Posts

Golden Week in Japan

Golden Week in Japan is a week-long holiday that lasts from the end of April to the beginning of May each year. The holiday week is actually a combination of four different holidays, strung together during the same week. Read more

Hirayu Onsen in Takayama

Hirayu Onsen is believed to have been used since the late 16th century, during the Sengoku period. It was the first village in the area to be designated a national hot spring resort in 1964.
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Rikugien Garden in Tokyo

Rikugien Garden was constructed in the 18th century and is considered to be one of the two great gardens of the Edo period. Read more

Historic Villages of  Shirakawago and Gokayama

Historic villages of  Shirakawago and Gokayama are a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for their traditional farmhouses with thatched roofs. The roofs are made without using a single nail and are designed to withstand heavy snow. Read more

A Guide for Bringing Medication to Japan

Bringing medication to Japan can be dangerous, as even some common prescription and over-the-counter drugs are illegal. Read more

White Day in Japan

White Day in Japan falls on March 14th and it’s a day when men receive sweets. Candy, cookies, marshmallows, macarons, and white chocolate are common sweets given on White Day.
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The Village of Asuka, Japan

Nara is considered the first official capital of Japan. But before Nara, there was Asuka. The Asuka period ran from 592 to 710 AD, and this area is often considered to be the first capital of Japan. Read more

Drinking Age in Japan

The legal drinking age in Japan has been a hot topic since the law of being an adult changed from 20 to 18 in April 2022. Even though the law changed, there are still many things that can’t be done until you’re 20 years old.
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The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House

Set in Gion, Kyoto’s geisha quarters, The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House, depicts the daily life of geisha and maiko. This heartfelt drama by Hirokazu Koreeda is the best, most realistic depiction of the secret world of geisha I’ve ever seen. Read more

Namahage Sedo Festival in Akita

The Namahage Sedo Festival is one of the Michinoku Five Great Snow Festivals and is held at Shinzan Shrine on the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture. The festival is held every year on the second weekend of February and runs from Friday through Sunday. Read more