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Celebrate Northern Japan’s Summer Spirit Japan’s Tōhoku region comes alive in summer with three spectacular festivals, each showcasing local artistry, community spirit, and centuries of tradition. These aren’t just events—they’re immersi...

Japan’s “castles in the sky” offer some of the country’s most breathtaking and otherworldly travel experiences. On certain mornings, these mountaintop ruins and keeps rise above a “sea of clouds” (unkai), appearing to float over valleys ...

Japan’s “castles in the sky” are mountaintop ruins and surviving keeps that appear to float above a “sea of clouds” (unkai) on certain mornings. This natural phenomenon—when cool early fog fills valleys below—transforms ancient walls and...

Continuing our journey along the Shinkansen lines, Part 2 explores the Sanyo Shinkansen, which extends from Nagoya westward to Kyushu. As the train glides through historic regions, passengers are treated to fleeting views of majestic cas...

Japan is home to countless historic castles, many of which can be admired from the comfort of a train. Especially along the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen routes, a surprising number of castles can be spotted from your window, often just m...

In Japan, the New Year is a time of joy, renewal, and heartfelt wishes for the months ahead. The phrase “あけましておめでとうございます” (Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu) is used to greet friends, family, and colleagues, meaning "Happy New...

Nestled in the northwestern part of Kagawa Prefecture, Zentsuji City offers an enchanting escape with its warm climate, rich history, and serene landscapes. Known as the birthplace of the legendary Buddhist monk Kukai (also called Kobo D...

Christmas is a season of giving, and what better way to present your gifts than with a touch of Japanese tradition? Furoshiki, the versatile and eco-friendly Japanese wrapping cloth, not only adds elegance to your gift but also promotes ...

The Rich History of Fermented Foods in JapanJapan has a long tradition of incorporating fermented foods into its cuisine, dating back over a thousand years. The country’s humid climate and abundant natural resources provided the ideal co...

In 2024, Doyo Ushi no Hi, also known as the Day of the Ox, will fall on July 23. This traditional Japanese event is celebrated by eating unagi (eel), a practice believed to invigorate the body and provide stamina during the hottest days ...

Even in the world, the meanings of numbers change from country to country, and the impressions of numbers in a country often are deeply influenced by the culture of that country. This is also true in Japan.

What would you do if bugs were in your house? To the Japanese, spiders are considered very good things and should never be killed. Here is why spiders should not be killed, and when they should not be killed.

If you've ever been to Japan, you know that there are a lot of convenience stores in the country. It is common to find a convenience store every five minutes. There are more dentists than convenience stores in Japan!

Ever wonder how Japan deals with the frequent and violent earthquakes that affect their country more than anywhere else? Structures in Japan, especially in metropolitan areas, are built to be earthquake-proof in order to avoid damages.

Pickles are an indispensable food in Kyoto. Since there is no sea in the vicinity of Kyoto, preservation techniques for food have been developed since ancient times. Here are the three major pickles in Kyoto!

In Japan, the frequency differs from region to region, with 50 Hz in eastern Japan and 60 Hz in western Japan.This is a very unique situation in the world and is caused when Japan introduces generators.

There tends to be some confusion between what martial arts are from Japan and which come from China. Yet, there is a fundamental difference between these styles of martial arts, influenced by their respective origin countries.

There is an unlucky year called "yaku doshi" in Japan. Yaku doshi is a year to be more modest than usual. The word "yaku" has the meaning of misfortune or calamity, and the idea is to spend the year more carefully than usual in order to avoid it.

Different cultures and histories have their own unique laws, some of which you may wonder if they are true. When you live or travel abroad, you may inadvertently be in violation of the law. So here are some of the weird laws that are unique to Japan!

Sushi has been embraced by Americans and disintegrated as a favorite dish. The history of how this Japanese food made its way into American culture is an interesting story.