Japan
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Discover Japanese Netflix
As soon as you arrive in a new country, I look forward to discovering the movies available for that country on Netflix. Before, I only had Japanese incomprehensible movies in mind, but thanks to Netflix, I was able to make some discoveries. When you are in Japan, most of the movies in Japanese are subtitled only in Japanese and Korean. As a result, despite a wider choice than in France, I couldn’t really enjoy the more “local” films 🙁 Therefore, I could only watch movies or series subtitled in English or French, namely : The many faces of Ito The story is hyper original (adapted from a book) and I…
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Internet connection speed/rate in Japan (Osaka, Tokyo)
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Discovering the art of Japanese paper cutting
If I talk to you about “paper” and “Japan”, you will surely answer “origami”. But we won’t talk too much about origami today, but about the art of Japanese paper cutting. I am a big fan of paper cutting, and even though I assiduously follow the new techniques and artists on Pinterest, I discovered in Japan some absolutely incredible books and new techniques. They are unfortunately not available for sale in France. Where to buy these books? On Amazon Japan, Rakuten, in large bookstores or in “art supply stores” such as Kawachi. They cost between 1400yen and 1900yen. Where to buy the tools? Amazon Japan, or the Kawachi store. What…
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I tested the Kobe beef in Kobe (Japan) and loved it!
The first time I heard about Kobe beef was in a teppanyaki in Paris (teppanyaki = restaurant where a hot plate is used to cook food). And the idea started to germinate: one day, I will go to Kobe to eat Kobe beef Kobe beef? What is it? Kobe beef comes from the Tajima-gyu breed. This breed has been kept pure since the Edo period (17th century) until now. Kobe beef is said to account for only 0.16% of beef consumption in Japan. Only “virgin” cows and castrated males, raised to maturity, are considered eligible. They must also be born in Hyogo Prefecture (of which Kobe is the main city),…
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Travel Diary Kyoto (Japan) #4: Nishiki’s market, Cat Cafe
I was telling you briefly the last time we went to the Nishiki market in Kyoto. I will tell you more about it in this article Read my other travel diaries to Kyoto (#1, #2 and #3) I didn’t want to go at first, but my opinion changed after I met a Malaysian woman on a bus in Kyoto. She travels without a smartphone, without 3G/4G, just with a map of Kyoto given by her hostel, which, moreover, is in Japanese. As a result, she is completely lost. Her only landmark is the Nishiki market which isn’t far from her hostel, but she does not see it from the bus.…
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Mount Yoshino (Japan): 30,000 cherry trees in bloom
Today, we are motivated to go to Nara Prefecture, more precisely to Mount Yoshino, where we can see 30,000 cherry trees in bloom. The full-bloom period was a week ago, so we don’t expect to see 30,000 cherry trees in bloom, but a few thousand in bloom anyway 😀 Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary How to get there? We take the subway and then a local train to get there. There is a limited express which goes there, faster (of 15mn) but we did not manage well to buy the tickets. So we go there by local train by paying with our ICOCA…
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Travel Notes Osaka (Japan) #4: Sakura at the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Last Tuesday, I went to see the cherry blossoms at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, in full-bloom for 3 days. It is one of the best places in all of Japan for hanami (traditional Japanese custom to appreciate the beauty of flowers, mainly cherry blossoms). As JB had to work, I went there by myself Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary I need 2 changes and a long hour to get to Expo’70 Comemorative Park. Luckily I’m sitting down most of the time. As soon as I get off the train/subway/RER (I don’t know anymore), I see a huge wheel on my right, and a…
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Miyako Odori: Advice and Practical Tips – Travel Report Kyoto (Japan) #3
As I explained to you last time, we went to Gion Corner in Kyoto to get information about their geiko show, before coming across a flyer of an even more beautiful show that only takes place in April every year: Miyako Odori As we are still in Osaka for a while, we were able to make the round trip during the day to Kyoto to attend What it is: Miyako Odori is an annual show/festival where geikos (geishas) and maiko (apprentice geishas) present their cherry tree dances. It is a very well known festival, organized since 1872 (there are years when it has been organized twice) Where: Attention this festival…
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Transportation: Google Maps in Japan, don’t believe it 100%, how to avoid the pitfalls
We just spent a few days in Kyoto and took regional trains, local trains, JR trains, local buses etc. and we have to warn you: follow Google Maps, but double-check, always! Because the mistake can come from your inattention Note: we don’t have a JR pass, so don’t count on us to tell you which lines are compatible with your pass. We don’t know 🙁 Situation 1 : Remain on board There are two trains with different names to take in a row, but Google Maps tells you to stay on the same train (“Remain on board”) He isn’t wrong, but YOU may make some mistakes. Follow these steps to…
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Travel journal Kyoto (Japan) #2: Museum of Traditional Crafts, Kyoto Botanical Garden, Fushimi Inari-taisha
Read the first part of our stay in Kyoto here This morning, we wake up early to enjoy breakfast at Le Bac à Sable, a café opened by a French-Japanese couple. It feels good to have a good croissant and a good chocolate bar. Moreover here we don’t speak about “pain au chocolat” but about “chocolatine”, they are real ones. We highly recommend you! This morning, we had a meeting with an old Vietnamese friend and his wife. But we still have an hour ahead of us so I am motivated to walk to the Museum of Traditional Crafts, of which I saw some flyers yesterday at Gion Corner Museum…
