7 Things We Love About Japanese Family Restaurants

7 Things We Love About Japanese Family Restaurants

What is a Japanese family restaurant? In Japan, we call it famiresu (ファミレス), which is short for family restaurant and it’s somewhat similar to chain restaurants in the U.S.  Here is our list of seven things we love about Japanese family restaurants.

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10 Simple Steps to Prepare for Your Trip to Japan

10 Simple Steps to Prepare for Your Trip to Japan

Preparing for any trip can be overwhelming, especially if you are traveling overseas for a long period of time. We have traveled to Japan countless number of times, so we've become pros at getting ready for our trip.  These are some tips on how to prepare for your trip to Japan.

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Shopping at Japan’s Discount Fashion and Home Goods Store

Shopping at Japan’s Discount Fashion and Home Goods Store

My family has been shopping at Sanki since I was in middle school and it was our go-to retail store to find clothes and household items at great discounted prices. We view Sanki as a cross between Walmart and Ross.

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Explore These Hidden Gems Near Narita Airport on Your Long Layover in Japan

Explore These Hidden Gems Near Narita Airport on Your Long Layover in Japan

This year we made it a point to explore some old and new places in our hometown in Narita, Japan. The great thing about Narita is that it’s only one train stop away (about 7 min) from the Narita International Airport.

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Our Top 10 Favorite Japanese Comfort Foods That Aren’t Sushi

Our Top 10 Favorite Japanese Comfort Foods That Aren’t Sushi

If you’re visiting Japan for the first time and think that most restaurants are all about sushi, you’re in for a big surprise. There is so much good food in Japan that sushi isn’t something we look forward to eating when we make our yearly visit home.

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Discover Yanaka Ginza: A Vintage Vibe with a Sweet Cat-Shaped Twist

Discover Yanaka Ginza: A Vintage Vibe with a Sweet Cat-Shaped Twist

We were looking for places in Tokyo that was more low-key and not bombarded by tourists and stumbled upon a city called Yanaka, also known as Yanaka Cat Town, which is located in Nippori. It was a breath of fresh air stopping by here after being surrounded by an immense crowd at the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.

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8 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Asakusa Sensoji Temple During Cherry Blossom Season

8 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Asakusa Sensoji Temple During Cherry Blossom Season

We feel lucky that we grew up in Narita as it is home to a gorgeous Shinshoji Temple, so we rarely ventured out to other temples in Japan. This year, Crystal wanted to visit the famous Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, which is about an hour and a half away from our hometown.

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Enjoy Green Tea and Desserts At This Beautiful Hidden Japanese Garden in Japan

Enjoy Green Tea and Desserts At This Beautiful Hidden Japanese Garden in Japan

Miyoshiya is quite a hidden gem and it can easily be missed as it’s nestled in a small alleyway along Omotesando (表参道), a road that approaches a temple. The alleyway opens up to an intricate Japanese garden which instantly takes you back in time as it’s a stark contrast to the bustling streets.

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