Japan 101

How sushi went from a fermented fish preservation trick to Edo street food, conveyor belts and ¥510 million tuna — and what that history changes about eating it in Japan.

What yokai actually are, the ones you will meet everywhere in Japan, why summer is ghost season here, and where a traveler can go to see them.

What wabi-sabi actually means in Japan, where it came from, and why it is not “rustic minimalism.” A resident’s guide to the aesthetic — and where in Kyoto you can stand inside it.

Who the samurai actually were, where bushido came from, and why most of the code was written after the fighting stopped. A resident’s guide to 900 years of warrior rule — and where to see what’s left of it.

Japan has two major religions and most people belong to both. A resident’s guide to what separates Shinto from Buddhism, the thousand years they spent merged, the 1868 divorce that split them, and what you’re actually looking at.

How Kyoto went from a Chinese-style grid laid out in 794 to the city you walk today — the court, the wars that burned it, the emperor’s departure, and why it survived 1945. A resident’s guide to reading the layers.

How payment actually works in Japan in 2026, from someone who lives here — what is still cash-only, which cards work, the ATMs that accept foreign cards, and the tax-free rules that change on 1 November 2026.

The Japanese etiquette rules that actually matter, from someone who lives here — trains, shoes, chopsticks, photos, tipping, and the handful of 2026 rules that now come with real fines.

What Shinto shrines actually are, how to tell a shrine from a temple, the mythology behind the gods, and exactly how to visit one without feeling awkward. A resident’s guide for first-time visitors to Japan.