The culture of Japan has evolved greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary hybrid culture, which combines influences from Asia, Europe, and North America. The inhabitants of Japan experienced a long period of relative isolation from the outside world during the Tokugawa shogunate, until the arrival of "The Black Ships" and the Meiji period.
Strawberries are one of the many fruits produced all over the world. Strawberries are also produced in Japan, and Japanese strawberries tend to be very sweet and it is possible to eat them raw. One small bite of these strawberries will lead to an expansion of sweetness in your mouth.Generally s…(324 words)
DeepJapan Editor
I've been posting something like the following in various places on the internet, but Deep Japan is probably the most appropriate context for this topic -- because "deep Japan" is probably the most appropriate place to think about these things.The starting point is "now".Now is the only ti…(600 words)
Adam F
Basic etiquette for visiting temples and shrines“One of the best ways to experience the rich culture of Japan is to visit some of its countless temples (tera) and shrines (jinjya). Whether Buddhist or Shinto, these holy sites each have their own unique story and architectural details and are fa…(478 words)
DeepJapan
When I traveled foreign countries, I found some different customs, cultures, and ideas. It is all new to me and leads me more eager to know its deep culture. I will be frequently asked the difference between IKEBANA and western floral arrangement. Here is my works above the pictures.(Lef…(275 words)
Ami
Allow me to introduce you to a term Benkyoukai. The term Benkyoukai is made up of three Kanji Characters and the first one is written as 勉, which means “exertion”. The second character is written as 強and it means “strong”. The third character is written as 会 and it means “meeting, association,…(278 words)
AustinA
Recently selected as a required course for all 900 students in the Harvard Business School MBA program, TESSEI makes cleaning and keeping the Japanese Shinkansen in mint condition for every single passenger, the new textbook benchmark for efficiency and teamwork.Check out this video report on …(641 words)
The Kamo River (鴨川 Kamo-gawa, literally means duck river) is running through Kyoto Prefecture. The riverbanks are popular walking spots for residents and tourists. There are pathways running alongside the river on which one can walk along the river, and some stepping stones that cross the river.…(187 words)
EmiOnishi
Tired of seeing the Japan of Google images? Feeling like you're not witnessing the core unfiltered culture of the country? Here's your next stop: Shimane prefecture. No app filters needed.That's what I kept on thinking during this whole trip organised by TCVB (Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bu…(803 words)
Sam
Japanese people typically wear tabi when they dress up in Japanese clothes, such as kimono.These resemble socks apart from the fact that the big toe is separated out from the other toes. These days most people wear western clothes and few Japanese wear tabi on a daily basis.Musashino Uniform Co…(346 words)
HiraganaTimes
The “undokai” is an annual sports day held at every Japanese elementary and middle school in either May or September. Although schools in other countries also have sports days, the many of the “undoukai” activities are unique to Japan and the event is an important part of Japanese culture. During a…(136 words)
GenS
The Nisshinkan Samurai School“I always wanted to explore Fukushima so I headed north from Tokyo station for a short ride on the Tohoku Shinkansen Toward Koriyama station… I boarded our chartered bus on the way to Nisshinkan Samurai school located in Aizu. It was the most prestigious institution…(572 words)
DeepJapan
Sometimes I wonder how Japanese life stays so placid. Placid in a good sense, like the surface of a deep ocean on a calm day. There is a lot going on underneath but the surface is flat, peaceful and non-threatening. In Japanese we call it "Joushiki" which to me is best translated as "civility" or "…(355 words)
Are you from Hawaii? If you are...help me out here. At Pearl Ridge Elementary School (during the 70s) we went through a footwear boom called "Klonks". It was just around the time that coolots (the jeans type) and those feathered clip-on decorations you put in your hair, were popular. Now, do yo…(611 words)
Rush hours are extreme in Tokyo as well as Japan's other major cities. In order to make this brutal moment of every day less stressful, both commuters and train companies are making invisible efforts.During the morning rush hours, people will get in line and stand in a queue. They will get on train…(449 words)
yumin
This useful tip is for short term visitors and for long term residents, both. If you wish to immerse in local japanese culture, make new friends, know your neighborhood, or simply enjoy a fun-filled evening with beer, pan-fried noodles ("yaki soba"), etc. look out for summer festivals organized in …(192 words)
