Bingata: Okinawan Coral Prints

Okinawa has a rich and unique island culture that makes it stand apart from other prefectures in Japan. Once its own kingdom, it brought many of its cultures and crafts into the Japanese consciousness, including its own styles of dyeing cloths known as Bingata.

Kyoto Railway Museum

Trains make up a very integral part of life here in Japan, and there are plenty of train museums to go around. During a trip to Kyoto, we decided to take the plunge and go full train mode and learn a bit more about railway history and see a visiting celebrity!

Japanese Voodoo Dolls: Wara Ningyo

Have you ever hated someone so much that you constructed multiple dolls, stayed up until the dead of night, snuck into a temple, and nailed those bad boys to sacred trees to call harm and misfortune to your enemies? No? Yes? Cursing others seems to be pretty universal across cultures, so why not learn about […]

Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama

If you ask anyone about hot springs, or onsen, in Japan, a few key locations will inevitably pop up. One such place is Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest and most celebrated on the rural island of Shikoku.

Nagamachi Samurai District in Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a treasure in Japan: It’s one of my favorite cities, beaten only by the likes of Hiroshima. One of the coolest parts of Kanazawa has to be its incredibly well-preserved samurai district, where the famous warriors once lived back in the Edo period.

Boats at Kinugawa Onsen

Kinugawa Onsen is a small town out in Tochigi with a penchant for outdoor paths, hot springs, and trips down the scenic Kinugawa, or Kinu River.

Is A Fox Demon on the Loose in Japan?

Imagine you are a Japanese person, taking a walk in nature around a mythical field when you notice that the seal containing a very powerful demon has broken. What do you do?

Michelin Star Japanese Kaiseki Cuisine: Manakamerou

Japan has no shortage of Michelin Starred restaurants, but the true test comes in finding those that have these coveted stars and serve some of the finest Japanese cuisine. Enter Manakemerou in Kyoto, which serves the Japanese-style Kaiseki Cuisine!

Radio Taiso and The Radio Exercise Trend

This one is a little wild: How does doing morning stretches radicalize a nation? Well, it’s not just the exercises, but it is one layer to an odd and fascinating relationship to stretching that developed in the 20th century here in Japan.

The Trams of Hiroshima

Sometimes better known by its official name, the Hiroshima Electric Railway, the trams in Hiroshima has had a rough history: From a rocky beginning to a devastating loss to a difficult reconstruction, the tram survives today as a living, working part of the history of Hiroshima.