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Japan Like a Local

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Japan Like a Local

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31/10/2026

Kakigori is one of the most famous summer treats in Japan & it has its own emoji 👉🏼🍧

It’s usually just a simple and cheap, flavored shaved ice dessert, but here at - well it’s next level 🤯

Azuki to kōri brings together two Japanese traditions - azuki red bean paste, which has been prized since ancient times, and kakigori shaved ice. The key ingredient mixed with every flavor is red bean paste so if you’re not a fan, this may not be for you 🌚

Each dessert runs about $18 which is a lot for what it is but, if you’re looking for a unique dessert experience - this may be worth the money. *The shop is small and reservations are required in advance*

For more food & dessert recommendations, make sure to check out our Japan Bundle - which has our personal pinned map with 100+ locations and restaurants 🍽️🙌🏼

Did you try Kakigori?

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31/10/2026

PSA: this post is for Entertainment Purposes Only 🪩👋🏼

If you’re coming to Japan, here are two bizarre experiences that you don’t want to miss. Or maybe you do 😂

Starting with the muscle bar - picture female bodybuilders that not only serve drinks but also perform random workouts. You can even pay them to demonstrate their strength by lifting you (or your friends) up, doing sit-ups and other R rated things that I won’t go into too much detail about.

It’s an all-you-can-drink bar experience for a flat fee of $35. The drinks were watered down but, the atmosphere was lively. The girls are super friendly and chatty and I can totally see this being a great option for a bachelor or bachelorette party 🎉

Watch a Burlesque show at Party On (Roppongi) - an experience that defies description 🤭 I have to say that as bizarre as the performances were, I found them surprisingly entertaining and fun! I would totally go again. It’s worth noting that this isn’t an event for children, but you’ll be surprised by how many locals attend.

In Japan … you’ll discover entertainment unlike anything found elsewhere in the world 🫣 which one would you go to?

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31/10/2026

Real life Tokyo Drift 🏎️😮‍💨 - save this post for details 👇🏼

Beginners, expert and master drifters from Japan and many other countries were out at the Mobara Twin Circuit about 2 hours out of Central Tokyo. They sold tickets to the event and provided spectator busses for the lengthy ride.

There was even a raffle for spectators to participate in a ride along!

These events happen around Japan so make sure to do a little extra research before your trip. The organizer of this event is and yes it’s open to the public.

Drifting has its roots in Japan, where it developed into a formalized sport during the 1970s. The origins of drifting are often attributed to Kunimitsu Takahashi, a former motorcycle racer turned car racer. Takahashi was using drifting technique on race tracks to maintain high speeds through corners and quickly gained a following. His style attracted fans and inspired multiple generations of enthusiasts.

Would you go for a ride? 👀

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30/10/2026

If you’re coming to Japan, here are some more etiquette rules that you should be mindful of 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾

Culturally in Japan, you have to show consideration for others and wearing strong scents can be disturbing. Especially in restaurants or the metro.

But it actually gets more interesting.

Due to a genetic variant, it’s common among East Asian ethnicities to have little or no body odor. Many people don’t even need deodorant but if they use it, it will be light or unscented 🤯 so it makes sense why a strong scent could be quite disturbing.

Also, taxi doors will always open automatically when you enter or exit so you never have to touch the car doors 🚖

Unless you’re on a long distance train, eating and drinking is not common practice. Especially if the train is crowded. Talking on the phone, keeping speakers on or speaking loudly are also a show of bad manners.

Japan is not a tipping country. While there are a few exceptions - generally your attempts to tip will be turned down.

Our guide will help you navigate Japan confidently and bridge cultural barriers for an stress-free journey. It will cover many cultural nuances so make sure to check it out!

How many of these did you know? 👀

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30/10/2026

Save this post and add a car meet to your itinerary 🏎️🇯🇵

Car meets in Tokyo can be an exciting and less popular way to immerse yourself in Japan’s automotive culture. You’ll find all sorts of events, from casual gatherings to more exclusive and private ones, each showcasing a variety of themes from drift cars to vintage models or specific makes and models.

We found out about a pop-up event called and at UDX in Akihabara through word of mouth. It was a ticketed event, costing 1000 yen to get in. It was so much fun—the atmosphere was lively with great music, friendly people, and, of course, incredible cars.

You can expect a diverse range of vehicles, from highly modified drift cars and meticulously restored vintage Japanese classics to the latest high-performance sports cars and luxury imports. Even if cars aren’t your main interest, the setting itself is unique and entertaining.

Have you been to a car meet before? 👀

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30/10/2026

🎌 Fun fact that you may have not known about Japan 😁

The first emoji was created back in the 1990s by a Japanese artist named Shigetaka Kurita ✍🏼. Emojis gained popularity very quickly in Japan as many Japanese mobile phone companies started adopting them, before it started spreading internationally 📱

Here’s another fun fact: Back in the day, the only way to access emojis on your iPhone, was to have the Japanese keyboard 📱 No other language keyboard had emojis integrated, and I made a few of my friends jealous by gatekeeping this secret 😂

29/10/2026

Save this cafe in Osaka 🐻👇🏼 I’m going to tell you why!

