How to Enjoy Your Spare Time in Kyoto ～Taxis are more than just a means of transportation～
What kind of service do you think of when you hear the word “taxi”? Is it only as a means of transportation? Today I’d like to introduce you to some …
Author: Yumi.H
The Seven Autumn Flowers (or Herbs)～Let’s Enjoy Seeing Flowers in the Fields of Autumn～
As you know, Japan has four distinct seasons. Each season is very different from the other, so since ancient times, people in Japan have enjoyed each season’s characteristics, such as …
Bon Festival in Kyoto ～How to Welcome and Send Back One’s Ancestors’ Spirits～
Now I’m writing this in the scorching hot mid-July. With August approaching, most Japanese people look forward to the Bon holiday which is the second biggest holiday after the New …
Make the Most of Natsu Doyo (夏土用), the Hottest Days in Japan
Have you ever eaten Unagi, or eel? It looks really delicious, doesn’t it? There is a Japanese custom of eating eel on a certain day during the hottest days of …
Gokigen-you!~Useful Expressions That Make You Sound Sophisticated~
Do you have any plans to visit Japan? Are you interested in the Japanese language? If so, I’d like to introduce some expressions that make you sound elegant, polite, and …
Onigawara, the Guardian Deity of the Japanese House
In Japanese we have the word “Satsuki Bare” that means a bright clear day in May, and we have more opportunities to look up at the sky than on dark …
Enjoy Viewing Cherry Blossoms in Kyoto
You may know that viewing cherry blossoms is one of the most pleasurable springtime activities in Japan. Since cherry blossoms start blooming in the early spring when it’s getting warmer, …
Soul Food for the People of Ise
Have you ever been to Ise, or have you ever heard of it? Ise is a coastal city in the middle of Mie Prefecture. I’ve never lived there, but I’ve …
The 8 Japanese Virtues From My Perspective
When I think of Japanese virtues, I always remember a book, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden(南総里見八犬伝), by Takizawa Bakin. I read it in elementary school, and through the story, I learned about …
Gift-Giving Culture in Japan
I’m writing this article between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, and I have a question for you. Did you have a good time on Thanksgiving with your family and get …