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2 : What time do children in Japan usually go to school and come home?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What time do children in Japan usually go to school and come home?
A. The times at which Japanese children go to and return from school vary slightly depending on the school and region. For elementary school students, the typical time to leave home for school is between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., ensuring they arrive before classes begin. The time they return home depends on their grade level. Lower-grade students usually finish school around 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., while upper-grade students may finish around 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.
For junior high and high school students, the school day tends to start earlier. They typically leave home between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. Students involved in extracurricular activities, such as club practices, may go to school even earlier for morning training sessions. School ends around 4:00 p.m., but many students stay later—until 6:00 or 7:00 p.m.—for club activities.
In addition, a significant number of students attend cram schools (juku) or extracurricular lessons after school, which often results in them returning home even later than their school dismissal time.
Tokyo Guide : Asobono for Kids
Are you looking for a place to have fun with kids in Tokyo, especially on a rainy day, where they can run around and play? Here’s a recommended spot: ASOBono!, a large indoor playground located in Tokyo Dome City in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. It’s a popular spot for families where children can play to their heart’s content!
ASOBono! is designed for children from infants to elementary school students, offering various areas that help enhance their creativity and physical abilities.
Adventure Ocean Area: Right when you enter the facility, this area catches your eye. It features a large ball pit, slides, and plenty of space to move around and play. There are also trampolines, and my kids always start by getting active here.
Crawl Garden Area: This area is dedicated to infants aged 0-24 months, with soft mats laid out for crawling babies. The space is enclosed to prevent babies from wandering too far, and there are age-appropriate play equipment available for them.
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Fukagawa meshi
Fukagawa-meshi is a traditional local dish originating from the Fukagawa area in Koto Ward, Tokyo. It primarily features clams, such as asari (Japanese littleneck clams), and was popularized among fishermen as a quick and easy meal.
The name comes from the area’s historical association with fishing and water transportation since the Edo period.
Fukagawa-meshi is also recognized as one of the “100 Selected Local Dishes” by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. It can also be enjoyed at home, with many recipes highlighting the umami of clams.
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Tokyo Guide : Kiyosumi Gardens
How about having a break from visiting hustle bustle touristy spots in Tokyo and enjoying the Japanese garden? Kiyosumi Gardens (清澄庭園) is a traditional Japanese garden located in Kiyosumi, Koto Ward, Tokyo.
Renowned for its tranquil scenery and historical significance, it is one of Tokyo’s most beautiful gardens. Designed in the Edo and Meiji periods, this garden features a *chisen-kaiyu-shiki* (circuit-style pond) layout, offering visitors a chance to enjoy picturesque landscapes throughout the year.
At the teahouse in Kiyosumi Gardens, visitors could enjoy matcha and traditional Japanese sweets.
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Tokyo Guide : Fukagawa Edo Museum
Fukagawa Edo Museum (深川江戸資料館) is a cultural and historical facility located in Koto Ward, Tokyo, that offers visitors a chance to experience the life and atmosphere of the Edo period (1603–1868).
The museum features a recreated Edo-era townscape, complete with houses, shops, and streets, giving an immersive glimpse into daily life during that time.
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1 : What do Japanese people eat for breakfast?
In this series, I’ll be sharing questions that our customers have asked!
Q. What do Japanese people eat for breakfast?
A. Generally, many people eat miso soup, white rice, grilled fish, natto, raw eggs or tamagoyaki (rolled omelet), and pickled or boiled vegetables.
In our house, my son and daughter often want to eat different things, but it’s too much work to cater to each of them individually. So, our typical breakfast includes miso soup with plenty of vegetables and silken tofu, tamagoyaki, and both bread and white rice. To keep things interesting, I switch up the types of bread and prepare the rice as onigiri with various fillings or as ochazuke. If I have extra time, I also add grilled salmon and fruit to the meal.
Tokyo Guide : Yanaka Ginza (谷中銀座)
Yanaka Ginza is a traditional shopping street located in the Taito ward of Tokyo. The Yanaka area itself is known for its old-fashioned, nostalgic atmosphere and has become a popular spot for both locals and tourists. Yanaka Ginza is at the heart of this area and offers a glimpse into the charm of Tokyo’s Showa-era streets.
