ChubuCultureSponsored Sekikawa’s Neko-chigura “Cat Houses” Sustain Tradition and Cats Alike Sponsored by Sekikawa Village Its no secret that people here in Japan absolutely love cats. At almost every port, downtown…Derek YamashitaDecember 27, 2019
CultureEventsSponsoredTohoku Culture in Yuzawa: three festivals for three colorful seasons In Japan, ancestral traditions are still very much alive, and wherever you go, the many festivals held throughout the country…Cyrielle Ugnon-CoussiozDecember 12, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored A Theater and Show Preserving the Past in Yamaga, Kumamoto sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters Some say the beauty of Japan lies in the way it attempts to…Todd FongNovember 14, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored The Unbroken Tradition of Japanese Swords and Samurai Culture in Arao, Kyushu “Strike while the iron's hot.” I always knew what this meant, though never witnessed it in its complete, literal meaning.…VoyaponNovember 6, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Higo Minkamura — The Old Town-village of Japanese Crafts Sponsored by Northern Kumamoto Administrative Headquarters To understand the essence of Japanese culture, one need to look no further than…Luca DenserOctober 18, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Postcards and Pottery: Making Unique Handmade Souvenirs on Ojika Island Sponsored by Ojika Town A visit to Ojika island will certainly reward you with a plethora of stunning scenes of…Luca DenserAugust 6, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Saiki by Bicycle: Samurai and Zen Tea Experiences Sponsored by Tourism Oita Saiki, coastal city in Oita prefecture Located in the southeast part of Oita Prefecture on Kyushu…Aimée MoribayashiJuly 16, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Takachiho’s Kagura: An Artistic Story of Japanese Mythology Sponsored by Takachiho Tourist Association While Takachiho is mainly known for its sumptuous gorges and wagyu beef, Japanese mythology lovers…Cyrielle Ugnon-CoussiozJuly 12, 2019
CultureKyushu Uniting Two Cultures Through Satsuma Ceramics from Kagoshima Miyama, a small town in Kagoshima Prefecture, is home to the sophisticated and beautiful Satsuma ceramics which have over 400…Dagmara KoreckaJune 8, 2019
CultureShikoku Discover the fascinating traditional crafts of Shikoku Today's Japan is conveniently connected from end to end with high speed trains, underwater tunnels and frequent local flights, but…Marion PontMay 11, 2019
CultureHokkaidoSponsored Asahikawa – Discover One of Japan’s Top Three Furniture Towns Located in Japan’s snowy northern island, Asahikawa is a hub for Japanese woodworking, furniture production and interior design. A uniquely…Andrew DeckMarch 23, 2019
CultureHokkaidoSponsored Learn About Daisetsuzan Mountain Worship and Ainu Culture Long before the Japanese inhabited the island of Hokkaido, the island was populated by the Ainu, the indigenous people of…Andrew DeckMarch 19, 2019
CultureKyushuSponsored Discovering Green Tea Tourism in Higashisonogi Sponsored by Higashisonogi Town. Most of you have probably heard about green tourism. But have you ever heard of green…Marion PontFebruary 14, 2019
CultureKansaiSponsored In the footsteps of Sen no Rikyu, the master of the tea ceremony Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Matcha (green tea) in Japan is more than an ice cream flavor or a…Joachim DucosJanuary 8, 2019
CultureKansaiSponsored Samurai Legacy: The Sakai Handcrafted Knives of Osaka Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau The reputation of Japanese knives, from their sharpness to their quality of craftsmanship, is…Joachim DucosJanuary 7, 2019
CultureKansaiSponsored The Forgotten Feminist: Akiko Yosano’s Influence On Modern Japan Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau An important figure in 20th century Japanese literature, Akiko Yosano was born in Sakai,…Joachim DucosJanuary 5, 2019
CultureKansaiSponsored Cup Noodle Museum in Osaka: Learn How Osaka Inventor Momofuku Ando Changed Edible History Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Though it is not always easy to find real ramen in Western countries, you…Joachim DucosDecember 29, 2018
ChubuCultureEventsSponsored Traditional Machiya Byobu Exhibition in Murakami Sponsored by Murakami City A former castle town, Murakami has plenty of contemporary renown, from its signature dried salmon, to…Andrew DeckNovember 12, 2018
ChugokuCulture Yumihama-gasuri: Discover the Traditional Crafts of Yonago Each Japanese prefecture has its own traditions, culinary specialties, and crafts. Today, let’s head to Yonago, in the Tottori Prefecture,…Marion PontNovember 7, 2018
ChubuCultureSponsored Experience Zen Meditation at a Temple in Nakatsugawa Sponsored by Nakatsugawa city. Zen is probably one of the most illustrious Japanese philosophies. Synonymous with rest or well-being for…LéoOctober 29, 2018
CultureKyushuSponsored Walking around the Ontayaki Pottery Village in Oita, Kyushu Sponsored by Tourism Oita Pottery towns dot the entirety of the Japanese archipelago, but Onta, a 300 year-old mountainside village in…Andrew DeckOctober 5, 2018
CultureKyushuSponsored Discover Cultural Heritages in Usuki Sponsored by Tourism Oita. Usuki is located in Oita prefecture, which has rich cultural heritages. Follow the guide and take a…Benoit TerreauOctober 2, 2018
CultureEventsSponsoredTohoku Celebrating the Local Matsuri Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa Tanabata festival, a tradition originally coming from China, is very popular in Japan. In Yuzawa, a small city located in Akita…Joachim DucosSeptember 8, 2018
CultureShikokuSponsored A Modern Culture Experience and Staying in a Ryokan in Toon Sponsored by Toon city During my weekend in Ehime, a lesser known prefecture on Shikoku Island, I had the opportunity…Pierre BabinSeptember 2, 2018
ChubuCultureSponsored How to Experience Murakami’s Rich Traditional Lacquerware Craftsmanship When talking about carved and lacquered wood, Japanese craftsmen enjoy a well-established reputation alongside their Chinese neighbors. With many unique…LéoAugust 18, 2018
CultureHokkaidoSponsored A Relaxing Pottery Experience in Eastern Hokkaido In Koshimizu there is a pottery workshop run by Ms. Hisako Takahashi called Hokujigama. Her studio and showroom are surrounded…Jeremy DoccolaAugust 16, 2018
ChubuCultureSponsored Meeting the Geishas of Niigata (Geigi) Sponsored by Niigata city Before visiting the city of Niigata, the only time I came close to meeting a Geisha…Marion PontAugust 4, 2018
ChubuCultureEventsSponsored Attending a Noh Theatre Play on Sado Island Sponsored by Sado Island Noh theatre, a traditional form of Japanese dramaturgy that occupies a specific place in Sado Island’s…Marion PontJuly 27, 2018