15 Must-Try Winter Foods in Japan: Nabe, Fugu, Crab & More

With temperatures dropping and the chilly winter months quickly approaching us, what better way to stay nice and toasty than to savor some comforting food? If you’re in Japan, there is no shortage of mouth-watering options to choose from when selecting a tasty meal to warm your stomach during the winter months. In our list […]

winter food in japan

How to Order with a Japanese Ramen Vending Machine

One of the most surprising things about getting a hot bowl of ramen in Japan is that you often have to order from a vending machine. Most ramen specialty stores have you select and pay for your choice of ramen at a vending machine, or rather a meal ticket machine called 食券機 (shokkenki) in Japanese. […]

Ramen ordered from a ramen vending machine

15 Best Anime Songs of All Time

Anime, for many of us, holds a special place in our hearts, whether it’s because of the moving stories, the characters, or the incredible songs. The music score in anime is a big part of what makes these stories deeply moving. For instance, whenever we think of Ghibli, we inadvertently associate every work with its […]

japanese anime song

Why Do Japanese People Hang Their Laundry in the Balcony? | Coto Radio

Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese. If you’ve ever wandered through a Japanese neighborhood, you’ve likely noticed something distinctly local: rows of laundry swaying in the breeze […]

why do japanese people hang their laundry in the balcony?

Japan’s Low Voter Turnout Explained: Why Only 30% Vote | Coto Radio

Welcome to Coto Radio, a Japanese learning podcast by Coto Japanese Academy, Japan’s No. 1 Japanese language school. Each episode, our host combines captivating storytelling with engaging conversations, all delivered in clear, natural Japanese. Today, Nagai-sensei and Hidari-sensei from Coto Academy take on a puzzling question: why is voter turnout in Japan so low? In […]

What is Japan’s Silver Week? 2025 Calendar & Things to Do

You might have heard of Golden Week, Japan’s highly anticipated holiday period, when a series of often consecutive holidays occurs from the end of April to early May, allowing many Japanese people to take a week off. But have you heard of Silver Week (シルバーウィーク)? Coined in 2009, Silver Week refers to a cluster of […]

silver week japan