After enjoying all that new Japan offers (Akihabara, baseball, and vocaloids), I wanted to do indulge my love of the other side of Japan I so love – its history and breathtaking landscape. So, we bundled into a car and set off on a road trip to Odawara. And it…
Read MoreJapan is a bit of a consumer’s paradise, selling a whole load of stuff that is difficult to find elsewhere (if not completely impossible in Australia). So naturally each time I’m in Japan I go shopping. The last couple of trips I’ve found myself largely investing in figurines to bring…
Read MoreOkay, okay, it’s time to get Akihabara out of the way. I doubt this will be the only time I visit this year, because I do enjoy my time there too much, but given I was already there for the Final Fantasy XIV restaurant, I figured I would use the…
Read MoreAs you could probably have gathered from my previous day’s trip to the Moomin cafe, the Japanese do like their themed restaurants and cafes. From maid and cat cafes to temporary set-ups (such as a Danganronpa-themed food court that I visited last year but is sadly gone), if you’re a…
Read MoreSpend enough time in Japan and you’ll realise quickly that the Japanese do liked their characters. Sanrio – the makers of Hello Kitty – has built an entire business model around developing cute animal characters. The entire reason that Hatsune Miku is a success is that Crypton had the foresight…
Read MoreI’ve been to Japan quite a few times now, and one thing that I’ve wanted to do each time, but never quite got around to, was go to a baseball match. Everyone knows the Japanese love their baseball, and I was interested to see how such a conservative and polite…
Read MoreFeature by Matt S. So here I am in the middle of Tokyo, all ready for Tokyo Game Show and all the excitement that it entails. My first full day in the city was mostly spent recovering from the flight and acclimatising myself with the humid and warm Tokyo temperature…
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