- Did you know that straw is made from a rice plant?
- Nothing is wasted and very eco-friendly Rice is harvested during the fall in Japan. You can see people drying rice plants after harvesting the rice f
- Japanese Customs for January: Happy New Year!
- 1st January to 7th January: the first visit to a shrine Hatsumode, or the first visit to a shrine, is a custom for New Year in Japan. Before, peop
- Trying Ikebana for the first time
- Here we go! This time, I visited the Ichiyo School of Ikebana. They often participate abroad in exhibitions and demonstrations for Ikebana. Ichiyo
- Shichi-Go-San, the Celebration and Rite of Passage for Japanese Children
- It’s a day to celebrate children’s growth. If you visit Japanese Shinto shrines in November, you'll be luck as you will probably see children dress
- Make your own Japanese pottery at “The Takara Pottery Studio Experience”
- It’s easy enough, even for a beginner! Let’s drop by a pottery class while sightseeing in Kamakura. Takara Pottery Studio is about a 10-minute walk f
- “Substitute monkey”, the amulet that’s hung in front of houses in Nara.
- The monkey came to Japan via a silk road!? When you walk around the town of Nara, you’ll notice that there are several stuffed toy monkeys hanging
- Have you ever heard of Kannazuki? It’s the month when all Japanese gods go to one place in Japan!
- What’s Kannazuki? Most Japanese people have heard about “Kannazuki”, but they seldom know what it actually means and what it’s derived from. Kannaz
- Ohigan, the little know tradition of visiting the graves
- Read about this typical celebration for the dead, a unique mix of Buddhism and Japanese Shintosim.
- What is “Respect for the elderly Day“? It’s literally a day to show respect to all elderly people!
- September 21st is the day for it in 2015! Respect your elders! National holidays are always a big part of history and culture in any country. Respe
- How to Enjoy the “Chrysanthemum Festival” on September 9th
- The September 9th and the chrysanthemum flowers are said to bring good luck. Here is why.
- How and where to rent a yukata in Kyoto
- Yukata is a typical kind of Kimono, worn during the summer. It used to be called yukata-bira, which were an undergarment noble people in the Heian per
- Join the Locals and Dance Bon Odori
- Bon-odori can be seen everywhere during summer! Learn more about this tradition and where to see the 3 greatest bon dances festivals.
- Asagao or "morning glory" the beloved flower of summer!
- The beloved flower of summer, the Morning Glory What kind of flowers bloom in your country during the summer? Japan is now in the middle of its sum
- The Japanese Tradition of Visiting the Ancestors' Graves during 'Obon'
- 'Hakai-mairi', or 'visiting the grave' is one of the familial important events during summer. Here is how Japanese people pay their respects to their
- What’s the difference between a Dashi and a Mikoshi?(MOVIE)
- Dashi, A Decorated Festival Float The appearance of a Dashi and a Mikoshi are similar but their roles in Shinto celebrations are very different. As