Japan in 8K

Japan is an amazing country full of contrasts from natural landscapes to high-tech modern marvels. Most of us have seen Japan from the ground but taking a look above from the air gives you a totally new and different perspective.

Armadas, a video production company based in Japan recently released a stunning 8K video which captures the beauty of Japan from above. The video highlights major tourist attractions such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Nagoya and Hakodate. Some of the amazing sights include:

Hakodate, one of the main cities in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island is the gateway to this wild & rugged northern frontier. The city is famous for its dramatic night views from the top of Mount Hakodate and Fort Goryokaku, which was Japan’s first western-style fortress.

Yohohama is a lively port city south of Tokyo that was one of the first Japanese ports opened to foreign trade. This video beautiful captures the Minato Mirai 21 area of Yokohama, which is a seaside urban area that features many large skyscrapers including the Landmark Tower and Queen’s Towers as well as the colourful Cosmo World Ferris Wheel.

Nagoya is a manufacturing and shipping hub in central Japan that was a key player in Japan’s economic revival. The city is home to one of Japan’s best and most historic castles as well as some amazing modern architecture such as JR Central Towers, Midland Square and the Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers.

Kyoto, Japan’s ancient capital is home to some of Japan’s most important temples and shrines. The Kyoto Station area features some interesting architecture with Kyoto Station one of the largest buildings in Japan and a shopping and transportation hub. Kyoto Tower is a rocket poised for takeoff on the doorstep of the station and a popular landmark.

Tokyo is Japan’s modern capital and is the world’s most populous metropolis. The city is home to some of Japan’s best architectural marvels from the twin towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Building in Shinjuku to the iconic Tokyo Tower, regarded as the symbol of Tokyo. Tokyo Skytree towering over the city at 634 meters is the new modern symbol of Tokyo and one of its best landmarks.

Take a look at this video from Armadas and sit back and enjoy the show from above.

WOWBOX Japanese Snacks

Japanese snacks are known the world over for their great taste and huge variety with flavours coming and going depending on the season and the time of the year in Japan. Many people will stock up on Japanese snacks while visiting Japan to take home to enjoy as a souvenir, but now you can also easily order Japanese snacks online at your convenience.

WOWBOX is a Japanese snack subscription service that allows you to order your favourite Japanese snacks direct from Tokyo with just a click of your mouse button.

WOWBOX offer one-of-a-kind themed boxes of exclusive Japanese snacks delivered monthly to your doorstep with FREE worldwide shipping. They have four different themes on offer to suit everyone’s taste with one of the most popular being the ‘New & Limited’, which as the name suggests, is filled with new and limited time snacks found in Japan. The four themes include:

‘Fun & Tasty’ – WOWBOX’s original box designed for all lovers of Japanese snacks or those new to Japanese treats

‘Kawaii & Beauty’ – for those who love cute and dainty treats made for the health conscious with beauty-themed products and low-calorie snacks

‘New & Limited’ – a great selection of new and limited snacks from Japan for the Japanese snack connoisseur

‘Dagashi Box’ – a nostalgic collection of snacks that will remind you of childhood in Japan

You can find more information about all these boxes at the WOWBOX website.

I was recently sent a ‘Fun & Tasty’ WOWBOX full of tasty goodies to try during Obon in Japan. All the snacks were amazing with some cool and unique snacks that I haven’t even been able to find here in Japan at the supermarket or convenience store.

I was particularly excited about the Meiji Pucca Chocolate Box with its limited edition design featuring the Tokyo 2020 mascots, and the Ottotto Pokemon Box, which featured 40 different kinds of Pokemon shaped treats.

I was also really surprised to find included some special September WOWBOX items such as the new KOIKEYA [Feel Aloha] series potato chips in ‘Mango & Butter’ flavour and ‘Coconut & Salt’ flavour, both of which were tropical heaven in summer. To top that off, was the Country Ma’am Cookies in Vanilla & Strawberry Shortcake (a commemorative collaboration to celebrate its 35th anniversary as well as Hello Kitty’s 45th anniversary).

