You can reach the summit of some mountains almost entirely by car, or with only a short easy walk. Mount Aso is one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas, and a paved road brings cars and pedestrians right up to the summit. Or, Missav – Housewife you can take the ropeway, which was promoted as the world’s first ropeway over an active volcano.
The Japonic family also includes the Ryukyuan languages and the variously classified Hachijō language. There have been many attempts to group the Japonic languages with other families such as Ainu, Austronesian, Koreanic, and the now discredited Altaic, but none of these proposals have gained any widespread acceptance. Have fun exploring the 1000+ classic & modern Japanese recipes I share with step-by-step photos and How-To YouTube videos. Variety meats may not come to mind when you think of Japanese cuisine. To the contrary, Motsunabe (Japanese Offal Hot Pot) is a classic regional dish that you can now find at specialty restaurants in many parts of Japan. While beef small intestine may not suit everyone, I encourage you to try this recipe if you’re a fan of its unique, chewy texture.
And with kanji and vocabulary already in your tool belt, learning grammar should be much more interesting. You won’t be spending 90% of your time and energy on looking up kanji and vocabulary you don’t know. Historically, attempts to limit the number of kanji in use commenced in the mid-19th century, but government did not intervene until after Japan’s defeat in the Second World War.
There may be photographs of the food labeled with names and prices. Japanese don’t like to waste food (including soy sauce, so don’t pour more than you need), but it’s fine in most restaurants if you leave some food on your plates. Japanese cuisine, renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, has taken the world by storm. The key ingredient of most meals is white rice, usually served steamed. Soybeans are a key source of protein and take many forms, notably the miso soup (味噌汁 miso shiru) served with many meals, but also tofu (豆腐 tōfu) bean curd and the ubiquitous soy sauce (醤油 shōyu).
Private onsens are particularly sought after by international tourists because communal onsens require visitors to enjoy their dip fully naked – a custom many foreign travelers aren’t familiar with, or feel squeamish about. Otherwise, many also tend to have rental or free PC’s available for hotel guests. Traditional umbrellas can be bought at gift shops, and stylish umbrellas for rain and shine can be purchased at women’s accessory and clothing stores throughout the country. Some look like traditional cotton handkerchiefs you’d use to blow your nose, others are small towels. Japan’s fabulous depāto (department stores) carry all colors, makes and models of these necessities.
An hour-plus wait on a Saturday is commonplace at this Chinatown hot pot spot. And that’s because the Chinese restaurant lets you hoover up salmon sashimi, goods from the salad bar, and AYCE hot pot all at once. We lost count of how many trays of ruby red pork belly, marbled wagyu, and fish balls we plowed through in 90 minutes (relax, it was only three), and it was all pretty first rate. FYI—they take online reservations, so plan ahead if you want to avoid getting up-close-and-personal with the sidewalk for an hour. KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot in the Northeast and South Philly is one of those modern Korean BBQ spots—endless lists of sake, a neon-lit bar, and a digital grill and hot plate with more buttons than a graphing calculator. All three locations of the chain restaurant have large booths and tables where you can fit your entire Happy Hour crew or friends who want to eat soup that will make them feel impervious to frigid temperatures.
If your phone is incompatible with frequencies used in Japan but you have a 4G-capable SIM card, you can rent a phone in Japan and slot in your card, allowing you to keep your home phone number in Japan. Be sure to double-check with your network provider before departing. Another option is to buy a used unlocked phone in Japan; second-hand electronics stores are plentiful and a basic unlocked device can be had for as little as ¥3,000. You may also be able to acquire an eSIM (no physical card) with newer smartphones. If you plan on visiting a hot spring or public bath, they’re almost always used nude (except for rare mixed-gender baths). Although you may get some questioning looks, bathing suits are allowed in some baths.
Like shrines, temples can be found in every city, and many different sects exist. Japan is famous for its gardens, known for its unique aesthetics both in landscape gardens and Zen rock/sand gardens. The nation has designated an official “Top Three Gardens”, based on their beauty, size, authenticity (gardens that have not been drastically altered), and historical significance. Those gardens are Kairakuen in Mito, Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, and Korakuen in Okayama.
For Japanese citizens and residents, the cost of medical treatment is made affordable by the government’s national health insurance system. However, for those not covered by it, the cost of medical treatment is expensive. However, if you have not made arrangements prior to arrival for any reason, Sompo Japan sells travel insurance for visitors that can be applied for online after arrival.
