Iris in Wonderland Japan: What did you eat this summer?
In summer in Japan, you will sometimes find bento boxes of grilled eel rice in convenience stores, with a poster stating the “doyo no ushi no hi”.
Apparently, this habit of eating eel on the...
Akafuku, Mochi Heaven
The inside-out mochi
It is not exactly known when Akafuku - one of the oldest mochi (Japanese rice cake) brands still going strong today - was founded, but the oldest document referring to its existence...
Japan`s World Heritage Sites: Itsukushima Shrine – Hiroshima
Itsukushima Shrine: The Japanese Benchmark of Beauty
Of all Japan's cultural heritage sites, Itsukushima Shrine is perhaps not just the most beautiful, but the most important for understanding the traditional Japanese concept of beauty.
Known by its 16-meter brilliant vermillion otorii gate...
World Heritage (10): Shurijo Castle
Japan is a land of castles, some like Himeji Castle, which is also registered as World Heritage. But to see the country's most visited castle, you'll have to travel all the way down to Okinawa, for a...
Coming Of Age Day
In Japan, one is considered an adult at the age of 20 and a national holiday - called Coming of Age Day (成年の日, seinen no hi) - is designated on the second Monday of...
Editor’s Pick: Top Three “Little Edo” Streets
For a feel of what it was like to live during the Edo era, one can head to an Edo themepark, but why pay an entrance fee when you can still walk along streets...
Ise Grand Shrine: Japan’s Top Power Spot
A Shrine For The Bucket List
Since days of old, there has been a saying about the Ise Jingu, or Ise Grand Shrine: isshoni ichido wa omairi o, meaning one should worship there at least once...
Watching Sumo Live Up Close–A “Masu” Do!
Watching sumo from the best seats
Just like in any other sport, getting front seats to watch the matches is an almost impossible task. In sumo, these seats are called Sunakaburi (literally translated as "sand...
Toba: A Small Fisherwoman’s Village
The home of pearls and Ama-zing female divers
Most of our readers have probably never heard of Toba, a small fishing village in Mie Prefecture, not too far from Ise Town.
The name Mikimoto however, might...