Samir Bodhe
I will admit that this was one of the most memorable adventures of my first trip to Japan. It is all very interactive and you can actually experience the Edo period lifestyle first-hand. This is a wonderful place to see and take part in the living history and culture of the Edo period. This cult…(223 words)
Dolores
Have you ever experienced the following situations about Japanese products? “After I visited Japan and bought some Japanese products, I want to buy them again in your country… “ “I wanted to buy Japanese product but you could not find in your country…” “I got Japanese souvenir…(636 words)
R2C8
Omiyage is the Japanese social obligation of gifting. It's expected for travelers/guests to bring omiyage when they go somewhere for hosts or when they return home for family, friends or coworkers. It's best when the gift is a specialty product of the region, from which that the traveler is coming.…(226 words)
EmiOnishi
Take a look at this video of a sweet little Japanese girl with her Kanji chart visible in the background singing "Let it Go" for all the world to see. At the beginning you hear her mother say "Ikimasu!" which means "Here we go!"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFpGHF-oJKcWell, that is exac…(540 words)
From June 2014 I have had the opportunity to fly into Mexico for business.Right now Mexico is a hot spot for the automotive industry.Many Japanese automotive companies are in a rush to locate in the Central Highlands in Mexico. The company I work for has a factory in Guadalajara. My job is to…(421 words)
Yuuki I
There would be opportunities to join a community Mochi-zuki making event at the annual year-end/year-beginning season (in Japanese it is called Nen-matsu, Nen-sho). Please ask the hotel concierge or someone who speaks English where your City office is. Then, you can go over to the City office and i…(130 words)
If you are interested in learning about the Edo period, the Edo Tokyo Museum is THE PLACE TO GO. It is a gigantic museum in Ryogoku (by the Sumo Arena) and is probably the most extensive museum on the Edo Period in the world. The best thing about this museum is that it has volunteer English speakin…(93 words)
GenS
Sakura 桜 are all things cherry, everything cherry blossoms and cherry trees. Think of sakura as a season in Japan, the height of spring. When will the cherry blossom start to open and how long will they last? This question is essential for hanami planning and discussed in detail in the media e…(345 words)
David
A general Japan guidebook can be great if you’re looking for general information on Japan travel.But if you’re looking for more specialized, in-depth information, most guidebooks won’t cut it. That’s why we love these specialty Japan guidebooks.*OLD KYOTO: A GUIDE TO TRADITIONAL SHOPS, REST…(472 words)
Andres Zuleta, Boutique Japan
I remember going to a nearby Western Bar in Aiea with my friend from High School and sharing a few “Shots” of alcohol where you pour some mixture of strong and sweet into a little “shot glass” and down it together in one fell gulp.Those were fun and crazy times and the little buzz from that alc…(615 words)
Sushi Lessons with our Sushi Chef at Satsumaya Sushi Restaurant in Fujisawa, Japan.Satsumaya Sushi Restaurant is a well-established sushi restaurantthat has been in business since 1955.Sushi lessons are taught by our 30-year experiencedI tachō (Sushi Chef).Our lessons range from introductor…(262 words)
sushiyanotsuma
Kanagawa-juku is the third of the fifty-three stations of the Tōkaidō. It is located in Kanagawa - Ku in the present-day city of Yokohama Japan. The photo dipicts a series of houses along side of ocean but one of these houses is a traditional restaurant, which serves “Shabu-Shabu” among other d…(351 words)
AustinA
In the Edo period Kanazawa had about the same poplulation as Nagoya.Edo being largest then Osaka, Kyoto then Kanazawa and Nagoya.During WW2 Kanazawa was not bombed and the old scenery of the Japanese culture can be seen today.Higashi Chayagai （東茶屋街） is one of the places you can experien…(173 words)
Yuuki I
Many fans and afficionados of Japanese culture enjoy the traditional arts, pottery being one of them. Many people are aware of beautiful Kyo-yaki from Kyoto or Kutani-yaki from Ishigawa Prefecture, but did you know that Okayama Prefecture boasts THE oldest pottery kiln in Japan?Bizen-yaki began…(404 words)
Andrea Miyata
Japan is a small island nation.Perhaps because of that, they have a gift for to make the original small world.Bento and Bonsai.This experience will be a good chance to know Japan.In the Bento making, You can learn tips of design Bento.Bonsai is a Japanese art form using miniature tree…(133 words)
nyaonyao
Have you tried Japanese traditional summer sweets, “kakigōri” (shaved ice dessert)? Kakigori has been going under great changes in recent years and I would like to bring you up to date about this popular summer sweets loved by Japanese people.kakigōri was already mentioned in the book written m…(446 words)
Tackey