Osaka Metro Southern Harbor Port Town Line ‘Neutram’ trains are lined up in the Nakafuto railyard, Suminoe District, Osaka City. (Photo by Kenji Suzuki; Canon EOS...
As people in Japan look forward to the annual Boy’s Day celebration on May 5, the Koinobori Matsuri — or carp streamers festival —...
In Ichihara Elephant Country Park (Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture), Yumeka — the 11-year-old female Asian Elephant — stands in front of a white canvas....
As celebrations for Girl’s Day on March 3 drew to a close, you might be guessing that a celebration for male children wouldn’t be far...
It’s the time of year when one of the oldest and most evocative Buddhist rituals takes place in Nara. Starting from March 1, for two...
On March 3 in Japan it’s Hinamatsuri, the girls’ festival where wishes for the good health are made for young females in the family. It’s...
When living in Japan, you might notice that as you approach March 3 the decorations for Hinamatsuri start appearing. During this festivity to wish...
It turns out that wishing for the cold to subside and a fruitful spring to unfold is a more common sentiment than one might...
Tea ceremony still manages to have an inexplicable allure for both foreigners and Japanese. This is perhaps because it’s a ritual performed only by people...
How fast would you run for good luck for the whole year? In case you have asked yourself this question, you might just find...
The Toka Ebisu Festival, known as ”Ebessan” among the locals, has just been held at Osaka’s Imamiya Ebisu Shrine. Every year just after...
The Keio Plaza Hotel screams elegance. With its many branches in Tokyo's Shinjuku district and other locations, it has always delighted guests with...