These 3 new & exclusive items are available to anyone who orders any large size box BEFORE August 31st 2019.

If you are keen to order yourself some amazing Japanese snacks visit the WOWBOX website and enter this exclusive Coupon Code JPAU2019 for Japan Australia followers to receive 10% OFF any large size box. Hurry as the offer expires on 9/15/2019.

You can follow WOWBOX on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all their exclusive offers.

5 Unique Experiences in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan’s modern capital has many highlights from the ancient Sensoji Temple in Asakusa to the nightlife of Shinjuku. Tokyo pretty much has it all and is a city like no other on the planet.

If you are looking for something a little bit different from the norm and a totally unique experience, check out these 5 unique experiences in Tokyo.

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM – teamLab Borderless 

One of the most popular and unique museums in Tokyo is the MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM – teamLab Borderless. This futuristic digital art museum in the Odaiba area of Tokyo is a world of artwork without boundaries that will stimulate all of your five senses. Wander around and experience art moving out of rooms as well as a chance to interact and communicate with the art in a three-dimensional 10,000 square meter world.

Official Website

MORI Building DIGITAL ART MUSEUM | Photo by rabbit_akra on flickr

Robot Restaurant 

Japan is known around the world for its robot technology and now you can experience it first-hand at the Robot Restaurant in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku. One of the top tourists attractions in Tokyo, it is one of the wildest and craziest shows on the planet. Be prepared for your eyes and ears to be bombarded with laser lights, noise and kitsch. Enjoy a bento-box meal while you watch the fun-filled show, which includes fembots, robot fights, dinosaurs and sexy dancers.

Official Website 

Fembots at the Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku | Photo by Cory Doctorow on Wikimedia Commons

Join a Cooking Class 

Tokyo has more Michelin Stars than any other city in the world with some amazing authentic regional food on offer from all across the country. Food is a big part of any trip to Japan, so why not take it to the next level by joining a cooking class in Tokyo. A wide variety of cooking classes are available such as sushi making, ramen, bento making and wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionary). You can even join a regular Japanese family for some traditional home-cooked Japanese dishes as well as vegan and vegetarian options. They have about 480 cooking classes in Tokyo, so you are bound to find something that interests you.  

Book an authentic cooking class in Tokyo!

Sushi Making Class

Anata no Warehouse Kawasaki 

Tokyo is home to some of Japan’s best video arcades including Anata no Warehouse in Kawasaki, an industrial city in the Greater Tokyo area. This five-story arcade is specifically designed to look like the former Walled City of Kowloon in Hong Kong. This dystopian amusement arcade is strictly for adults with its sci-fi Blade Runner-esque atmosphere, it feels like you are entering an alien world. If you are a gamer, this is heaven for you, with each level of the building dedicated to different type of gamers.

Official Website

Anata no Warehouse | Photo by Ken Ohyama on Wikimedia Commons

Odaiba 

Odaiba is a high-tech entertainment and shopping area on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay. Here you will find the iconic rainbow bridge which connects Odaiba to the heart of Tokyo as well as a life-size Gundam statue and a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Odaiba is home to the MORI Building Digital Art Museum, Venus Fort, a Venice-themed shopping mall, Zepp Tokyo, one of Tokyo’s largest concert halls/nightclubs and the Aqua City and Diver City shopping centers.

Rainbow Bridge at night from Odaiba | Photo by Gussisaurio on Wikimedia Commons

Discover 5 Things to do in Takayama

Gifu Prefecture in central Japan is one of the best off the beaten path travel destinations in Japan. The landlocked prefecture is surrounded by stunning mountains and is home to traditional mountain villages and Edo period (1603-1868) castle towns that give you a taste of the authentic Japan of the past.

One of the many must see destinations is Hida Takayama, which is located in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture in the northern Japan Alps. Takayama is famous for its well-preserved old town, woodwork and its traditional festival, which is one of the most beautiful in Japan.

Here are the top 5 things to experience in Takayama.

