TokyoSpark

Where Did The Yatai Continue? For those who lived in the southern city of Fukuoka, sitting on the shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, the yatai was a sacred part of their culture. The idea of the yatai being regulated quickly promoted... tokyospark.com/qa/street-foo…

Wagyu is the best -- and there is a lot to know about it. I try to explain it all here. tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

The cheapest months to travel to Japan is mid-January to March. This is when there are the fewest tourists too. So it’s kind of a win-win isn’t it? You get cheaper airfare because airlines are trying harder to fill seats in the off-season. tokyospark.com/qa/how-much-c…

Help Sending Packages in Japan. Japan has several ways of sending packages, with multiple companies. How do you use them? What’s the difference? Well here’s a guide that will help you with that. tokyospark.com/issue/october…

Buy Authentic Japanese Swords at Japan Sword. Japan Sword, a sword shop in Toranomon (Minato), is where you come if you want the real deal — the truly authentic Japanese sword. It’s a little tiny shop but they... tokyospark.com/issue/october…

Take a Break in Shiba Park. Shibakoen (Shiba park in Japanese) is a popular park in Minato with a fantastic view of Tokyo Tower.  It’s a bit on the small side so if it’s a busy time of year, such as cherry blossom season... tokyospark.com/issue/october…

What is Ukiyo-e? Ukiyo-e is a historical wood-block style of artwork from Japan — where wood is etched and used a stamp on a canvas of the artists’ choice (sometimes washi). You might know ukiyo-e as “that really cool, unique style of Japanese art.” tokyospark.com/japanese-cult…

A Multinational, Multi-currency Wallet App to Streamline Sales. CB and NTT are working on something that could be really cool for tourists (assuming it becomes available to app stores outside Japan). A wallet app that can create virtual pre-paid cards... tokyospark.com/issue/october…

Sweet-potato picking. Looking for an activity to take your kids to? Kawagoe is just a short day trip north of Tokyo with a lot to offer. tokyospark.com/issue/october…

Wildly High-End, Expensive Sushi -- At the opposite end of the budget scale are the masterfully crafted sushi restaurants of legend. The shops where the master has patiently waited for the perfect product to be plucked from the Sea of Japan tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

Yakitori Ogawa: At over ¥10,000 per person, this is a yakitori craftsman show. The level of quality is unmatched. The peculiar and endearing flavors created by the chef seriously take yakitori to a whole new level; into the stratosphere. tokyospark.com/tokyo/dining/…

Kanji to Identify a Kushiyaki Shop: 串 -- While walking around the streets of Tokyo, if you see a sign and it has this 串 written on it, chances are you are staring at a kushiyaki (or kushiage) shop. Go in! You won’t regret it.  tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

Make your own KitKats. With over 400 flavors in Japan, KitKat is a nationwide favorite here. The Japanese love their KitKats. And now you can make your own at the KitKat Chocolatory in Shibuya. tokyospark.com/issue/october…

Some helpful Japanese phrases and vocabulary to help make sure you get the perfect bowl of ramen in Japan. tokyospark.com/japanese-lang…

Miso Ramen -- I remember when I first arrived in Japan about 24 years ago. The first meal I ate was miso ramen. I recall wandering around some confusing, windy alley streets and when we arrived I somehow instinctively knew we were there. tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

Sweet Potatoes, KitKats, Historic Alley, and $100 Ramen!? In this issue, we have found some cool activities for you to check out and a $100 bowl of ramen!? Yes, you read that right, wow! But there is more to enjoy. tokyospark.com/issue/october…

What is tempura made of? Tempura batter is a combination of wheat flour, egg, baking soda, starch, oil, and other spices — mixed with ice-cold water. The other ingredients are things you want to fry. tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

Sumatra Curry Kyōeidō (Jinbocho) -- We thought we knew good curry until we discovered this curry restaurant. It’s on the main road, but down a short spiral staircase, so it almost feels off the beaten path. But if you miss this, you miss out on an... tokyospark.com/tokyo/dining/…

So what exactly is okonomiyaki? Okonomiyaki is a batter mixture of flour, yam, egg, water, and cabbage — plus a variety of ingredients you choose such as shrimp, octopus, squid, pork, cheese — topped with mayo... tokyospark.com/japanese-food…

For sure there is a big difference between these two words. Don't make a mistake. tokyospark.com/japanese-food…