The city of Kawaguchi in Saitama Prefecture held a ceremony on October 6 to honor the return of the Olympic Cauldron, which was originally produced there...
Photo: A manhole cover with an image of Hiyoko-chan (Image provided by Ikeda City in Osaka) In the city of Ikeda in Osaka, known as...
In early November, one of the most important ceremonies of the new era is set to take place. The Emperor Naruhito will visit Ise...
“The train does not run through a real tunnel, but it will take you through a ‘green’ one” “When the air-conditioner is turned on and...
You might have heard of ohanami, the wonderfully decadent practice of admiring cherry blossoms in the spring. But have you heard of otsukimi? Japan, in...
The World Heritage site Todaiji Temple in Nara was home to a curious sight on August 7: the cleaning of the 15-meter-tall Buddha statue. ...
This is the season to be jolly! In Japan’s case, that means the season of summer festivals with delicious food stands, shaved ice, stir-fried noodles,...
When I used to come to Japan as a child, my grandma would sometimes look at my thin cotton shirts and exclaim “Suzushisou!” in...
Was it the rain from last night, I wondered? The bird’s chirping echoed early in the morning, while the river mist slowly but surely enveloped...
Here’s a riddle: it looks more like a dice, but in reality it is a fruit. Those who have visited Japan probably knows what...
Nothing says summer more than the coming of one of the most hated insects of all time: the mosquito. But with the mosquito also comes...
The sound of pheasants chirping and frogs croaking filled the air. The rice paddies reflected the blue sky, and the ridges between them...