Sanmachi Suji (Takayama Old Town) 

The Sanmachi Suji historic district is the home of old Takayama and lined with some of the best preserved Edo period merchant houses in all of Japan. Today, the beautiful wooden buildings are restaurants, cafes, museums, local craft shops and sake breweries allowing you to taste and feel the amazing culture of this authentic part of Japan. Walking these ancient streets you can experience what Japan was like during the age of the samurai.

Takayama Old Town

Takayama Jinya 

Takayama Jinya is a beautifully preserved government building from the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate. During the age of the samurai, the Hida region was placed under the direct control of the Shogunate due to its valuable timber resources. This historic building is now a museum giving you a look at how a local government office controlled by the shogunate would have looked.

Hida no Sato 

Hida no Sato (Hida Folk Village) is an open air museum located just outside of the center of Takayama that recreates a traditional mountain village of the Hida region. This amazing attraction features over 30 traditional buildings from Hida, including traditional thatched-roof gassho-zukuri farmhouses, which were moved here from nearby Shirakawago (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Okuhida Onsen 

Okuhida Onsen is a collection of five onsen villages just outside of Takayama. This is one of the best spots in Japan to experiences natural outdoor hot springs with the area having the most open air baths (rotenburo) in all of Japan. Stay overnight at a traditional Japanese inn (ryokan) to soak up the experience even further.

Takayama Festival 

The Takayama Festival is regarded as one of Japan’s three most beautiful festivals. Held twice a year in spring and autumn, the main attraction of the festival are the traditional yatai festival floats, which highlight the famous woodwork of the master craftsmen of the area.

Learn more about Hida Takayama by watching this amazing video from japan-guide.com

Best Free & Cheap Things to do in Hokkaido

Hokkaido, once an island not even considered by more than a few tourists, is on it’s way to becoming one of Japan’s most interesting, and authentic, travel experiences. Not over commercialised like cities on Honshu can feel, Hokkaido is the place to get away from it all and enjoy the real Japan.

Usually this kind of place would come with higher prices, but while traveling around and researching for my latest book, Super Cheap Hokkaido, I was surprised to find that the island is actually a cheaper place to travel than most other prefectures in Japan. While things are more spread out, hostels and hotels are cheaper, and tourist traps are few and far between.

There are many free and cheap things to do in Hokkaido, but the following are the must visits. Any budget traveler to the island should include them on their trip!

Explore the Volcanic Kawayu Onsen 

Kawayu Onsen, located in the north-east of Hokkaido, is a popular hot spring town. Getting there is half the fun, as you can walk here from the station via the Iozan, a non-dormant volcano with wide sulfurous vents. When you arrive at the town, you can dip your feet in the free footbath or spend a few hundred yen at the municipal hot spring for the full onsen experience. Kawayu Onsen therefore ends up being a really cheap day trip, and is one of the easiest places in Hokkaido for first-timers to try out hot springs.

Try Fresh Sashimi in Kushiro 

Kushiro is often just used as a transportation hub when in the east of Hokkaido, but it’s worth exiting the station to check out the Kushiro Washo Ichiba Market. Full of recently caught fish from the nearby harbour, it contains over 50 shops, restaurants and takeaways. Best is to head to one of the seafood stalls, point at the sashimi items that look appetising and ask it to be served on rice. A few seconds later, you’ll be eating one of the freshest, and cheapest, seafood bowls of your life!

See the Flowers in Furano 

The famous lavender and flower fields of Furano and nearby Biei really pull in the crowds, but as this is Hokkaido, it never feels too packed. Almost all of the colourful fields are free and special trains are put on in the lavender season so that it’s super easy to reach them on a Japan Rail Pass or a Hokkaido Rail Pass. You can spend at least a day or two exploring the area, trying out lavender-flavoured ice creams and the delicious locally-produced melons, then stay in one of the many budget hotels or hostels along the train tracks.

