Hatsumode in Hiroshima – Shrines to Visit for New Years and the Tondo Festival
Nov 29, 2024 By Hugh Cann
There are two main traditions marking the beginning of the new year in Hiroshima. Hatsumōde is the first visit of the year to a shrine and takes place throughout Japan. Later in the month is the Tondo Festival, which is just in Hiroshima. Hatsumōde The first visit of the year...[ Click to read more ]
New Year Celebrations in Kansai
By Justin Hanus
New Year (Shogatsu) is a time for big celebration in Japan. Seen as a period of cleansing and renewal as well as an opportunity to welcome in the New Year, festivities tend to last from January 1-3, with many people taking this period off work. There are various ways to...[ Click to read more ]
Great Shrines for Hatsumode in Kumamoto
Nov 27, 2024 By Justin Hanus
The turn of the year is holiday time in Japan. People are off work to celebrate the New Year with parties, family gatherings, culinary feasts, and hatsumode. Hatsumode is the year’s first visit to a Shinto shrine (or sometimes a Buddhist temple). It is traditionally made between January 1st and...[ Click to read more ]
National Parks to Visit Near Kumamoto
Sep 30, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Just beyond the borders of the city, the prefecture of Kumamoto is filled with natural beauty. Explore the mountains and forests, with shrines scattered in between, by visiting some of the national parks. Aso-Kuju National Park Spanning Kumamoto and Oita prefectures is Aso-Kuju National Park. It is named for Mount...[ Click to read more ]
Koyo, or Fall Colors in Nagoya
Sep 27, 2024 By Ray Proper
The Japanese are very conscious of the seasons changing around them, often celebrating little, or not so little, milestones between each to mark the transitions between their much-touted "4 distinct seasons." Long sleeve or short sleeve shirts, for example, are there one day but gone the next as the season...[ Click to read more ]
How to Experience Kansai Without a Yen in Your Pocket
Sep 26, 2024 By Justin Hanus
The Kansai region has many great attractions well-known across Japan. However, these often come at a price and you can soon rack up the yen if you want to make the most of things. Fortunately, there is also plenty of free and low-cost fun stuff that can be ideal if...[ Click to read more ]
How to Reach Kobe from Kansai Airport
Jul 29, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Although Kobe has its own airport, it is just for domestic flights. If you’re flying in from abroad, your closest option is Kansai International Airport. Luckily, you have a variety of options to get to Kobe, with journey times ranging from less than one hour to just over two hours....[ Click to read more ]
Where to Find the Straw Hat Pirates in Kumamoto
By Justin Hanus
The creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, grew up in Kumamoto. After an earthquake severely damaged the city in 2016, he started a revival project in partnership with the prefecture to reconstruct the city. To commemorate his contribution, the prefecture installed Straw Hat Pirate statues around Kumamoto. Although there was...[ Click to read more ]
What to Visit in Kikuchi
By Justin Hanus
Kyushu, in general, is packed with great outdoor adventures — from mountains to climb and trails to cycle to rivers to wade in and forests to bathe in. One of the best places to enjoy all these kinds of adventures is Kikuchi. During your visit, make sure you see all...[ Click to read more ]
Luxurious Getaways Right Here in Aichi
Jun 28, 2024 By Bert Wishart
So, the summer is upon us, which means it's traditionally the time to take a break and get away for a while. However, that's not always possible. It could be that the weak yen is hurting your chances of going abroad, perhaps you're too busy with work to make a...[ Click to read more ]
