Good news for all Studio Ghibli fans out there! Japan has a new attraction coming up that is surely going to be one of the must-visit places in the country soon. A new theme park completely dedicated to Ghibli animation is in the works, ready to be public in a few years. Finally, what fans…

Japan used to be a closed society for 300 years. People in the past were forbidden to learn about other country’s culture. Later on, it became open to the rest of the world and Japan started displaying an undiscriminating love for all things foreign. Such is the case for the Little World Museum of Man,…

Did you know that Okazaki City in Aichi Prefecture is the home of the first Tokugawa shogun of Japan? Besides being the birthplace of a famous figure in Japanese history, it is also home to beautiful wooded parks and temples. The city is also noticeable for its outdoor entertainment areas and residential places with different…

Nagoya is the fourth most populated city in Japan, and it is also a popular tourist place. It has attractions including Toyota Factory Tour, Nagoya Castle, Noritake Garden, the recently opened Legoland, and rich flavored food such as the amazing Miso sauce Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet). These are a few favorite things for tourists! Within the…

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to witness and experience the beautiful Handa Float Festival (Handa Dashi Matsuri) in the city of Handa, Aichi. Only held once every five years, the event in October 2017 was the 8th edition of the festival. This two-day celebration has gained immense popularity due to a similar Japanese festival…

Traditional dances, folk music, and a parade of portable shrines or decorative floats are common to most festivals in Japan. However, in Aichi, a martial art form takes center stage in one festival. Be amazed by a masterful performance of martial arts in the Sanage Festival! History The Sanage Festival or Sanage Matsuri (猿投まつり) is…

Whenever we sleep, we usually have a dream or two, perhaps even more. Sometimes we remember them, sometimes we don’t. If you do remember your dreams, what do you think they mean? In Japan, what started as a dream became a treasured tradition. Let’s find out more about the Miya Festival! History Miya Festival is…

As the sun sets over Aichi’s Kiso River, three boats cast off from the shore of Inuyama. Lit only by a fired lantern, they paddle into the darkness, continuing a tradition over 1,300 years old. With an imposing skyline and an ancient castle as a backdrop, the boats – like fireflies – make their way…

Cabbages! This is the best word to describe Toyohashi City in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture. It is known that Toyohashi has the oldest tradition of cabbage cultivation in the country, so it’s no wonder that you see cabbages almost everywhere when you visit. Not only that, but Toyohashi is also well known for its largest port…

Around the world, the name Toyota (豊田) is most commonly associated with the wildly famous brand of cars. However, did you know that the car shares its name with a city in Aichi prefecture (愛知県) in central Japan? The birthplace of Toyota cars, the city actually changed its name in the 1950s to match the…