Japan has an efficient public transportation network, especially within metropolitan areas and between the large cities. Japanese public transportation is characterized by its punctuality, its superb service, and the large crowds of people using it. Rail travel in Japan is daunting. Sometimes, t...
When talking about Japan, the topic of Japanese cuisines becomes a prominent topic that you cannot be ignored. Japan is very unique in its food. From the traditional to the modern, from the quick to the drawn-out, make sure to try these food when you are in Japan.
For a traveler who selected Japan, he or she must at least should be aware of few Japanese words. Japan is very different when compared to other countries where they use their native language Japanese for almost everything. Traveling in Japan can be confusing if you can’t read the signs or under...
Enjoyable memories and wonderful experiences by not only enjoy a delicious meal but also to sightseeing are essential for your trip in Ishikawa/ Kanazawa. With the list of recommended sightseeing spots below, why don’t you get out and about before you eat? 1. Kenrokuen Kenrokuen is one of the Ja...
We all like to bring back a slice of holiday home and it is great to share our trip with our loved ones. Japan has a big gift-giving culture with for great souvenirs with big variety of styles and price ranges. The Japanese art of gifting is called omiyage, and it is an important tradition
Takoyaki is very popular Japanese local casual food (also called b-class food in Japanese) originally developed in the western part of Japan, especially Osaka. Find places to try Takoyaki in Tokyo!
Dorayaki, is a type of Japanese dessert, Wagashi. It is.. а red-bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste. From Wikipedia Dorayaki might be famous from a Japanese manga and anime character Doraemon. He ...
Christmas is not widely celebrated as religious celebration in Japan, because not many people here are Christians. However, several customs have come to Japan from the West such as sending and receiving Christmas presents and having gorgeous dinner but Japanese have come up with their unique cust...
Japan is famous, worldwide for its monuments and its fascinating architecture and gardens, able to sooth the soul at the mere vision, giving a calm and peaceful atmosphere to everything that surrounds it. Of the many examples that can be given for this unique styles, one of the most important an...
You finally decided to go to Japan: you know what you want to see and where you want to go, you have a plan for everything… except getting between those places. Japan is bigger than it appears on a map of the world, but how should you travel between the cities or islands? Read on
Kanazawa (金沢) in Ishikawa Prefecture is sometimes called “Little Kyoto” (小京都). And with good reason too: it’s an old city, rich in traditional crafts and culture, where the blooming cherry blossoms are stunning, where you can still see a geisha, and where the food is exquisite. In fact, the only...
You don’t need to have ever visited Japan to have seen a Torii, these traditional Japanese gates are so popular in Japan’s culture they have come to be known in the western part of the world as one of the characterizing features of Japan as it is definitely an iconic symbol of the country of
Of the many symbols one can think of when hearing Japan, the Cherry Blossom is definitely one of the most popular. But have you wondered why the Sakura trees and their flowers are so important to the Japanese culture? Let’s find out! The Importance of the Cherry Blossom in Japanese Culture The S...
You have probably heard of “Koi”, literally translated as “Carp” in Japanese. Like me, you probably shrugged and wondered what was so special about these fish before moving onto decide what to eat for dinner. I mean, sure, they’re colorful and big…but so what? It was only until I read about some...
Ukiyo-e (浮世絵) is a genre of paintings and woodblock prints that was very popular in Japan from the 17th to the 19th century. It is a kind of art genuinely Japanese, aimed at the rich merchant class of Edo period. Although at that time the merchant class occupied one of the lowest positions in so...
You may have heard of Nagoya and even considered going there. But then you searched it on the Internet and discovered that it’s famous for the car industry – and because you’re not that interested in cars, you may have dismissed the idea and decided to go somewhere else instead. Wrong! Nagoya ha...
The Japanese writing system consists of kanji (漢字), logographic characters of Chinese origins, and hiragana and katakana, Japanese syllabaries. Kanji were imported from China in ancient times, while kana were invented in Japan as a simplification of kanji. The three systems coexist in modern Jap...
What’s the origin of Japanese language? Despite the many theories, nobody knows for sure. Some linguists argue that it is an isolated language, some suggest links with Korean language or Altaic languages. Despite the lack of definite information about its origins, there is still a lot to be said...
If you have never been to Osaka, the Osaka Castle (大阪城 – Osakajo) is definitely one of the spots you need to visit. Built in 1583, the Osaka Castle has been the center of many historical events, from its birth to the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and today it is a hot spot for
When it comes to religion, many Japanese people mix rites of different faiths in a way that may be considered puzzling by Western observers. It’s not uncommon for a same person to be baptized with a Shintō ritual, have a Christian wedding and a Buddhist funeral. This peculiar approach to religio...
