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Ja(a)pan

A blog about Tokyo, traveling and yes, penguins

Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo

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Author: Mia Jaap

journeys in japan 

Okunoshima – Japan’s Bunny Island

29. October 201523. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments bunny, kawaii, okunoshima

Bunnies! Of course you can get your fix of bunny-shaped cuteness in one of Tokyo’s bunny cafés, but the number one location for fans of the cute animals is a small island in Hiroshima Prefecture: Okunoshima.

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event 

Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri

10. September 201523. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments hirosaki, summer, tohoku

This is one of the big three festivals in the northern Tohoku region, the other two being the Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and the Akita Kanto Matsuri. They are all held around the same time (early August) too.

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event journeys in japan 

Inakadate Rice Paddy Art 2015: Star Wars & Gone With The Wind

8. September 20156. November 2021 Mia Jaap 3 Comments aomori prefecture, inakadate, rice art

Inakadate is a village in Aomori Prefecture and a population of 8000. Since 1993, the people of Inakadate began creating rice paddy art to promote tourism and revitalize the area.

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meetup 

Tokyo Movie Meet-up: Mission Impossible – Rogue Nation

16. August 201523. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments meetup

After a long time, I could finally make it to another movie meet-up, thus saving the latest Mission Impossible film from its fate of being seen on the small screen. This was also the first time for me being to the new TOHO Cinema in Shinjuku.

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museum 

Naoshima – Island of Art

11. May 20152. November 2021 Mia Jaap 0 Comments art, naoshima

Naoshima is known as the “art island” and has several art museums with exhibits by various well-known artists. The island is also well prepared for tourists with a shuttle bus connecting the various art sites and the port.

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Old books
study 

Aozora – Free ebooks in Japanese language

16. November 201423. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments japanese language

In order to become fluent in Japanese and reach the level of a native speaker, you have to leave the textbook behind at some point. The school I went to (Naganuma) handed out copies of newspaper articles at the advanced level.

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event lights 

Tokyo German Village – Winter Illumination

11. November 20142. November 2021 Mia Jaap 0 Comments chiba, illumination, winter

Tokyo German Village is a park in Chiba, located about two hours from central Tokyo. The park offers facilities for families, flower events, a souvenir shop and German food. It’s not an educational place meant to teach you German – in many ways it’s very much a Japanese park.

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how-to 

Taking the Highway Bus in Japan

28. October 201413. October 2021 Mia Jaap 0 Comments transportation

Trains in Japan are excellent but pricy, especially long distance ones. If you are lucky enough to stay in the country for more than one month, travelling by bus is the cheapest option to explore the country.

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gadgets & toys 

Omnibot: The wonderful world of Tomy’s Robots

15. September 201413. October 2021 Mia Jaap 0 Comments robot, tomy

Just like any other kid, I liked toy stores. One German toy store called “Spielwahn” in particular seemed magic to me. That store didn’t sell action figures, Barbie or board games but a range of games and robots by the Japanese manufacturer Tomy.

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lights tokyo 

Art Aquarium in Fukuoka

2. May 201423. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments aquarium, fukuoka

Over 2.5 million visitors across Japan have seen the special exhibition Art Aquarium which features goldfishes in small and big tanks illuminated with changing lights.

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eating out gadgets & toys 

Space Station Osaka: A Gaming Bar

13. January 201323. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0 Comments kansai, osaka

A while ago I stayed in Osaka for New Year’s and was unsure where to spend the evening. So I decided to check out Space Station Osaka, a video game bar in the Americamura neighborhood of Osaka.

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Takehara – a beautiful town near Hiroshima
journeys in japan 

Takehara – a beautiful town near Hiroshima

4. October 20192. November 2021 Mia Jaap 0

If Kawagoe is Tokyo’s Little Edo, Takehara is Hiroshima’s Little Kyoto. In this case though, it’s the town’s tourist department that calls Takehara the „Little Kyoto of Aki Province“.

Okunoshima – Japan’s Bunny Island
journeys in japan 

Okunoshima – Japan’s Bunny Island

29. October 201523. May 2022 Mia Jaap 0
Inakadate Rice Paddy Art 2015: Star Wars & Gone With The Wind
event journeys in japan 

Inakadate Rice Paddy Art 2015: Star Wars & Gone With The Wind

8. September 20156. November 2021 Mia Jaap 3
Visiting Tokyo’s Giant Tunnel System – Water Discharge Tunnel
journeys in japan 

Visiting Tokyo’s Giant Tunnel System – Water Discharge Tunnel

4. November 20122. November 2021 Mia Jaap 1
Ushiku: Great Buddha and Fireworks
journeys in japan temples and shrines 

Ushiku: Great Buddha and Fireworks

22. August 201216. November 2021 Mia Jaap 0

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