The shopping street is lined with small, family-run stores, including local food shops, miscellaneous goods stores, and cafes. There are also many food stalls where visitors can enjoy local snacks like deep-fried sweet buns, grilled skewers, and shaved ice, giving a taste of traditional Japanese street food.
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Annual Events and Food in Japan
Annual Event & Festive Food In Japan
1st – Shogatsu (New Year) : Osechi(-ryori), Fukubukuro, Shimekazari, Fukuwarai
7th – Nanakusa no Sekku (Seventh-Day New Year) : Nanakusa gayu
11th – Kagami Biraki (Opening the Rice-Cake Offerings) : Oshiruko
15th – Koshogatsu (Small Shogatsu) : Red bean rice porridge
20th – Hatsuka shogatsu : Ozoni
3rd – Setsubun (Seasonal Division) : Ehomaki
8th – Harikuyo (Memorial Service for Needles) : Tofu
10th – Hatsu-uma : Inarizushi
3rd – Hinamatsuri/Momo no Sekku (Doll Festival ) : Chirashizushi
21st – Ohigan (Spring Equinox) : Botamochi
Hanami (Cherry-Blossom Viewing) : Sakuramochi, Dango
8th – Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival)
5th – Tango no sekku,(Children’s Day) : Kashiwa-mochi, Chimaki
Koromogae (Seasonal Change of Clothing)
Around 10th – Nyu-bai : Plum syrup, Umeboshi
7th – Tanabata (Star Festival) : Somen
15th – Obon (Bon Festival) : Vegetable Tempura, Rice Dumplings, Udon, Inari Sushi
15th – Tsukimi (Moon Viewing) : Tsukimi Dango
Ohigan, Autumn Equinox : Ohagi
19th – Choyo no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Festival) : Kiku-zake, Kikuka-cha, Kiku-monaka *Sept.9 on Lunar Calendar
Undokai, Sports Festival : Bento
Ensoku, School Excursion : Bento
15th – Shichi-go-san (Festive Day for Children) : Osekihan, Chitose-ame, Tai no Shio-yaki
13th – Toshikoshi (Crossing over to a New Year)
Around 22nd or 23rd – Toji (Winter Solstice) : Azuki-gayu, Pumpkin
31st – Omisoka (Last day of the year) : Toshikoshi soba
Japanese culture : Fukuwarai
Fukuwarai (福笑い) is a traditional Japanese game often played during the New Year holiday. The name translates to “lucky laugh” or “happy laugh.”
In this game, players place facial features such as eyes, eyebrows, a nose, and a mouth onto a blank face shape, similar to a puzzle. The challenge is that the player is blindfolded, resulting in comically misaligned features.
The game is lighthearted and is meant to bring laughter and joy to participants and onlookers. It’s a popular activity among families and children, symbolizing fun and good fortune for the coming year.
Related video:
Tokyo Guide : VERT in Kagurazaka
Hidden in the heart of Kagurazaka lies a unique tea house crafted by a former pâtissier. Known for its intriguing pairings of tea and sweets, this spot offers an unforgettable experience with a fusion of unexpected elements.
The tea house, VERT, was established by the pâtissier, who spent many years perfecting the art of desserts, with the hope of “sharing the deliciousness of Japanese tea with more people.”
Their entirely reservation-based course begins with a carefully brewed tea and features six to seven pairings of desserts and teas, followed by a rice dish and tea, and concludes with matcha and wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).
The course, named “Chasoryūsui” (茶湊流水), is a playful twist on the Japanese idiom “kōunryūsui” (行雲流水), meaning “to go with the flow like drifting clouds or flowing water.” It conveys the concept of “enjoying tea freely, as one would in a harbor where people and cultures converge.”
The first pairing was a strawberry daifuku, but not your ordinary kind. It featured fermented strawberries, the gentle sweetness of rose and white bean paste, and the soft texture of mochi—a perfect harmony of flavors.
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