Onset-glide clusters only occur at the start of syllables but clusters across syllables are allowed as long as the two consonants are the moraic nasal followed by a homorganic consonant. Many projects mentioned in my January 2025 round-up, including Jesse Ito’s dancerobot and Stephen Starr’s Borromini, are still under construction and will be for some time. Plant your bulbs Maduras Mexicana in the fall, and with spring come fresh blooms. Along with daffodils and crocuses, the Philadelphia region is about to be blanketed by newcomers.

Imagine ordering a hotel massage on your next trip to Tokyo and being provided a beauty who has no issues taking care of your erection. Mature hotel massage therapists in Japan find themselves treating clients who are very keen on asking for extras via HOT ENTERTAINMENT. A time to take a trip with a bicurious amateur, a time to explore her incredible pubic hair. The multi-idol NIMA-050 goes to the top of the chart this week starring  Yui Tenma, Mizuki Yayoi and Lala Kudo. Also, this week sees the first time a JAV title featuring a caucasian actress has appeared on these lists with HIKR-225 reaching number 5. JAV newhalf Akari Yukino stars in one of her final roles before retiring in this extremely well done NON release.

• The time you put into kanji, vocabulary, and pronunciation will begin to pay off.
• Samurai were expected to adopt a “Death before dishonor” attitude, and would typically commit suicide by self-disembowelment (切腹 seppuku) rather than live in shame.
• Particularly in Japan’s dense cities, hospitality exchange (民泊 minpaku) through sites like AirBnB has become very popular.
• Elongated vowels are usually denoted with a line over the vowel (a macron) in rōmaji, a repeated vowel character in hiragana, or a chōonpu succeeding the vowel in katakana.

Like shrines, temples can be found in every city, and many different sects exist. Japan is famous for its gardens, known for its unique aesthetics both in landscape gardens and Zen rock/sand gardens. The nation has designated an official “Top Three Gardens”, based on their beauty, size, authenticity (gardens that have not been drastically altered), and historical significance. Those gardens are Kairakuen in Mito, Kenrokuen in Kanazawa, and Korakuen in Okayama.

Plan with a local

Japanese have pondered for centuries what the best hot springs in the country are, and they’ve come up with quite a few. Bathing is a big deal in Japan, and be it a scenic onsen hot spring, a neighborhood sentō bath or just an ordinary household tub, bathing Japanese style is a pleasure. Whereas a Western “bath” is used for washing in, “baths” in Japan are for soaking and relaxing, more like a hot tub.

It’s usually brewed to the same strength as European coffee; weaker, watered down coffee is called American. Canned coffee (hot and cold) is a bit of a curiosity, and widely available in vending machines for about ¥120 per can. Most canned coffee is sweet, so look for brands with the English word “Black” or the kanji 無糖 (“no sugar”) if you want it unsweetened. Perhaps Japan’s most famous culinary exports are sushi (寿司 or 鮨), usually raw fish over vinegared rice, and sashimi (刺身), plain raw fish.

Kanji radical: Easy strategies to begin your Kanji journey.

The island country stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea in the south. The country shares its maritime borders with North Korea, South Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Russia and China. Japan is a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral legislature, the National Diet. A great power and the only Asian member of the G7, Japan has constitutionally renounced its right to declare war, but maintains one of the world’s strongest militaries. A developed country with one of the world’s largest economies by nominal GDP, Japan is a global leader in the automotive, robotics, and electronics industries, and has made significant contributions to science and technology.

Oddly, some close at night or on weekends, although this restriction is slowly going away. While not all banks accept foreign cards, most of the large banks including Japan Post, Mizuho, SMBC and Aeon do. A particularly convenient option for travelers is 7-Eleven Bank ATMs, which can be found in every branch of 7-Eleven and are usually open 24/7.

There may be photographs of the food labeled with names and prices. Japanese don’t like to waste food (including soy sauce, so don’t pour more than you need), but it’s fine in most restaurants if you leave some food on your plates. Japanese cuisine, renowned for its emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients, has taken the world by storm. The key ingredient of most meals is white rice, usually served steamed. Soybeans are a key source of protein and take many forms, notably the miso soup (味噌汁 miso shiru) served with many meals, but also tofu (豆腐 tōfu) bean curd and the ubiquitous soy sauce (醤油 shōyu).

Private onsens are particularly sought after by international tourists because communal onsens require visitors to enjoy their dip fully naked – a custom many foreign travelers aren’t familiar with, or feel squeamish about. Otherwise, many also tend to have rental or free PC’s available for hotel guests. Traditional umbrellas can be bought at gift shops, and stylish umbrellas for rain and shine can be purchased at women’s accessory and clothing stores throughout the country. Some look like traditional cotton handkerchiefs you’d use to blow your nose, others are small towels. Japan’s fabulous depāto (department stores) carry all colors, makes and models of these necessities.

This is why I’ve included two options for the third destination in Japan. First is the Kiso Valley, a historic area of Japan where an easy-going hiking trail connects the historic Edo period post towns. This itinerary is designed to begin in Tokyo and then end in Osaka, including visits to both Kyoto and Kiso Valley. The Japan Rail Pass is a train pass that covers a range of shinkansen (bullet train) travel and JR train lines in Tokyo Metro, as well as a few other modes of transport, such as the ferry to Miyajima. It is available for periods covering 7, 14, or 21 days, and check with this JR Pass Calculator to see if it saves you money based on your itinerary.