📍Bear Paw Cafe (or Kuma no Te) is run by Mental Support, an academy that’s been providing support and counseling to individuals for the past 12 years. The cafe is designed to be a safe space where those with various mental health challenges can re-integrate into society and work without having face-to-face or skin-to-skin contact.

Initially, the cafe had six staff members who were either students or graduates of the Mental Support Academy, each dealing with conditions ranging from depression to personality disorders and HSP (Highly Sensitive Person).

For customers, the experience is unique, as friendly, fuzzy bear paws deliver drinks and snacks. Likewise, employees are in a safe space. I hope this video helps boost the cafe’s popularity, enabling Mental Support to establish similar spaces in more locations 🙏🏼

Located just a short two-minute walk from Osaka-Uehonmachinishi Station, Bear Paw Cafe offers a variety of drinks, parfaits, and snacks. We tried their latte, which had a regular taste, and the prices were comparable to those of normal cafes!

While the individuals behind the bear paws are highly sensitive, it’s generally acceptable to interact with them through gentle pats or high-fives. However, given their unique situations, it’s always advisable to respect their space and avoid overly aggressive interactions 🤍

What do you think about this concept?

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29/10/2026

Save this post for names, prices and ratings below! (Tokyo Edition Part 1 of many 😁)

Gyu Katsu Motomora - 10/10, $25 for two. There are multiple locations, we went to the one in Shibuya. Your soft, breadcrumb-crusted piece of wagyu will come rare, and you cook it to your liking. Shibuya location has less seats than Shinjuku so go to the latter one if you can. Best way to get a seat is to come at opening or at a less popular time (ie. an dinner)

Sushi no Midori - 9/10, $30 on average for 2 people. This is a chain that has both a lower- end, conveyer belt option (called Mawashizushi Katsu) and a higher-end sushi experience (Sushi no Midori). Both are fantastic and the higher-end one has been the best [affordable] sushi in our opinion!

Maguro To Shari (Roppongi) - 7/10, $30 for the big tuna bowl (to be fair, there are cheaper options) if you like tuna, you’ll love this place.

ChaCha Futatsume Asakusa - 7/10, $8 for the noodle cone. It has many flavors that balance each other quite well but there are too many macha noodles on top, in my opinion. Make sure to eat it with a spoon to get everything from the inside together!

Okonomiyaki Sakura—te - 8/10, ~$10 per person. Many foreigners don’t go for Okonomiyaki because they don’t know about it or it’s confusing to make. Don’t make this mistake! Okonomiyaki is a cheap, yummy, comfort food that’s easy to make and fun in a group setting. I had my doubts when I heard “cabbage pancake” but I can easily have it weekly.

Musashi - 8.5/10, $700 for two. A 20 course omakase split between tsumami (snacks and finger foods) and nigiri. There were many pieces of fish that I’ve never tried before and the nigiri was fantastic. If you’re looking to splurge and go beyond the basics, this is a good option.

Want access to ALL of our favorite restaurants? Check out our Japan Guide 🍣🍲🤩

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29/10/2026

Save this post for names, prices and ratings below 👇🏼 this reel covers Osaka and Kyoto. It’s perfect if you only have a short period of time (like we did). We highly recommend you go to all the 8+ rated places.

Mizutaki Iroha Soemoncho (Osaka) - 10/10, $100 for two people. If you only go to one place in Osaka, let it be this one!

Baby Castella Kotama (Osaka) - 6/10, $5.75 for the big stick

Onigiri Gorichan (Osaka) - 9/10, $3.72 for one Onigiri

Men-ya Inoichi Hanare (Kyoto) - 9/10, $11 for wagyu ramen, $6 for wagyu rice (the rice is a must)

Panel Cafe (Kyoto) - 5/10, $10 macha pancake

Rokujuan (Kyoto) - 6/10, $17 for mochi and two teas. Served in an amazing 100+ preserved property which, imo, is worth the visit even if you’re just coming for tea.

Maccha House (Kyoto) - 8/10, $7.50 for a tiramisu and macha tea set

Hikiniku to Come Kyoto - 9/10, $30 for two. In order to make reservations, you have to come at an earlier, specified time and take a ticket. This ticket will allow you to reserve a lunch or dinner spot 🎫

If you’ve been to Japan and have an absolute MUST meal in Kyoto or Osaka, put it in the comments 👇🏼

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28/10/2026

If you’re coming to Japan, and you like tempura, save this restaurant to your list 🍤👇🏼

Tensuke is a small hole-in-the-wall spot in Kōenji run by a father and son that are super nice! The line to get in starts before opening time but the queue is worth the wait.

The egg lunch set is the recommended option (it’s available in English on the menu). You’ll get to try a variety of tempura pieces along with rice, egg and miso soup. At the time of writing the price is 1800 yen (~$12) for a meal and you will be FULL 😮‍💨

We highly recommend it to foreigners especially! It’s cheap, yummy, and a fun experience.

We have a FULL list of our favorite restaurants in our Japan Guide. Make sure to check it out 😉

Send this to someone who should try Tensuke!

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