Probably there are different ways to spend the New Year’s holidays depending on the cultural background of every country and also on the customs and traditions in your own family. In Japan there is also a long list of cultural things to do during this important event. Here is a guide to how Japanese people…

Summer is the season of festivals in Japan. This hot and humid season brings floating shrines, street food, shaved ice, and yukatas. Summer is also the time for spectacular fireworks displays, and festivals crop up all over the country showcasing big, beautiful performances. This season in Japan isn’t complete without enjoying a fireworks show while…

Summer in Japan begins in June and lasts all the way up to September, and depending on where you are in the country, it can either be a sticky and humid season or a pleasantly cool respite from the colder months. Hokkaido and Aomori prefectures, for example, enjoy bright sunshine and warm weather, whereas cities…

With many places to visit and activities to do during winter in Japan, this cold season is popular among tourists. One of which is to visit Shirakawa-go and marvel at old, snow-covered thatched roof houses illuminated at night. Unknown to many, there’s actually another place in Japan that has traditional thatched roof houses as beautiful…

Nagano Prefecture is best known for the Winter Olympics and for its popular winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. Hundreds flock to this prefecture every winter to stay in ski resorts and enjoy the large snowfall that the area sees every year. The town of Okaya is about half an hour by train from…

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…

Another year is almost over, and no doubt you’re thinking about how to spend the New Year’s celebration while you are in Japan. Christmas in Japan is very different to how it is in most Western countries; people often eat chicken and see illuminations with their partner rather than eat homemade food with their families.…

It is common for tourists to put Tokyo at the top of their destination list when visiting Japan. Tokyo is considered to be one of the world’s greatest cities to visit in terms of restaurants, fashion stores, fish markets, electronics, public parks, and interesting gadgets! However, there are many things you need to consider before…

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…

Temperatures rise, humidity levels skyrocket, and sunblocks and cooling towels are bought and unpacked as summer hits Japan. In the big cities, the clear skies of spring transform to murky gray, Mt. Fuji is nowhere to be seen, and levels of seasonal depression go on the rise. Bugs like cockroaches, mosquitoes, and jumping spiders spring…