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At OKUMANCHOJA you can get a taste of what its like to be a millionaire with gold plated rooms and their unique dining experience! It cost them a million dollars to build this restaurant so that’s why it’s called “OKUMANCHOJA” where "Oku-man" equates to one million dollars. Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo

Any car enthusiast can get a taste for Japanese car culture through auto-shows and museums in Tokyo, but if you truly want to immerse yourself headfirst into Japan's car scene, Daikoku PA is a must visit. Depending on the time of day you'll be able to see JDM builds, super cars and the occasional muscle car. Getting There Daikoku PA is located in Yokohama which is about 30 minutes outside of Tokyo depending on where you're traveling from. The first thing to note is that you'll need a ride to get there. Daikoku PA is not accessible by train or by foot. You can order a Taxi to get there but chances are you won't be able to take one back unless you phone for one. When to Go? Daikoku is mostly a weekend meetup spot with Friday and Saturday nights showcasing the traditional JDM sports cars. If you're more of a supercar enthusiast then Sunday mornings are for you. Tips and Tricks: Proceed with Caution: While the majority of car owners that come to Daikoku are respectful and responsible drivers, Daikoku can get rowdy from time to time. With the occasional burnout and parking lot speedsters, make sure that you're staying aware of your surroundings. The cops have been known to quickly shutdown the area if such things occur. Ask for Photos: Most car owners expect their vehicles to be photographed if they go to Daikoku but if you see the car owner, it doesn't hurt to ask for permission when taking a photo. There's a fair amount of not-so-legal modifications on these cars so sometimes the owner may not want you to take a photograph. Talk to the Owners: Chances are if you're reading this article I don't need to tell you that car owners love talking about their builds. If you see someone standing by their car, don't hesitate to ask them about it! Just check out ShotaPOV's Daikoku experience!

Japan's incredibly efficient train system is perhaps one of the most unique parts about the country. That being said, the elaborate network can be a little confusing at first. So here is a quick beginners guide on how to utilize Japan's Trains! JR Rail Pass If you're visiting Japan you're eligible to purchase the JR Rail Pass, if you are resident these are unfortunately unavailable to you. This pass grants you unlimited access to JR Trains for the duration of your visit. There is a Rail Pass option for the whole country as well as cheaper options limited to specified regions. Keep in mind this pass only works on JR Lines, so be sure to research which lines run in the cities that you plan to visit. Different Companies Different rail companies exist within Japan, such as JR, Tokyo Metro, Odakyu Electric Railway and the Keio Corporation. Its important to remember this because these lines can exist in the same station, but if you are transferring from one company to another you will need to exit the ticket gate once and re-enter through another. Additionally, company specific Rail Passes such as the JR Rail Pass will only work with JR Lines. Suica and Pasmo Cards (Metro Cards) That being said you can swipe into any station easily using a Suica or Pasmo card. These can commonly be purchased at certain ticket booths within most stations. They function as chargeable cash cards which allows you to enter any ticket gate simply by touching the card on the specified area. When you exit at your destination, the system will know which station you boarded from and deduct the specified amount. If you have an insufficient balance, no need to worry. There are charging stations for your card both inside and outside the ticket gate. Just keep in mind these charging booths only take cash, so make sure you always have some on you. The only exception to these cards typically comes from the countryside. If you are in a rural area there is a chance that you will not be able to use these cards and will have to purchase a paper ticket from the station. Local vs Express Trains When boarding the train double check to make sure you are on either a "Local" or "Express" train, if you don't see any indicators chances are the line you are on only has a "Local" line. Despite stopping at the same platform, Express trains will skip certain stations while Local trains will stop at every station along the way. So if you're traveling far away, best to take the Express, if you're traveling to a nearby destination the Express may not stop there. Buying Bullet Trains (Shinkansen) Tickets You can buy bullet train tickets online through several different vendors, however through personal experience these sites can be a little hard to navigate. You also can buy bullet train tickets in person at the みどりの窓ぐし(Green Window) at certain JR Stations. There are specific bullet train touch-screen kiosks that allow you to buy tickets but sometimes they will not display all available options. Therefore, if you want all of your bullet train options enter the "Green Window" booth and line up to speak to a station attendant. These attendants are very knowledgable about most of Japan's regions so they will most definitely be able to help you! When All Else Fails If you're stuck and unsure of what to do go up to a station attendant or a station attendant booth by the ticket gate and the attendants will happily assist you in navigating.

Japan is known to be one of the safest countries in the world. But we can't say that these laws have anything to do with that... 1.Its illegal to put ice cream in a mailbox Its hard to say how this law started but its basis seems to be around property damage. Whether you believe it or not, this law is enforced. In 2006 a 42 year-old post man was arrested in the Saitama prefecture for putting chocolate ice cream in someones mailbox... 2.Its illegal to show your thigh in Public Yes, showing any amount of thigh in public means is illegal. You regularly see Japanese woman as well as runners in Japan wearing shorts that go well above the knee, so unlike the ice cream this law is almost never enforced. 3.A divorced woman has to wait 100 days before getting remarried but the man does not Japan is known to be a conservative country but has been slowly making progress in moves towards equality. However, laws like this one are still an indicator that the nation has a ways to go. There are current talks about removing this piece of legislation. 4.Its illegal to give your neighbor their mail if it ends up in your mailbox Being a good neighbor means returning their mail if it accidentally gets sent to you right? Well in this case doing so could result in the police taking action under Article 42 of the Postal Law. Best to return the mail to the Post Office for this one. 5.Married couples cannot live separately Unless there is justifiable cause such as medical conditions or work-related living arrangements, married couples in Japan are not allowed to live in separate homes. This law was put into place in order to prevent divorce due to separation. 6.You cannot get rid of pigeons Those bird poop stains on your car from those pesky pigeons are just something that you're going to have to deal with in Japan because its illegal to get rid of these guys. 7.Asking for money on the street is illegal Asking for money on the street as well as on the internet by seeking pity is considered illegal in Japan. 8.Talking to a bus driver while its moving Remember on those long family trips when your dad would get mad at you for asking "are we there yet?" Well, it looks like someones dad in Japan took that to a new extreme. 9.Carrying scissors over 8 cm long is considered possession of a sword Forget the Katana, you can be a Samurai under the "Firearms and Sword Control Law" simply by carrying scissors over 8 cm long. Without justifiable cause (self-defense doesn't count) you can be detained.

