This week we've gone from the far north in Aomori Prefecture to the far south in Kyushu! We got to see the annual Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, stayed in an old elementary school on Shikoku, changed plans due to the Nankai Trough earthquake advisories, and took a ferry to the 7 Hells of Beppu on the island of Kyushu.

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

This week we started our road trip by hiking Mt. Haku (or Hakusan), one of Japan’s 3 holy mountains. After the hike we started driving north to the Tohoku region, camping in Akita Prefecture, and making our way to Aomori Prefecture. We got to see Hirosaki Castle (one of the 12 remaining original castles in the country!) and stayed in Mutsu. During a bike ride there we visited Osorezan (literally Fear Mountain) and Bodaiji Temple, surrounded by sulfuric hot springs and said to be a gateway to the underworld.

More about Hakusan: https://www.city.hakusan.lg.jp/otherdata/sightseeing/hakusan/index.html

More about Osorezan: https://aomori-tourism.com/en/feature/detail_76.html

More about Hirosaki Castle: https://www.hirosakipark.com/en/

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

Today we officially moved out of our apartment in Uchinada! We’ll talk about the moving process, what we did with all our furniture, and how moving is different in Japan vs. the US. We also talk about all-you-can-eat buffet differences, sweet beans, bread shaped like Totoro’s cat bus, and what we’re doing now that we don’t have an apartment. Plus, did you know that the most expensive grapes in the world are from Ishikawa Prefecture?

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

Today was Zeb’s last day of work! He’s now the proud owner of a couple new certificates to commemorate his time working as a JET ALT. Speaking of special paper, this week we talk about the specific plant used to make paper for Japanese yen banknotes - plus lonely vending machines, buying love in a can, and WCW wrestling.

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

This week we went on a bike ride to Himi in Toyama Prefecture with some of Zeb’s cycling teammates, and stopped mid-ride for giant choux cream puffs! We also talk about why Kanazawa is the “Ice Cream Capital of Japan”, and Annie finished her ice cream bike route with 12 different stops. Plus, did you know that the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko recently released a new Gundam model, themed after Tokugawa Ieyasu’s armor?

Annie’s Full Ice Cream Bike Route: https://youtu.be/aYVjxeBvhFE?si=bC8KvIySJduPLzM9

Kanazawa as Japan’s Ice Cream Capital: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13059206

Japanese Ice Cream Association: https://www.icecream.or.jp/

New Tokugawa Ieyasu Gundam: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15326358

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

This week we talk about the holiday Tanabata, a new rule from Yamagata Prefecture about laughing once a day, and ice cream flavors. Would you try miso and cheese ice cream? What about mountain vegetable ice cream? Plus, how do you get rid of trash and recycling when living in Japan?

The “laughing once a day ordinance”: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15336010

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

This week, Japan is releasing the newly designed bank note bills! What’s printed on the new yen bills, and how does this affect vending machines? We also talk about visiting the new Disney Sea park area (and how to get into Fantasy Springs), and our experience with annual health checks in Japan. How are the tests different than checkups in the US?

New banknotes: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14899860
More about Disney's Fantasy Springs: https://www.tokyodisneyresort.jp/en/topics/info/fantasysprings.html

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/

Did you know the first convenience store came to Japan 50 years ago in 1974? This week we’re talking about how the conbini arrived in Japan, the first item that was sold, and how it changed the way you can get cash, pay bills, and enjoy snacks.

We’re also talking about the differences between the words “popular” and “famous” in Japanese and English, residence tax in Japan, and how Himeji Castle might be quadrupling their ticket prices…but only for foreigners?

More about the 50th anniversary of 7/11 in Japan:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15269912

More about Himeji Castle Ticket Prices:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15309703

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/foreign-tourists-could-be-charged-6-times-more-than-locals-to-enter-japan-s-famed-himeji-castle

Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese "words-of-the-week," and head to @ramblingramsbothams on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes photos.

Have a question or idea? Send us an email at ramblingramsbothams@gmail.com, or visit our website: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/