Have you ever noticed Japanese shops with names ending in “-ya” (〜屋)? 🤔 If you are a student at Tomo Japanese, you may already know what “〜屋” means. But for people who are learning Japanese for the first time, “〜屋” might be a little mysterious! In Japanese, “屋（や）” originally means “shop” or “store.” It is often added to a word to describe the type of shop or what the shop sells. For example, you may already know some famous Japanese stores in Singapore, such as Takashimaya,

Have you ever heard of Shirakawa-go — one of my favourite places in all of Japan? Located in Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, recognised by their steep thatched roofs. The name gassho-zukuri (合掌造り) comes from the shape of the roofs, which resemble two hands pressed together in prayer. When most people think of Shirakawa-go, they picture a snowy winter landscape. And it truly is a magical sight. H