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Feel Like a Feudal Lord in Ritsurin Garden

There isn't just one reason why Kagawa Prefecture's Ritsurin Garden has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide—there are thousands of them!

High-Speed Sushi Quiz!

Think you're the ultimate sushi extraordinaire? Take these rapid video quizzes to find out!

Visit 3-Michelin-Starred Gokayama

Take the new Hokuriku Shinkansen to visit the splendidly preserved, Michelin three-starred Gokayama village in Toyama Prefecture. If you want to get away from it all and be surrounded by nature and heritage, Gokayama is for you.

A Legendary Kamakura Eel Shop

Open since 1929, Kamakura's seaside Tsuruya eel shop is one of the Tokyo area's finest and most renowned.

10 Cool Things to Do in Tokyo

From rabbit cafés to sumo tournaments and everything in between, these are the top recommendations from Veltra's adventurous staff to make the most of your trip to Japan's capital!

8 Ways to Learn Japanese for (Almost) Free!

Learning Japanese can be easy, fun, and nearly free if you're ready to take on the challenge of getting more locally immersed!

Brett Mayer, Kanji Master

Meet the American man who became the only non-Asian to pass the top level of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Test.

7 Steps to Kaitenzushi

Your guide for how to eat at a Japanese favorite: the cheap, revolving sushi restaurant.

Tokyo's Top 5 Three-Starred Restaurants

Tokyo boasts an incredible 13 three-Michelin-star restaurants. Here are five of the best of the best!

47 Reasons Why Japanese Makes No Sense

Canadian rakugo comedian Katsura Sunshine riffs on some of the more ridiculous points of the Japanese language—including, in particular, the 47 ways he knows how to say "Thank you."

Take a 2-Hour Lesson in Japanese Cuisine

Ayuko Akiyama’s Buddha Bellies cooking class offers hands-on courses in Japanese cuisine—including advanced courses in cutting sushi and sashimi.

3 Magical Ghibli Hikes

Hayao Miyazaki’s animation has touched the hearts of old and young time and time again. The films produced by his incomparable Studio Ghibli often depict beautiful countryside scenes, some of which were inspired by real hills and mountains in Japan.

Quit Monkeying Around!

Watching these snow monkeys relaxing in the hot springs is enough to make anyone want to take a dip in an outdoor bath!

Top 3 Alkaline Onsen for Beautiful Skin

Grab your towels, ladies! Who needs bottled Pitera when the answer lies just a soothing soak away?

Survival Japanese at the Ramen Shop!

Pick up the key vocabulary and phrases that will get you by in almost any ramen spot!

20 Meters of Snow in Toyama

Every spring, 30-ton snow cutters carve through some of the deepest snow accumulations in the world to create the Snow Wall, or 'Yuki-no-Otani.'

5 Reasons Taking the JLPT is a Good Idea

Anybody out there taking the Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December? If so, this guy is rooting for you!

Michelin-Recognized Okonomiyaki

The distinctive thing about Denko Sekka's Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the egg.

Take an 8-Week Intensive Sushi Course in Tokyo

The Tokyo Sushi Academy claims to be Japan's foremost trade school for Edomae sushi, offering year-long chef courses and eight-week diploma classes.

The 4 Keys to Japanese Greetings

A few common greetings will help break the ice with your Japanese counterparts.

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