My introduction to the world of Japanese tea ceremony (茶道, chado) took place during my first visit to Japan in 2016. Everywhere…
Natalie LeonAugust 22, 2022
Stretching along a beautiful section of Japan’s east coast, Ibaraki Prefecture features a wonderfully diverse range of things to see…
James DaviesApril 21, 2022
Hamamatsu is located in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture. In addition to its abundant nature and breathtaking sceneries, it…
Lucia TsujiguchiMarch 31, 2022
The year is 1952. The revolution that will radically transform Japanese animation into what we know today is taking place…
Toshiko SakuraiMarch 28, 2022
Deep in the heart of Ehime Prefecture, a leisurely drive south of Matsuyama City, away from the throngs of tourists…
Don KennedyMarch 11, 2022
For Tokyoites born during the Edo Period, all they knew was peace. The warring period of competing samurai clans had…
Don KennedyMarch 9, 2022
Japan is a country rich in culture and rituals that change with every new region. This makes traveling through the…
ClaudiaFebruary 22, 2022
ℹ Advertorial There are plenty of charming towns built around canal systems in Japan—think Kurashiki, Sawara, and Otaru—but only Yanagawa…
Kit Pancoast NagamuraFebruary 17, 2022
On an early November morning – in anticipation of witnessing my first colors of the long-awaited koyo autumn leaves season…
Burcu BasarJanuary 11, 2022
With a distinct culture developed under the warmth of the Seto Inland climate, Okayama Prefecture (岡山県) has a rich heritage…
Toshiko SakuraiJanuary 5, 2022
As a travel writer, I admit to often focusing too much on the incredible things to see in Japan. It…
Todd FongDecember 23, 2021
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the powerful Tsugaru clan ruled the region around present-day Hirosaki. The city still has a…
Thomas SiebertDecember 21, 2021
Hinoura Tsukasa turned the blade over in his hands, his keen eye taking in every detail of his handiwork. Each…
Todd FongDecember 20, 2021
If you have ever been to Japan, you may have noticed short curtains hanging at the entrance of shops and…
Eva COctober 29, 2021
Since the beginning of time, people have always tried to find answers or reasons for those situations or phenomena in…
Lucia TsujiguchiOctober 7, 2021
Having the world’s spotlight during the Olympics was the perfect opportunity for the Japan Cultural Expo to showcase the richness…
Toshiko SakuraiSeptember 27, 2021
In Okinawan dialect, yachimun (やちむん) means pottery. Its history dates back hundreds of years when the islands were still the…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
When I think about Okinawa, the first word that comes to mind is "paradise". Its turquoise blue ocean contrasts with…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Handmade pottery is one of the oldest crafts in Japan. It’s a combination of art and tradition that reflects Japanese…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
Like many of the traditional crafts of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom (琉球王国), Okinawan glass is also part of a story…
Lucia TsujiguchiSeptember 8, 2021
A samurai on the run. A distraught courtesan. A relentless fox. History and folk tales collide on stage, where a…
Toshiko SakuraiAugust 18, 2021
Horimono (彫物) is a little-known term to the rest of the tattoo world but is one of the most used…
GaëlAugust 3, 2021
Surrounded by a rich natural environment in the heart of the Japanese Alps, the historical district of Takayama (高山) perpetuates…
Marie BorgersApril 30, 2021
If the wind blew strong through Tokyo’s Kokyo Gaien (皇居外苑) National Garden on Sunday, gusting through rows of a captivated…
CheriseMarch 19, 2021
No doubt, the most striking piece of artwork inside the National Theatre of Japan in Tokyo is the Kagamijishi (鏡獅子),…
CheriseMarch 5, 2021
Takaoka city, nestled between the mountains of Toyama prefecture alongside the traditional Gokayama village and the Sea of Japan, has…
Joachim DucosFebruary 26, 2021
This is Part 1 of a 3 part series of articles about the New Golden Route, a part of Japan…
Lucia TsujiguchiFebruary 12, 2021