Typically observed from August 13th to 16th, Obon or (お盆) is a Buddhist holiday in Japan where it is believed that ones deceased ancestors come back to this world and visit their relatives. The customs and the way that Obon is celebrated can vary from region to region, however the typical customs include hanging lanterns outside of homes to guide ones ancestors back into this world, otherwise known as "mukae-bon." "Bon Odori" or Bon dances are also performed at festivals in celebration of the holiday. One of the most common practices include families visiting the graves of their loved ones to clean them, pray and leave offerings of food. Contrasting "mukae-bon," Obon is closed with "okuri-bon" where chochin-lanterns are used to guide the spirits back to their graves. Festivals celebrating Obon occur all throughout Japan during these weeks, attending them can be a great way to immerse yourself in not only Japanese culture but the customs of the region you are in as well. With Obon being a major holiday in Japan the mid-weeks of August can see peak domestic travel, with the worst days being August 11th to 13th.

Niku Ryori Kitsune No Yomeiri in Kyoto is a restaurant that serves the most creative wagyu course! This restaurant uses a rare brand of Wagyu beef called "Usunaga" beef, which doest come around often in Japan!! They serve the wagyu course using the finest local Kyoto ingredients. The restaurant name literally means “fox” and as you can see in the attached video, the chef has the attire to fit the theme! Name: Niku Ryori Kitsune No Yomeiri Location: 600-8216 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Higashiokojicho, 738 三葉ハイツ 1F Access: About 4 minutes on foot from Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line Kyoto Station Exit 1/About 5 minutes on foot from JR Kyoto Station Exit 6/About 11 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Kyoto Line Kyoto Station Central Exit Contact: 075-341-5511 Closed: Wednesday

Japan is famous for its beautiful temples and rich culture but it can be a little overwhelming when first trying to navigate these places respectfully. No need to worry though, here is a condensed guide for all things you need to know. Shrines and Temples are Different First and foremost, there is a distinction between Shrines (Jinjya) and Temples (Otera). Shrine Etiquette: At the Torī gate, it is common practice to bow as a sign of respect before entering. Once you enter you should see a small washing area otherwise known as a Temizuya. Here, you must wash you hands with the following steps: Use your right hand to grab the ladle and fill it with water. Pour the water on your left hand. Repeat the process with opposite hands. While it is customary to do this next step it can be optional. Use your right hand and pour water into your left hand and rinse your mouth. Clean your left hand again with the ladle. Refill the ladle and tilt it upwards to let water flow over the handle, purifying the part that you touched with your hand. Afterwards, move to the shrine. Here you will bow and clap your hands. This customary act is referred to as "nirei nihakushu ichirei," which translates to "two bows, two claps, and one final bow. Temple Etiquette: When you walk up to the altar, perform a single bow, then gently ring the bell suspended from the ceiling using the rope. You have the option to offer incense by placing it in the designated area and making a monetary offering into the collection box. It is most common to use the 5 yen coin (五円, pronounced as "go-en"). The significance lies in a play on words, as "go-en" (御縁) also means "good luck" in Japanese. Hence, numerous shrine visitors choose to give one or more 5 yen coins, believing it brings them luck. After making the offering join your hands together and offer a silent prayer, unlike the Shrine do not clap or bow at the conclusion of your prayer.

The Summer of 2022 saw one of the hottest average temperatures in Tokyo, Japan. Despite the area being a metropolis of new technology and innovation the 104 degree Fahrenheit (40 degree Celsius) temperatures and brutal humidity certainly made it feel more like a concrete jungle. However, nothing can crush the spirit of Tokyo pedestrians which has led to several interesting and perhaps bizarre ways to stay cool in the Summer. 1.Air Conditioned Jackets At first glance you might think someone wearing one of these jackets would be out of their mind. I mean why would anyone wear a jacket in this scalding heat? However, unlike your rich friend's winter parka these jackets aren't filled with goose feathers. Instead, they get their puff from air. Two built in fans circulate air in and out of the jacket itself, essentially leaving the wearer with a built in A/C unit. A large number of outdoor workers in Japan will often wear these jackets in order to keep them cool during activities such as making deliveries or farming. This genuinely might be one of my favorite Japan inventions. 2.Re-Chargeable Fans These ingenious inventions seem to be owned by almost everyone in Japan. Just by taking a look around at a crowded train station you can probably identify about ten different models of these fans. Some are simply hand-held while others can be strung around the wearers neck to keep their commute around the city hands-free. You can find these fans inside convenience stores if you need relief during your anxious wait for the air-conditioned train. 3.Cooling Foam This odd invention looks like shaving cream when it first comes out of the can, but within a few seconds the foam solidifies into a cool, moldable blob. Once its out of the can you can mold the foam into any shape you want and move it around to stay cool. The only downside to this product is fighting the urge to throw your cold blob at your friends. 4.Sweat Wipes These aren't your normal sweat wipes because not only do they keep you smelling fresh but the wipes leave a residue on your skin that cause a cooling sensation. The sensation itself probably isn't for everyone because when I tried these it almost felt like someone left a burning hot towel around my neck. I think this is one of those products that you just have to try yourself to understand.