When starting a restaurant business here in Japan, zoning regulations usually are not the primary concern. We can open and run a restaurant right in the middle of a quiet residential area. Surprised? One of the reasons behind it probably lies in the limited land. Japan is a mountainous country where two thirds of the land are covered by mountains. So the government, in order to efficiently use the limited land, thinks that it is insignificant to place a clear cut distinction between commercial and residential areas like in other western countries. If you plan to start a restaurant business in Japan, one thing you may wish to remember is that officers …
Monthly Archives: July 2014
It’s the lavender season in Hokkaido
July in Hokkaido is ideal for distance runners. Maybe not just for runners, but also for any other sports. I hear that many college sport teams have summer training in Hokkaido due to its mild summer climate. Along the Shiroihi Cycling Road in Sapporo, which is my regular running course, are trees of deep summer green and blooming flowers, and lavender is one of them. I happened to learn that the cultivation of lavender in Japan was started out here in Sapporo about 80 years ago. Since the Furano area (including Nakafurano and Biei) is the brand name of lavender fields in Hokkaido, it was a little surprise to me. I don’t …