Japanistry

975 posts
This website started as a hobby to explain photography (posts listed here), but over time expanded to provide (hopefully) useful information about Japan and the Japanese language. I also run edonoyu.com with a friend—a site that covers onsen in the Tokyo region.

Climbing Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji (富士山, Fujisan) stands in Shizuoka Prefecture about 100 kilometers west of Tokyo. It is Japan’s highest…

Tokyo Imperial Palace

Tokyo Imperial Palace (皇居, Kōkyo) is located to the west of Tokyo Station and occupies some of the…

Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture

どころか

どころか is used to express to the listener that the result was almost the exact opposite from what…

YMCA Tokyo Japanese Language School

Shopping Areas in Central Tokyo

There are several main shopping districts in Tokyo, and which one is best very much depends on what…

Visiting Shrines & Temples in Japan: Etiquette & Customs

Praying at the temples and shrines in Japan is largely out of tradition rather than a full-blown belief in…

Yokohama

Yokohama (横浜) is a vibrant city located 30 minutes south of Tokyo. Its rapid ascent over the past…

What Should Be

This structure can also be seen with the verb “to become”. Here the meaning is that “it has…

“As Soon As” in Japanese

The easiest way to say “as soon as A, B” with the grammar already introduced is to simply…

ばかり vs だらけ

So what’s the difference? Both phrases have a negative connotation and both can be used to say there…

Nothing Else to Do

しかない can also be added to the dictionary form of verbs to express that you have no choice…