When You Wish upon the Stars ~七夕 ”Tanabata”~
There is a traditional star festival that takes place on July 7th in Japan. On that day, people put up a lot of decorations made from origami paper and colorful …
Traditional Culture
Japanese traditional culture
“Daruma” – A Familiar Item To Japanese People
Do you know what this is? It is called “daruma.” Daruma looks scary, but this red doll is very familiar to Japanese people, from little children to adults. Why is …
The unknown sites of Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto
It’s no secret that Fushimi Inari Shrine attracts a great number of tourists from around the world. Everyone knows the iconic vermilion torii gates called Senbon Torii (千本鳥居,thousands of torii …
Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: Part 3
I feel like some of the readers here aren’t particularly excited to see this series of the holidays observed in Japan every single month, but it is my responsibility to …
Let’s Enjoy the Cool Air ~Stay Cool in Japan’s Humid Summer~
Japanese people have lived with the heat in summer since the old days. Our ancestors have always thought about how to live close to nature, and in the summer, that …
The Japanese Guide to Gift-Giving
Just like in western countries, Japan also has a gift-giving culture. However, there are some complex customs and points of caution which I would like to introduce to you. Other …
Let’s look into the inside stories of national holidays observed in Japan: Part 2
This is the sequel to a previous article that introduced national holidays observed in Japan from January to April. Let’s continue our endeavor of finding the significant meanings behind Japanese …
3 hidden spots in the center of Tokyo (Slip back to Old Japanese Houses and Gardens)
When thinking of Tokyo, what picture do you have in mind ? You might imagine a big city with high buildings crammed side by side, rail tracks throughout there, city …
Get wrapped up in Japanese hand towels “Tenugui”
Towels made with cotton are comfortable to use, aren’t they? You use it every morning, right? Today, I will introduce you to Japanese hand towels. How do you imagine Japanese …
Imperial burial mound “Kofun” in Takatsuki, Osaka
Takatsuki is a city located just at the halfway point between Osaka and Kyoto. Both JR and Hankyu express trains stop at it. There are large shopping areas around the …