Category: Food & Drink

Whole and sliced yuzu fruit in a basket, on a picnic table.

Yuzu: Japan’s Citrus Wonderfruit

Yuzu is an ancient citrus fruit that has been cultivated in Japan for centuries. Its strong, tart flavor has made it an essential ingredient in many Japanese recipes.

A bowl of agar agar powder and agar cubes.

Agar Agar Snacks: Best Ones from Japan

Agar agar is a delightful ingredient derived from red algae. It’s versatile and flavorless jelly, lending its signature wobble and firm-yet-yielding texture.

Leaves from the ginkgo tree.

Ginkgo Tree: A Multipurpose Tree in Japan

Among Japan’s most iconic trees is the ginkgo tree, famed for its brilliant yellow-gold leaves that form radiant canopies, lining streets and parks in breathtaking golden splendor.

A plate of red bean paste covering ohagi.

Ohagi: The Beautiful Wagashi of the Equinox

Ohagi is a traditional Japanese sweet that chefs make from glutinous rice and sweetened red bean paste. This dessert reflects Japanese culture; people associate it with the spring and fall equinox.