All About Japan

Vicki L Beyer

Vicki L Beyer

All About Vicki L Beyer
Vicki L Beyer is an Australian-American freelance travel writer who has visited every prefecture in Japan but continues to explore the country. Follow her blog at jigsaw-japan.com.
Tsumugi Silk: Poor Man's Fabric Turned Luxury Folkcraft

Tsumugi Silk: Poor Man's Fabric Turned Luxury Folkcraft

Tsumugi silk is the result of a labor-intensive artistic weaving style that is prized for its supple softness and unique designs.

Learning to Make Japan's Most Durable Washi Paper

Learning to Make Japan's Most Durable Washi Paper

The Kaminosato Museum in Hitachiomiya has a gallery of products made with Nishinouchi Washi and offers workshops for visitors who want to try their hand at papermaking or learn more.

Learning  Japan's Ancient Horseback Archery

Learning Japan's Ancient Horseback Archery

Yabusame is a traditional samurai martial, involving shooting an arrow at a target from the back of a horse galloping at full speed. I attempted to learn this in one day. And so can you.

How I Learned to Wield a Samurai Sword

How I Learned to Wield a Samurai Sword

Spending a few hours, or even a day, at Meihodo, a complex of Edo-style buildings and gardens in the Mt. Aso caldera of Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in samurai culture.

Making Herbal Tea at Oyakuen Medicine Garden

Making Herbal Tea at Oyakuen Medicine Garden

Herbs and other botanicals with healing properties have been used for medicinal purposes in Japan for centuries. I had a chance to learn more about the historical cultivation of such plants, and make my own blend for tea, at Oyaku-en in Aizu Wakamatsu.

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