Highlighting Japan
The Oldest 'Washi' Production Center in Japan
Explore the process of making traditional Japanese paper in Echizen City, known as the oldest producer of 'washi' in all of Japan.
What is Tanabata?
Also known as the Star Festival, Tanabata is traditionally held on the seventh day of the seventh month of the old lunar calendar, celebrating the legend of the one day of the year when the deities Hikoboshi and Orihime are allowed to meet.
What is Obon?
Obon is a summer event during which people welcome the spirits of their ancestors back home. It's considered Japan’s most significant occasion next to New Year’s, but the customs followed can vary considerably by region.
Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo
This museum beside Izumo-taisha Grand Shrine attempts to unravel the mysteries of one of the most important religious sites in all of Japan.
7 Lesser-Known Art Galleries You Should See
In Japan you can find delicate scrolls, exquisite pottery and incredible kimono art along with works by Yoshitomo Nara, Henri Matisse or Pablo Picasso—you just need to know where to look!
Kyushu National Museum
Visit Japan's first new national museum in more than 100 years, and see through a stunning range of exhibits how Asian cultures influenced the development of Japan.
Yamagata: Rivers of Ice & Snowy Onsen
Established in the 1400s as a silver mine, Ginzan Onsen reached its height in the 1600s. After the silver was gone, the population thinned, but the hot springs were still known as a place for therapeutic bathing.
Mount Fuji Tourist Info
Find out when to climb, where to climb from, and what else you can do in the area! Oh—and don't miss the fireworks!
June 1: The Day the Uniforms Change
In Japan, there's a custom observed in June known as 'koromogae,' which involves the changing of school uniforms and work clothes to accompany the change of the seasons.
Gardens, Waterfalls & Onsen in Ibaraki
Ibaraki is home to Kairakuen, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, as well as Fukuroda-no-Taki waterfalls, which crash down 120 meters of terraced rock in an awe-inspiring spectacle of beauty and sound.
A Walk through Tokyo's Great Outdoors
Believe it or not, beyond the concrete jungle, Tokyo is home to a World Natural Heritage Site, where treasured natural environments still remain.
Hike the Mackerel Highway
Back in the day, getting ocean fish to Kyoto was back-breaking work. You can still hike the 1,300-year-old path that brought mackerel to the ancient capital.
Japan's Robots: Past, Present & Future
Dr. Kazuhito Yokoi, director of the Intelligent Systems Research Institute in Tsukuba, outlines where robots are going.
A Leg-Powered Wheelchair?!
Developed in Sendai, the Profhand wheelchair uses neuromodulation technology to allow people with partial mobility to move the device with their legs, increasing strength and helping stave off immobility.
How Kitakyushu Brought Water to Cambodia
For more than a decade, Kitakyushu's Water and Sewer Bureau has worked with Phnom Penh's Water Supply Authority to bring sustainable, drinkable water to the people of Cambodia's capital.
Subculture Fashion in Shibuya & Harajuku
Tokyo’s Shibuya and Harajuku districts have given rise to numerous fashion trends. Much of Japanese style can be grasped by examining the past and present of these districts, and the uniquely Japanese subcultures they have spawned.
Treasures on Land, Riches from the Sea
Studded with small bays and inlets, the peninsula known as Ise-Shima—the venue for the 2016 G7 Summit—is a utopia for those seeking a glimpse of classical Japan, from the expansive environs of the sacred shrine of Ise Jingu to the bounty of the ocean.
Sado: Isle of Gold, Sake & Natural Wonders
Sample sake, ride a tub-shaped boat, and pan for—real!—gold on Japan's sixth-largest island.
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
The immaculately preserved Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is recognized as one of the most charming merchant’s quarters in all Japan. Located in Okayama Prefecture, local museums also feature masterpieces by El Greco, Monet and Picasso.
