Mochi-Mochi Cinnamon Buns

You may wonder why I'm posting a baking recipe when Japanese apartments don't even have ovens! But one thing I love eating in Japan is the "mochi-mochi" breads that substitute tapioca flour for some of the regular flour, which makes them satisfyingly chewy, just like the beloved rice cakes eaten at festivals. This recipe isContinue reading "Mochi-Mochi Cinnamon Buns"

Weird Ice Cream Flavors of Japan

Tell me the first thing you thought of when you saw this wasn't "What happens to the gold leaf AFTER you eat it?" To be fair, it's always weird ice cream season in Japan, but as climate change stretches the unbearably hot and humid Japanese summer into October, never have we craved a nice coldContinue reading "Weird Ice Cream Flavors of Japan"

The coolest summertime cafe in Japan

At Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine near Lake Biwa Is it still hot where you are, even though it's September? It's definitely still hot (and humid UGH) in Japan, and lately I've been dreaming of this cafe at the Hiyoshi Taisha shrine in Ōtsu. I'm feeling cooler already after we pass through the shady orange torii gateContinue reading "The coolest summertime cafe in Japan"

Why do cars drive on the left in Japan?

If Japan had ever been part of the British Empire it would be obvious why they adopted the practice of driving on the left. But they've never been invaded or conquered by anyone, and the only country they've ever surrendered to—the United States—drives on the right. So...why? In a word, swords. Most samurai (like peopleContinue reading "Why do cars drive on the left in Japan?"

Daikon

By Samuel Hawley Setting & details: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Authenticity of Japanese characters & dialogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Translation quality: N/AEntertainment value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: A what-if scenario set in the final days of WWII, this novel imagines what might have happened if the Japanese captured an unexploded A-bomb in the days before Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Rigorous research and the author's timeContinue reading "Daikon"

J-Style No-Mayo Tuna Salad

Canned tuna has been having a moment lately, and this tasty, tangy take on tuna salad is about to become your new summer go-to! One bite after my Japanese cousin Yoko brought this bowl to the table I was begging for the recipe, and was extra-delighted to discover it uses only six ingredients (including theContinue reading "J-Style No-Mayo Tuna Salad"

Come with me to the northiest north!

Hiking the Lofoten Islands, inside the Arctic Circle Little red houses everywhere! Okay, I know this isn't the Norwaygram, and I apologize to be coming to you from a place that is SO far beyond Tokyo this month. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I was in a country where they wereContinue reading "Come with me to the northiest north!"

Links to fun stuff you might have missed

If you don't subscribe to my Japan travel site or the blog where I write about stuff you'd never see anywhere else, here are links to a couple of other things you might enjoy... • New post from The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd HadWhat to do in Tokyo when it's HOT outside Tell meContinue reading "Links to fun stuff you might have missed"

Did you win the May-Jun Japan Swag Giveaway?

If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a Japanese summer wind chime! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. If I didn't pull your name from the hat this time,I hope you get lucky next time! One lucky subscriber will win every two months,Continue reading "Did you win the May-Jun Japan Swag Giveaway?"

Let’s explore an amazing Japanese design site that turns landscape into art

Enoura Observatory in Odawara Huge apologies for sending you an email with a broken link this morning! Here's the piece you were supposed to get (>_<;;) All my friends told me I should run—not walk—to see the Enoura Observatory. Not one of them could quite explain why. Or even really describe what it was. OnceContinue reading "Let’s explore an amazing Japanese design site that turns landscape into art"

Links to fun stuff you might have missed

If you don't subscribe to my Japan travel site or the blog where I write about stuff you'd never see anywhere else, here are links to a couple of other things you might enjoy... • From Only In JapanPay your respects to the ancestors like it's 2050 Tell me more! • From Only In JapanStunningContinue reading "Links to fun stuff you might have missed"

The May-June Japan Swag Giveaway: Japanese Goldfish Wind Chime

The Japanese have been beating the summer heat for centuries by gazing at goldfish swimming in cool water and hanging little glass bells known as fūrin. This month I'm giving away a lovely bit of Japan swag that delivers both! This handpainted bell from the Kawasaki Daishi Shrine has a slip of paper tied toContinue reading "The May-June Japan Swag Giveaway: Japanese Goldfish Wind Chime"

Pet treat or human snack? You decide.

The pet product aisles of Japan never fail to deliver new levels of animal pampering, and no product category is more over-the-top than treats. Can you guess which ones are for pets and which are for humans? They all of them claim to be... Dripping with flavor! Crunchy and snackable! Filled with tasty goodness! DrizzledContinue reading "Pet treat or human snack? You decide."

