Tsukimi - Moon Viewing

The Japanese custom of Tsukimi (月見), moon viewing is traditionally held in mid-September when the moon is at its best and most beautiful in Japan. This custom is celebrated throughout Japan and is believed to have originated in China and introduced to Japan during the Heian period (794-1192).

Japanese people usually celebrate Tsukimi by displaying autumn flowers and susuki (pampas grass) in a vase. They also offer dango (dumplings) and satoimo (taro potato) to the moon in an altar. People also enjoy looking at the moon and enjoying its beauty at this time of the year. With the clear autumn sky and crisp days and nights the moon appears especially beautiful.

Burger King Japan Hot Jamaica

Burger King Japan has launched a new 2012 summer campaign called Hot Jamaica. The reason behind the campaign is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence for Jamaica.

The campaign features two types of burgers on the menu, which are the Angry J Chicken Burger, and the Angry J Whopper.

The Angry J Chicken Burger features grilled chicken, lettuce,and tomato, and is topped in a spicy Jamaican jerk sauce.

The Angry J Whopper features a beef patty, cheese, lettuce and tomato with the spicy Jamaican jerk sauce.







Burger King Japan

2012 Olinda Cherry Blossom Festival

Spring is upon us in Australia with warmer temperatures and the beautiful spring flowers and blooming cherry blossom trees. In Japan, spring is the time for hanami or cherry blossom viewing. The sakura or cherry blossom is Japan’s unofficial national flower and every March in Japan, thousands of cherry blossom trees come to life as they cover Japan, signifying the start of the annual Hanami season.

The National Rhododendron Gardens in Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria pays homage to this ancient Japanese tradition with their own version of hanami, the Annual Hanami Cherry Blossom Festival with cherry blossom trees captivating the landscape. Enjoy the beauty of the blossoms along with the myriad of other plants such as azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons.

Tokyo Whiskey Bars

Seen all the main sights in Tokyo and want something new to experience. How about visiting one of Tokyo’s famous Whiskey Bars.

Scotland may be the home of Whiskey, but there is no better place on the planet to sample this liquid of the gods than Tokyo. Tokyo’s whiskey culture is at another level with dozens of small bars offering thousands of top quality whiskies. The Japanese have a broad taste in Scotch, American Bourbons and locally produced whiskey.

There are a multitude of bars in Tokyo. Some are tiny, dark basements others more stylish places with bow-tied experts mixing drinks.

The following are some of Tokyo’s highly recommend whiskey bars

10 Things to do on a Budget in Tokyo

Tokyo, Japan’s modern capital is one of the most exciting places on the planet, but this doesn’t mean a holiday to this amazing destination has to break the bank. Like most places in the world, a trip to Tokyo can be done either in luxury or on a shoestring budget. I’ve been lucky to have been able to travel around most of Japan in my ten years of living there and overall I have found Japan to be an incredibly affordable holiday destination.

If you are planning a trip to the land of the rising sun, be sure to check out these things to do in Tokyo, for people travelling on a budget!

The Japan Rail Pass

Japan’s rail services are one of the best in the world. They are extremely efficient and go just about everywhere in Japan. If you plan to do a lot of travelling in Japan then you should consider the Japan Rail Pass. The pass allows for unlimited travel on the national JR network, including the shinkansen (bullet trains) excluding the Nozomi superexpress.

This pass can only be purchased outside of Japan and will save you travel money in Japan.

If you plan, like most tourists to travel the Golden Route of Tokyo – Kyoto – Osaka – Hiroshima it is well worth looking at this pass. You must be travelling in Japan under the visa status of “temporary visitor” to be eligible.

Dr NakaMats The World’s Greatest Inventor

Who is the world’s greatest inventor? Many people in Japan will tell you it is Dr NakaMatsu also known as Yoshiro Nakamatsu.

Dr NakaMats has been called the Edison of Japan and has invented thousands of products. He is still going strong at the age of 84 and is a quite a celebrity in Japan.


Some of his greatest inventions include: