29 Sep 2012: Tokyo Gundam 2012
Remember the spectacular Gundam robot first built 3 years ago in Odaiba and then dismantled? After a brief presence in Shizuoka in 2010, the giant robot returned last winter in Odaiba, where it will ... »
42 comments 19 Sep 2012: Japanese mascots - Otosan, the SoftBank's famous dog
Since 2007, when he first appeared in the commercials of the Japanese telecommunications corporation SoftBank, Otosan became one of the most famous dogs in Japan. Otosan is not a CGI animation nor a ... »
32 comments 01 Aug 2012: Tokyo Opera City and a travel tip
Since the skyscrapers from Nishi-Shinjuku are one of my favorite photography themes, there are just a few not yet presented here... Today, I would like to show you the Tokyo Opera City skyscraper ... »
40 comments 13 Jan 2012: New Yamanote line station
Probably the most famous line of the JR East railway company, the Yamanote line - Yamanote-sen 「山手線」 is a local trains circular line connecting all the important ... »
37 comments 16 Dec 2011: 50 Original Japanese Christmas Songs
Being an "imported" holiday, the Christmas in Japan is a commercial event, not a religious celebration. However, there are many customs related to Christmas that almost became "tradition" in Japan: ... »
234 comments 06 Dec 2011: Miyajima Rice Scoops, a Japanese Story and a Travel Tip
Few countries in the world can compete with Japan in terms of number of souvenirs available for tourists. Some, like those I selected as must have Japanese souvenirs, can be found almost everywhere ... »
48 comments 04 Dec 2011: Tokyo Christmas Illuminations, Ebisu Baccarat Eternal Lights travel tip
Last year I witnessed how beautiful is Tokyo decorated for the winter holidays, but since Japan is confronting this year the worst energy crisis in history, I was worried that there will be no ... »
80 comments 30 Sep 2011: Shibuya's... Basketball Street or just a silly name?
Center Gai (センター街 Sentaa-gai) is one of the most popular streets from Shibuya, both for locals and tourists, who are especially attracted by the famous clothing ... »
57 comments 20 Jul 2011: Himawari, the Symbol of Hope and Recovery
The Sunflower (ヒマワリ - himawari in Japanese) is a popular plant in Japan, where it has been cultivated since the 17th century. I've seen sunflowers growing wild in Japan, ... »
77 comments 11 Apr 2011: Google Street View now on Water, Sumida River
I frequently use Google Maps, especially Google Street View, it has become an indispensable tool for planning my trips... I often prepare maps for the places I'm visiting and I check with Google ... »
32 comments 27 Mar 2011: How to Help Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami Survivors by giving to Japanese Organizations
The following article is part of the Blog for Japan event, initiated by my friend Todd Wassel, a wonderful travel blogger and an experienced development and relief specialist. It is wonderful ... »
87 comments 18 Mar 2011: Tokyo Returning to Normality - The Two Towers
Daily Yomiuri, an English language publication of Japan's largest daily newspaper, The Yomiuri Shimbun, reported today two events I find significant from the point of view of the real life in Japan's ... »
66 comments 11 Mar 2011: The largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history
The 8.8 9.0 earthquake that struck Japan today and the tsunami that followed caused many victims (estimated at over 1000 1500 at the time of this writing) and widespread destruction. Even if Japan ... »
49 comments 04 Oct 2010: My first interview...
A couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed by Warren from Photo Nippon, about blogging, about my passion for Japan, photography, travel and many other things...Warren persuaded me to share some ... »
45 comments 16 Sep 2010: Odaiba Solar Bears
According to NASA, 2010 is the hottest year in the recorded history... you may agree or not, but I felt it that way. :-/ It was over 37 °Celsius (100 °Fahrenheit) when I passed by the Solar Bears ... »
38 comments 11 Jun 2010: The Best Japanese Train of the Year: Narita Express
If you remember, one year ago the Japan Railfan Club awarded the Blue Ribbon Award for the best train of the year 2009 to the Odakyu's Romancecar type 60000 MSE.This year is the East Japan ... »
26 comments 20 May 2010: Top 10 Best-selling Singles in Japan 1968-2006
Few Japanese music stars are known outside Japan or Asia, but Japan is the second largest music market in the world, so the best-selling music artists from Japan managed to sell an impressive ... »
30 comments 29 Apr 2010: Sayonara Kabuki-za
The first Kabuki-za, the main theater in Tokyo for kabuki drama, was built in Ginza in 1889 and lasted until 1921 when, being a wooden construction, was destroyed in a fire. Kabuki-za in 1907, ... »
30 comments 24 Mar 2010: 5 Sakura Songs by... Vocaloid Software
For thousands of years, the gentle flowers of sakura inspired the musicians. Some songs became so popular that, even after centuries, they are still well-known. And in Japan the tradition ... »
9 comments 22 Mar 2010: 12 Great Sakura Videos
From the end of March until the beginning of May, the Japanese celebrates Hanami ( 「花見」 - the flower viewing).The custom is not strictly related to the Japanese ... »
30 comments 11 Mar 2010: The Sad Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
In order to reach the main building of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you have to climb 61 steps.On the left side, it was impossible not to notice an impressive 1000-year old ginkgo tree, ... »
37 comments 08 Mar 2010: Give a Name to a Shinkansen!