Go for a Walk in the Onuma Quasi National Park 

Onuma is a nice little stop off point along the way from Hakodate, the main city in the south of Hokkaido, to Sapporo, the prefecture’s capital. The beautiful lakes here do have cruises on offer, but they tend not to be that busy due to the excellent, numerous walking trails around the various islands. Some people also rent a bike and cycle around the whole lake area.

Stroll Around in Otaru 

About an hour or so from Sapporo, Otaru is a seaside port town, and was once a major commercial hub. It’s now a more chilled-out location, with a quiet canal, frequent festivals and lots of tax-free souvenir shops. It’s especially pleasant on winter evenings, when the canal is lined with snow and old-fashioned Japanese lanterns.

Today's guest post is by Matthew Baxter, author of Super Cheap Hokkaido. Like what you see? Super Cheap Hokkaido is the ultimate travel guide to this wonderful island, full of loads of tips, listings and maps to make sure you have an enjoyable, and affordable, time there. It’s available now on Amazon and at the official Super Cheap Guides website.

Kifune Shrine - A Hidden Gem of Kyoto

Kifune Shrine is a hidden gem of Kyoto tucked away in a rural village near Kurama in the mountains of northern Kyoto. This charming shrine is full of history and natural beauty, but is often overlooked by tourists on their travels in Kyoto due to its remote location.

The ancient shrine is only 30-minutes from downtown Kyoto, but it feels like a world away from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto with its calm and tranquility.

Kifune Shrine is probably most famous for its stone staircase which is lined with beautiful red wooden lanterns. A walk up the well-worn staircase to Kifune Shrine’s main hall will take you away to another time and place and is truly a magical experience.

Kifune Shrine Staircase | Photo: Chi King on Wikimedia Commons

According to legend, a goddess traveled in a boat from Osaka all the way up the river into the mountains north of Kyoto. The location of where her boat journey had come to an end was honoured by building a shrine on the sacred site.

Kifune Shrine enshrines the god of water and rain and at 1,600 years old is actually older than Kyoto itself. The shrine received Imperial patronage during the early Heian period (794-1185) and as such was a place that imperial envoys used to visit in order to pray for rain. It wasn’t just royalty that visited the shrine, farmers and sake brewers also traditionally paid homage to pray for rain in order to grow good crops.

The First Torii Shrine Gate | Photo: Yanajin33 on Wikimedia Commons

If you are looking to escape the summer heat of Kyoto, which is one of the hottest places in Japan during mid-summer, the shrine is an oasis due to its fresh mountain air and cool stream which help to keep the grounds cool and comfortable.

In summer, many restaurants and ryokan (traditional inns) in the area serve meals out on platforms built over the cool pure mountain water of the Kibune River. This style of dining is called kawadoko in Japanese, and is a relaxing way to enjoy a traditional kaiseki meal and beat the heat.

Kawadoko Along the Kibune River | Photo: 663highland on Wikimedia Commons

If you are planning to visit Kyoto, definitely put Kifune Shrine down on your list of places to visit. 

Go! Go! Nihon

Go! Go! Nihon is a FREE service that specializes in helping foreigners live and study Japanese in Japan. Their website provides you with support to find the perfect Japanese language school for you with a simple application process to apply to the school and organize a student visa. This support and service does not cost you a thing! It is totally FREE. 


They take the stress and hassle out of looking for accommodation and enrolling in a school, which leaves you with the joy of studying Japanese in Japan, a life-changing experience.

Go! Go! Nihon have helped nearly 8,000 people from more than 70 countries around the world come to study in The Land of the Rising Sun.

A Brief History of Go! Go! Nihon 

Go! Go! Nihon was born in 2009 out an idea of making living and studying in Japan as easy as possible. The founders studied Japanese in Japan themselves, but found it pretty difficult to make the big move. In 2010, they launched their website and service with English, Italian and Swedish language support. The service was an instant hit with Spanish being added in 2013. In 2015, French and German language support was added and their achieved a significant milestone of helping 1,000 students study and live in Japan. The Southeast Asian market was looked at in 2016 with the addition of Indonesian language support. Over the last few years, they have added new services to support students such as SIM card and Wifi, as well as launching their first mobile app.

