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Would you like to get handy travel tips for Japan and learn more about Japanese culture, food, history, subcultures, daily life, and more? This information guide will help you out!
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Soy Sauce | The Secret to Delicious Japanese Cuisine
Soy sauce is an indispensable ingredient for Japanese cooking. The origins of soy sauce can be found in China, where they used salt and a base of fruit, vegetables, or grains to pickle foods so they could be kept longer.
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Ikebana, a Japanese Art form with a Long History and Elegance
It was in the 14th century that Ikebana arose in Japan when people started arranging the flowers that they offer to Buddha statues. Its concept developed from the desire to express religious feelings in connection with Buddhism.
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Japanese Ceramics and Lacquerware with Great Materials and Beautiful Design
Japanese ceramics and lacquerware are very popular household goods throughout the world. Find out more about these wonderful crafts from Japan.
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Happy National Holidays in Japan
Which national holidays and regular holidays are there in Japan? Here is an overview of Japanese (national) holidays and some other important annual nationwide events.
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Fall-leaf viewing | Beautiful Autumn Leaves in Japan
The period between early November to early December is a great time to come to Japan. You will see gorgeous panoramas that the changing leaves bring, and the tourist crowds are decidedly less compared to summer.
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Manga | the Wonderful Culture of Japan
In the late 1940’s, Tezuka Osamu, the father of modern Manga, began working cinematic effects learnt from European movies in to his cartoons.
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Fun Festivals in Japan (Matsuri) Regardless of the Season
Throughout the year there are many lively festivals, or matsuri, that are held throughout Japan. Which festivals are considered the most major ones?
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Shinto | the Foundation of Japanese Thought
Shinto has been the main religion in Japan since ancient times, centering on the ideas of Japanese intimacy with nature and ancestor worship. Learn the basics of Shinto beliefs!
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Religions unique to Japan
While Japan’s first main religion is Shinto, the second main religion is Buddhism. How did Buddhism come to Japan, and which influence does it have on daily life in Japan?
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The Identity of Samurai and Shoguns in Japan’s Closed State
During the Edo period from 1603-1868, society was divided strictly into social classes, not unlike the caste system in India. The country was ruled by a shogun, who was the highest up in the military of that time.
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The Meiji Restoration in Japan
The turning point for the city of Edo, actually for all of Japan, was the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry’s Black Ships at Edo-wan (now known as Tokyo Bay) in 1853. Perry’s US Navy expedition demanded that Japan open itself to foreign trade.
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Shinto Shrines with a uniquely Japanese flavor
Whether you are in a large city like Tokyo or in a small village in the countryside, a Shinto shrine is never far away in Japan. What are the rules when you visit a shrine?
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Winter Sports in Beautiful Japanese Nature
If you love skiing and snowboarding, Japan is a great December-April destination for you. There are over 500 ski resorts across Japan which vary in size from large resorts to small one-lift shops.
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Narita Airport Transfer | one of Japan’s Leading Airports
If you book a tour package through us, in many cases the transfers to your hotel and back to the airport are included with your tour. If a transfer is not included in your package, if you would like to hire a charter minibus for a comfortable transfer to your hotel please let us know…
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Japan’s Economy Recovering from the Slump
It is no secret that Japan’s economy has been in a slump for the last 30 years. Ever since the Japanese stock market crashed in 1989, Japan hasn’t been able to get back to pre-crash levels until very recently.
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Japanese Ryokan where you can receive warm hospitality OMOTENASHI
A trip to Japan is not complete without a stay in a traditional Japanese inn, also called a ryokan. You will be enveloped in Japanese tradition and culture and welcomed with warm Japanese hospitality.
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Tsunami and Typhoons | Natural Disasters in Japan
If you have followed the news a bit over the last few years, you probably already know that Japan is quite prone to certain natural disasters. Learn more about the rare tsunami and more common typhoons.
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Internet Access in Japan | Traveling Tidbits about Japan
If you want to be connected to the internet at all times during your stay in Japan so you can, for example, use Google maps while on the go or check your emails at all times, then you can use one of the services listed below.
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The Bullet Train | Travel in comfort on the world’s fastest train
The shinkansen or bullet train is one of the symbols of Japan’s technological advancement. It is still one of the fastest trains in the world, but another one that is even faster is in the making…
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Many Kinds of Beers Unique to Japan
Beer has a shorter history in Japan than it has in most of the rest of the world, the reason being having been isolated from the rest of the world and its techniques for centuries. It is not that Japan didn’t have its share of alcoholic beverages before beer made its entrance, as sake and…