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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Knives used to carve them are specialized tools called “satou” or “hidari-ba” which are more like tiny scrapers than knives. They look like dental picks for mythical creatures to be used by monstrous dentists. I acquired my first set of satou knives from master carver Kazuaki Nakamura but I needed a knife suited to my individual needs: One that was curved in the opposite direction to the knife included in the set.
CultureAll Japan
Akira Fuyuno
November 6, 2018
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ll almost certainly have Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple visit on your itinerary—and if not, you should. If you want a one-of-a-kind souvenir, a goshuin is just what you’re looking for!
CultureSightseeingAll Japan
Damian Rogers
November 2, 2018
Mori Building Digital Art Museum: Epson teamLab Borderless in Odaiba’s Palette Town is the first permanent digital museum in the world, and is easily becoming a must-see for tourists and locals alike. The brainchild of teamLab, a visionary art collective made up of artists, engineers, CG animators and more, this digital wonderland lives up to its 'borderless' name.
CultureKanto
Madeleine Donaldson
October 26, 2018
Japan has a wealth of excellent, tense and exciting TV drama to offer the world. Here's the best three from the past decade.
CultureAll Japan
Peter Leonard
October 22, 2018
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.
CultureKansai
Arielle
October 16, 2018
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.
CultureKansai
Donna Sheffield
October 12, 2018
“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.
CultureAll Japan
Alma Reyes
September 28, 2018
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.
CultureKansai
Sydney Solis
September 25, 2018
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.
CultureKanto
Luna
September 25, 2018
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.
CultureTravel TipsAll Japan
Annabell
September 21, 2018
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.
CultureKanto
Sheryl Anne Dicman
September 21, 2018
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.
CultureKanto
Sheryl Anne Dicman
September 14, 2018
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
Yana
September 11, 2018
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.
CultureHokkaido
Sarah A. Hasselle
September 11, 2018
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.
CultureEventsKyushu
Stuart Iles
September 10, 2018
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.
CultureTohoku
Calw Walker
September 3, 2018
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.
CultureKanto
Jamila Brown
September 3, 2018
