It is true that there are many historical buildings and monuments in the Kansai (関西) region alone or, in fact, throughout Japan. But how often do you get to stroll through a street with Edo period (江戸時代) buildings without the interference of a modern landscape? A visit to the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living…
One of Japan’s greatest treasures is its huge variety of delicious food. The reason why there are quite a number of dishes in Japan is due to its rich and diverse culture and history, as well as the climates which differ in various regions. Therefore, there is an abundance of different local ingredients and food…
Most people who come to Tokyo visit Asakusa (浅草); it is a hotspot for tourists which boasts wonderful sites, including the famous Senso-ji Temple (浅草寺). Then there’s popular Ueno (上野) – a magnet for culture, with its museums, history, and park. But have you ever heard of Ryusen (竜泉)? It is often overshadowed by its…
Have you ever wanted to dress up in your favorite costume and pretend to be someone else for a while? Perhaps a persona from a different or ancient culture? Dress up as a Japanese courtesan from the Edo Era at Yamato Sakura, a specialty photography studio in Nara Prefecture for that much-needed courtesan makeover. Basic…
Tokyo may be the capital city of Japan but it doesn’t exempt it from natural phenomena. Some of these occurred in the past such as warfare, floods, and earthquakes which affected a lot of valuable and historical buildings in the area. In line with this, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government established the Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum…
Many years ago, in high school, I was a total otaku. I loved JRPGs, anime, and most of all samurai. I have always loved the idea of a lonely warrior who can match wits as well as blades. So, naturally I fell in love with anime such as the classic Ruroni Kenshin series, and when…
To those who are Japanese fanatics, I bet you must have watched Japanese historical drama before. But have you ever wondered what life was like in the past? Have you ever wished to live in that time? If so, why not come and visit Edo Wonderland, a cultural theme park that features the Edo Period?…
Getting to visit Japan is one of the best experiences you can encounter in your life as a traveler. If you are planning to visit, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to a world that’s brimming with both historical culture and mass modernization. But even at this time, Japan has still kept up with its…
If you’re familiar with bonsai (miniature trees), then you probably have come across “bonseki” which are miniature landscapes presented in a black tray. It is an ancient Japanese traditional form of art which uses small dry elements such as white sand, pebbles, rocks and other tiny decorative things. These elements are combined together similarly to…
What do you imagine when you think of Japanese art? Perhaps the typical image of ukiyo-e paintings or ink drawings? There is actually quite an array of historical Japanese art. A great, celebrated Japanese artist named Jakuchu painted extremely vibrant and beautiful paintings throughout his career in the Edo era. In this article, you can…
