December is a great time to visit Japan because the variety of magical winter events is unlike anything you can find the rest of the year! The nights light up with winter illuminations all across the country, and there are also a number of Christmas celebrations and markets to enjoy as well. And finally, at the end of the month, … Read More
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.
Osaka To Host 2025 World Expo!
We’ve got great news this morning! Osaka, Japan was selected to host the World Expo 2025, beating Ekaterinburg, Russia and Baku, Azerbaijan for the right to organize the exhibition at which countries showcase their achievements.
The 10 Most Unique Matsuri in Japan
Japan’s matsuri (祭り) festivals are an incredibly important part of traditional Japanese culture. Matsuri are typically dedicated to Shinto Shrines and their divine deities, and because there are over 8,000 different recognized deities, matsuri come in all shapes and sizes! Some matsuri are very quiet, intimate affairs, while other matsuri are notoriously lively and high-energy. Here is our list of some … Read More
The Most Popular Japanese GESTURES!
Have you ever been to Japan? You may have noticed that several of the common gestures used by Japanese people are actually quite different from the ones used in your home country. Here is a picture guide of the most commonly used gestures in Japan, along with their meanings!
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.
Top 10 Events in JAPAN: November 2018
The month of November is a beautiful time of transition in Japan. The leaves change colors for several weeks all across the nation, and the festivals begin to shift from the harvest-centered events of October to the colorful celebrations of autumn leaves and LED illuminations. From gorgeous maple festivals, to entire theme parks lit by millions of LED lightbulbs, here … Read More
Halloween in JAPAN!
Japan is well-known for its love of crazy costumes and candies, so it seems only natural that Halloween would be widely celebrated throughout the country. However, Halloween has only recently become a popular holiday in Japan, and the way the Japanese celebrate it might be different than in your own home country. Here’s what Halloween looks like in Japan!
From Tradition to Today: Japanese School Uniforms
When you were a student growing up, did your school have uniforms? Most schools in Japan do! Japanese school uniforms, called seifuku (制服), were introduced to Japanese private and public schools in the late 19th century. The uniform traditionally consists of a military-styled uniform for boys and a sailor outfit for girls, but Western-styled Catholic-school uniforms are also very common. In … Read More
Pictograms in Japan: Toilets, Tourism, and More!
Have you ever seen a Japanese toilet? With the newer toilets, there are so many buttons and symbols that it can be quite confusing for anyone who doesn’t speak Japanese. Not to mention the fact that depending on where you are in Japan, the pictures on the buttons are completely different! Because the 2020 Olympics are being held in Tokyo, … Read More