Ride an ice merry-go-round, To be a new winter fun in this Hokkaido village
Want to try something new other than skiing or snowboarding in winter? How about a spin on the Ice Carousel in Hokkaido?!A village in Hokkaido, Nakatsunai, is testing its new Ice Carousel (Ice Merry-Go-Round) on a frozen dam lake, aiming to turn this into a sightseeing spot. Inspired by the 'Ice Merry-go-round' in Finland, this 'Ice Carousel' is an interesting winter activity, which people ride on a rotating carousel carved out of ice with a diameter of about 10m, on a frozen lake. While on the rotating ice, participants took...
Confectionery utopia! Muslims can pray & shop in comfort at Shiroi Koibito Park
As Shiroi Koibito Park, a theme park in Hokkaido run by the confectionery manufacturer ISHIYA that produces Shiroi Koibito biscuits, regularly receives a lot of tourists from Malaysia and others, the park has prayer rooms for Muslim visitors to pray.Prayer rooms are separated for men and women on 2nd floor of the Tudor House, with built-in wudu (ablution) facilities and prayer mats. Shiroi Koibito is a popular souvenir choice among many travellers from overseas. Besides the biscuit, you can find many other chocolate products from ISHIYA here on the 1st...
Ninja experience with prayer space, English support, VR at Ninja-Do(Osaka)
Close to some of Osaka's famous sightseeing spots like Abeno Harukas, Ninja-Do (忍者堂 Ninja-Do) allows you to learn the ways of a shinobi (ninja), from how to walk to shuriken lessons, with English language support. Apart from ninja training, there's even a designated free time for you to visit some sightseeing spots near here while wearing a ninja costume. On top of that, you can experience fighting against samurais and ninjas via VR (virtual reality), with additional fees. There are 3 VR courses: Samurai, Ninja and Armour, which you will...
Where Muslims (vegan) can eat, pray at Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea
Tokyo Disneyland is one of the most visited theme parks in Japan, attracting many Disney fans from around the world. But when speaking of Disney theme parks in Tokyo, you can't forget about Tokyo DisneySea too.What's the difference? Are there halal or vegan-friendly food? How to pray, if you are a Muslim? Let's check out all the options you have to make sure you can enjoy these 2 theme parks to the fullest. (more…)
Tokushima gets new Muslim-friendly, multinational café/guest house DARUMA
Photo Source: The Tokushima Shimbun Just a 10-min walk from Anan Station! With experience in running a Muslim-friendly soba (buckwheat noodle) restaurant in Tokushima, the Japanese company T.O FUTURE PLAN has opened the foreigner-friendly "DARUMA Café / Guest House" on Nov. 2022, welcoming Muslims and other multinational guests. The first floor is a cafe space that can be rented to be used as a cafe or plan an event, equipped with a Muslim-friendly certified*1 kitchen. The guesthouse on the second floor is the first halal-compliant accommodation facility in Tokushima, providing...
Taste authentic Japanese takoyaki in Indonesia, Takoyaki Yamatoya
Nissin Corporation runs its own takoyaki (octopus balls) restaurant brand in Indonesia. Having mainly developed their franchise business in Japan, Managing Director Nobutaka Kawano explains how they launched their own brand overseas. (more…)
Halal Sambal Ramen: A novel spicy twist to the Japanese ramen
Renewing its Halal certification in 2022, the Sambal Ramen is back with a new design and sambal concoction that you can easily enjoy at the comfort of your home. Perfect for all ramen lovers, including spicy-loving foodies! (more…)
Shimane University’s ¥100 bento with halal meal to help struggling students
Shimane University (in Shimane, Japan) has started selling 'one-coin', cheap packed lunches (bento) for 100 yen (about USD0.78) to help its students who are struggling financially because of the Covid-19 disaster and the high cost of living.Originally worth 500 yen, this '100-yen bento' initiative also includes a selection of halal curry meals. The bentos will be available in limited quantities at the Matsue and Izumo campuses until the end of February. Shimane university will continue to offer this kind of livelihood support according to the economic situation and the students'...
ONE PIECE x Kumamoto: Tour via your favourite characters with a special app
A group of students from Prefectural University of Kumamoto developed a smartphone app 'IKOU' to support reconstruction efforts of the areas stricken by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. By using the app, visitors can now tour around the earthquake's traces, together with the Straw Hat Pirates (characters) from the popular manga series 'ONE PIECE'. Source: ONE PIECE Kumamoto Revival Project's IKOU Official HP With 10 statues of the Straw Hat Pirates placed in 9 spots severely affected by the 2016 quake, this app is also part of the ONE PIECE Kumamoto Revival...
Tour in Japan’s scenic 7-star train, Top-ranked 2 years running
From immersive farm stays to biking expeditions, travelling by TRAIN is still one of the coolest– a true classic –way to explore Japan. For two years in a row, JR Kyushu's luxury cruise train "Seven Stars in Kyushu" has been voted the NO.1 train in the 2022 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS conducted by Condé Nast Traveler, a leading US travel magazine. Blending Japanese and Western elements, "Seven Stars in Kyushu" train travels through Japan's island of Kyushu with complete amenities, including guest rooms, Japanese tea room, and lounge.Stopping at each of...
2 Muslim-friendly snow resorts for a worry-free snow fun
Come the winter months, which usually starts around December, Japan has tons to offer from skiing over the beautiful white snow, spectacular winter illuminations, to stunning ice festivals. Want to try out fun snow activities? Want to play but worry about food and prayer? If you answered YES for both questions, then these resorts are the one for you! (more…)
A treat for kitty fans! Kawaii cat-themed train station in Yokohama
If your a fan of trains and all things KAWAII (cute), then this is a place you must check out! Although trains are mainly used for people to reach their destinations, this subway station in Yokohama goes beyond that to even satisfy your eyes. Along the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line, you will find a stop called "Odoriba Station" filled with designs all related to cats, from giant cat eyes on the wall to cats dancing on the ceiling lights. Even the train ticket has cats on it!Odoriba literally means...