How to Get the Most Out of Fireworks in Japan
Summer Festivals Greater Tokyo
One of the centerpieces of the Japanese summer is the fireworks festivals that run through July and August. Find out how to get the most out of the experience!
Gion Matsuri: A Party Worthy of the Gods
Held throughout the entire month of July, Kyoto's Gion Matsuri is the most famous festival in all of Japan.
Gazing Across the Sea into Japan’s Past
Two castles peer out into the sea from Saga Prefecture’s picturesque coastal city of Karatsu.
Tohoku's 3 Great Summer Festivals
Summer Festivals Tohoku Resorts
Head to northern Japan this summer for huge glowing floats, giant poles covered in lanterns and streets festooned with positive wishes for the future.
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.
How Akita Warms the Winter
See life in Akita through the eyes of elementary school students as this snowbound town prepares for its winter balloon festival. If you've ever lived in small-town Japan, we challenge you not to cry.
10 Events to Attend During Golden Week 2016
2016 is a golden year for Japan's big Golden Week holiday. Not only can you catch a few traditional annual Golden Week events, but also some pretty rare ones as well!
4 Great Reasons to Visit Sendai
The largest city in Tohoku, Sendai is steeped in the history of Date Masamune, known as the 'one-eyed dragon.'
4 Lesser-Known Tohoku Summer Festivals
Summer Festivals Tohoku Resorts
Head north to see hundreds of riders in samurai armor recreate 1,000-year-old training techniques!
March 3: Girls' Festival
March 3 is a special day in Japan: it's the day of the Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Festival. On this day, girls are celebrated and families pray for their health and prosperity.
How to Enjoy Studying Abroad in Japan
Follow this dancing girl all through her amazing study abroad experience in Japan, and be sure to watch for some stunning respect from a well-antlered deer!
Yukata 101
What's a 'yukata'? And more importantly, how do you put one on? Better find out before summer festival season arrives!
Experience the Onbashira Festival—Safely!
This Nagano festival frequently results in deaths when it’s held every six years. Now you can experience the ride firsthand—and safely—at any time of year.
Daimon-ji Festival & Floating Lantern Tour
Spend your summer the Kyoto way by participating in two traditional summer events with great cultural significance!
Our 5 Faves from Kagoshima
Festivals, beautiful scenery, food, culture and fun! You'll never get bored in Kagoshima.
Akita Nairiku Line: Winter Wonderland by Rail
Through the heavy Akita snowfall, a train with one or two cars makes its way across bridges that span deep valleys and through tunnels that burrow into the heart of the mountains of the region.
Getting a Visa for Japan
First Time in Japan Life in Japan
Want to come to Japan but don't know where to start? Here's our quick overview of the visa process. Check it out, apply, and pack your bags!
Portable Shrines of a Monstrous Proportion!
These giant portable monster shrines took over Ueno Park to dazzle and frighten all.
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.
Ofusa Kannon Wind Chime Festival
Feel cool in the summer heat at this unassuming temple in Nara.
