of the year for any confectionary companies in Japan, chocolate is one of the most consumed sweets of all time. Here are five that you'll surely find in Japan.
Japanese Painter Creates Photo-real Portraits
Yasutomo Oka’s oil portraits are so lifelike you'll swear they were captured with a camera.
The Hand-Dyeing Specialists of Sumida-ku
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
If you're looking for custom, hand-dyed fabrics, these three specialists in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, are dyeing to set you up!
Super Blue Blood Moon Lights Up The Sky
This once in a blue moon phenomenon appeared in the sky posing with Tokyo Skytree as well as other beautiful tourist spots.
The Secrets of Pearl Harvesting in Japan
Handicrafts Local Creators' Market
Look closely through the translucent sheen of any Akoya pearl and you’ll see a rainbow of colors—a joint gift from the growers, the oysters, and the sea itself. But how are they produced?
Use a Japanese 'Hottie' to Keep Warm in Winter
Survive the harsh Japanese winter by cuddling up in bed with this hot little number.
Stamps Capture Japanese Bathhouse Charm
One Japanese artist is putting his stamp on the traditional Japanese bathhouse, or 'sento.'
The Ultimate Wedding Cake Knife
Swords have been forged in this Gifu Prefecture town since the late Kamakura Period. Now the same traditions are being applied to some of the best knives you can hope to find.