Their mission is to improve people’s lives and broaden their horizons by helping them experience studying and living in Japan.

Go! Go! Nihon Group Photo

Why Choose Go! Go! Nihon? 

It is simply really. The staff at Go! Go! Nihon are former language students who have studied abroad in Japan and now use their extensive insider knowledge to help you. They understand the processes involved and can offer advice on exactly what you need to know to make your life easier. Go! Go! Nihon offer support in finding the right school for you as well as advice on living and surviving in Japan. This support comes in your native language with help in the challenges of living abroad such as finding accommodation, Wifi, and SIM card deals.

Go! Go! Nihon Office Photo

 

What Can Go! Go! Nihon Help You With? 

There are many things that Go! Go! Nihon provide support with. These include:

Schools – a variety of schools across Japan to ensure that you find the best choice for you.

Accommodation – a range of accommodation in each of the cities that have schools from dorms and share houses to private accommodation.

Wifi/SIM Card – easy access to Wifi and SIM card deals with discounts from Japanese companies.

Bank Account – advise on how to pick the best bank account for you and how to set it up.

Residence Card – guide you through the process of obtaining a residence card if you are studying long term.

Orientation – help you settle into your new surroundings by meeting other students and locals.

Work in Japan – help to look for a part-time or full-time job in Japan to help support yourself.

For more information about Go! Go! Nihon, visit the Go! Go! Nihon Website

Students at Go! Go! Nihon

 

Super Cheap Hokkaido Book Review

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island and is home to an abundance of unspoiled nature, hot springs and ski resorts, along with arguably some of the country’s best-kept culinary secrets. This northern wilderness attracts many fans of the outdoors with fantastic skiing and snowboarding in the colder months and hiking and camping in the summer months.

This often overlooked part of Japan might seem a little scary due to its sheer size but with the right travel guide, you’ll have no trouble in planning your long overdue trip to Hokkaido.

The Book’s Content 

Super Cheap Hokkaido is the ultimate budget travel guide for exploring Japan’s nature paradise on a shoestring budget. The travel guide covers Sapporo and Hokkaido Prefecture and the must see destinations such as Sapporo, Hakodate, Niseko, Furano, Otaru and Noboribetsu.

The book covers a wide range of money saving tips such as how to spend next to nothing drinking local beer in Sapporo, relax in free hot springs, spend a cheap day’s hiking in the mountains or where to find the best, inexpensive super fresh sushi and sashimi. It’s all here in this amazing travel guide.

Inside the book you will find:

Budget Food – comprehensive listings of low-cost restaurants, take-outs, cheap roadside stations and supermarkets.

Budget Shopping – all the best attraction discounts, free sample hot spots, 100 yen shops and tax-free shopping.

Colour Maps – ideal for budget travelers, making it easy and stress-free to get around.

Highlights and Itineraries – for those with rental cars or using discount train passes.

Cheap Accommodation – the best and cheapest hostels, family-friendly hotels, campsites, mountain lodges, capsule hotels and net cafes.

Travel Guides – all the major destinations are covered with Sapporo, Niseko, Furano, Otaru, Biei, Hakodate, Matsumae Castle, Daisetsuzan National Park, Lake Mashu, Shiretoko National Park, Abashiri and much more.

My View 

Why I really like the book? Like the other books in the Super Cheap series, Super Cheap Japan and Super Cheap Tokyo, it is compact and easy to use with all the information at your fingertips. I like how the book provides a quick guide on how to use it and how to save on your holiday before moving into the travel guide and covering the must see places.

The travel guides provide information on how to get around, discount passes and tickets, transportation maps, things to do, budget food, best places for shopping, recommended cheap accommodation and how to get there.

It is easy to use with colour maps making it easy and stress-free to get around. The maps use landmarks and walking routes to help get you around and include convenience stores, cheap supermarkets, 100-yen stores, budget accommodation and tourist information.

