All About Japan All About Japan

Fresh start every Monday!

5 Fun Festivals in Japan's National Parks

Japan's national parks are not only sites of natural beauty, but long-inhabited locales where the local people have developed both new and longstanding traditions for showing their thanks for nature's bounties.

Aomori Nebuta Festival

The Aomori Nebuta Festival enthralls millions of visitors every year from August 2 to 7, with brightly lit, intricate and boldly colored floats known as nebuta.

Final Fantasy Snow Sculpture Heats up Hokkaido

Hokkaido's Snow Festival seems to outdo itself every year, but this sculpture featuring characters from 'Final Fantasy XIV'—complete with a project mapping light show—takes the cake, kupo!

Capturing Tohoku's Summer Passion

In 2017, All About Japan sent a team up to Tohoku to capture some this northern region's summer vibe. From its craggy coasts and crater lakes to plunging falls and samurai festivals, there was plenty of energy to go around!

The 5 Biggest Snow Festivals in Tohoku

Check out Tohoku's Five Great Snow Festivals and see how the region's long history of culture and tradition brings the frozen to life!

Kyoto's Aoi Matsuri (May 15)

The Aoi Matsuri is one of Japan's most enduring festivals. Held every year in Kyoto on May 15, it has an enduring history that dates back to the Heian Period.

Hanagasa Matsuri: Grab Your Flower Hat!

While Yamagata Prefecture may be locally known as the land of cherries, it's also home to a rather unique flower hat festival!

Japan vs. China — Preserving Traditional Roots

Japan and China share traditional roots, but Japan preserves those roots to the present day.

10 Reasons to Visit Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi Prefecture is an incredible travel destination that is overlooked far too often. With a rich cultural identity, incredible landscapes and architectural marvels, delicious food and more, check out why it should be at the top of your itinerary!

Akagawa Festival Lights Up The Night

These stunningly skillful creations have some saying they look like they’re projection mapped, but it’s all master-level pyrotechnics.

The Big Tokyo Travel Guide

Tokyo is a city of old and new, where modern skyscrapers rise up from the remains of centuries-old castle walls. The Big Tokyo Travel Guide will help you find whatever you're looking for in Japan's capital city.

Noge: Yokohama's Hub for Cheap Drinks

With some 500 drinking establishments just 10 minutes south of Minato Mirai, the Noge area is 'the' spot to hit for a cheap drink in Yokohama.

10 Incredible Places to Visit in Hida Takayama

If you want to visit a place in Japan with true traditional and rural elements, then you should go to Takayama. It's one of the rare cities in Japan with a wonderfully preserved old town.

The Sendai Tanabata Star Festival

We're seeing stars at the Sendai Tanabata Star Festival!

Tokyo Rainbow Pride Guide 2018

Tokyo Rainbow Pride, an annual event taking place in Tokyo every year since 2011, has become a celebration of diversity and more inclusivity for all colors of the sexuality rainbow.

Experience the Beauty of Japan in 8K Video

From the rugged mountains of Hokkaido and verdant forests of Kyushu to spectacular festivals of Aichi and the Tokyo skyline, this video stunningly captures the beauty of Japan in under three minutes.

Hoof It to Soma-Nomaoi Festival in Fukushima

Head down to the Soma region of Fukushima to witness a thousand-year-old festival that's still a barrel of fun today.

Enjoy Cross-Cultural Festivals at Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park is one of the largest and most popular of Tokyo's green spaces, and is a hotspot for events that celebrate culture from Japan and around the globe. Here's a quick guide on the various cross-cultural celebrations in Yoyogi over a year.

Hokkaido Flowers Spring into Bloom

The often-overlooked Doto region of Japan’s northern island Hokkaido is off the beaten path, but should be on your itinerary. Spring starts a little later, treating visitors to beautiful flowers reminiscent of cherry blossoms.

5 Great Things to See in Akita City

Akita City is not often at the top of anyone's list of places to visit, but that's unfortunate because it has a rich history and culture that includes a lively festival and a famous artist.

know-before-you-go