Art, Tradition and Culture Festivals.....................................6-9 Manga and Anime...................10-13 Contemporary Art....................14-15
History and Religion Temples...................................20-23 Shrines....................................24-27 Castles....................................28-33
Nature................................34-41 Food and Drink...............42-47
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Tokai
Kyushu
Hallmark attractions such as Mt. Fuji and Takayama coexist with major cities and famous heritage in the center of Japan.
The southern island of Kyushu is home to hot springs, rugged geography, undeveloped beaches and volcanoes ranging from sleepy to smoky.
Kanto
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Okinawa
Jump from the neon glow of Tokyo to Gunma’s mountain retreats, Kamakura’s cultural heritage and the Ogasawara Islands’ exotic wildlife.
Fly to Okinawa and discover a dinstinct island culture born of subtropical sun, white sand, coral, mangrove jungles and the age of the Ryukyu Kings.
Hokuriku Shinetsu
Chugoku
An easily accessible slice of rural Japan offering unrivaled mountainscapes and coastlines, endless outdoor adventure and amazing ocean fare.
Welcome to Japan’s less-explored western frontier, where the weather is warmer and the pace of life is slower.
Kansai
Hokkaido
The Kansai region is one of contrasts, from the glittering lights of Osaka and Kobe to the cultural treasures of Kyoto and Nara.
Japan’s great white north offers wild, white winters and bountiful summers-a haven for dedicated foodies, nature lovers and outdoor adventure fans seeking an adrenaline rush.
Tohoku Fearsome festivals, fresh powder snow and vast fruit orchards-the rugged territory of Tohoku offers a new perspective on travel in Japan.
Shikoku Island-hopping, soul-warming spiritual strolling, cycling and redhot dancing-the island of Shikoku gets you up and moving.
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Art Traditio
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on Culture
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Festivals
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Namahage Sedo Festival
The Oga Peninsula of Akita is home to namahage,—a kind of demonlike ogre— who roam the region in winter looking for lazy or disobedient children. The Namahage Sedo Festival is a traditional event that began in 1964, which combines the folklore tradition of ‘Namahage’ and the sacred Shinto ritual of ‘Saitousai’ into one main spectacle. Thanks to their cultural significance, Oga’s Namahage were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list in November 2018, to join seven other prefectures similarly offering raiho-shin rites, where people don masks or costumes to become certain deities. https://en. japantravel.com/akita/namahage-sedo-festival/35759
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Nebuta Matsuri The Aomori Nebuta Festival is a Japanese fire festival held annually between August 2nd and 7th in Aomori city. Every year more than 3 million visitors gather for the festivities from all over Japan and abroad to attend. During the festival, over twenty dynamic nebutas – massive lanterns floats based on kabuki or mythical stories – parade through the city of Aomori. On the evenings of August 2nd through 6th and daytime of the 7th, colorfully dressed Haneto (nebuta dancers) as well as flutists and drummers convey the nebuta floats through the city. On the night of the 7th, the nebutas are placed in boats and ferried around the Aomori Bay as fireworks light up the night sky to conclude the festival. The Aomori Nebuta Festival has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Japan in 1980. https://www.en-aomori.com/culture-038.html
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Awa Odori Summer festivals all across Japan fill the warm night air with music, laughter and infectious energy, but few are as lively as Tokushima City’s Awa Odori. It’s the biggest, baddest dance festival in the county featuring colorful costumes and female dancers wearing characteristic folded tatami hats. Annually from Aug. 12 to 15, thousands of dancers and over a million spectators descend on the peaceful city in Shikoku—the smallest of Japan’s four main islands. The festival’s name comes from the ancient name for Tokushima Prefecture — Awa— and the Japanese word for dance, odori. The high-energy and jubilant celebration dates back over 400 years!
