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2018 Japan Spring Tours

Becki and I are back from our 2018 Japan Spring Tours. We had a great time, met a bunch of nice people and made new friends along the way. It was wonderful sharing what we love about Japan and showing everyone around. Here are some photos of the places we saw during our tours. Enjoy! Read more

Best Time to Visit Japan

Choosing the best time to visit Japan is just as important as choosing your destinations. It could be the difference between a trip of a lifetime or a mild nightmare.
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Kishiwada Danjiri Festival

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, or Danjiri Matsuri, dates back over 300 years and is held every year in September in Osaka. Around 500,000 tourists visit Kishiwada to experience this exciting festival.

Danjiri are traditional floats used in festivals in Japan. The floats at this festival are hand-made from wood and Read more

Hamamatsu Festival 2017

Hamamatsu, known as the windy city, is an excellent place for a kite festival. Every year in May, the 450-year old Hamamatsu Festival, or Hamamatsu Matsuri, features around 170 gigantic kites that take to the sky at Nakatajima Dunes in a beautiful display.

Each kite, measuring 3.5 x 3.5 meters, Read more

Cherry Blossom Viewing at Ueno Park 2017

Cherry blossom viewing, or hanami, is a big event in Japan. Every year, forecasts are released recommending the best time frame to view the cherry blossoms in each area of Japan. There is only about a week and a half to enjoy the cherry blossoms, so the viewing is celebrated Read more

Okayama Naked Festival 2017

The Naked Festival in Okayama, or Saidai-ji Eyo Hadaka Matsuri, is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. Every year more than 9,000 men take part in this 500 year old tradition.

The purpose of the festival is to bring good luck to the participants. The men, wearing only Read more

Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival

Every year more than 200,000 people visit Lake Shikotsu in Hokkaido to view beautiful ice sculptures during the Hyoto Matsuri or Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival.

The ice sculptures take on a beautiful blue color during the daytime and are lit up with multi-colored lights starting at 4:30 in the evening.  Read more