Dream Morning Musume

Dream Morning Musume (ドリーム モーニング娘) is a Japanese female pop group made up of 10 former members of the popular idol group Morning Musume. The group was formed in 2011 and managed by Up-Front Agency and produced by Morning Musume super producer Tsunku.

The group debuted in April 2011 with the release of their album Dreams 1, which ranked 10th in the Oricon Jpop Album charts.

Visiting The Tokyo Skytree

The new Tokyo Skytree offers unsurpassed views of Tokyo and is a must see on your next visit to the city. The Skytree opening last month was eagerly awaited and it has already gone on to become one of the biggest attractions in Japan. Tokyo is a city awash with modern skyscrapers, but they are all eclipsed by the Skytree, which at 634 meters dominates the city skyline.

The Skytree is the world’s tallest free standing tower and has two public observatories at 350 meters and 450 meters offering 360 degree views of the city. On a clear day you can see everything including the beautiful Mount Fuji.

Tamagoyaki Recipe (Japanese style Omelette)

This Month’s Easy to Cook Japanese Recipe is Tamagoyaki, which is a Japanese style sweet omelette. In Japan, it is usually served as a side dish to breakfast, but it is a great side dish for any meal.

Tamagoyaki Recipe

Manatsu no Sounds Good! by AKB48

This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Manatsu no Sounds Good! (真夏のSounds Good!) by AKB48, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.

Read more about AKB48

This is the group's 26th single.

Kobe Travel Guide

Image from JNTO

Kobe is one of my favourite places in Japan and it is considered to be one of Japan’s most attractive cities. Kobe is a cosmopolitan port city with an international vibe that attracts a lot of foreigners. Kobe make a great travel destination due to its size with most of the sights reachable on foot from the main train stations.


The highlights of Kobe include:

• Ijinkan (異人館) - Kobe’s number one attraction is Ijinkan, which is a collection of Western-style houses dating from the 19th century. A lot of these houses date back to 1868 when Kobe was opened for foreign trade. 

• Kobe Tower - The unofficial symbol of the city of Kobe offering great views of the city for (¥600). 

• Shin-Kobe Cable Car - Located near Shin Kobe station, the ropeway takes you to the top of Mt Rokko, where the views over Kobe and the bay are amazing. 

• Nunobiki Habu-koen - A 40 acre garden located on Mt Rokko. It is a herb garden and complex of gardens with restaurants and shops. The garden features over 200 varieties of herbs. Admission to the garden along with a round-trip ride on the ropeway is ¥1200. 

• Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown) - A great place to visit in the evening with the illuminating lights. The area has lots of restaurants and street food. Famous for its pork buns (豚饅頭). 

• Kobe Harbour Land – A fun area with lots of cool restaurants and entertainment. It features a mega mall shopping area. 

• Kobe Beef – One of the world’s most famous beef that just melts in your mouth. There are lots of different dishes to be sampled in Kobe with Kobe beef. Some of my favourites include Kobe Beef Curry and Kobe Beef Steak. 

The great thing about Kobe is you can also make some side trips to Osaka and Himeji, which are close by.

Ijinkan from JNTO

Tokyo Skytree

Tokyo Skytree opened in Tokyo today and the city’s newest landmark is set to become an everlasting symbol of Tokyo. What is the Tokyo Skytree? It is a broadcasting, restaurant and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is conveniently located in the heart of downtown Tokyo, near Asakusa, which is a major tourist area.


A few facts about Tokyo Skytree:

Ramen Japanese Noodles

Ramen is the most popular noodle dish in Japan. One big bowl of ramen gives you a full meal and it is quick, easy and very economical. Ramen noodles are made from wheat flour mixed with salt, water and egg.

The secret to eating ramen is that you must eat quickly before the noodles absorb the soup and lose their texture. Typically it takes about 10 minutes to order, eat and be on your way.

Everyone has their favourite style of ramen. Popular restaurants in Japan have long lines of people outside and can sell out in 1-2 hours.