Where to Learn About the Hiroshima Bombing
Mar 26, 2024 By Justin Hanus
Hiroshima is probably the place more associated with bombing than anywhere else in the world due to the 1945 atomic attacks that destroyed large parts of the city center and left over 200,000 dead. Today, it’s a growing and thriving prefecture that has emerged from the shadows of this tragedy,...[ Click to read more ]
What to Expect from the Reopened Kansai International Airport
Mar 25, 2024 By Justin Hanus
After closing for renovations in 2021, the international terminal of Kansai International Airport reopened in December 2022. This was its first major renovation since it opened in 1994. A variety of new restaurants and shopping areas await travelers visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and other cities in Kansai. Greater Capacity The...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips – Kanazawa
Feb 29, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Nestled along the western coast of Japan, Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture is a great example of modern Japan settling side-by-side with its history. It is a city that retains much of its classic samurai-era charm through its labyrinthine and meticulously preserved historical districts. It is also a city of surprisingly...[ Click to read more ]
Where to Go in Hiroshima for Unique Amulets and Votive Tablets
Jan 31, 2024 By Justin Hanus
A modern way to attract visitors to a particular shrine or temple is to offer amulets and votive plaques. Each is a representation of the place, meaning it can be a great reminder about where you visited. Some of the amulets and votive plaques available from the shrines and temples...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips – History, Heritage, and Natural Beauty in Toyokawa
By Bert Wishart
About 75 minutes east of Nagoya, in the Mikawa Bay region, lies Toyokawa, a small city with a lot of spirituality and individuality. Though it is generally overlooked by the tourism industry as little more than a once-industrial town, it is in fact an area known locally for its rich...[ Click to read more ]
Himakajima – Aichi’s Octopus Island
Jan 29, 2024 By Bert Wishart
Have you ever wondered what the planet would look like if it was taken over by octopuses? No? Ah, well that kind of messes up my introduction to this article. But let's imagine you had said yes, because I would now say 'Well, imagine no more, just head over to...[ Click to read more ]
Samurai Tourism in Kumamoto
Dec 27, 2023 By Justin Hanus
Kumamoto was historically an important samurai town, signs of which still exist today. In fact, there’s now an industry around samurai tourism in Kumamoto. This includes several half- and full-day tours, offered by professionals. Samurai Experience Tour An exclusive option is the Samurai Experience Tour. Provided by a national government-licensed...[ 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 that...[ Click to read more ]
Hatsumode in Nagoya – Shrines to Visit for New Years
By First Admin
Oshogatsu, or New Year, is the most important holiday in Japan. Businesses shut down from January 1 to January 3, and families gather to spend time together. During the New Year, most places around Japan look like ghost towns, as children fly kites, play card games or count their otoshidama...[ Click to read more ]
The Wild Dolphins of Amakusa
Nov 28, 2023 By Justin Hanus
The Amakusa Islands in Kumamoto are known for their unique culture, interesting geological formations, beautiful green hills — and, most importantly, the wild dolphins that live just off the shore. Estimates put the number of Minami bottlenose dolphins (also called Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins) in the area at 200 to 300....[ Click to read more ]
