Jan 22 (Samuel and Audrey) - Today we’re visiting the largest wasabi farm in the world: the Daio Wasabi Farm located in Azumino just half an hour north of Matsumoto.
This was such a fun and easy day trip, plus we got to enjoy a taste of rural Japan. So join us as we spend the day cycling to the wasabi fields, learning to grate wasabi root, and trying wasabi ice cream. All in a magical landscape at the foot of the Japanese Alps!
Japan already classifies days with highs of 30C or above as manatsubi (midsummer days) and those reaching 35C or above as moshobi (extremely hot days). It has now introduced a new term for days when temperatures climb to 40C or higher.
Police investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body was found in a forest in Kyoto Prefecture believe his father moved the remains between several locations over a number of days in an apparent attempt to conceal the crime.
A large and powerful Typhoon No. 4, internationally named Sinlaku, was located near the Mariana Islands and moving north-northeast as of the latest update. The storm is expected to gradually shift its course eastward and pass southeast of the Ogasawara Islands around April 18, before making its closest approach around April 19.
Japan will release around 50 million stockpiled medical gloves from next month as concerns grow over shortages of medical supplies linked to tensions in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route connecting Toyama and Nagano fully reopened on April 15th, marking the start of the spring tourism season along one of Japan’s most celebrated mountain routes.
As temperatures rise and early signs of summer begin to appear, chilled tofu is once again gaining attention, with silken varieties offering a lighter, vitamin-rich option while firm tofu provides higher protein and calcium for building strength.
A dense maze of narrow alleys packed with small eateries continues to define the area known as Ura-Tenma, located just north of JR Tenma Station, preserving the postwar legacy of a black market that once stood on the site.
Japan byFood was challenging Shizuka to ask taxi drivers in Tokyo for food recommendations! The result? SO many hidden food spots in Shibuya and Shinjuku beyond the tourist trap and definitely affordable – we even found a legendary ramen spot for only $7. (Japan by Food)
Japan tightened its "Business Manager" visa requirements in October 2025, prompting growing concern among foreign restaurant owners who fear the changes could force them out of business.
Japan by Food featuring Shizuka takes you deep into the heart of Kabukicho to witness the rebirth of an icon. (Japan by Food)
Tokyo has no shortage of great restaurants… but this one really surprised us. Tucked away in Akasaka, Keica is a modern fine dining restaurant where the chef blends Japanese techniques like fermentation, aging, and charcoal grilling with subtle Italian influences. (TabiEats)
Natto, a traditional Japanese staple often eaten with rice, is gaining popularity not only in Japan but increasingly overseas, with exports rising sharply as global consumers embrace its health benefits.
From April 1, broccoli has been newly designated as a “specified vegetable” by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, marking the first addition to the category in years as authorities move to stabilize supply and prices of a staple increasingly central to Japanese diets.
