Japan’s onsen (温泉) or natural hot springs, have been a part of Japanese culture for thousands of years. Traditionally, people with tattoos were banned from entering onsen in Japan. However, in recent years, more and more onsen facilities are declaring themselves to be more “tattoo-friendly”. Here is a list of the top 10 tattoo-friendly onsen in Japan.
Japan’s Top 10 Plum-Viewing Spots
In Japan, before the cherry blossoms come the plum blossoms! Called “ume” (梅) in Japanese, plum blossoms are associated with the start of spring in Japan, as they start to bloom all around the nation in February and March. Here are 10 places that are famous throughout Japan for their incredible plum blossoms.
Your 2019 Cherry Blossom Viewing Guide
Cherry blossoms, also known as sakura (桜:さくら) in Japan, are the small, delicate, light pink flowers that bloom from cherry blossom trees. This springtime phenomenon is breathtakingly beautiful, but also incredibly brief. After only two weeks, the petals of the soft pink canopy, drop to the ground like snow before they wither. If you visit Japan during cherry blossom season, it is … Read More
Purikura: Japan’s Massively Popular Photo Booths
Purikura photo booths can be found all over Japan, and they are immensely popular with both Japanese teenage girls and even with foreign tourists! Where did these super-cute photo booths come from? How do you use them? Here is your ultimate guide to Japan’s Purikura photo booths!
10 English Words That Don’t Exist in Japanese
English is one of the most expansive languages in the world, and compared to Japanese, English consists of quite long, grammar-heavy sentences. Japanese speakers tend to use short, simple sentences and often rely more on context than spoken words to communicate. In addition, Western English-speaking countries and Japan have many cultural differences, and those differences are reflected in the language … Read More
The 10 Most Popular Festivals in Japan
Omatsuri (festivals) are an important part of Japanese culture. In fact, it is said that there are so many festivals held in Japan, that at any given moment, there is a festival happening somewhere in Japan! Some festivals are calm and respectful, while others are lively events attended by millions of people! Here is a list of the 10 most … Read More
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.
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
What Happens During a Japanese Wedding Ceremony
What Happens During a Japanese Wedding Ceremony Have you ever been to a wedding in Japan? Do you imagine a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony to date back thousands of years? You may be surprised to learn that Shinto weddings, known in Japanese as shinzen kekkon (神前結婚), “Marriage before the gods”, did not actually begin in Japan until the early 20th century. … Read More
How to Enjoy Japanese Onsen
Here is how you can enjoy using Japanese onsen (温泉) or “hot springs” when you come to visit Japan.