This book is perfect for backpackers, budget travelers, families on a tight budget, students and those of us who just want an amazing time, without blowing all their cash in a day.

About the Writer 

The author, Matthew Baxter is a British travel writer living in Tokyo. Having traveled across the country for more than a decade, without much money, he has built up an extensive knowledge of budget travel in the Land of the Rising Sun. He now writes professionally for several websites and publications, such as the Japan National Tourist Association, Japan Visitor and All About Japan. He is the author of Super Cheap Japan and Super Cheap Tokyo.

Super Cheap Hokkaido is all you’ll need for a fantastic budget friendly trip to Sapporo and Hokkaido. This book gives you some great money-saving tips all in an easy-to-use travel guide. Take the plunge and explore Japan’s northern frontier on your next trip.

Super Cheap Hokkaido is available now from Amazon.

ALT/CIR Position in Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture

If you are an Aussie looking for a wonderful opportunity to live and work in a beautiful part of Japan near Tokyo, please keep reading.

The Oyama City Office in Tochigi Prefecture just north of Tokyo is seeking Australian Nationals to work as ALT/CIR (Assistant Language Teacher and Coordinator of International Relations) for the city. They are looking to employ three Aussies for the position. In recent years, Oyama City has forged many strong links with Cairns in Australia, so ideally they are looking for someone from Cairns.

The position starting in August 2019 is a combined position that will involve working for 4 days at local schools in the city and one day at the city office per week. Tochigi is a stunning part of Japan, famous for its cultural heritage and breathtaking natural landscapes. If you are interested in finding out more about this opportunity, please visit the Oyama City Office website via the link below.

Oyama City has extended the application period and will now accept applications up until Friday, 31 May, 2019.

ALT/CIR Position in Oyama City https://www.city.oyama.tochigi.jp/soshiki/18/2726.html

Gyokuro Japanese Green Tea

May is the perfect time to experience Japanese green tea with spring being the harvest season and offering the much sought-after first harvest which is called, “Shincha” in Japanese.

We at Japan Australia have been big green tea fans for years. What’s not to like about this liquid gold with its great taste and amazing health benefits. Recently we were offered the chance to try some new green tea from The Japanese Green Tea Company, winner of the Global Tea Championship in both 2017 and 2018.


The Japanese Green Tea Company offers quality green tea from Japan that is grown using the chagusaba (茶草場) method, an ancient farming technique that relies on labour-intensive processes to enhance soil fertility in order to produce quality tea crops. This method has been practiced by farmers in Shizuoka, known for growing the finest green tea in Japan for centuries. Sugar cane and sugar syrup are also added to the soil to enrich, protect and revitalize the soil, which enhances the sweetness of the tea.

We chose to try Gyokuro (玉 露), a premium green tea that is grown in the shade with specially made mats to allow the caffeine levels to increase in the leaves. This technique produces a sweeter and stronger flavor tea, which is my kind of tea.

Gyokuro Japanese Green Tea

 

The Taste Test 

The tea leaves for Gyokuro are a darker green due to the cultivation process, which creates a beautiful emerald green coloured tea with a rich taste and aroma.

I sat down with some Kashiwa mochi, a traditional Japanese rice cake filled with red bean paste and wrapped in an oak leaf, which is enjoyed on Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) here in Japan, and brewed a pot of tea in my Mino-yaki Kyusu (急須) traditional Japanese teapot.

How did it taste? The taste is crisp and strong with a nice aroma. This is definitely more mellow and sweeter than your regular sencha green tea and is not bitter at all. You get a slightly different taste after each steeping and this tea is something that you can enjoy two or three times with one serving of tea. The colour and aroma are like spring in a cup for me and perfect to enjoy with the warmer weather.

This is a great Japanese green tea to try for anyone who is new to Japanese green tea and is looking to try a quality green tea that is easy and mellow to drink and not bitter.

Premium Japanese Gyokuro Green Tea

 

The Health Benefits 

Gyokuro is great for anyone on a diet as it is high in polyphenol, catechin and EGCG, and reduces the absorption activity in the stomach. It has zero cholesterol and sodium levels. Gyokuro is rich in vitamins C and E with the added benefit of making your skin smooth and soft.

