The Shikoku Pilgrimage, also known as the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, is a spiritual journey that involves visiting 88 temples located on the island of Shikoku in Japan. The pilgrimage has a long history dating back to the 9th century,…
Japan’s geography has a significant effect on its weather. Because the islands of Japan stretch nearly 3,000 kilometers from north to south, there are significant differences in the weather. In most of the major cities, including Tokyo, the weather is…
The temperature hardly ever drops below 0°C in the plains along the Pacific coast during winter. In fact it is very often sunny and rather dry. Central and Northern Japan, on the other hand, are highly regarded regions for winter…
Hokkaido is an island at Japan’s northern boundary, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in all directions. The island is gaining popularity as a tourist destination throughout all four seasons. It is an extensive land, accounting for 22% of Japan’s total…
Taking a dip in a hot spring is one experience that every traveler to Japan should try.
Kobe beef is a special grade of beef from a breed of cattle called Wagyu. Wagyu is a breed of cattle naturally predisposed to producing densely marbled beef. Wagyu beef surpasses USDA marbling standards for prime-grade beef. Often referred to…
Japan is a perfect place to finding something that’s unique. More than in most places, the Japanese continue to excel at a wide range of traditional arts and crafts, with regional gift specialties, called meibutsu, renowned for their quality workmanship…
It has been over 400 years since the rise to prominence of the Tokaido – the East Coast highway that linked the new political capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo) with the Imperial seat of Kyoto. Praises of the old Tokaido…
The quaint Enoshima Dentetsu line (“Enoden” for short) is a popular excursion out of Tokyo, giving access to the beaches and resorts around Enoshima Island, as well as some lovely views of the ocean and mountains. Ever since the…
Japan has been renowned for its “anime” (animated films) for decades. Since the 1980s, the undisputed king of this field has been Hayao Miyazaki and his production company, Studio Ghibli. To say Ghibli is famous is an understatement. The influence…
The Japanese have taken the concept of the convenience store (“kombini” in Japanese, short for “kom-bini-ensu sutoa”) and refined it into a concept that might surprise people familiar with the company overseas. They’re clean, the staff are friendly, and they’re…
