Epic Japan

15/05/2023

Map all

Based on where you’re from, which country or region you live in, etc., your sense of distance differs. Factors such as method of transportation, required time for travel, transportation fee, etc., also affects how far something feels, right?

For instance… In Japan, we often ask ourselves, how far is this city from the next? Upon re-examining the distance, we notice “hey, even though it’s pretty far on the map, it doesn’t take much time!” or sometimes, we even think “What? even though it’s this close, it’s this hard to get to…?”

Here, we’ve listed the rough distance between certain region and cities. We hope you find this useful.

Additionally, Japan is divided into administrative divisions consisting of 47 prefectures. There are other ways of distinguishing different regions, but on this site, we’ve classified them as listed below.

https://epic-j.com/transportation/map-all/

Based on where you’re from, which country or region you live in, etc., your sense of distance differs. Factors such as method of transportation, required time for trav...

11/05/2023

Kanazawa

In the Edo period, “Kanazawa” was called “Kaga Hyakumangoku (One million Stone of Kaga)” as it offered the highest rice crop stipend (high-stone in Japanese) for the daimyo (Japanese feudal lords). “Kanazawa” flourished as a metropolis together with “Nagoya” and, at the time, was one of the most developed cities following “Edo”, “Osaka” and “Kyoto”. “Kanazawa” was first registered in historical records halfway through the Warring States period. In the middle of the 16th century, “Tokugawa Ieyasu” opened the Edo Shogunate, and “Toyotomi Hideyoshi” carried out the unification process. The “Maeda family”, who served as the minister of both, continued to use the territory as a base. Later, “Kanazawa” developed as an essential castle town and held that status for a long time. Especially the transportation routes directly bonded to other major cities such as “Osaka” and “Kyoto” became crucial, being the most prosperous cities on the Sea of Japan. After the Edo Shogunate was opened, no other war was declared. Although it was a large city, during the Second World War, “Kanazawa” was not struck by air raids, allowing the city to preserve its atmosphere of the time. “Kanazawa” is an exceptional place even within Japan. It can be proud of its many traditional crafts born there, that nowadays contribute to a vast industry.

https://epic-j.com/sightseeing/main-cities/kanazawa/

In the Edo period, “Kanazawa” was called “Kaga Hyakumangoku (One million Stone of Kaga)” as it offered the highest rice crop stipend (high-ston...

10/05/2023

Tokyo Area

Here, we will introduce the sense of distance around Tokyo and in Tokyo. We will use Tokyo station as the starting point.

First of all, let’s describe the Tokyo area. This area is also referred to as the “Kanto area.” There are many big cities and lots of sightseeing spots, so transportation facilities (public transportation such as trains, buses and taxies) are very good here. As a rule of thumb, traveling by land is easiest. You can most likely arrive at your destination within 1 to 2 hours.

In the Tokyo area, Tokyo (including its 23 wards) is the most developed area in Japan. Given this, the transportation system is so varying, it’s almost overwhelming… Nowadays, although it is possible to go on the web to research your route, the potential number of transfers can be difficult. “Cost” or “total travel time” or “number of transfers,” these are all your choice when determining which route you’ll take.

https://epic-j.com/traffic-access/map-all/tokyo-area/

Here, we will introduce the sense of distance around Tokyo and in Tokyo. We will use Tokyo station as the starting point.First of all, let’s describe the Tokyo area. T...

09/05/2023

Yokohama

Since its opening in 1859, it is a representative port city, with “Yokohama port” as the largest in the country. It is a very modernized city because it is a core city in the Keihin industrial area and a representative proxy town in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The total population is the largest in the country. However, the buildings are concentrated in a small part of the coastal area. Though the population is big, there aren’t many impressions of pollution or garbage.

Now… It is one of the centers of international trade in modern Japan, and it is an area that has been influenced by cultures from overseas. Because there were many foreign residents, they very early on adopted Western food and clothing culture. Therefore, the remnants of overseas culture at the time of its opening can be felt in various places throughout the city.

Of course, access to the metropolitan area is easy. It’s not so far from other famous sightseeing spots, so it’s a very easy place to stop by.

Below, we will be introducing the main touristic areas in “Yokohama”. We will also make sure to recommend areas that are good sightseeing spots also other than “Yokohama” in the “Travel guidebook” section. Please check it out!

https://epic-j.com/sightseeing/main-cities/yokohama/

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Since its opening in 1859, it is a representative port city, with “Yokohama port” as the largest in the country. It is a very modernized city because it is...

08/05/2023

Sapporo Area

Here we will discuss the sense of distance in the Hokkaido region. The starting point will be Sapporo City (Sapporo Station).

It is the largest city in this region. One of Hokkaido’s biggest features is its size. For those who come from overseas, it may not have too much of an impact, but Hokkaido has a very different sense of distance from other areas in Japan. In fact, all prefectures in Shikoku and Kyushu areas can fall easily within Hokkaido. For that reason, road and rail networks are not as detailed as in other regions.

