is us safe to travel?

Highlighting Our 4 Favorite Luxury Ramen Shops in Tokyo

20/10/2022samura

As international visitors dive back into Japan after two-and-a-half years, many are eager to dive into bowls of ramen. Fortunately, there’s plenty of new noodles on the market in Tokyo. The 2022 Tokyo Michelin Guide lists 21 ramen establishments that are Michelin-starred or Bib Gourmand. Several famous stores are expanding and opening new branches, while more creative options are appearing, trying to woo diners with their innovations.

While there’s no denying that ramen still remains the post-drinking belly-filler of choice, this new breed of stores is dispelling ramen’s junk food image. Where an order might have been a simple choice

How Do You Live: The Legendary Japanese Novel that Almost Never Was

18/10/2022samura

When Genzaburo Yoshino penned How Do You Live? in 1937, a work of anti-authoritarian genius that remains on the classical arts curriculum today, it was an exercise in sociopolitical legerdemain. For purposes of stealth, Yoshino packaged an ethics book of then-outlawed Western ideas as a coming-of-age children’s novel to avoid the prying eyes of the TokyoImperial Japan’s “Thought Police.”

If one were to read only the chapters narrated by an omniscient voice that follows the protagonist, a 15-year-old boy in interwar Tokyo nicknamed Copper, the sleight of hand wouldn’t be so apparent. These chapters are often as not wholesome,

Yuriko Tiger: “Cosplay Helped Me Discover What My Real Passions Are”

05/10/2022samura

Being a nerd was something that ran in the family for Eleonora Aureliana Guglielmi, or as she’s better known online, Yuriko Tiger. She credits her father as the original video game otaku, who gifted her a PlayStation 1 alongside Tekken, one of her first fighting games. No one could have imagined that this would one day come full circle as she is now an official cosplayer for Bandai Namco, having cosplayed the likes of Lili (Tekken 5) and Josie Rizal (Tekken 7). This and much more, Guglielmi has achieved through building a multi-faceted entertainment career

Tracing Japan’s Robot Heritage to Feudal-Era Karakuri Dolls

02/10/2022samura

Autonomous robots, package-delivering drones and towering mecha are no longer wild imaginations from the realm of science fiction. From Skeletonics’ Gundam-style robot suits and Cyberdyne’s wearable HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) cyborgs to SkyDrive’s flying vehicles, we’re inching closer to what used to be considered impossible. Robots like Sony’s Aibo opened the doors for consumer use in the late 1990s, but what if we told you Japan’s fascination with household humanoid (and in Aibo’s case, canine) robots started much earlier?

Aichi: Home of Mechanical Innovation

For the tech-savvy, it will come to no surprise to learn that Aichi Prefecture is a

VW Gen.Travel Autonomous Concept Is So Ugly It’s Cute

27/09/2022samura

The Volkswagen Gen.Travel concept is a battery-electric autonomous whose goal is to replace of short-haul flights.
This autonomous vehicle’s interior is modular and can be configured like a normal car or a small conference area, or it can have two seats fold flat.
Volkswagen didn’t mention range, but it’s current MEB platform can currently hit around 300 miles on a single charge.

Volkswagen is showing it’s still interested in the autonomous future with the aptly named Gen.Travel concept. This futuristic vehicle eschews the traditional automotive layout and gives hope to people who want to travel in a real autonomous taxi

Artist Luke Jerram Brings the Moon to Shimokitazawa

26/09/2022samura

Tokyo Weekender recently spoke to internationally-renowned artist and moon enthusiast, Luke Jerram, to coincide with his “Museum of the Moon” exhibition showing in Japan for the first time. Visitors to Shimokitazawa this weekend will be greeted by a huge moon hanging over the old Odakyu tracks for a third and final time.

Installation View, Shimokitazawa Moon Art Night Photo: Startbahn

Running until September 25, Moon Art Night Shimokitazawa also includes an exhibition by Australian artist Amanda Parer titled “Intrude” that displays giant glowing rabbits around Kitazawa Hachiman Shrine. In front of the station lies the giant “Museum of the Moon”

Travel to Hawaii During a Pandemic

23/09/2022samura

Editor’s note: Coronavirus cases remain in flux. Health officials advise delaying travel if you’re not fully vaccinated and caught up on boosters. This article was last updated on September 22.

(CNN) — If you’re planning to travel to Hawaii, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect regarding Covid-19 if you want to visit.

The basics

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lifted its requirement for travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before entering the United States.

Hawaii’s entry policy for international travelers aligns with the federal rules for air travelers

10 Best Places to See Fall Foliage in Chiba Prefecture

23/09/2022samura

Located adjacent to Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture is home not just to Disney resorts and Narita International Airport, but also to breathtaking natural wonders, including valleys, waterfalls and caves. Its beauty shows both inland and by the sea from its spacious parks and Mount Nokogiri to Kujukuri Beach, Japan’s longest stretch of sandy coastline. It proves a worthwhile visit in the autumn when the colorful leaves transform the beautiful landscapes into new scenes. Here are some of the best places to see the fall foliage in Chiba.

As the largest artificial lake in Chiba prefecture, this popular sightseeing location