Japanese Culture

Akita Dogs
秋田犬

I recently traveled to Akita Prefecture for a farm stay program organized by the Odate Cultural Activity Promotion Committee. Check out my previous blog post on“Odate Farm Stay” for my experience of authentic regional cooking, harvesting rice fields, and a special appearance in a traditional cultural festival!

During my stay in Odate, I also had a great time meeting and playing with Akita Dogs!



私は最近、秋田県大館市に行って地元の農家民宿に泊まりました!
(地方料理の体験米の収穫、伝統的な文化祭への出演については、ここをクリックして「大館市農家民宿」ブログをご覧ください!)

大館市での滞在中、秋田犬との出会いや遊びも楽しかったで~す。
今日は秋田犬について書きたいと思います~

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Odate Farm Stay
大館市農家民宿

With the rising phenomenon of “green tourism” in Japan, small remote towns have drawn more attention as getaway destinations for harried city dwellers to refresh and recharge away from sprawling metropolises. Where 90% of the population lives in densely populated cities, there is no doubt that some people in Japan have never even experienced life outside of concrete jungles!

日本では「グリーンツーリズム」の人気が高まっており、都会から離れた小さな町が注目を集めています。急成長する大都市に住む人々がリフレッシュして元気を取り戻すための「逃げ場」となっているためです。90%の日本人が人口密集地に住んでいるので、コンクリートジャングルの外で生活さえ経験したことがない人々も多いでしょう。

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Ginza Café Culture
銀座の喫茶店

Most people who visit Tokyo think of Ginza (銀座) as the neighborhood famous for its luxury shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues. However, did you know that Ginza represents deep historical and cultural roots to the Japanese people? Besides having the largest Uniqlo store in the world, Ginza is home to historic buildings such as the Kabukiza Theater (Japan’s largest and most famous Kabuki theater), some of the most unique themed cafes in Tokyo, and the nostalgic Ginza Lion Beer Hall!

東京を訪れるほとんどの人は、銀座を高級なショッピング、レストラン、娯楽施設で有名な所だと思っています。 しかし、銀座は日本人にとって大切な歴史的、文化的な深いルーツでもありますね。 銀座には、世界で最大のユニクロ店があるほか、歌舞伎座、東京で最もユニークなテーマカフェ、懐かしい銀座ライオンビヤホールなどの歴史的建造物がたくさんありますよね。

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Ginza Theatrical Night Tour
銀座劇場ナイトツアー

Most people who visit Tokyo think of Ginza (銀座) as the neighborhood famous for its luxury shopping, restaurants, and entertainment venues. However, did you know that Ginza represents deep historical and cultural roots to the Japanese people? Besides having the largest uniqlo store in the world, Ginza is home to historic buildings such as the Kabukiza Theater (Japan’s largest and most famous Kabuki theater), some of the most unique themed cafes in Tokyo, and the nostalgic Ginza Lion Beer Hall!

東京を訪れるほとんどの人は、銀座を高級なショッピング、レストラン、娯楽施設で有名な所だと思っています。 しかし、銀座は日本人にとって大切な歴史的、文化的な深いルーツでもありますね。 銀座には、世界で最大のユニクロ店があるほか、歌舞伎座、東京で最もユニークなテーマカフェ、懐かしい銀座ライオンビヤホールなどの歴史的建造物がたくさんありますよね。

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Mt. Fuji-Hakone Bus Tour
春のバスツアー

A set of 8 ponds in Oshino Village in the Fuji Five Lake region fed by snow melt from the nearby Mt. Fuji that has filtered through porous layers of lava for over 80 years!

TIP: Have some salt grilled Ayu sweetfish (鮎) freshly caught from the crystal clear ponds!

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Interview with Wasabi Cultivator David Hulme

On a day trip to Okutama (about an hour west of Shinjuku), I met with wasabi cultivator David Hulme, an Australian expat and former journalist who has been working hard to expand knowledge of wasabi growing and restoring an old wasabi patch!

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