Many Japanese may recall their childhood memories of mamemaki. While chanting “Evil out! Luck in!” beans are scattered around the…
Maria PeñascalJanuary 28, 2025
Kyoto, it can be said, is a complex city. Imbued in tradition and history, it’s also a fascinating and modern…
Paul McInnesNovember 21, 2024
I think it was the moment Orochi arrived. A phantasmagorical rendering of the eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent from Shinto myth, cavorting…
David McElhinneySeptember 24, 2024
Two women kneel to one side of the stage in front of what appears to be an ancient painting of…
Cassandra LordAugust 8, 2024
Kyoto is often one of the first places on many travelers' lists when visiting Japan. But with its main attractions…
Cassandra LordMarch 26, 2024
The sight of Mount Oyama’s pyramid-shaped silhouette, at an altitude of 1,252 meters, is hard to miss in the Kanagawa…
Mathilde Serre MaysMarch 15, 2024
As global tourism rebounds in the post-pandemic world, travelers must think about how their travel practices impact the places they…
Todd FongMarch 8, 2024
Horimono (彫物) is a little-known term to the rest of the tattoo world but is one of the most used…
Gaël FaulconnierFebruary 3, 2024
When traveling, many people may settle for the most trodden path while may find that the more fulfilling experiences may…
Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2023
If there is one craft that is intrinsically related to Japan, it is Japanese lacquer. Before humans ever rode horses,…
Toshiko SakuraiMarch 27, 2023
The Tohoku region, tucked between the geographically largest region of Japan, Hokkaido, and the country’s most populated region, Kanto, carries…
Burcu BasarFebruary 10, 2023
Experience Japan's Edo period from Tokyo to Aizu, from spectacular temples and shrines to nostalgic post-towns, in 4-days by train.
James DaviesDecember 1, 2022
Here's how to spend a day in Ishikawa's pottery village shopping, making traditional ceramics, & eating a tasty sushi dinner…
Cassandra LordNovember 2, 2022
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
For many, the first things that come to mind when they think about Tokyo are the crowded streets full of…
Lucia TsujiguchiApril 28, 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…
Claudia MitsuboriFebruary 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
