Friday, May 6, 2011

Food

Ramen (Noodles)


Ramen is Japanese style noodles. It consists of wheat noodles with delicious soup. The soup is often flavored with miso soup. And for the ingredients they use mostly is pork and fish ball and some vegetables, such as seaweed.

Sushi


Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish for the foreigners. It consists of vinegar rice and raw or cooked fish. They use seaweed to wrap the rice and fish.

http://www.kyubey.jp/index_e.html

Okonomiyaki



Okonomiyaki derives from Okonomi, means that “what you want?” and Yaki means “cooked.” Okonomiyaki is the name of pancake in Japanese that contain a variety of ingredients. And there is a lot of restaurant, mostly people cooked it by themselves, but if you don’t know how to do it people can help you.

Tempura



Tempura is a Japanese traditional food and people sometimes eat it with sushi. And to make a tempura they mostly use shrimp and vegetables, they battered and then deep fried it. Really delicious.

Shabu Shabu



Shabu-Shabu is another way to call it hot pot in Japanese. The way the Japanese eat Hot Pot is boiling the water with any kind of sauce inside of a pot and then boiled it. And then they put a variant of ingredients inside, such as; thin slice of meat of beef, pork and chicken, and vegetables. Withing seconds the food is boiled and ready to eat, enjoy guys!!!

Unajyu



This traditional Japanese food is called "Unaju"or "Unadon". It contains steamed rice under a cooked eel with flavored sauce and is worth to try although it is a little bit expensive.

Does it make you hungry now? ^_^

Places Must Visit in Tokyo

Tokyo Tower



Your first station must be in Tokyo Tower. Did you know: This tower is build for communication and observation tower in Japan around year 1958, and is located in Shiba Park in Tokyo. This Tower is about 1,100 ft tall, this tower is the second tallest Tower in Japan. Over 150 million people around the world already visited. So what are you waiting for, get there and take many pictures.

http://www.tokyotower.co.jp/english/

Asakusa











Second stop should be in Asakusa, because Asakusa is known for the most famous Buddhist temple in Japan called Senso-Ji.

Akihabara







Do you love electronics, mangas and picture with cute girls? So this place is perfect for you Akahibara. Akahibara is also know as the electronic town in japan. Also is a place where you can find a lot of mangas around here. So if you have any luck you can even see girls dressed inside like a manga you can take pictures with them.

Shibuya










Shibuya is this japanese new york?? Shibuya is known for the central business district. This city is populated 210,000 people. This place is really popular because is one of the most busiest place in japan.

Shinjuku





Place of no Sleep. 24 hours open all day...!!!!!!

Cultural Differences

Religion



People burning incense in a temple                    People reading the Bible in a church 
         

Major Beliefs in Japan: Christian, Buddhism, or NON-RELIGION !

Their thought for belief is free. Most people go to a temple and pray for a good new year on January 1st even though they are not Buddhism (It is just a Japanese tradition).


Marriage Ceremony

















There are two types of wedding ceremonies in Japan
(Japanese-style and Western-style)
They can choose either one or both if they want to.

Note: The fee for wedding ceremony is pretty expensive.


Four Seasons -- and Festivals

Spring (春-haru-)

















People celebrate with their families, friends, and boyfriend or girlfriend under cherry blossoms.


This activity is called "Hanami".

The cherry blossom is Japanese national flower.

During every spring season, you can see lots of beautiful cherry blossoms in Japan.

Summer (夏-natu-)
















Summer festivals-there will be fireworks and many kinds of stands set up


People in U.S. are allowed to play with fireworks only on the independence day.But in Japan, you won't be arrested even if you play it everyday! (It is allowed!)


If you want to look for schedules for fireworks festivals, you can visit this website: http://hanabi.walkerplus.com/



Fall (秋-aki-)


                


Left image: Tsukimi 


There is no major festivals in fall; however, one day night people do a home activity called"Tsukimi" (Left image).

Note: Tsukimi is an activity people look at the full moon and eat rice cakes at a calm night

Right image: Kouyou

The color of tree leaves begin to turn red in fall.
Some people like to hike to enjoy seeing the beautiful leaves (Right image).

Winter (冬-huyu-)


















 
In winter, Japanese celebrate for Christmas like U.S..
They go look some beautiful illuminations. 



Left image: Tokyo Millenario in Ginza                    Right image: Illumination of the Tokyo Tower


You can go visit the website of the Tokyo Millenario: http://www.millenario.com/








Souvenir

Tokyo Banana 
 


Tokyo banana is a banana flavored sweet. It is soft sponge cake roll with fresh banana cream. It is the No. 1 best-seller souvenir in Tokyo.

http://www.tokyobanana.jp/


Maneki neko 



Maneki Neko is a common Japanese sculpture, often made of ceramics. It has many names. For example, Beckoning Cat, Welcoming Cat, Lucky Cat, Money cat, or Fortune Cat. It represents lucky charms in Japan. It was thought to attract good luck in business and prosperity.

Yukata (浴衣)




Yukata is a casual summer kimono made of cotton. People usually wear yukata after bathing in Japanese traditional inn. The word yukata literally means "Bathing Cloth".

Samurai Sword replicas



You might be able to see Japanese Samuri sword in many Japanese movies. If you are interested in Japanese Samuri culture, this is one of the sourvenir that you can not miss. Although it is replica, it still have lots of details to make it look like real.