I wrote 3 months ago about the launch of the new Shinkansen E5 series, a new train which will begin commercial operations March next year. E5 Series Shinkansen Image via: WikipediaI'm ... »
24 comments 01 Mar 2010: Sayonara Shinkansen 500 - The Retirement of a Champion
Not long ago, I wrote about the reduced lifespan of Japanese trains, approx. 15 years (7 Reasons Why Japanese Trains Are Different). Perhaps the best illustration of this principle was the ... »
33 comments 25 Feb 2010: 20 Japan Top Lists
Dear friends, welcome to the Japan Blog Matsuri, February 2010 Edition!This month, 20 Japan bloggers united to provide you with an amazing set of Japan Top Lists, covering a great variety of ... »
72 comments 01 Feb 2010: Japan Blog Matsuri – February 2010 Edition
Update - the Japan Blog Matsuri is published here:20 Japan Top ListsDear friends, I will be your host to the February 2010 edition of the Japan Blog Matsuri.Japan Blog ... »
77 comments 23 Jan 2010: Twitter's First Japanese Trending Topic
Today, Twitter got its first Trending Topic in Japanese! The trend lasted about 5 hours (between 11 and 16 GMT) and the message was ... »
42 comments 10 Dec 2009: New E5 Shinkansen at Start
An article from today's Mainichi draw my attention: JR East started testing today the new generation of Shinkansen trains - E5, and the new train appeared yesterday in Tokyo Station, running ... »
27 comments 30 Sep 2009: The Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Today in Abu Dhabi, the 24 member states of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage - UNESCO, decided the 76 elements inscribed on the Representative List of ... »
7 comments 16 Jun 2009: Odakyu's Romancecar, the best train
I just read in the Mainichi newspaper that Odakyu Electric Railway's express train Romancecar ( ロマンスカー ) type 60000 MSE has won the Japan Railfan Club's ... »
7 comments 23 May 2009: The crows from Tokyo, again
I found out from Asashi Shinbun that the Tokyo governor declared war to the city's crows.For me, as a tourist, the crows are funny. I photographed them when I had the chance. I stood next to ... »
2 comments 28 Apr 2009: Akiba mikoshi
Last sunday, in Akihabara, an "otaku matsuri" took place. As with any matsuri, a portable shrine (mikoshi) was carried, covered with otaku decorations: a laptop, a vacuum tube, video games, ... »
Comment 24 Apr 2009: Akiba mascots
Yodobashi Akiba gave up to their old mascot, the waving hands friendly train... ...and replaced it with a maid: ;) foto: Akihabara News Drawn in the same style, with a wondering ... »
Comment 14 Apr 2009: Shinjuku views
From Pink Tentacle I learned about this beautiful time-lapse video, with Shinjuku high-rise, shot over the course of a year from various locations, created by Samuel Cockedey.I photographed ... »
Comment 13 Apr 2009: The most popular places in Tokyo
From Japan Probe, I learned that the most visited places in Japan by the foreign tourists, are the Tsukiji fish market, Tokyo Disneyland, Pokemon Center and Roppongi Hills.Somehow, I managed to ... »
2 comments 06 Apr 2009: Less visitors at Ueno Zoo
Two years ago, when I visited the Ueno Zoo, I was amazed by the huge attraction that was the giant panda Ling Ling. To see him, I waited several minutes and it was so crowded that I could barely ... »
Comment 02 Apr 2009: A flat in central Tokyo
The narrow buildings in Tokyo have, for me, a unique beauty, they're somehow charming. I always wondered how it looks on the inside.However, after I've seen this video on Akihabara News, ... »
1 comment 30 Mar 2009: Roppongi art festival
One of the attractions at Roppongi art festival was the Giant Torayan, a 7.2 meter spitting fire robot, created by the sculptor Kenji Yanobe.photo: Pink Tentacle Learned via Pink ... »
Comment 28 Mar 2009: Romantic walks in Tokyo - ship cruise on Sumida River
This video made by Aqua Geographic reminded me a very romantic night in Odaiba, near Rainbow Bridge.It was silent, warm and, from time to time, a gentle breeze brought the scent of the ... »
Comment 25 Mar 2009: Cherry blossoms in Asakusa
Every time I'm going to Tokyo, I'm going to a hotel in Asakusa. I leave my luggage at the hotel and take a little stroll to Senso-ji and in Sumida Park. Only after that I feel like I've returned to ... »
Comment 19 Mar 2009: Mt Fuji and cherry blossoms
This movie, created by Aqua Geographic, with Mount Fuji and sakura, reminded me of some ukiyo-e paintings: Mount Fuji seen throught cherry blossom by Hokusai, Lake Kawaguchi by Koitsu and Mt Fuji ... »
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"A friend calculated that since I started working on this website, I lived in Japan approx. 8% of my life. Is this much or little? If you ask my family and friends, it’s a lot. I agree that it’s a lot more than a normal traveler spends in a foreign country… but if you ask me, this is just the beginning.
I want to share with you my travels through Japan and my readings about this wonderful culture, to see Japan through my eyes, from the temples and shrines to the cities and people of Japan, from places filled with history and spirituality, to the the modern Japan with skyscrapers and pop culture."
Muza-chan's Gate to Japan includes:
» Travel notes on visiting Japan, travel reviews, sightseeing, tourist attractions, historical and cultural facts, travel photos, travel tips
» A series of daily Japan photos, covering Japan places (Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Nikko...), traditional and modern Japanese culture, lifestyle, architecture, people, interesting facts
» Japan's most famous customs and traditions with photos, videos, stories, background and historical information plus some travel tips
» Daily selections of Japanese music (J-Pop, J-Rock, traditional music, enka and more...)
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