Special Extended Hours and Light-Up Events for May in Kyoto
Apr 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
As if the incredible weather and the vibrant greens of springtime weren’t enough to get you out of the house, Kyoto’s May calendar is filled with exciting events and special openings to help you make the most of this iconic season. Although temperatures tend to hover at cool and comfortable...[ Click to read more ]
Brazillian Festival Nagoya
Apr 08, 2016 By Ray Proper
Brazilian Festival Nagoya is a little slice of Latin America in Hisayaodori Park, Sakae. You can enjoy a variety of Brazilian foods and products from the many vendors, as well as sports, music, and arts direct from Brazil. Come out and meet the Brazilian community and friends as you enjoy the sights, sounds,...[ Click to read more ]
Nagoya Vegan Gourmet Festival
Apr 06, 2016 By Admin
Among recent arrivals, vegetarians and vegans have it comparably rough in Japan. If there was ever a country set up to be difficult for those with "out of the ordinary" needs, this is it, and top that off with a double whammy of unfamiliar language and foods, then paired with a narrowing of options and...[ Click to read more ]
Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Hiroshima
Feb 22, 2016 By Justin Hanus
For many people around the world, the month of March means St. Patrick’s Day and all of the fun celebrations that come along with it. These days, it’s not just Western countries or predominantly Irish populations of people who join in the cultural festivities. Many parts of the East, including...[ Click to read more ]
Social Opportunities for Spouses in Nagoya
Feb 15, 2016 By
While relocating to another country often turns out to be a wonderful, life-changing experience, there are always traumatic obstacles and challenges standing in the way of gaining that experience. The good news is you do not have to overcome them all by yourself. Everyone who comes to Japan goes through...[ Click to read more ]
Lunar New Year in Kobe’s Chinatown
Jan 26, 2016 By Justin Hanus
As one of the three biggest Chinatowns in Japan, Kobe’s Nankinmachi Chinese New Year celebration is an experience you shouldn’t miss. The New Year Spring Festival, ‘Shunsetsu,’ has been held at Kobe Nankinmachi since 1987, and it is one of the port city’s liveliest events of the year. For around...[ Click to read more ]
Mihara Shinmei-ichi Daruma Festival in Hiroshima
By Justin Hanus
If you’ve spent some time in Japan, you’ve probably come across more than a few of those small, round, brightly colored dolls that sit on shelves and stare at you from one or two white eyes. A bit unsettling at first, these legless, armless, “daruma” dolls are quite charming when...[ Click to read more ]
Sapporo Snow Festival 2016
Jan 20, 2016 By Bert Wishart
If you crave the wintery beauty of ice and snow, you might be interested in the Sapporo Snow Festival, where snow is not in short supply, at least partially thanks to organizers having it shipped in by the truckload. What is the Sapporo Snow Festival? One of Japan's most popular...[ Click to read more ]
Toyohashi Demon Festival 2016
By Bert Wishart
There are many elements of Japanese folklore that instantly grab the attention, but at this time of year, thanks to the upcoming Setsubun celebrations it is probably the 'oni' - roughly translated as demon or ogre - that is the greatest focus. At the beginning of Spring you can often find depictions...[ Click to read more ]
The First Month of the Year, Kansai Style!
Dec 24, 2015 By Justin Hanus
With the holidays over and the winter cold setting in, it can be difficult to find reasons to leave your house in the first month of the new year. Fortunately for people living in the Kansai region, there are too many exciting traditional events and festivals in January to risk...[ Click to read more ]
