Japan Navigator

I love food from Okinawa, not only because it is supposed to be very healthy (Okinawa is called the “Land of Longevity”), but in the first place because it tastes so good! Like all culture on these tropical islands, the old Ryukyu Kingdom, Okinawan cuisine contains elements of both China and Japan.
My favorite Okinawan vegetable [...]

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When I lived in Tokyo, I never thought much about neighboring Saitama as a prefecture with possibly interesting sakes. The image of a series of dreary, endless Tokyo bed towns was too strong for that. But is was exactly the vicinity to Tokyo (the Edo) and its numerous consumers that helped the sake industry develop [...]

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The “Nihonmatsu Chochin Matsuri” (Lantern Festival) is one of the three largest lantern festivals in Japan. It is held every year from Octobber 4 to 6.

[Photo by Ad Blankestijn]
In fact, it is the annual festival of the Nihonmatsu Shrine, going back for 350 years. But contrary to for example Kyoto’s Gion Festival where the [...]

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