If you aren’t a train enthusiast you might not have heard of the shinkansen. If you want to get almost anywhere in Japan in the least amount of time without...

Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, a craft that dates back to the late 1400s but really took off during the late 1700s. After the Chinese invention of...

If you search for an ikebana definition the most basic answer you’ll get is that it is the centuries-old traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. The name ikebana is made...

Is your spirit filled with adventure? Or are you drawn to causing a little chaos? Whatever qualities may lie within you, there is a Studio Ghibli character with the same...

Chopsticks originated in China about 5,000 years ago before eventually making their way to Japan, Vietnam, and Korea. Early Japanese chopsticks were only used for religious ceremonies. Originally early Japanese...

Gudetama, also known as the lazy egg, is an iconic Japanese character whose popularity has skyrocketed, making him a notable figure in popular culture around the world. Sanrio, the company...

It's a universally known fact that Shiba Inus are one of the cutest, fluffiest, and funniest dog breeds out there. But have you ever wondered why Shiba Inus are so...

Say goodbye to spending countless hours trying to think of the perfect gift, we’ve got some great Studio Ghibli merch for any My Neighbor Totoro fan. Your search for unique...

Coffee isn’t just an energizing drink, but a unique aspect of many different cultures. You may not have considered how coffee differs in Japan, but there are a lot of...

No matter where you are in the world, you’re going to need a convenience store. Japan has over 54,000 convenience stores, known as konbini, that you can always count on at...

Not so long ago, the flavor “matcha” (also known as the unhelpfully vague “green tea”) hit the mainstream throughout much of the west. And as recently as five years ago,...

Jelly-centric desserts are always wildly popular in Japan. Confections like kohakutou, a classic Japanese candy that contains a crystal outside and a jelly filled inside, play a pivotal part in everyday...