The Polite Way to Sip Green Tea with Company
When sipping tea with your host, the polite way to partake depends on the kind of cup and the type of tea provided. Are you sure you know the right way?
'Jikabuki': Local Kabuki in Gifu Prefecture
At Aioiza, a small museum and playhouse in Gifu, you can get right behind the scenes with 'jikabuki'—and even try on the makeup and costumes for yourself!
Get Active & Get on the (Japanese) Beach!
In addition to Japanese cuisine culture, the nation's active lifestyle is credited with contributing to its famed longevity. So how do Japanese people stay active?
Small Island Burns for Japan's Early Days
Every year in January, the 800 residents of this small island pray for health and remember the nation's first emperor with a pillar of flame.
A Japanese Home is a (Small) Sanctuary
A home in Japan is a comfortable place that will likely only be seen by a small, select group of people—and probably too cramped to host more than a handful of guests at a time! But this lies at the heart of the 'uchi' vs. 'soto' concept in Japan.
The Only New Year's Postcard You'll Ever Need
Japanese artist Feebee has created an 'ukiyo-e' woodblock print of an imaginary beast combining all 12 zodiac animals. Doesn't matter if it's the Year of the Rooster, Horse or Dragon, you can always send this print for the New Year!
Aizuwakamatsu: Modern City, Samurai Spirit
Join our writer Nick as he travels to Aizuwakamatsu, in Fukushima Prefecture, to get a deeper look at the rich history and culture the city has to offer.
A 'Heart to Heart' Primer on Japanese Manners
First Time in Japan Life in Japan
Manners are a big part Japanese culture and society, but a first-time visitor or new resident will likely be surprised to learn many of these rules are unspoken, but understood. Therefore, we'd like to introduce a few to help you fit in while in Japan.
Explore the Mysteries of Tohoku
If the heavy winter snow or rugged mountains didn’t keep you away, the stories of roaming bandits and forest monsters would! But nowadays people come to Tohoku to explore folklore, sacred rituals and natural wonders thousands of years in the making.
The Secrets of 'Gokon'
What's the deal with mysterious Japanese group dates, or 'gokon'?
You Only Turn 20 Once, so Spice It Up!
For some young adults in Japan, Coming of Age Day is a somewhat solemn or drab affair. But in Kita-Kyushu, it's anything but! We have the lively pictures to prove it!
Get 'Spirited Away' at this Nagasaki Festival
You'll feel as though you've slipped into a Ghibli film as you glide through the streets of Nagasaki in a sea of orange and red lanterns.
The 5 Most Beautiful Villages in Tohoku
Japanese Countryside Tohoku Resorts
Check out Tohoku's most picturesque countryside towns.
The Real Health Benefits of Green Tea
Green tea has long been believed to have health benefits, and nowadays people tout it for everything from weight loss to heart disease. But what does the research actually show?
Tokyo Restaurant Serves Real School Lunches
Wonder what a Japanese school lunch tastes like, but don't teach in a Japanese school? Try this Tokyo restaurant, where you can get both the flavor and atmosphere of an elementary school classroom!
How to Enjoy Tea Ceremony Like a Local
Like many traditional Japanese events, tea ceremony is a treasured cultural activity where manners are key. Before you sit down, here's a quick primer on the rules you'll need to know to properly enjoy 'chado.'
The Most Expensive Sushi Roll We've Ever Seen!
Invite good fortune into your mouth with sushi wrapped in edible gold.
Full List—Japan's Intangible Cultural Heritage
Beyond its 20 spectacular World Cultural Heritage Sites, Japan has 21 traditions recognized by UNESCO as elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Superb Night Views atop Gifu's Mount Kinka
The night view from the top of Mount Kinka in Gifu City, Gifu Prefecture is one of the most spectacular in all of Japan, on a par with some of the country's most popular night views!
Love in Japan: Valentine's Day & White Day
Not content with just one day of affection, Japan follows up Valentine's Day with White Day exactly a month later.
