Have you been to manga café in Japan?

There are many manga cafés or internet cafes in Japan and they are very popular.

Manga café is a café which has manga (comic) library and also an internet facilities. You can read your favorite comics as much as you like and you can also use an internet or watch TV or DVD in a private space. Some of the cafe also have some amusement facilities such as billiards, darts, table tennis, shower, sauna, massage chair and even tanning machine!! You can buy some foods if you are hungry and mostly they have free drink service.

Usually it charges per hour and you’ll pay when you go out.

It opens until morning so some people uses as a place to rest when they missed the last train as they are cheaper and convenient than the hotel.

Thomas the Tank Engine came over to my town!

Service of steam locomotive (SL) which played the part of the chief character of TV program "Thomas the Tank Engine" made in the U.K. proud of great popularity to infants began in Oigawa Railway (Shimada-shi, Shizuoka).

Because families had a look at the figure from each place of the whole country, they rushed on the small local line.
It involves the railroad enthusiast and collects big topics.

As for the business condition of this route, the decrease of the user does not stop strictly.I hope that the plan of these "Thomas the Tank Engine" plans the revival.

Autumn in Japan is the most beautiful season.

The weather is finally cooling down in Japan and an autumn is coming here soon. The autumn is one of the most beautiful season in Japan.
The autumnal leaves brilliantly color the natural scenery. There are many tourist at shrines and temples to see wonderful autumn view during autumn season

The autumn colors start from the north. They can be seen first at the beginning of September in Hokkaido, and then they move southward and arrive in Kyushu where the best season is at the beginning of December.

There are many green tea (Matcha) sweets available in Japan.

Tea time is here!

 There are many green tea (Matcha) sweets available in Japan. When you are in Japan, do drop by convenience stores if you have sudden cravings for Matcha-flavoured sweets! You would be sure to come across a packet or two Matcha snacks to munch on your Japan trip!!

 Which is your favourite Matcha? Chocolate, biscuits or ice cream?

Matcha sweets is very popular in Japan. You can buy different kinds of Matcha sweets in convenience store easily in Japan.

Do you know oden? We can eat oden in Japan in summer.

Oden is a popular Japanese winter stewed dish cooked in light soy-flavoured broth, which consists of the following items - Radish, Eggs, Fishcakes, , Konjac jelly. Some Japanese like to dip a little karashi (mustard) when eating these stewed items.

 In recent years, oden have even made it into the convenience stores during summer time too.
It is amazing that a variety of foods are prepared at the convenience stores. We need to keep eye on new yummy food available at convenience store!

Many Japanese like oden. It is Japanese fast food in that we can purchase it for 100 yen each.

When you come to Japan, please challenge oden!

Regional Hello Kitties in all around Japan

Do you know there are Hello Kitties from each region from Hokkaido (northern Japan) down to Okinawa (the southern Japan)?

There are many Hello Kitties representing their region and they are very popular as a souvenir.

For example, Hello Kitty from Hokkaido are wearing corn or melon which is one of their famous vegetables and fruits, or lavender which is one of their famous flower in Hokkaido and so on.
Of course Hello Kitty from Shizuoka is wearing Fujiyama, and Hello Kitty from Osaka is wearing Takoyaki!!

If you are interested in, how about collecting all regional Hello Kitties in Japan?