5 Most Popular Festivals to Check Out in the Kansai Region
Mar 23, 2018 By Justin Hanus
There’s always a famous festival in every country that draws pilgrims, tourists, the one-time visitors and even locals. There’s that exhilarating energy that wafts in the air when you hear the drums booming, the music blaring, the dancing, the merriment and all the energy that is ablaze every time there’s...[ Click to read more ]
8 Most Popular Antique Shops in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
There are a lot of people who have a penchant for antiques or just about anything old that can be used or just put on display in their home. It’s not a cheap hobby considering that these items have values that were appraised for their age and authenticity. Still, enthusiasts...[ Click to read more ]
New Japanese Sports for 2020 Olympics
Mar 22, 2018 By Bert Wishart
[caption id="attachment_34896" align="aligncenter" width="650"] An Olympic athlete waits at a starting line[/caption] The committee in charge of sports nomination for the 2020 Olympics today announced a raft of new sports and rule changes to give the Japan Games a more local flavor. "I am every excited to announce today, that...[ Click to read more ]
Getting Hot Under the Collar at Tejikara Fire Festival
By Bert Wishart
I sometimes worry about the Japanese and their propensity for dangerous festivals. With logs hurtling down hills, submergence in icy water and the violence inherent in the naked festival, it seems quite often that a festival isn't complete without someone getting hurt. I’d like to tell you that the Tejikara Fire Festival...[ Click to read more ]
Sake’ing it to ya, at the Nayabashi Sake Festival in Ngaoya
Feb 26, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Forget Asahi, Kirin or Strong Zero, there can be no doubt that the national drink of Japan is sake. ‘Nihonshu’, to give it its proper title (with ‘sake’ being a term to cover all alcoholic drinks), has been the main tipple of choice in these parts since the Nara period (710 to 794),...[ Click to read more ]
Oagata Shrine Fertility Festival, Celebrating the Power of Femininity
By Bert Wishart
If you have spent any time in Nagoya or its surrounds, then it is a good chance that you have heard of the Hōnen Matsuri harvest festival at Komaki. You, know that one. The one with the huge phallus that gets paraded around the city streets and everyone goes a...[ Click to read more ]
Food & Drink Unique to the Kansai Region
By Justin Hanus
If you're a foodie, a trip to the Kansai region is a must if you visit Japan. Kansai folk love their food and there are many regional specialities to savour. Osaka, sometimes called the 'kitchen of the country', is known for its street food. Two of its most popular dishes...[ Click to read more ]
Kobe’s Nightlife
By Justin Hanus
Are you ready to explore Kobe’s nightlife but are not sure where to go? I have got some great suggestions for you. Kobe has something for everyone in the Sannomiya area and even better, all of the bars are within walking distance from each other. You can easily change from...[ Click to read more ]
8 Things to Do on Awaji Island near Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Island life is always serene and stress free. There’s that come hither idea of jumping on a boat and going on an adventure in a place where time is barely moving and life is stripped to its bare essentials. What better way to spend a relaxing weekend on an island...[ Click to read more ]
8 Most Popular Samurai Castles in the Kansai Region
By Justin Hanus
The Shogunate has been the most influential and highly esteemed form of government that began in Medieval Japan when the Imperial Court announced its birth through Minamoto no Yoritomo. Although the Imperial Palace still existed and headed the religious and bureaucratic leadership, the Shogunate became the de facto form of...[ Click to read more ]
