In the busiest time of the year in Hokkaido, a small town in the center of the prefecture lights up, literally. Over 10,000 paper lanterns fill up the streets in Takikawa, and people from all over the prefecture and Japan visit.
EventsHokkaido
Sarah A. Hasselle
February 8, 2019
In Osaka, however, there are plenty of activities to do during the winter which are sure to pull you out of your cosy warm bed and into Kansai’s popular prefecture! Here’s a look at 5 things to do in Osaka during the winter!
CultureEventsSightseeingKansai
Anastasia Okonta
February 4, 2019
For travelers interested in anything beyond planet Earth, Kagoshima prefecture’s JAXA Space Centers are the ideal locations to explore rockets, history, and the charms of the Japanese countryside. Here are some of the best spots to experience Japan’s annual rocket launches and learn about the history of the Japanese space exploration industry.
EventsSightseeingKyushu
Samantha Sodetz
January 31, 2019
When looking up things to do in winter last year in Hokkaido, one of the events that sparked my interest was Rikubetsu’s “Shibare Festival”, or “Freezing Cold Festival”. People from all over Japan come to experience the bitter cold in Japan’s coldest town. Are you brave enough to brace the cold?
EventsHokkaido
Sarah A. Hasselle
January 22, 2019
From 8th December 2018 to 24th February 2019, the Studio Ghibli Exhibition is entertaining young and old fans in Toyama City. Come to the Toyama Glass Art Museum and soak in the magic! This creative exhibition draws visitors into an intricate maze. As you figure out your way to the exit, the world of Ghibli envelops you with a wealth of history, culture, arts and philosophy. Don’t worry about getting lost, you’ll be presented with a road map at the entrance.
CultureEventsChubu
Grace
January 21, 2019
Let’s explore the history and tradition of kendo up to the beginning of the Meiji Period (1868). This was the last time true samurai fought against each other.
EventsAll Japan
Stuart Iles
January 8, 2019
Here are a few things you can experience at the start of the New Year on the beautiful Ryukyu islands, which differ from mainland O-shogatsu.
CultureEventsOkinawa
Annabell
December 30, 2018
So, as a result Christmas is, for all intents and purposes, just another regular working day here in Japan. That’s not to say that Japanese people don’t get a winter vacation. In almost all cases, they do. However, typically, the winter and New Year vacation time in Japan ordinarily doesn’t begin until December 27th or 28th and then typically runs until about January 5th.
EventsAll Japan
Liam Carrigan
December 21, 2018
In the ordered days of the Edo Period, the northern parts of Japan were considered untamed lands of deep mountains and wild forests. One of the ways of entering this region was via the Nikko Kaido highway leading from Edo, now known as Tokyo, to Nikko. The early staging point for a journey on this famous road was Soka.
EventsSightseeingKanto
Sleiman Azizi
December 3, 2018
Kumagaya is an easy jumping off point from which visitors can head off to a multitude of places, including the nearby town of Nagatoro for a river cruise down the Arakawa River or some hiking in the ever-popular Chichibu mountains. Kumagaya itself hosts Saitama’s largest annual festival, the Uchiwa Matsuri.
EventsSightseeingKanto
Sleiman Azizi
November 9, 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
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
While the typical illumination event in Japan is held in the winter, Ina usually has a special illumination event in the summer for everyone to enjoy.
EventsChubu
Koyomi
September 7, 2018
Throughout the season, Kenmi Rafting gives hundreds of excitement-seekers river rafting experiences of a lifetime. Located on the Yoshino River in Shikoku, Kenmi is committed to making sure customers have a fantastic fun-filled trip down the river.
EventsNatureShikoku
Ian Box
August 7, 2018
Welcome to the Great Tug-of-War, the highlight event of the Naha Matsuri, the biggest annual festival in Okinawa, Japan, which offers three days of fun activities and cultural events.
EventsOkinawa
Emily Dickson
July 14, 2018
The Shounin Iwa rockclimbing area is one of Japan's famous limestone rock climbing places near Tokyo. It has around 20 routes for rope climbing, good for beginners to advanced climbers. The routes start from 5.9 to 5.13a on the Japanese Route Grade.
EventsKanto
Czarinah
June 30, 2018
The park’s roses come in packs; a big patch of red here and a big patch of white there. The petals of the roses are made up of so many layers and visitors are welcome to get close with the roses and take as many pictures as they fancy.
EventsNatureSightseeingChubu
Cara Lam
May 26, 2018
Easily accessible from Tokyo via the Joetsu Shinkansen, there are plenty of reasons to pay this part of the country a visit - and not just for the bucketloads of winter activities! Wondering what Niigata has to offer? Here are 15 of the best things to see and do in this part of Japan.
EventsSightseeingChubu
Kim
May 24, 2018
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Sakurajima – Out and About on Japan’s Most Active Volcano
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Takikawa’s Paper Lantern Festival: Celebrating Creativity in Hokkaido
Medieval Okinawa – When the Ryukyu Kings Ruled Urasoe-jō
Kunisaki Peninsula and Its Unique Religious Culture – Rokugo Manzan
Yakuseki no Yu Kaisen – Hot Spring Bath for Health and Body Treatment
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