Category Archives: Lifestyle

Life of Luxury
By Satoko

What better way to spend Labor Day than to walk around Ginza (銀座), one of the most expensive shopping districts in the world? (Oh, the irony of that question…)

Actually, the wonderful thing about Ginza is not the shopping, but being able to see the history of Japanese Westernization in the businesses that have been around for over a century. The popularity of stores that didn’t require customers to take off their shoes originated right here!

[The photo is of the famous Wakō (和光) Building. The tower has a clock on all four sides!]

It’s Golden Week!
By terry!

Okay, so any of us who aren’t living in Japan at this moment can be a little envious of the vacation period that most everyone in Japan is in the midst of enjoying.

Golden Week was named so as there are many important public holidays that fall within days of one another.

Rather than giving their employees one day off here and there for vacation, most companies shut down their entire operation for one week! I guess it’s a delayed spring break; regardless, vacation time is golden! Travel tip: Golden Week is the busiest travel season next to Shogatsu (New Year’s), so transportation costs are likely to double and triple in and out of Japan. Plan ahead…and wisely.

What are you doing for Golden Week? Do share with us!

-terry