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Suigian: Where Traditional Japanese Dance and Music Meet Elegant Cocktails

I was recently invited to spend an evening at Suigian, an elegant bar and restaurant in Nihonbashi. What stands out about this establishment is that they have a large stage in the centre of the room, where Noh and other traditional performances take place. If you’re interested in an elegant evening mixed with traditional Japanese…
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How to Enjoy Japanese Onsen as a Couple

Visiting an onsen (hot spring) in Japan is a great way to experience Japanese culture first hand. It can be a bit daunting on your first go, though. So in this blog post with Japan Specialist, I look at how to dip your toes in or take the plunge with your special someone! https://japanspecialist.com/w/how-to-enjoy-japanese-onsen-as-a-couple
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Metropolis About Town: Futuristic Summer Edition

As summer is now hitting full swing, so, too are the summer events around Tokyo. This issue of Metropolis is all about time travel, so here I explore some of the modern and futuristic food, art, and cultural events to look out for. https://metropolisjapan.com/about-town-summer-futuristic-events/
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Explore More of Japan with Regional Passes

There are all sorts of different transport passes that you can buy to travel around Japan. But if you want to make a city your base and explore nearby, regional passes are the best way to do it while saving money! Take a look at some of the options in my blog post for Japan…
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Amelia Hiorns Talks Bears

In the summer resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, you’ll find Amelia Hiorns, 28, looking after the local bears at the Picchio Wildlife Research Center. She’s a fascinating woman and a good friend of mine, and it was very insightful to interview her about the role, and hear her thoughts on everything going on in…
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11 Things To Do Around Kawaguchiko Station

Recently a Lawson convenience store has been in the news a lot because tourists are causing problems in the road trying to take pictures of it with Mt. Fuji. Instead of causing problems for residents, here are some fun things to do in the area and some places to take (even nicer) photos of the…
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7 Best Places To Dine in Tokyo for 5000 Yen

Tokyo is a great place to get a filling meal for ¥1,000 or less. But if you stretch your purse strings to ¥5,000, you’ll open up a whole new world of flavour! Here are some great restaurants in Tokyo where you can get something special for ¥5,000 or less. Read my article with Tokyo Cheapo…
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Dust off your tidying vocabulary with a refreshing spring clean

“Spring cleaning”, or a big clean in the spring, is not actually all that common in Japan. The main time for 大掃除 (ōsōji, a big clean) is around New Year. But if you want a hand from someone, knowing how to explain the tasks is essential! Clean up your Japanese with my language article on…
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Defining Elegance with Yumi Katsura

Yumi Katsura’s fascination with dresses started at a young age, and sparked a lifelong passion for creating designs that are at the forefront of elegance. Now 93, Katsura reflects on her experiences in the fashion industry, and shares advice on finding the right path to success. I interviewed the iconic wedding dress designer for InTouch…
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Tokyo International Beauty Salon for Everyone

Taking off your shoes and walking into PBE Tokyo is not your typical city salon experience. This is a salon that covers massages, tattoos, hair braiding, nails, and more, all with international customers in mind. See what to expect at the Tokyo International Beauty Salon: https://metropolisjapan.com/international-salon-tokyo