Unlike in many other parts of the world, New Year in Japan, or Oshogatsu (literally meaning “first month”) is not a big display of fireworks and champagne. Instead, it’s a very solemn affair that’s generally spent with family. In a way, it could be compared to how we celebrate Western Christmas. You can still find noisy parties and fireworks during Japanese New Year, but it’s not generally how the locals spend their New Year’s eve. Instead, most Japanese people will be home with their families. A lot of people even travel back to their hometowns over the holiday.  So how do you go about celebrating New Year the Japanese way? Read on for a crash course on the Japanese New Year!  Bring good luck to your family and home...Read More

Just south of Tokyo, floating in the Pacific Ocean, are a group of 7 islands known as the Izu Islands. On a recent trip here, I fell in love with Hachijojima. More popular with domestic tourists than foreign, it is one of the bigger islands in the chain. This was by far one of the...Read More