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Matoka マトカ

Introducing you to all things Japan! Just call me your Japanese travel, cultural, lifestyle and language senpai :P

16/09/2026

You may know about onsens, but what about onsen theme parks? Think about combining the relaxation of onsens with roller coasters, lazy rivers, feudal Japan themes, and even baths of wine, coffee, or sake! If you want the best of both worlds, you gotta check it out!

Comment below which onsen theme park you would go to 👇

14/09/2026

It was peach flavored, so that's kinda Japanese...

10/09/2026

This is why hairy legs might get you in trouble when you're in Japan. And you can blame the government for this one!

10/09/2026

What is your Japanese food level?

07/09/2026

Some people have asked me "How do you feel comfortable being naked in an onsen", and I can relate! When you don't grow up with public bath culture, it's harder to normalize these experiences, especially with a western upbringing.

The best way is to jump in and just try it. Otherwise you'll never know if it's something that you enjoy or not. It even took a few times for me to get used to it, especially the customs. But go with an open mind and stay if you love it or leave if you feel too weird!

03/09/2026

Not going to lie, it's been a rough year. And I've been getting in the habit of putting what I "should" do in front of what I want to do. But I realize that even when times are tough and there are still things to figure out in life, it doesn't mean you should put your dreams, goals, and aspirations on the sidelines. Because if you're not living them in the moment, then when are you going to live them?

Yes, I might be realizing this too late since summer is almost over, but I'm going to make the best of it and be even better for the rest of the year!

01/09/2026

I keep getting asked for suggestions on onsens in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. And as much as I'm a wealth of knowledge for Japan travel, I really can't give any suggestions on this. Because there aren't any onsens here.

There's a big difference between onsens and sentos in Japan, and while you can find so many sentos in city areas, you're only going to find onsens in more rural areas because it uses natural spring water.

Still happy to give any recommendations on "bathhouses" in general, but just know there's a difference and I want to make sure that people have a traditional experience!

Let me know if you guys care whether you went to an onsen or sento, as tourists do you feel it's similar? Or would you be disappointed if you were promised an onsen and got a sento instead?

27/08/2026

I don't think many people realize how common these groups are in Japan, since when they are advertising on the street, they're only speaking Japanese. But this is a lot more common than people may think. And if you've ever been in any kind of strange situation where you don't really understand what's going on, you may have experienced trying to be recruited into one of these groups.

While you probably won't be in any physical danger, it's always good to know the situations that you're getting into and the ones that you should avoid. Just because Japan is deemed one of the safest places, it doesn't mean that you should let your guard down.

Has anyone had this happen to them before? I've definitely had people come up to me on the street or have seen petitions in front of train stations, but have never had a face-to-face interaction. So let me know in the comments, I'd love to hear your stories!

27/08/2026

How do Japanese people stay so healthy?

There's a Japanese word called "choukatsu" which basically refers to gut health, something that we account for as much in the west. It's a part of the culture, the Japanese diet, and medical research to keep people healthy.

Even if natto and miso isn't in your diet right now, there are still steps you can take to improve your gut health! I use R’s KOSO and really like it as part of my routine!

What are your gut health hacks, let me know in the comments!

25/08/2026

Been getting a lot of questions about onsens and other bath experiences in Japan, so I guess I'm the onsen guy now? Or again? Anyways, thought I'd do a rapid fire onsen Q&A, although idk if it's that rapid cause I tend to want to over explain everything 🙈🙏

Leave your onsen tips or questions in the comments!

住所

Hitoyoshi-shi, Kumamoto