So, if you’re thinking about traveling in the Hokkaido region, you should first consider using air travel, that is, to the nearest airport in your destination. This is pretty important. Of course, it is also nice to go leisurely by bus or by train, so the choice is up to you.

https://epic-j.com/traffic-access/map-all/sapporo-area/

07/05/2023

Souvenirs

There are many people who think of souvenirs as one of the big pleasures of travelling. Souvenirs for yourself, for family and relatives, friends and lovers, colleagues etc. Some people like pondering on what souvenir they should get for whom, others prefer to be advised on what to buy. There are also those who think that, to begin with, souvenirs are not just objects but rather thoughts for someone.

Well, there are certainly people with different ideas in mind but on this webpage, we would like to introduce you to something that will tug you on the heartstrings! We will introduce a specific type of souvenir that is quite Japanese. We are not going mention other limited goods as that would evade the point of introducing something that is Japanese-ish and you will be easily able to find when in Japan. Let us introduce it.

Please bear in mind that all of the following can be seen in loco, held and touched, as to allow you to feel how good it is. It’s not like having a quick chat via networking sites. You will be able to enjoy its feeling firsthand. You will certainly experience a new degree of fun!

https://epic-j.com/j-culture/culture/others-all/souvenirs/

There are many people who think of souvenirs as one of the big pleasures of travelling. Souvenirs for yourself, for family and relatives, friends and lovers, colleagues etc. Some people like pondering on what souvenir they should get for whom, others prefer to be advised on what to buy. There are al...

05/05/2023

Japanese Seasoning
The key to “Food Culture” is, of course, the ingredients, but also the seasoning. It shows the various characteristics or uniques of the country, doesn’t it? In areas where the climate is hot, there are many spicy condiments to encourage sweating, or salty foods… Due to the type of food used primarily, the flavors may be more aromatic than salty… and so on.

In the case of our Japan, we should say kinds of seasonings are quite complicated or miscellaneous… It may be characterized by a fairly flexible approach to incorporating the “flavors” or “tastes” of various other different cultures. It seems that our Japanese predecessors liked to devise ways to make them more to their liking, after taking in all the different cultures. Well, the process of trial and error is quite intricate… We’ll tell you more about those episodes in another section, a little at a time. We would like to recommend the followings as characteristic “Japanese seasonings” to everyone. All of them should be great gifts for someone who is interested in Japanese food.

https://epic-j.com/j-culture/culture/others-all/japanese-seasoning/

The key to “Food Culture” is, of course, the ingredients, but also the seasoning. It shows the various characteristics or uniques of the country, doesn’t it? In areas where the climate is hot, there are many spicy condiments to encourage sweating, or salty foods… Due to the t…

28/04/2023

Japanese Tea

“Japanese Tea” is a Japanese product that we highly recommend. What is “Japanese tea”? There are many ways of defining them. But we won’t go into too much detail here, so divide it into two categories: Matcha and Sencha. Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Mie, and Miyazaki prefectures are well known as “Japanese tea” production areas. And also Kyoto and Saitama are famous production areas of “Japanese tea”. Each area has its own famous brand of tea that is marketed as a product. Before the Meiji era, it was quite actively cultivated in almost all regions of Japan except for the Hokkaido region. Although there are differences in the quality of the tea leaves, it seems to have been drunk on a daily basis regardless of status. Since the Meiji Restoration, “Japanese yea” has been exported overseas as well. However… At the same time due to the influence of Western food culture, domestic consumption gradually decreased.In addition, after World War II, the distribution of tea leaves produced overseas increased rapidly, and the amount of tea exported to overseas markets from Japan decreased significantly. The food culture brought from overseas has greatly diversified the tastes and preferences of the Japanese people. Some examples of drinks are coffee, tea, herbal tea… Well, it’s really a lot of ones. But still, “Japanese tea” seems to suit the tastes of Japanese people even today. “Japanese tea” products in cans and PET bottles are being consumed at a fairly steady rate in Japan. This is apparently due in large part to the health-conscious trend of recent years. Even overseas, “Japanese tea” is beginning to attract attention as the popularity of Japanese food increases. We are very much looking forward to the future of “Japanese tea” products.

As many of you might know, when drinking “Japanese tea”, you do not add sugar or milk. It is drunk as is. Canned and PET bottled “Japanese tea” products are generally “straight tea”. “Japanese tea” has been loved and drunk by people regardless of their status, but only the upper class people drank it with sugar and other ingredients. Although it was true that sugar and milk were luxuries. After all, it seems that they preferred to drink it as it was. It was because of such customs or preferences… Later, when coffee and tea were brought from overseas, there was not a small percentage of people who preferred to drink them as they were, without adding sugar or milk. Therefore, there are many canned and PET bottled coffee and tea products without sugar or milk which are marketed in Japan. For Japanese people, drinking “straight” coffee or tea is a preference that existed even before the recent health-conscious boom. So, we would recommend drinking “Japanese tea” without sugar or milk.