https://travel.gaijinpot.com/awa-odori-dance-festival/
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manga and anime 10
A K I H A B A R A
Akihabara, is a district in central Tokyo that is famous for its many electronics shops. In more recent years, Akihabara has gained recognition as the center of Japan’s otaku (diehard fan) culture, and many shops and establishments devoted to anime and manga are now dispersed among the electronic stores in the district. Akihabara has been undergoing major redevelopment over the years, including the renovation and expansion of Akihabara Station and the construction of new buildings in its proximity. Among these newly opened buildings were a huge Yodobashi electronics store and the Akihabara Crossfield, a business complex with the aim of promoting Akihabara as a center for global electronics technology and trade. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3003.html
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Manga Cafes
Manga Cafes in Japan otherwise called Manga Kissa are 24 hour internet cafes, furnished with wall-to-wall manga comic books and videos. Local Japanese who miss their bus home or need an overnight rest place, can rent a cubicle out for the night. For budget travelers, staying at a manga cafe are a unique budget option. ‘Manga‘ are popular comic books made in Japan and the Japanese are crazy about them. The stories can range anywhere from romance, adventure, fantasy, business to racy adult themes. Audiences of all ages read or watch manga in Japan. Some folk even like to dress up and look like popular manga characters!
https://grrrltraveler.com/the-cheapest-budget-stay-in-japan-the-manga-cafe/
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Anime
In its most basic form, anime refers to animation. Interestingly enough, the name itself isn’t an abbreviation of the English word animation. Instead, it’s how you say “animated cartoon” in Japanese. To a Japanese viewer, anime is any cartoon, whether it’s made in Japan or not. Outside of Japan, however, the term anime has come to mean “animation made in Japan,” or more broadly, any animated show or movie that uses signature aspects of Japanese-style animation, like vibrant colors, dramatic panning, and characteristic facial expressions. https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/what-is-anime/
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contemporary art
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Naoshima
Naoshima is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. Part of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean atmosphere, sandy beaches and sunny weather, combined with a laid back, rural feel is a relaxing getaway from Japan’s large urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka. Much of Naoshima’s art was installed by the Benesse Corporation, which oversees art museums, installations and sculptures both on Naoshima and on neighboring islands. Benesse’s museums were designed by the well known Japanese architect Ando Tadao and include the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum and all the buildings of the Benesse House. In addition, Naoshima’s municipal buildings and schools were designed by the modern architect Ishii Kazuhiro. The island serves as a main venue of the Setouchi Triennale art festival. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5475.html 15
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history an
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nd religion
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temples
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Todaiji Temple Todaiji Temple, situated a short walk from the center of Nara, in Nara Park, is Nara’s most popular tourist attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Todaiji, along with Kofukuji and Horyuji, make up the “Big Three” must-see temples of Nara. Todaiji Temple is a complex of buildings that includes the world’s largest wooden structure, the 48m (157 foot)-high Daibutsu-den, built in 743 which houses the 15m (49 foot) gilt bronze Daibutsu (Great Buddha), cast in 749: also the largest of its kind in the world. https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-temples-shrines/todaiji-temple
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Kinkakuji
Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji, the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), built by Yoshimitsu’s grandson, Ashikaga Yoshimasa, on the other side of the city a few decades later. Kinkakuji is an impressive structure built overlooking a large pond, and is the only building left of Yoshimitsu’s former retirement complex. It has burned down numerous times throughout its history including twice during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto; and once again more recently in 1950 when it was set on fire by a fanatic monk. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955. Kinkakuji was built to echo the extravagant Kitayama culture that developed in the wealthy aristocratic circles of Kyoto during Yoshimitsu’s times. Each floor represents a different style of architecture. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3908.html
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shrines 24
Torii