Let’s explore an amazing Japanese design site that turns landscape into art

Enoura Observatory in Odawara All my friends told me I should run—not walk—to see the Enoura Observatory. Not one of them could quite explain why. Or even really describe what it was. Once I was there, though, I understood. It's such an immersive and utterly visual experience, trying to explain it in words is likeContinue reading "Let’s explore an amazing Japanese design site that turns landscape into art"

MAY 2025

Click on photo or link to read the feature • Seasonal SecretWhat makes these crazy wisteria the most Japanese flower spectacle of all? It's no secret that Japan produces some of the worlds' most eyepopping flower extravaganzas—like, yeah, cherry blossom season—but there's an especially Japanese kind of master gardening that you can only see duringContinue reading "MAY 2025"

Links to fun stuff you might have missed

If you don't subscribe to the latest posts on my travel site (Jonelle Patrick Writes About Japan) or the blog where I write about stuff you'd never see anywhere else (Only In Japan), here are links to a couple of other things you might enjoy... • From Only In JapanThe train station with a footContinue reading "Links to fun stuff you might have missed"

Today’s Japan travel question: Is it OK to go in the onsen with tattoos if nobody sees me?

I follow a lot of travel advice forums, and there's one question that comes up again and again: How can someone with tattoos enjoy the iconic Japanese baths (and gyms and beaches and water parks) in a country that bans people with ink from using them? And don't stop reading if your skin is aContinue reading "Today’s Japan travel question: Is it OK to go in the onsen with tattoos if nobody sees me?"

Tasty Veggie Dipping Sauce

This nutty, creamy dipping sauce magically makes all vegetables delicious, but it's especially great on bitter greens! The gorgeous veggie in the photo is one that just appeared in Japanese supermarkets. It's called petit vert—a cross between kale and brussels sprouts—and it opens up like a tiny perfect cabbage when lightly boiled. But all kindContinue reading "Tasty Veggie Dipping Sauce"

Food styling fails of Japan

You may recall me saying that the strangest food you might ever encounter in Japan is spaghetti, but even when they try to depict a menu offering that's unapologetically "foreign," sometimes the picture is a little...off. This luscious fruit tart, for example. Its job is to make you crave the juiciest peaches, the reddest strawberries,Continue reading "Food styling fails of Japan"

What makes these crazy wisteria the most Japanese flower spectacle of all?

Wisteria at Odawara Castle Park It's no secret that Japan produces some of the worlds' most eyepopping flower extravaganzas—like, yeah, cherry blossom season—but there's an especially Japanese kind of master gardening that you can only see during wisteria season. What makes these wisteria so special? 1 Like bonsai, wisteria take years and years to reachContinue reading "What makes these crazy wisteria the most Japanese flower spectacle of all?"

Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?

If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of How to Shop for Kimonos by Anji Salz! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (She publishes it as a PDF, so give me the email address you'd like her to send it to—youContinue reading "Did you win the Mar-Apr Book Giveaway?"

Links to fun stuff you might have missed

If you don't subscribe to my Japan travel site or the blog where I write about stuff you'd never see anywhere else, here are links to a couple of other things you might enjoy... • From Only In JapanThe most outrageous car show in Japan is BACK Tell me more! • From Seven Perfect DaysContinue reading "Links to fun stuff you might have missed"

APR 2025

Click on photo or link to read the feature • Why, Japan, Why?Why don't we all wear kimonos instead of Control Tops and neckties? Okay, just for a moment, clear your mind of cultural biases and entrenched Western ideas about beauty, and consider how much more comfortable and attractive we all might be if weContinue reading "APR 2025"

Why don’t we all wear kimonos instead of Control Tops and neckties?

Photo thanks to Anji Salz at Salz Tokyo Okay, hear me out. For just a moment, clear your mind of cultural biases and entrenched Western ideas about beauty, and consider how much more comfortable and attractive we all might be if we dressed to impress in Japanese kimonos! (Men, don't sneak out the back—I thinkContinue reading "Why don’t we all wear kimonos instead of Control Tops and neckties?"

How to Shop for Kimonos

By Anji Salz Author's experience & expertise: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Accuracy of information: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Quality of recommendations & advice: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐My recommendation: If you've ever wanted to collect kimonos and accessories—either to wear or display—this comprehensive guide will help you shop like an expert and put together an ensemble like someone with years of experience. Anji Salz has been dressingContinue reading "How to Shop for Kimonos"

Let’s go back to see the Jōnan-gu Shrine plum garden in bloom!

What a difference two weeks makes! Because you endured last month's navel-gazing about making rock gardens from rocks, it's only fair that I take you along on the rinse-and-repeat trip I took to Jōnan-gu Shrine two weeks later, to be rewarded with...this! From the first glimpse of the glories ahead as we round the bend...Continue reading "Let’s go back to see the Jōnan-gu Shrine plum garden in bloom!"

MAR 2025

Click on photo or link to read the feature • Seasonal Secret:Better cherry blossoms through science! Nothing makes people more anxious than trying to guess the perfect time to go see cherry blossoms at their peak. But Japan has a fix for that! Projection mapping technology has been harnessed to turn it into an experienceContinue reading "MAR 2025"

Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?

If you recognize your email, congratulations! You just won a copy of They Hang Me in Tokyo! If you think this is you, shoot a message to JapanagramJonelle@gmail.com and tell me where to send it. (I'll need an email address if you'd like the e-book or a mailing address if you'd like a paperback). If I didn'tContinue reading "Did you win the Jan-Feb Book Giveaway?"