Japan Travel Articles

Raw goat testicles anyone? How about some giant tuna eyeballs?

At some point or another, just about everyone has had the dream of being a ninja. Well, at least guys anyway. What many people don't know, however, is that there was a group of women ninjas who developed their own unique techniques of espionage, reconnaissance, and assassination. These female ninjas were known as kunoichi, and in many ways were more deadly and efficient than their male counterparts.

Once upon a time there were two species of wolves living in Japan: The Hokkaido Wolf and the Honshu Wolf. The Hokkaido Wolf, also known as the Ezo Wolf, occupied the Island of Hokkaido. The Hokkaido Wolf became extinct in 1889 during the Meiji restoration period. The Island of Hokkaido was experiencing heavy development during these times and the wolves became a seen as a threat to the new horse-breeding industry. After taking advice from Americans, wolves were poisoned with strychnine and they ultimately disappeared.

Photo of Honshu Wolf at The National Science Museum of Japan © Katuuya

Japan is the world’s largest consumer of canned coffee. This ready-to-drink beverage is available in supermarkets, convenience stores, and especially vending machines.

What's the most expensive mushroom in the world?

These days many people know that the best beef comes from Japan, and Kobe beef has become a household name around the world. But what makes Japanese beef so good and how much does it really cost?

What do you get when you take a serious Japan

1. Katsura Imperial Villa

Katsura Imperial Villa features what is said to be the most beautiful Japanese garden. The villa and the garden were started by Prince Toshihito and eventually completed by his son in 1645. It was constructed for the Katsura Family, who were members of Japan's Imperial Family. The villa remains in its original form, undamaged by fires, war, or any other forms of destruction. Immense care was taken into the construction of the villa and garden, with every stone and tree being purposefully placed with precise detail. Only the best natural materials were used to construct the villa. A garden path winds around a beautiful lake, with diverse scenery that changes with every step you take. The garden is the most gorgeous in the fall.

Alcohol-free beer has become a sensation in Japan. It all started in 2005 when a restaurant owner took an ordinary soda then known as "Guarana" and changed the name to "Kidsbeer". Sales of this non-alcoholic beer marketed for children completely skyrocketed. Mass-production of Kidsbeer was produced by the Tomomasu company, who made the beverage more beer-like by making it less sweet and more frothy.

With 1 vending machine for every 23 people, Japan has one of the highest vending machine densities in the world.