https://epic-j.com/j-culture/culture/others-all/japanese-tea/

“Japanese Tea” is a Japanese product that we highly recommend. What is “Japanese tea”? There are many ways of defining them. But we won’t go into too much detail here, so divide it into two categories: Matcha and Sencha. Shizuoka, Kagoshima, Mie, and Miyazaki prefecture…

22/04/2023

Epic japan provides easy-to-understand information on travel costs and travel times for each region of Japan, making it useful for both travel and work😉👍

https://epic-j.com/traffic-access/map-all/osaka-area/…

21/04/2023

Ekiben

“Ekiben” refers to packed lunches sold at railroad stations and on trains, such as the Shinkansen and local trains. It could be one of the pleasures of traveling by train. It’s quite exciting to see “ekiben” lined up in station buildings, inside stations, and at stores on platforms. Of course, there are many kinds of “ekiben” in each region or area. There are many products that use ingredients that are unique to that region or area, or that focus on the local specialties or cuisine. Moreover, each place (or store) has its own unique containers and packaging, so even if the dishes are the same, they can be quite different. Looking at “ekiben”, you can learn about the specialties of the region or area, so it will be very interesting to observe. In this article, we would like to talk about such “ekiben”.

A “bento” is one way of serving food in which the staple food and side dishes are packed together in the same container (although some types are separated). It is said that this way of serving food is a rather rare food culture. Since the modern era, “bento” have been prepared on a daily basis in every household in Japan. So people took them to their work or school every day. And even today, supermarkets and convenience stores in Japan always have a special section for them. The good point about “bento” is that you can eat a wide variety of foods and have a good nutritional balance. Another nice point about them is that they use cooking methods that take into account preservation of taste or flavor, as well as preservation of the dish from rotting too quickly. We might be able to say that “bento” is a very condensed version of Japanese culinary culture. In recent years, this “bento” culture has been attracting attention overseas, especially in Europe and the United States. We’re glad to hear that.

https://epic-j.com/foodculture/other-foods/ekiben/

“Ekiben” refers to packed lunches sold at railroad stations and on trains, such as the Shinkansen and local trains. It could be one of the pleasures of traveling by train. It’s quite exciting to see “ekiben” lined up in station buildings, inside stations, and at stores …

20/04/2023

Noodle Harassment

More people coming from abroad does mean more opportunities to meet people with different values. We Japanese will also need to be “considerate” to those who come to Japan from abroad. Of course, we should never intentionally make each other feel uncomfortable. However, it is sometimes unavoidable in cross-cultural communication to make others feel uncomfortable in spite of no offense, or to be offended by the words or actions of an innocent person. In various other sections, we have introduced the differences between “Customs” and “Manners” and often asked for your understanding of those differences.

The theme is “Noodle Harassment” in this section. Recently, it was quite a hot topic in Japan. The topic is about a foreigner’s opinion about the way to eat noodle dishes, one of the most popular and well-known Japanese foods in the world, who found it unpleasant to slurp the noodles with a slurping sound. For some people, it sounds as if they are sipping their nose… We think many Japanese were quite shocked by this opinion. To be honest, some Japanese were probably uncomfortable with that. On the contrary, though, there were some Japanese who agreed with that opinion. It’s going to be quite difficult to put an end to this disagreement. However, we don’t think it’s just a matter of putting up with people abroad. We should not say with certainty that since they’ve come to Japan, they shouldn’t complain about the way to eat in Japan. On the other hand, of course, If there are people from other countries who feel unpleasant about the Japanese way to slurp noodles, we Japanese should abandon the “custom” of eating noodles by slurping them?

https://epic-j.com/j-culture/manners/noodle-harassment/

More people coming from abroad does mean more opportunities to meet people with different values. We Japanese will also need to be “considerate” to those who come to Japan from abroad. Of course, we should never intentionally make each other feel uncomfortable. However, it is sometimes u…

24/03/2023

No outdoor shoes

This sign “No outdoor shoes” is a clear separation of the inside and outside of the building. The act of “taking off footwear” may mean the owner of the building, or you who obeys those rules, will respect the law of the building. In other words, it shows that the other party is not hostile, respectful, or trustworthy. Of course, there may be a reason for hygiene due to the lifestyle of floor life. They want to keep a distance from the ground and indoors, both emotionally and physically.

Currently, desks, chairs, beds, etc. are increasingly used in daily life, but most Japanese homes still prohibit outside shoes. Slippers and other indoor wear are used, but they are clearly distinguished from the outside. By the way… They say “step on the ground” to not inconvenience others.

Please be careful when stepping into Japanese-style spaces such as shrines and temples, inns, and restaurants. After this note, let’s discuss how to properly remove footwear.

https://epic-j.com/j-culture/culture/knowledge-all/no-outdoor-shoes/

This sign “No outdoor shoes” is a clear separation of the inside and outside of the building. The act of “taking off footwear” may mean the owner of the building, or you who obeys those rules, will respect the law of the building. In other words, it shows that the other party…