culture | Japan City Tour

Ryogoku, the city of Sumo, Japan’s National Sport

Ryogoku is known as Tokyo’s sumo neighborhood. What is sumo about? Where can you go to see sumo wrestlers in action? Where can you eat a dish typically eaten by wrestlers? And what else is there to see in Ryogoku?
Kyoto Highlights and Hidden Gems Itinerary

Would you like to get some ideas for your perfect Kyoto itinerary? We listed our 5 favorite Kyoto highlights along with 5 lesser-known spots in Kyoto that really make you able to taste the local atmosphere in this beautiful city.
Karate, One of Japan’s Representative Martial Arts

Karate literally means ’empty hand’, and it was developed in Okinawa having been influenced by Chinese martial art Kung Fu. Karate is a striking art where practitioners use both hands/arms and feet/legs.
Minimalism Glimpsed Everywhere in Japan

Minimalism has been linked with Japanese culture for a long time, and it goes back to even before Zen Buddhism emerged in Japan which made minimalism here to stay. Learn more about minimalism’s history, and how minimalism is alive today in Japan.
Japanese Religious Culture with a focus on Shintoism and Buddhism

Japan has two main religions, Shinto and Buddhism. Although many people claim to have no particular belief, most participate in both Shinto and Buddhist customs and rituals.
Arita and Imari | Traditional Pottery Towns in Japan

Arita and Imari are small towns that are located in Saga Prefecture. They have been known as towns of pottery for about 400 years.
Yoshinogari Ruins where you can see what Japan was like 2000 years ago

Yoshinogari is an important archaeological site located on the plain of Saga Prefecture. By visiting this site you can get a rough image of a Japanese village of about 2,000 years ago.
Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine where the God of Learning is Enshrined

Dazaifu City is located about 15km south-east from the center of Fukuoka City. Dazaifu Tenmangu is a Shinto shrine and the most important place in this city.
Anime | the One and Only Genre Produced in Japan

The history of the anime goes back to 1907 when many Japanese artists were influenced by Western animation and decided to create specific national content for Japan. At that time this was very difficult because materials were expensive
Koyasan with its Gorgeous Architecture and Traditions

Koyasan is a center of Buddhist study and practice, located in the northeastern part of Wakayama Prefecture. It is surrounded by eight low peaks in Koya-Ryujin Quasi-National Park.
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!
Newly Designed Japanese Money | YEN /JPY

Have you always wanted to know more about the design of Japanese money? We outlined all the different designs of Japanese coins and bills, and explain the historical or symbolic significance of the design.
Hanami | an Event to Appreciate Beautiful Flowers

The main season of the cherry blossoms is from late March to early April in Tokyo, but if you go to the north (such as Tohoku and Hokkaido), it is delayed by up to one month. Also, there are different types of cherry trees that bloom either earlier (e.g. Kawazu-zakura) or later (e.g. Yae-zakura).
The First Tokugawa Shogun

Learn more about one of the most important people in Japanese history, the first Tokugawa shogun. One of our history expert guides summarizes the life of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Tea Ceremony Characterized by Beautiful Gestures and Delicate Taste

The Japanese tea ceremony is called Chanoyu, Sado, or simply Ocha. It is a choreographed ritual of preparation and the serving of a type of Japanese green tea called matcha, along with traditional sweets to balance the bitter taste of the tea.
Tokugawa Iemitsu created an era of peace

The third shogun of the Edo period had an interesting life. What made him the way he was? And what happened to Japan during his reign?
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.
Beautiful Koi fish | a Symbol of Longevity and Strength

Originally from China, it was the Japanese who created koi fish’ beautiful coloring that made them so popular. Where can you see these carps in Japan? And is it possible to visit a koi farm?
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?
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.