Would you stay at a hotel where you were greeted by a dinosaur at the front desk? What about a capsule hotel that looks like a pod from a spaceship? Sure, when you visit Japan, there are loads of regular hotels available for you to stay at. But, why not get the most out of your experience, and stay in one … Read More
Japan Top 10: Best Places to See Autumn Leaves
Autumn is a truly magical time to be in Japan. From late September through mid December, the fall leaves in Japan reach their peak colors, which is called kōyō (紅葉) in Japanese. People all over the country love to visit places where the kōyō is especially beautiful. Here’s our list of the top 10 places to see the beautiful autumn leaves in Japan.
Japan’s Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日)
Every year around mid-end of September, in time with the autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, Japan observes a national holiday called Autumnal Equinox Day (秋分の日). This day has been a public holiday since 1948, and it actually celebrates more than just the changing of the seasons. Here’s the things you may want to know about Japan’s Autumnal Equinox Day!
Valentine’s Day in Japan
February 14th is Valentine’s Day! In Japan, Valentine’s Day is a chance for women to show their appreciation to the different men in their lives. Here’s what the massive $800 million Valentine’s Day industry looks like in Japan.
Setsubun: Japan’s Bean-Throwing Festival
In just a few days, everyone in Japan will be celebrating a holiday called Setsubun, which involves people throwing roasted beans at people wearing masks in a ritual meant to ward off evil spirits! Here’s everything you need to know about Japan’s centuries-old Setsubun holiday.
How to Write Your Name in Japanese (Katakana)
If you’re learning Japanese, one of the first things you should learn is how to introduce yourself! And you can’t do that unless you know your name in Japanese, right? Here is how to write your name in Japanese!
10 Famous Japanese Proverbs
It’s quite likely that you have heard the phrase, “fall down 7 times, get up 8”. But did you know that it originated as a Japanese saying? Nana korobi yaoki (七転び八起き), which translates to “7 falls, 8 rises” is a very well-known kotowaza (ことわざ), or proverb. Here is our list of 10 more famous Japanese proverbs.
The “Silver Week” Holidays in Japan
You may have heard of Golden Week in Japan, but how exactly is Silver Week different?
Top 10 Best Places to See Hydrangea in Japan
Every year in June, along with the rainy season, pretty clusters of colorful hydrangea flowers bloom across Japan. The beautiful flowers are called ajisai (あじさい、紫陽花) in Japanese. Some places are even famous for the incredible number and variety of hydrangea flowers. Here are 10 popular hydrangea-viewing spots in Japan!
How To Speak Casual Japanese ~7 slang expressions
When you speak casual English to friends, you don’t use perfect grammar and full sentences like you would when writing a paper, correct? Japanese is the same way. When speaking conversational Japanese, people rarely use the exact words and long phrases that you’d find in a textbook. Here is a 5-minute mini lesson to help you speak Casual Japanese.