Owara Kaze no Bon Festival
Owara Kaze no Bon: Enchanting evening wind festival
For a dreamlike festival under the darkness of night, the Owara Kaze no Bon will take you on a time slip to Toyama's traditional past.
Unlike many upbeat and...
What do geisha do?
There are all kinds of misconceptions about what a geisha is and what she does. Geisha are traditional entertainers. "Gei" means "art" in Japanese and literally means "person of art". We are dancers and musicians, much...
Know Your Kimono (5) – Kimono Etiquette
You're all dressed up in a beautiful kimono, you're in touch with the seasons and you are wearing everything correctly. Time to make your kimono debut.
Wait! Do you know how to act while wearing...
About Girl’s Day And Hina Dolls
Here in Japan, we are about to celebrate the girl’s day known as Hina-Matsuri on March 3rd. Families with daughters usually display decorative “Hina” dolls in their homes as a way of wishing for...
Tenjin Matsuri: Osaka’s Festival of Fire and Water
If you are in Osaka tomorrow, you can catch this rare scene of a women-only contingent carrying a 200kg mikoshi (portable shrine) at the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street. This is the lead up to Osaka's...
World Heritage (8): Monuments of Ancient Nara
In 1998, eight locations were immortalized as cultural heritage sites: Gangoji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, Kasugaya Taisha Shrine, Kasuga-yama Forest, and Heijo-kyo Palace ruins.
This cluster of Buddhist and Shinto...
Japan`s World Heritage Sites: Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto: A treasury of temples and shrines
With so many gems gathered here, the sightseer's dilemma is knowing where to start! So for the time-strapped tourist, here are the top three "must see" spots.
1....
Awa Odori: Japan’s Biggest Dance Festival
Awa Odori Festival Japan
"It's a fool who dances and a fool who watches! If both are fools, you might as well have fun dancing!"
The lyrics to the Awa Odori's thematic "Fool's Song" are a fitting...
All About Geisha Banquets
Life as a geisha is often busy with organizing events, and as usual, this week I am busy with organizing banquets for the week ahead. Banquets are the main thing that geisha do, but...
Matsumoto Must See Sights
Matsumoto City is probably most well-known overseas for its historic castle, the Matsumoto Castle, which is over 400 years old and a National Treasure of Japan. Nagano's second largest city also has lots else...