Torii, symbolic gateway marking the entrance to the sacred precincts of a ShintĹ? shrine in Japan. Some authorities relate the torii to the Indian gateway arch, the torana, which reached Japan with the spread of Buddhism. Others connect the torii with traditional gates in Manchuria and elsewhere in China. The torii, often painted bright red, demarcates the boundary between the sacred space of the shrine and ordinary space. Torii also identify other sacred spots, such as a mountain or rock. https://www.britannica.com/topic/torii
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Omikuji Omikuji is a type of Japanese fortune-telling. They are supposed to predict your near future. Usually, many people purchase them at the beginning of the new year and the prediction on it is supposed to be for the next year. Omikuji can be purchased at shrines and temples for between 100 and 300 yen. In most cases, the fortunes are written on a small, white paper and placed in some sort of container. Visitors choose their fortune at random either directly from the container or they pull a random number and get their fortune according to the number. There is no way to tell your fortune before you choose it. Each omikuji is separated into categories such as love, health, and work. They also have a general fortune written onto them.&nbsThey are mostly written in Japanese, but some popular shrines and temples offer them with English translation. https://matcha-jp.com/en/892
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castles 28
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle, also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely considered as Japan’s most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds. The castle is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. Unlike many other Japanese castles, it was never destroyed by war, earthquake or fire and survives to this day as one of the country’s twelve original castles. The castle recently underwent extensive renovation over several years and was fully re-opened to the public in 2015. Himeji Castle lies at a strategic point along the western approach to the former capital city of Kyoto. The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s, and were gradually enlarged over the centuries by the various clans who ruled over the region. The castle complex as it survives today is over 400 years old and was completed in 1609. It is made up of over eighty buildings spread across multiple baileys, which are connected by a series of gates and winding paths. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3501.html
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Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle is one of five castles designated as ‘National Treasures of Japan’ and the oldest five-tiered, six-story castle tower remaining in Japan. Construction began in 1592 of the elegant black and white structure with its three turrets. Inside the castle are steep stairs and low ceilings leading past displays of armor and weapons from the Sengoku Period (Warring States Period) when the castle was built. The narrow wooden windows, once used by archers and gunmen, provide amazing views of the Japanese Alps, Matsumoto City and the koi and swans circling in the moat below. You might wait for a maximum of two hours to enter the castle tower during the peak season of late April – early May Golden Week and mid August summer vacation (obon) holidays. In such cases, numbered tickets are sometimes issued and you can come later with your ticket to enter the tower quicker. The castle is beautifully illuminated in the evening. Every summer Taiko Drum Festival and a Takigi Noh (a play performed by torch light) festivals are held at the site which is also famous for its cherry blossoms in April. https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/spot/matsumotocastle/
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Osaka Castle
The construction of Osaka Castle started in 1583 on the former site of the Ishiyama Honganji Temple, which had been destroyed by Oda Nobunaga thirteen years earlier. Toyotomi Hideyoshi intended the castle to become the center of a new, unified Japan under Toyotomi rule. It was the largest castle at the time. However, a few years after Hideyoshi’s death, Tokugawa troops attacked and destroyed the castle and terminated the Toyotomi lineage in 1615. Osaka Castle was rebuilt by Tokugawa Hidetada in the 1620s, but its main castle tower was struck by lightening in 1665 and burnt down. It was not until 1931 that the present ferro-concrete reconstruction of the castle tower was built. During the war it miraculously survived the city wide air raids. Major repair works gave the castle new glamor in 1997. The castle tower is now entirely modern on the inside and even features an elevator for easier accessibility. It houses an informative museum about the castle’s history and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4000.html
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Mount Fuji, Japanese Fuji-san, also spelled Fuj highest mountain in Japan. It rises to 12,388 fee in Yamanashi and Shizuoka ken (prefectures) o west of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area. last eruption, in 1707, but is still generally class the major feature of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National P CO World Heritage site designated in 2013. https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Fuji
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nt Fuji
jisan, also called Fujiyama or Fuji no Yama, et (3,776 metres) near the Pacific Ocean coast of central Honshu, about 60 miles (100 km) . It is a volcano that has been dormant since its sified as active by geologists. The mountain is Park (1936), and it is at the centre of a UNES-
