The oldest document about Japan's history was a collection of Chinese history. The History of 24 Dynasties written in the First Century AD. However the facts showed that Japan was home to a large hunting and gathering society before cultivation of rice and the introduction of technology.
There are two main parts of the body that women obsess about taking care of: their hair and their skin. Women can spend hundreds, thousands even, on hair products, skin care, and other beauty products to keep their skin looking alive and beautiful. Japanese people have been amazingly successful at this.
For visitors coming to Japan, you should know there are six different types of coins here and three currency notes being currently used. Japanese currency is yen (円).
For anyone visiting Kyoto, here are some locations to excite your inner demons. Japan is recognized for its unique and refined brand of horror and suspense. So, it is no surprise to learn about the strong folktale tradition that helped form today’s spooky pop-culture.
One of the rare onsens in Tokyo with natural hot spring water can be found in Musashi Koyama, Shinagawa. Shimizu-yu or Musashi Koyama Onsen not only provides two types of natural hot springs: kuroyu or black spring water and kogane-no-yu or golden spring water, but is also a historical gem that has been running its hot spring baths since 1924.
Traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi) come in different shapes, sizes and stories. Typically served with tea, the culture of gifting wagashi was mentioned in historical tales from the Muromachi era. At Toyama City's Matsukawa Teahouse you can learn how to make wagashi (complete with an interpreter), and then take a quiet river cruise.
Located near the JR Shinjuku Southeast Exit, this restaurant rests near a bridge leading into the Takashimaya Department Store. Countless sets of nostalgia grace the walls of the restaurant, all commemorating the illustrious career of pro-wrestler turned politician, Antonio Inoki.
For me, one of my “literary heroes” in this regard is Haruki Murakami. However, such is the humility of this genius, Murakami does not let such notions get to him. In fact he actually seems quite uncomfortable with the whole thing.
Nearly two million people live in Fukushima. The majority of the prefecture – the third largest after Hokkaido and Iwate – was untouched by radiation, while many areas that were impacted have reached levels below what is reported in many cities around the world. Visitors need not worry about eating the produce or drinking the water. The bigger concern is whether everything Fukushima has to offer can be packed into a single trip!
With its signature kappa (a Japanese mythological monster) mascot, Kappunk festival hosts dozens of punk rock bands from all over the world for 3 full days of hardcore rock festivities. It sparked a thought for me, how does Japanese punk culture compare to that of the UK or America?
Japan is home to some of the most unique and creative minds when it comes to fashion. Japanese fashion trends can also be regarded as something weird but still popular. Here are some of the strangest fashion trends originating in Japan that might be your inspiration for a new fashion style.
Japanese school uniforms were inspired by the European-style naval uniforms also known as sailor suits, where as boy's were inspired by the Japanese army. They try to make a school uniform that distinguishes the wearers as school age children but also looks attractive enough that they would want to wear it just like any other clothing.
