Firewalking at Miyajima 2018
Oct 29, 2018 By Matt Mangham
Japan has a slew of fire rituals, the most famous of which being Kyoto’s famous Daimonji Festival. These festivals, leveraging ancient notions of purification and renewal, continue to draw people even in the modern world. In Hiroshima, November offers two chances for visitors to experience ‘Hiwatari,’ or firewalking. The first...[ Click to read more ]
Get the Seishun 18 Kippu and See Japan on the Cheap!
Oct 26, 2018 By Bert Wishart
If there is one thing that Japan does well it is train travel. While the locals take it for granted that trains will be clean, safe and punctual, many of us know that this is not necessarily the norm in other nations. Another fantastic aspect of Japanese travel is the fact...[ Click to read more ]
Castles in and Around Nagoya
Oct 24, 2018 By Bert Wishart
[caption id="attachment_31317" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Inuyama Castle[/caption] When it comes to reputation for historical importance, Nagoya and Aichi are often unfairly maligned when compared to other Japanese cities such as Osaka, Kyoto and, of course, Tokyo. However, the region played an essential part in the creation of the nation, being the...[ Click to read more ]
Day Trips: Miyama, Kyoto’s Mountain Retreat
Oct 15, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Just 30 kilometers from the hustle and bustle of the tourist mecca that is Kyoto city sits Miyata, a beautiful little hamlet that could have come straight out of Edo era Japan. Remote, rural and nestled into the mountains, Miyata is famous for its traditional, thatched roof (kayabuki) farmhouses of which...[ Click to read more ]
Free Places to Visit During the Nagoya Festival
Sep 27, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Nagoya has a long and rich history, and The Nagoya Festival is a great time to celebrate this great city in which we live. Of course, the parade through the town is the festival's greatest spectacle, but you may be surprised to know that there are also plenty of other...[ Click to read more ]
Discovering Japan at the Japanese Folk Festival and Cultural Fair
By Bert Wishart
One of the great pleasures of living in Japan is discovering the wide array of cultural differences that we encounter. From arts to food to ways of life, it is difficult to overstate how not only different, but also amazing, this country's cultural heritage is. Another delight is how proud...[ Click to read more ]
Farm Tours in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
The Land of the Rising Sun is known for the freshest produce and beef. Quality is always a top concern here, and the Japanese painstakingly and continuously develop processes to ensure their products are the epitome of excellence. Wherever the produce is from, sea, plains or mountains, we are assured...[ Click to read more ]
Popular Cruises from Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Traveling from one city to another, one country to another and one island to another is one of the most leisurely and most exciting adventures ever. You can go backpacking, hiking, fly from one destination to another or of course, ride a cruise ship to visit several places in just...[ Click to read more ]
Saijo Sake Festival in Higashi Hiroshima
By Matt Mangham
In early October of every year, Hiroshima Prefecture’s Saijo town (part of Higashi-Hiroshima) lets its hair down for a massive, two-day block party. One of Japan’s three premier sake-brewing locales, Saijo is proud of its history. About thirty kilometers east of Hiroshima City, the town’s brewing industry claims roots reaching...[ Click to read more ]
Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival near Hiroshima
Sep 26, 2018 By Matt Mangham
If you missed the Onomichi Lantern Festival on the 13th, or you were blown away by it and wanted more, the Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival may be just what you’re seeking. These autumn lantern and candle festivals are increasingly popular around western Japan since they’re such an excellent way to...[ Click to read more ]
