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?
While judo and karate are the most popular martial arts to practise outside of Japan, sumo is probably the martial art from Japan that appeals most to the imagination.
Chrysanthemums first came to Japan from China in the fifth century. Chrysanthemum cultivation began in Japan during the Nara and Heian periods (710-1185) when the flower was planted throughout Japan.
The Kumano Shrine in popular tourist destination Kawagoe has three activities that aim to bring the visitor closer to the gods. The activities are a bit physical and even quite fun.