If you are walking the streets of Dotonbori in Osaka, you’ll likely see a colourful and comical character – the Osaka Clown, known as Kuidaore Tarō (did you think we were talking about the Dotonbori Wolfen?) Kuidaore Tarō is the famous mechanical Osaka clown character, dressed in red and white stripes banging a big drum […]
Category Archives: QUIRKY JAPAN
21
Jan
Jan
A very ‘rice’ thing to do in Tokyo, Hikifune Takagi Shrine is perhaps better known as Japan’s joyful onigiri shrine. Located in the shadow of Tokyo Skytree and hidden away in a very quiet side-street, this onigiri shrine site is hundreds of years old and attracts dozens of visitors everyday. It even has a small […]
19
Jan
Jan
Now this is one King Kong Konbini! We recently made a pilgrimage to the famous gorilla themed FamilyMart in Sangenjaya in Tokyo. As big fans of all things FamilyMart and Japanese convenience stores, we knew we just had to visit the gorilla themed FamilyMart in Tokyo – I mean, there are lots of weird, wonderful […]
07
Jan
Jan
One of Japan’s hottest tickets, Kirby Cafe Japan usually books up within minutes of going on sale. With only three permanent Kirby Cafes in Japan including branches in Tokyo and Osaka, getting a Kirby Cafe reservation can be harder than completing a Kirby game blindfolded! On our most recent trip to Japan in late 2024, […]
22
Dec
Dec
Tokyo’s most kawaii coffee shop, Anumaka Bear Hole cafe is a must visit when exploring Harajuku and it’s weird and wonderful activities. A paw-some Tokyo coffee shop with bright green interiors and super cute stylings, Anakuma is a bear’s lair and coffee shop rolled into one, where your only interaction is with a mysterious bear […]
04
Dec
Dec
Go go Glico Man! This has to be Osaka’s most ‘lit’ attraction at night. Dotonbori’s glimmering billboards reflected against the Tonburi River is one of Osaka’s best things to do – but most people’s attention turns to recreating the famous Glico Man running pose. Perhaps Japan’s most famous sign, Osaka’s neon lights and colourful lights […]
CONVENIENCE STORES, FOOD AND DRINK, QUIRKY JAPAN
7-Eleven Stores in Japan – 36 food and drinks to buy
07
Nov
Nov
7-Eleven heaven! No trip to the Land of the Rising Sun is complete without a 7-Eleven Japan trip – from bento boxes to egg sandwiches, onigiri to karaage, Japanese 7-Eleven ‘konbini’ stores have got you covered for cheap and convenient snacks. Although sit-down Japanese restaurants are wonderful and Japanese food is always so tasty, sometimes […]
28
Jul
Jul
Celebrating the most weird and wonderful attractions Japan has to offer, there are some rather unique and unusual things to do in Japan – from Nagano to Nagoya, Kobe to Kyoto, we’ve seen some surreal sights and love all that Japan has to offer. From a ‘crap’ museum to maid cafes, fake food to a […]
27
Jun
Jun
Head to Yokohama on an empty stomach for oodles of noodles at Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. A marvellous museum dedicated to traditional Japanese ramen, this is one of the best things to do in Yokohama and a nice companion piece to the nearby Nissin Cup Noodles Museum and Factory. As well as looking at old packaging […]
24
Jun
Jun
Fantastic plastic food! Known as ‘shokuhin sanpuru’ in Japan (食品サンプル means food sample), these fake foods and plastic models of pints can be seen all over Japan, in restaurant windows and outdoor displays. ‘Sanpuru’ in Japan is big business with millions of pieces of plastic foods and sublime samples that look good enough to eat […]