Tag: Lifestyle
Tokyo Diaries: Obon Weekend Part 1
Typically, mid-August is Obon season in Japan, and I believe this year Obon was actually on August 16th. What exactly is Obon? I’ve heard that it’s like “Japanese Halloween”, not in the costume and candy aspect, but more so in the “dead” part – Obon is a celebration to honor dead ancestors, and typically Japanese…
Otaru Diaries: Ushio Matsuri and New Ghibli Movie
On July 29th, I went to Otaru to go attend and see the Ushio Matsuri, one of the biggest festivals in Otaru. Now, originally my boyfriend and I were going to go to Sapporo, mainly so he could buy some summer clothes, but he wasn’t feeling well, which left me to decide if I should…
My First Japanese Health Exam
I had my first ever Japanese health exam on July 27. You may or may not have heard about it, but it’s a mandatory annual occurence that people go through that’s covered by most health insurance and is usually required by companies. They’ll receive and keep the reports for their records, and you also supposedly…
Exploring Japan with Family: Part 3 in Hakodate and Sapporo
July 14th: This was the day we left Sendai to go to Hakodate! Sendai was very fun and I wish I got to spend more time here! I definitely want to come back, for the food, and more tohoku souvenirs…I was also desperately hunting for the Miyagi Kirby keychains, but they were nowhere to be…
Otaru Diaries: Otaru Pride 2023!
June 25th was Pride in Otaru! Sapporo has a pride parade later in the year, and I thought that would be the closest pride event to me, but a bit ago my friend actually mentioned that Otaru has one in June. I looked it up, and sure enough, there was one scheduled for Sunday, the…
Sapporo Diaries: the 2023 Yosakoi Soran
I’m back in Sapporo on June 10th to go see the Yosakoi Soran Festival this year. It’s an annual festival, and one of the largest and popular in Sapporo, as I believe people from all over Japan will come to perform in it (the list of teams was kind of insane). One of the groups…
My First Japanese Elementary School Undoukai (Sports Day)
On June 9th, I attended one of my elementary school’s undoukai, or sports day (I’ve seen it translated as “field day” somewhere too). Basically, the kids start practicing for runs and relays a few weeks in advance, and they prepare dances as well. An all around day to promote health and sports I suppose. I…
Sapporo Diaries: Hokkaido University’s Culture Festival (Hokudaisai)
A bit ago, my JTE invited me to go with an English Teacher Association she was in to Hokkaido University’s annual culture festival happening the weekend of June 3. Since the group was taking a bus and that would end up being free, it was like a free trip to Sapporo! Plus, the actual event…
Sapporo Diaries: A hangout at the Lilac Festival
I went to Sapporo on May 20th because a friend asked around if anyone wanted to get lunch at a ramen place she found and then hang out at the Lilac Festival that was happening over the weekend. Apparently the lilac is Sapporo’s representative flower, and there’s a whole bunch blooming around Odori Park this…