You might see some vending machine-dispensed capsule toys everywhere; like at train stations, supermarkets, and amusement parks when you come to Japan.
Do you know what they are?
It is called "Gashapon" or "Gashapon".
It is very popular here in Japan.
Gashapon describe both the machines themselves and the toys obtained from the machines.
The cost is from JPY100 - JPY500, and the toy in the capsule is normally higher quality for the price.
So many types of toys including popular character like Kamen Rider, Dragon Ball, and Godzilla series, are in those small capsules.
Also, so call "Otaku" goods are obtained from the capsules.
Because commodities for all generations from kids to adults are in capsules, gashapon has become a big hit product in this country.
Well, which gashapon would you like to try?
When it is getting cold, what kind of food would you like to eat?
"Oden" is one of the foods we eat in winter season in Japan.
Oden is a typical Japanese hodgepodge suitable for colder seasons.
Many different foods are boiled together in a large pot with a soup seasoned with soy sauce and dried bonito flakes.
The ingredients include soybean curd, potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, Konnyaku, Japanese radish, kelp rolls and Hanpen etc...
Hot mustard goes really well with Oden!
Each region has its own taste of Oden.
Soup and ingredients are very different from others.
Some uses "Miso" for its soup and other uses soup based on soy sauce.
Cooking methods and toppings vary from region to region.
We should make importance on the differences to protect our culture.
Izakaya is Japanese style pub.
There are more than 300,000 pubs in Japan.
Due to the number of spots, people might think Japan is an alcohol heaven country.
These shops serve many types of food; from traditional Japanese food to Western types of meals, and tons of kinds of alcohols.
Any other countries might not have these types of public spaces.
Japanese people go Izakaya with colleagues or friends, enjoy delicious meals and drinks and talk and laugh in loud.
Izakaya tends to be a noisy place with only people's voice.
However, they can enjoy spending more than 3 hours in there.
Would you like to enjoy having both food and drinks and talking without caring what other people think?
Why don't you try to go to Izakaya?
Do you feel tired when you are working or doing housework?
Do you need some sweets to relax from hard work?
Well, why don't you try to have "Tirol Choco" to satisfy your stomach?
Tirol Choco, individually wrapped chocolates with endless flavor variations, are created and distributed by Tirol Choco Co. Ltd.
After the chocolate was introduced back in 1962, the popularity of its item has been increasing more and more.
With the catchy, colorful wrappers, reasonable price and over 300 flavors to choose from, Tirol Choco was an instant success.
Some famous sweets confectioneries make this type of chocolate to appeal and have more people know their name.
Over the years it became a solid staple for chocolate lovers of all ages in Japan.
If you ask Japanese people whether or not they know its name, almost all of them answer "yes"!!
Do you want to try such a famous sweets in this country?
Winter season is coming soon.
Are you afraid to get chilled?
Well, Ginger Syrup is gaining popularity among Japanese people.
Ginger is a seasoning to be used for giving some flavor and accent on a meal.
However, the spice attracts attention as it has a broad range of efficacy; such as bringing better blood flow, promoting fat burning, and improving gastrointestinal condition.
As one example, it is used to warm up our bodies especially during winter season.
Even though you think it gives you good effect on your body, you might feel that you do not want to use the seasoning on every meal.
If you say so, I recommend you to try "Ginger Syrup”Ginger Syrup is a product to get its efficacy easily on our body.
If you think it is a bit spicy, mixing with brown sugar, honey, and juice let you drink comfortably.
Or you can pour it in when you cook a meal as well!!With the information of the efficacy of ginger, does it make you try from now?
Do you know “Arita porcelain”?
The Arita porcelain is a generic term for porcelain burned in Arita-cho, Saga Prefecture.
It is a hard and strong, in white porcelain with a transparent feeling, bright colors such as red, yellow, gold and indigo blue’s is given delicately.
It has the history of 400 years and recently starts changing its own image as valuable, expensive art.
Because of its conventional image, people tend to prevent from using the porcelain for daily use.
However, don’t you think it should be brought into our ordinary mealtime?
Recently, some of potteries and designers have started to create the Arita porcelain with a modern, stylish and different taste.
The design is focused on the color, weight, and beauty; that is, how we easily can use.
Also, the price is reasonable; some are from JPY500/each.
Why don’t you try this new Arita porcelain?
Do you need to find the place to stay because you go out until late at night and you don’t want to spend too much money just to sleep over?
Why don’t you look for a capsule hotel?
Capsule hotel is a very low rate hotel giving you a small space to sleep.
You can get a private space with partition and relax and sleep in a room.
Even though the hotel offered you only a small space to sleep in the past, the hotel nowadays offers you many other things such as spa, sauna, pools, massage, free wi-fi and cable TV.
Some hotels are decorated like a resort.
It sounds like a luxury hotel!!
Capsule hotels are usually located in a convenient places to get to downtown.
So, let’s stay at a capsule hotel to relax your body after having fun!!
Is it popular for people in your country to use bicycle for daily life?
Many people, young and old, use bicycles in Japan. In order to avoid congestion, bicycles can be parked at many places such as stations, shopping malls, schools and apartments.
In this country, bicycle parking lots are mainly located near train stations, so people living far from the train station can come to the station by bicycle and leave it at the bicycle parking lot.
Because so many bicycles need to be accommodated in a limited space, you can see many types of bicycle parking lots these days.
Some of them cost a couple of thousand yen per month, but the others are for free.
Have you seen bicycle parking lots in Japan?
It is amazing!!
Many bicycles are parked in a limited space, but they are very well organized.
You will be surprised when you look at the place.
It may be a good place to take a picture!!
If you use bicycle to look around in a city, why don’t you stop by and see the unique spot?
