Shinjuku Golden Gai (新宿ゴールデン街) is a small area of Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, famous both as an area of architectural interest and for its nightlife. It is composed of a network of six narrow alleys, connected by even narrower passageways which are just about wide enough for a single person to pass through. Over 200 tiny shanty-style bars, clubs and eateries are squeezed into this area. History Golden Gai was known for prostitution before 1958, when prostitution became illegal....
Read MoreHow to drink… Shochu (Japanese gin or vodka)
While sake is familiar to millions outside of Asia, shochu is the drink of choice amongst the Japanese. Since 2003, shipments of shochu within Japan have outstripped sake and the trend shows no sign of reversing. Shochu can be made from barley, sweet potatoes or rice and is distilled like whisky, unlike sake, which is brewed similarly to beer. The shochu is then aged in oak barrels giving the drink more kick (it averages around 25 percent alcohol, rising to 40 percent for...
Read MoreA guide to Japanese whisky
In Ian Fleming’s You Only Live Twice, the Australian spy Dikko Henderson gets a vile hangover drinking Japanese whisky. James Bond, more of a martini man, is amazed that Dikko would even consider drinking that gutrot, saying, ‘I can’t believe Japanese whisky makes a good foundation for anything.’ That neatly sums up the attitude of most foreigners to Japanese whisky for most of its more than 80-year history. In 2001, that all started to change when a 10-year-old Yoichi made...
Read MoreThings to do this week in Tokyo September 16th – September 21st
Deborah J Carter Mon Sep 16, 2013 B Flat American jazz singer Deborah J Carter will be stopping in Tokyo for one night only as part of her September Japan tour. Having started her career in Okinawa (where her Japan tour will culminate later this month), she’s now based in Europe, and her music draws inspiration form a range of cultures. She will be accompanied by the Amsterdam Trio – consisting of Joost Swart on piano, Mark Zandveld on bass, and Seb Kaptein on drums...
Read MoreSurfing in Tokyo
The perfect wave is closer than you think For many Tokyoites, surfing is synonymous with just one place: Shonan. The coastal area in Kanagawa Prefecture is generally regarded as the birthplace of Japanese surf culture, and it teems with boarders during the summer months – never mind that the swell is often pretty pathetic. Local schools include Easy Surf in Shichirigahama (beginner classes ¥5,000; private lessons ¥15,000), and Shonan Surfin School, which has shops...
Read MoreSailing and yachting in Tokyo
Want to get out on the water? Meet Captain Milne… ‘Japan looks very different when seen from the water,’ explains Captain Stuart Milne of the Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron. ‘The views of Mt. Fuji from the middle of Sagami Bay can be spectacular.’ We’ve never been a part of a squadron before, but we’re already tempted to fork out the membership fees. The squadron consists of approximately 100 shipmates, all sailing and powerboat...
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