3 Excellent Japanese Dramas
Japan has a wealth of excellent, tense and exciting TV drama to offer the world. Here's the best three from the past decade.
October 22, 2018
Category: Culture
Anyone remotely familiar with Japan knows that its culture is varied and runs deep. From traditional arts such as tea ceremony dating back to the 9th century, to the latest anime and teen fashions, Japan is rich with cultural topics to explore. Select a subcategory below or browse all our blog articles on Japanese culture.
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15 Things to Do in Sapporo
Known for its annual snow festival, Sapporo is one of Japan’s most vibrant cities and is extremely visitor-friendly. It has fantastic food and plenty to do. Here’s a sampling:
CultureShoppingSightseeingTravel TipsHokkaido
October 19, 2018
Exploring the National Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, Japan
When you’re planning your trip to Kyoto the initial thought is to visit all the shrines and historical museums, which of course, are definitely worth a visit. But also, because of this, Japan’s contemporary culture is overlooked when thinking of Kyoto. So why not change the itinerary a bit? Take a day to immerse yourself in the country’s modern times and artworks.
October 16, 2018
Kyoto’s Tale of Genji Museum is an Enjoyable Wander into Japan’s Literary World
The last ten chapters of The Tale of Genji are set in the small town of Uji in Kyoto, and the city has a small yet delightful museum dedicated to it. The Tale of Genji Museum first opened in 1998, but it’s been upgraded in recent years with some fun interactive and digital elements. If you’re a fan of the novel, or want to escape the tourist crowds in Kyoto, it’s well worth a look.
October 12, 2018
Autumn Beauty of Kagura Mai, Traditional Japanese Ritual Dance
“Kagura” refers to the Shinto theatrical dance dedicated to honor Shinto gods and are known to predate the Noh tradition, therefore, evolving as early as the 14th century. The Kagura Mai dance is perhaps one of the oldest forms of Japanese ritual dance performed in many shrines all over Japan, and consists of several types.
September 28, 2018
Experience the Meditative Effects of Traditional Japanese Arts with Makie Lacquer Painting in Kyoto
One such art is Maki-e, (蒔絵) a traditional Japanese lacquer painting. Maki means “sprinkling” and e means "picture". It is the most basic technique of a pattern of lacquerware making that is traditionally painted on plates, trays, mirrors, cups, boxes and other objects made from bamboo or wood, but also sometimes paper, leather or basket materials.
September 25, 2018
Visiting the Spectacular VR Zone in Shinjuku
Virtual Reality is a relatively new concept, with many experimental titles still in the works by both large companies and independent developers. VR is the future of gaming, with hand devices and headsets to take you from just watching a screen to being fully immersed in the game’s world.
September 25, 2018
5 Things You Won't Find in Japan
Many travelers will be anxious about preparing themselves for visiting Japan. In tour guide books you can find tips on what Japan has to offer in comparison to your home country. But let me give you a little insight into what you will not find in Japan and how you can even benefit from it.
September 21, 2018
Enjoying Spending Time in Nature: Country Farm Tokyo German Village
Country Farm Tokyo German Village (東京ドイツ村 ) is a theme park located in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture. The concept of this park is "Enjoying Spending Time With Nature". The park is indeed surrounded by trees and flowers.
September 21, 2018
Kimono Wearing in Asakusa: An Essential Japan Experience!
Asakusa is a district in Taito, Tokyo, famous for temples and also the Skytree. The most exciting experience I have tried in Asakusa was being dressed in a Kimono. There are different shops where you can rent a kimono, with different rates depending also on the package plan.
September 14, 2018
15 Things to Do in Akita
Akita Prefecture hides on the east coast of the Tohoku area of Japan. Even though it is still not as popular as many other prefectures in terms of tourism, it is rich in nature and unique traditions. And here are 15 reasons for you to come to Akita and enjoy its atmosphere!
CultureEventsNatureSightseeingTravel Tips
September 11, 2018
Visiting Kobushi Kiln: the Oldest Pottery Kiln in Hokkaido
Do you like pottery? Do you want to test out your slab building-skills or get a special souvenir to bring back home? Look no further than Kobushi Kiln, the oldest pottery kiln in Hokkaido. Kobushi Kiln is a three-generation family kiln that was opened in 1946.
September 11, 2018
Fujisaki Hachimangu Horse Festival in Kumamoto
Fujisaki Hachimangu is probably the most important shrine in Kumamoto and has a long rich history. It is closely linked to famous Japanese samurai such as Kato Kiyomasa and the Hosokawa family. In Autumn, the shrine is host to a fantastic four-day festival ending on Sunday with a horse parade through the city.
September 10, 2018
Ishinomori Museum: The Manga Icon of Ishinomaki
At the Ishinomori Manga Museum, visitors can see a special exhibit featuring one hundred of Sanrio’s iconic characters. There is everything from cute displays of illustrations, company history, vintage character goods and merchandise, and advertisements for Sanrio’s most recent mobile dating sim, manga, and anime titled Sanrio Danshi: Never Without My Favorite Friend.
September 3, 2018
How to Find Totoro: A Hike Through Sayama Hills
Sayama Hills is a forest park about one hour outside of Tokyo located in Saitama prefecture. It was the forest that inspired Hayao Miyazaki to create the movie “My Neighbor Totoro.” If you’re as big a fan of anime as I am, then you’ll enjoy this small hike.
September 3, 2018
5 Must-do Summer Activities in Japan
Summer's here and for Japan, that means hot weather, exciting festivals, and fun cultural activities in every prefecture celebrated by all people young and old. With that said, Japan is the place to be this summer and here are 5 reasons why.
August 13, 2018
Tokyo's Hidden Daibutsu: the Subtly Exquisite Buddha Statue of Jōren Temple
The Daibutsu (Great Buddha / 大仏) of Japan rank among the oldest, largest and most impressive in the world. Unbeknownst to most people there’s a very impressive Daibutsu statue in Japan’s capital.
August 10, 2018
The Many Wondrous Temples of Matsushima, Miyagi
Tucked away on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture is Matsushima, whose picturesque bay is one of the so-called Three Views of Japan. Matsushima is also home to a significant number of Buddhist temples with deep connections to Japanese history. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the most important.
July 27, 2018