Green Tea has many health benefits

 

How to Order 

You can order your own Japanese green tea from The Japanese Green Tea Company website. Just mention that your are friends of Japan Australia by entering the coupon code of “JAPAN-AUSTRALIA” when you checkout on the site to receive a special 10% discount on top of the already 20% discount on offer.

A great starting point is The Champions Gift Set, which contains the 2018 and 2017 Global Tea Championship winning teas.

The Reiwa Era Japan

Welcome to the first day of the Reiwa Era! Today, May 1st, 2019 marks the start of a new imperial era in Japan with the first day of the Reiwa Era. In a day of celebration for Japan, Crown Prince Naruhito ascended to the chrysanthemum throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan in the world’s oldest hereditary monarchy.

April 30th, 2019 signaled the end of the Heisei Era with Emperor Akihito’s historic abdication bringing an end to the three-decade-long period. It is the first time in over 200 years that a living Emperor has abdicated in Japan. The Emperor’s advanced age and health concerns made it difficult for him to continue carrying out his official duties.

The Emperor expressed about 10 years ago his desire to one-day abdicate for his son, but it was impossible for him to do so with the current Imperial Household Law stating that the throne may only be succeeded upon the Emperor’s passing. The Japanese Diet (parliament) had to enact a special one-off law in June 2017 in order to allow Emperor Akihito to abdicate.

Emperor Akihito shook up the Japanese monarchy by marrying a commoner and modernizing the imperial household, bringing it closer into line with the changes happening in society. He was seen as “The People’s Emperor” bringing the monarchy closer to the ordinary people, suffering the pain along with them as he and Empress Michiko visited disaster locations to offer their support and sympathy.

While we must say thank you and goodbye to the Heisei Era, we can welcome in the Reiwa Era. The name of the new era, Reiwa (令和), means “order and harmony” and is derived from the kanji (Chinese characters) from the Manyoshu, an eight-century (Nara Period) anthology of waka (classical Japanese poetry). It is the first time that a Japanese era name has had its characters taken from Japanese classical literature instead of classic Chinese literature.

"Reiwa" means "order and harmony"

The Heisei Era (8th January 1989 – 30th April 2019) brought with it peace and stability for the nation as well as a period of great technological advancement, but also some unprecedented lows such as the bursting of the “bubble economy”, an aging and shrinking population, and natural disasters (1995 Kobe Earthquake and the 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami).

The new era is a time for the Japanese people to reminisce about the past and the hope that the new Reiwa Era will bring to Japan. It is a significant change, the passing from one generation to the other with the whole country excited about what the future will bring.

What are you looking forward to with the start of the new Reiwa Era? 

Image from Wikipedia: Yoshihide Suga announcing the new "Reiwa Era"

Golden Week in Japan 2019

Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays in Japan that are closely grouped together in the space of seven days from late April to early May to create a holiday period. This year in 2019, we have a special Golden Week period due to the abdication of the Emperor on April 30th, and the ascension to the throne of the new Emperor on May 1st, which will be made a national holiday.

Due to this change, April 30th and May 2nd will also become national holidays because according to the law, a day between two holidays also becomes a holiday. This creates an unprecedented 10-day consecutive holiday period in Japan from Saturday, April 27th to Monday, May 6th.

Golden Week and this period of time in Japan is a celebration of spring with a lot of cultural festivals and historical events taking place all over the country.

The Four National Holidays of Golden Week 

1. Showa Day (April 29) 

The first national holiday of Golden Week is Showa no Hi (昭和の日) or Showa Day, which is the birthday of the former Showa Emperor. It is a day to honour the birthday of the late emperor, as well as to remember the hard work and effort of the Japanese people in rebuilding their country during the turbulent Showa Era (1926 – 1989).

 2. Constitution Memorial Day (May 3) 

The second national holiday of Golden Week is Kenpou Kinenbi (憲法記念日) or Constitution Memorial Day. It is a day to commemorate the new Japanese constitution, which was put into effect on May 3, 1947.

