Asakusa: in the glow of Nippon kitsch
Every once in a while, the Japanese have to remind themselves that they're Japanese. We feel the need to reconfirm that we are part of a long and enduring traditional culture — one which includes kimono, samurai, ninja, eels on rice, and other weird ...
Learning to embrace the halal industry
With an increasing number of Muslims residing in and visiting Japan, local governments and businesses in the private sector are eyeing ways to target the potentially lucrative market
Teen arrested over alleged plan to fly drone over shrine festival in Tokyo
A 15-year-old boy known to police for flying drones in crowded places has been arrested after hinting online that he might fly one of the devices at a Tokyo festival.
'Sento' attract modern clientele but tradition isn't circling the drain
"Sento" in Tokyo that try to stand out are drawing new customers even as the popularity of communal bathhouses continues to decline from the days when most Japanese homes lacked baths. Shimizu-Yu in Minami-Aoyama, a fashionable part of Minato Ward, now looks like a cafe ...
Asakusa paints traditional Tokyo in a popular light
As one of Japan's representative tourist destinations, the Asakusa district never ceases to attract people looking for a taste of traditional downtown Tokyo. The 30 million visitors it draws each year are a testament to its popularity. Typically, an Asakusa tour starts by entering the ...
Top kitchenware, plastic sushi lure cooks, tourists alike to Kappabashi
If you want to open a restaurant, the Kappabashi district in Tokyo's Taito Ward is the place to go because it has everything you need, and more. Situated between the popular Ueno and Asakusa districts, Kappabashi boasts more than 180 shops selling tableware and kitchen ...
Storied family-run toy shop 'sells dreams' to Tokyo tourists
"Continuing a small toy shop for five generations is a kind of miracle,” says Masaki Terao, 58, proprietor and purse-string holder at Toys Terao, which his family has been running on Nakamise-dori in front of Asakusa's Sensoji Temple for nearly 130 years.
Rickshaws roll back into style
The trendiest way to get around town on two wheels without breaking a sweat? Hand-pulled rickshaw.
