Most Japanese franchises come up with Christmas editions of their merchandise every year. You can get Pikachus, Hello Kitties, Chocobos and many other famous characters in Santa and angel outfits.

You probably know the big three Japanese convenience store chains Seven Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson. But did you also know that there is a variation of Lawson called Natural Lawson?

Japan’s rich culinary heritage has much to offer on this front: the archipelago is home to one of the world’s longest-lived people and its balanced diet is often considered a major factor in supporting long and healthy lives. Here are five Japanese foods to incorporate into your kitchen.

In this article, I explore the following five goods and services which could be of interest to newcomers and seasoned veterans: printing documents and photos; quick cash withdrawals; picking up packages; paying a wide variety of bills; and, of course, food and drink.

It is synonymous with upscale shopping, eating, fashion, and art, and is conveniently located right next to kawaii culture mecca, Harajuku.

Here we present 15 things to do in Kumamoto City.

As such, Ochanomizu has much to offer visitors, in the form of inexpensive Indian curry eateries, religious sites, and a street lined with musical instrument shops.

Plenty has been written of the exceptional customer service in Japan. Truly, Japanese retail workers treat us like royalty! But what about the other side of these interactions? How does it feel to be the one behind the register?

The Character Street is like the name says, a street filled with all kinds of character goods shops. It is situated in the basement of Tokyo station and therefore also a good place to visit when it’s raining.

In this piece, I shine a light on a neighborhood which is rarely mentioned in tourist guidebooks–Asakusabashi, located conveniently only one stop from electronics and otaku mecca, Akihabara, on the JR Sobu line with a subway stop on the Toei Asakusa Line as well for easy access to the Asakusa/Sensoji area and Tokyo Sky Tree.

5 awesome bookstores in Tokyo. In addition, all of these bookstores have something else to offer besides a large selection of Japanese books, whether that be English language press, a tasty cafe, an outside terrace, or an impressive children’s area.

For days when you’re in the area and in the mood for something different, Akiba is also home to many low-key spaces where you can enjoy the other parts of Tokyo’s consumption landscape, such as clothes and accessory shopping, fancy restaurants, and bookstores. In this article, I suggest five spaces to head to when searching for a different vibe in Akihabara.