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Sakura Sakura is the Japanese term for cherry blossom trees. Cherry blossom trees are different from other cherry trees. The main difference is that cherry blossom trees don’t produce fruit. Instead, they bloom with beautiful pink or white flowers each spring. Unfortunately, the trees only flower for a week or two. Cherry blossom trees are an icon of Japan. Some people even call the cherry blossom Japan’s informal national flower. The Japanese school year starts in April, during cherry blossom season. The flowers symbolize good luck, love, and springtime. Since they bloom for such a short time, cherry blossom trees also represent human mortality. They remind us how short and precious life is. Every year, Japanese people track the progress of the blossoming cherry trees. They call it the sakura zensen, or cherry blossom front. The blooming moves slowly north with warmer weather. It starts in Okinawa in January and moves to Kyoto and Tokyo by the beginning of April. As the cherry trees bloom in each area, the Japanese enjoy hanami. This is the tradition of picnicking under a blooming cherry blossom tree. This tradition goes back many centuries. It’s a time of festivals and celebrations in honor of the cherry blossoms. https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-are-sakura
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Okinawa
The Okinawa Prefecture, in the southernmost province of Japan, counts three main archipelagos: the Okinawa Islands, the Miyako Islands and the Yaeyamaislands, forming all together the Ryukyu Islands. I know it can be confusing but try to differentiate Okinawa Island, the Okinawa Islands, the Okinawa Prefecture! Okinawa is one of these places where it is not so straightforward to organise a scuba diving trip. There are so many islands in the prefecture of Okinawa, so many scuba diving experiences, at different periods of the year: it became somehow overwhelming to answer “What? Where? When?� As this was the first trip of a long series to Okinawa Prefecture, I thought a first-timer guide to scuba diving in Okinawa would make sense! https://worldadventuredivers.com/scuba-diving-okinawa-first-time/
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food an
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nd drink
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Sushi
Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes among the Japanese. In Japan, sushi is usually enjoyed on special occasions, such as a celebration. In past centuries, “sushi” referred to pickled fish preserved in vinegar. Nowadays sushi can be defined as a dish containing rice which has been prepared with sushi vinegar. There are many different types of sushi. Note that “sushi” becomes “zushi” in word combinations in which “sushi” is the second word, e.g. nigirizushi.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2038.html
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Soba
Soba noodles are noodles made of buckwheat flour, roughly as thick as spaghetti, and prepared in various hot and cold dishes. Soba dishes are very popular and easily available nationwide. As 100% buckwheat soba noodles tend to be brittle, many restaurants add some wheat flour when preparing their noodles. Depending on the shop, the percentage of buckwheat flour in soba noodles typically ranges between 40% and 100%. Note also that there are a few noodle dishes named soba (e.g. yakisoba, chukasoba or Okinawa Soba) that are not made with buckwheat noodles. More often than not, however, “soba” refers to buckwheat noodles. The most basic soba dish is mori soba in which boiled, cold soba noodles are eaten with a soya based dipping sauce (tsuyu). Many soba dishes are eaten throughout the year, while others are only available seasonally. A special kind of soba dish is Toshikoshi Soba, a symbol of longevity, that is only eaten on New Year’s Eve. Like pasta, soba noodles are available in dried form in supermarkets, but they taste best if freshly made by hand from flour and water. Soba making has long been a popular hands-on activity for domestic and international travelers. The activity is offered by many craft villages and travel tour companies. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2341.html
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Sake Sake is an alcoholic drink made from fermented rice. Often referred to as nihonshu in Japanese (to differentiate it from “sake� which in Japanese can also refer to alcohol in general), the drink enjoys widespread popularity and is served at all types of restaurants and drinking establishments. And as interest in Japanese cuisine has grown internationally, sake has started to become a trendy and recognizable drink around the world. The foundations of good sake are quality rice, clean water, koji mold and yeast. They are combined and fermented in precise processes that have been refined over the centuries. Typically filtered (although unfiltered products are also available), the resulting clear to slightly yellowish rice wines have an alcohol content of around 15 percent and relatively mild flavor profiles, ranging from light and crisp to richer, more substantial, fruity notes. Sake pairs well with almost any kind of food but compliments the delicate flavors of traditional Japanese meals particularly well. https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2037_sake.html
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