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Japan is famous for its four distinct and breathtaking seasons. Though the cherry blossom in the spring is probably the most iconic, for many the fall is just as beautiful.
As temperatures dip after the scorching summer, the colors of the leaves change into vibrant shades of orange, red, yellow, and brown. It’s a magnificent sight which has inspired artists and poets for centuries.
Halloween continues to grow in popularity in Japan. It burst onto the scene in 2000 when Disneyland Tokyo hosted its first Halloween event. It was a triumph and other theme parks followed suit. Now Halloween is one of the biggest events on the calendar, held, of course, October 31th.
However, Halloween in Japan isn’t just an imitation of the American version. First of all, there’s no ‘trick or treating’. Secondly, as it’s a new phenomenon, people don’t care about most of the Halloween traditions which are important elsewhere.
Christmas is in the air! While it isn’t a national holiday in Japan, since only about 1 percent of the whole population in Japan is Christian, it’s still felt throughout the country. It is a festive and special time of the year especially because Japanese have a National Holiday on December 23rd to celebrate the reigning Emperor’s Birthday.
If you are visiting before the New Year in Japan, you will find many things traditionally associated with Christmas: decorations, Christmas markets, and magnificent lights. You can also discover a few unique Japanese traditions with numerous charms that can and should be appreciated in their own right. So while it may be a little different from what you might be used to, Christmas is still felt and celebrated in the land of the rising sun.
Surrounding Tokyo’s Harajuku Station is an area known as Harajuku. It has been called “the center of Japan’s most extreme teenage cultures and fashion styles”, and as such draws a youthful crowd from across Japan and around the world. The most prominent area of this Harajuku style is Takeshita Dori, or Takeshita Street, along with its side roads, all of which are lined with shops, restaurants, and food stands.
Harajuku is not only a land of youthful fantasy, however. It is also home to historic sites and shopping venues catering to adults. If you plan on visiting this district of Tokyo, allow the following travel guide to show you the ways in which Harajuku has something to offer for any age group.
To many, the artistic styles of anime cartoons and manga comic books are synonymous with Japanese culture. Not only are these entertainments enjoyed within Japan, but fans flock from around the world to experience anime themed places and events. Consider this list of some of the best anime and manga experiences that Japan has to offer.
Tokyo and Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka and Kyoto. These five cities represent the three largest metropolitan areas in Japan. Together, they encompass some of the hottest travel destinations in the country.
If you’d like to visit all of these areas on your next visit to Japan, you are in luck. The Tokaido Shinkansen, one of Japan’s famous bullet trains lines, connects these cities, providing you with fast and easy access to the locations you want to see most.
Traveling can be a hungry endeavor. If you are like many travelers, sampling unique and different foods is an integral part of the journey.
Whether you are looking to grab a quick snack during a train transfer, pass the time as you await your departure, or indulge in traditional or gourmet cuisine, Japan’s train stations offer something for every taste. Extended hours and shorter wait times mean you can count on something to eat almost any time of day, whether you are starting your travels early on returning after a long day of sightseeing. Book your Japan Rail Pass today, and send your taste buds on the journey of a lifetime.
Japan is famous for its high-speed bullet trains. The fastest of these is the Hayabusa Shinkansen, which can be found on the Tohoku Shinkansen line in Honshu. An interesting feature of several Tohoku Shinkansen trains is that they offer only reserved seating. This is rare among the shinkansen, so if you wish to travel on this line, be sure to make your reservations early! Green cars and gran class cars are available on most trains, as are standing tickets when all seats are booked.
This train line has a long history. The first portion of the Tohoku Line opened in 1982, but its services did not reach Aomori until 2010. Today, this shinkansen bullet train line allows access not only to the length of the island of Honshu, but to high-speed train routes to some of Japan’s other islands as well. The Tohoku Shinkansen is the longest Shinkansen line in Japan, stretching 674 kilometers.
Ryokan and onsen are common concepts in Japan. To many city dwellers, these terms signify a getaway, a break from the hustle and bustle of life. What are onsen and ryokan?
An onsen is a hot spring, touted for its healing capabilities. Onsen may feed public or private baths where people go to relax. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns, which developed to house travelers during the Edo period, especially on the route between Tokyo and Kyoto. Visitors to ryokan today still wear yukata robes and get sandals, and are treated to traditional multi-course dinners and breakfasts.
The Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa is considered one of the three most beautiful landscape gardens in Japan. Once the outer garden around the castle of a ruling family, Kenrokuen has been open to and enjoyed by the public since 1871.
Thanks to the Hokuriku Shinkansen, an extension of the Nagano Shinkansen Line that began operating in 2015, you can reach this and other attractions in Kanazawa- such as the Ninjadera Temple, the 21st Century Museum, the Oyama Shrine, the Omicho Market, or the Nagamachi samurai district – in record time. Consider the following information when making your plans for using the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Fireworks are a huge deal in Japan and during the summer there are Japanese fireworks festivals practically every weekend. In Japan, they are called Hanabi festivals (Hanabi meaning fireworks).
Practically all the major Japanese firework shows take place in July, August, and September. The annual extravaganza is a long-standing tradition which is very popular with locals.
