Have you heard of the Japanese phrase, “shokuyoku no aki (食欲の秋)”? Literally, it means that people have an increased appetite for food during the autumn season, and there are three reasons as to why this theory holds true. First of all, many food items tend to be in-season during autumn where there is a lot…

Hanami (flower viewing) has been a traditional custom in Japan for centuries and is mostly done from the end of March to the beginning of May, depending on the weather. If you are planning on doing hanami with your friends and family during spring, then make your way to one of these 7 celestial spots:…

Looking at lakes can be calming, and even bring you ideas if you are experiencing a creative block. Japan is blessed with a variety of lakes, and the beautiful blue lakes that are in the country are some of the prettiest and they should not be missed! Here are 3 blue lakes in Japan which…

Furusato Matsuri Tokyo 2016 took place at Tokyo Dome for 10 days from the 8th of January to the 17th of January. It is a highly popular event which has been held every year since 2009. One of the most anticipated highlights of the event is the competition to decide the best national local donburi.…

The Seikan Tunnel, which travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait, is the world’s longest undersea tunnel in the world. It serves as a connection between Aomori Prefecture on the island of Honshu and the northern island of Hokkaido. It was built in the 20th century with a length extending to 53.85 km. The tunnel can be…

There are a few places in every country which although, sound very interesting, they do not get an influx of tourists but instead, are visited by adventure-seekers or deep travelers. When many people hear Japan, major cities like Tokyo or Kyoto typically spring to mind. Japan has a lot of lesser-known and unfamiliar places that…

Japan has plenty of festivals and almost every other day, there is something or the other happening in Japan. It makes us think Japanese culture is truly a culture of celebration. Japanese festivals are often based around an event with food stalls, entertainment and carnival games to keep everyone entertained. Usually, they are based around…

Every year during the Nebuta Matsuri Festival a contest is held for the coveted Nebuta Grand Prize. According to the director of Sunroad Aomori, Kushibiki Junji who led his team to the title in 2011, the participants are not only judged on their festival floats, but also on the way the group breathes life into…

Whenever the topic of Japanese festivals (matsuri 祭り) is brought up, the season which usually comes to mind first would be summer when many gather in their yukatas and clogs to visit food stalls selling various delicacies and game stalls offering entertainment for people of all ages. The festivals usually end with fireworks illuminating the…