3. Greenery Day (May 4) 

The third national holiday of Golden Week is Midori no Hi (みどりの日) or Greenery Day. It is a day to show appreciation for the environment and nature. It is the perfect time to head outdoors and enjoy the beautiful spring weather and fresh green leaves of the season.

4. Children’s Day (May 5) 

The last national holiday of Golden Week is Kodomo no Hi (こどもの日) or Children’s Day on May 5. It is a day for children in general, but is primarily for boys, as girls have their own day called Hina Matsuri on March 3. Children’s Day is a day to celebrate boys and to pray for their healthy growth. It’s a Japanese tradition for families with boys to celebrate this day by raising carp streamers (koinobori) outside their houses around this holiday. Carp are believed to symbolize successes in children’s lives. The black carp of koinobori represent the father, the red carp for the mother, and blue, green, purple or orange for the subsequent children.

Golden Week is one of the busiest travel periods in Japan with most tourist destinations extremely crowded and fully booked out. Airports and train stations are usually overflowing with people during this time and it can be very hard to get reservations for accommodation and transportation during Golding Week without booking months in advance. Many Japanese offices close for about a week to 10 days, depending on the calendar with many workers taking a vacation, traveling abroad or to a popular tourist destination in Japan.

The travel peak is anticipated for around April 27th this year with the return rush around May 6th.

What are your plans for Golden Week in Japan? Please leave your reply in the comments below.

Koinobori | Photo by Raneko | Flickr

Starbucks Japan Cherry Blossom Drinks 2019

Starbucks Japan have just released news of their 2019 limited-edition sakura cherry blossom drinks. This is news that we at Japan Australia look forward to every year as it is a sure tell sign that spring is on its way. The Japan only sakura drinks not only always taste great, but are a great prelude to the upcoming cherry blossom season in Japan.

You can follow all the latest news and updates about the cherry blossom forecast by following Japan Travel Advice, who recently published their annual 2019 Cherry Blossom (Sakura) Forecast for Japan. Check it out and start planning your hanami parties now.

This year, we can look forward to Starbucks Full Sakura Milk Latte and Full Sakura Frappuccino.

Starbucks Sakura Latte and Frappuccino 

This year Starbucks is combining two popular pink flavours, cherry blossom and strawberries with a theme “Sakura Mankai Moments – Full Blooming All Around You”. “Mankai” means “full bloom” in Japanese with inspiration for the drinks taken from the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The Full Sakura Milk Latte is designed to represent that special moment in spring when a gentle wind blows through the trees and the soft cherry blossom petals slowly fall to the ground. The drink has a light sakura flavor and is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Milk Latte is available from February 15th until March 19th, 2019.

The Full Sakura Frappuccino is designed to represent the cherry blossom petals in full bloom reflected on the water’s surface. Cherry blossoms along the river are a common sight in Japan during the spring. The Full Sakura Frappuccino base is a sakura and strawberry sauce with sakura jelly and strawberry jelly pieces all of which is topped with whipped cream and strawberry chocolate shavings and chocolate sakura flavoured petals. The Full Sakura Frappuccino is available from February 15th until February 27th, 2019

Starbucks Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly 

Available for a limited time only at convenience stores around Japan is the Sakura Chocolate with Strawberry Jelly drink. From February 12th you will be able to pick up one of these which has a sakura and white chocolate flavoured base mixed with tiny pieces of strawberry jelly. Its thick texture is similar to the Starbucks Frappuccino with the drink meant to be shaken before being drunk.

Starbucks Sakura Goods 

Starbucks limited-edition range of seasonal drinkware including travel mugs, cups, glasses and tumblers are always a hot item in its spring line-up. This year we have two different collections to enjoy. The first series being released on February 15th in soft pink is based around a “cold” theme.

The second series will be available from February 25th with a more vivid strawberry red theme and is based around a “sunlight” theme.

Starbucks Japan Website