When traveling in Japan you are sure to encounter many intriguing items that are unique to Japan, which would make for fantastic gifts to share with your friends and family back home. So what are the best souvenirs to bring back from Japan? Luckily, many great gifts and souvenirs you can find in Japan are […]
The Colors of Origami – What Does it Mean?
The art of traditional origami has much more meaning behind it than just folding a piece of paper into a creative object. The color paper used has various meanings to the Japanese and can be used to create specific meaning to you as well by using your birthstone color or family crest color. The following […]
The Rich History of Origami
The art of paper folding has existed for at least 14 centuries. While origami is traditionally associated with Japan, scholars dispute the exact date and location of origami’s development. China has an established history of paper-folding as well, and early paper folding traditions have been documented in several European countries, including Spain and Italy. However, […]
Japanese Dragon Tattoo Designs and Meaning
The Japanese Dragon Tattoo is a very beautiful and colorful tattoo design and very symbolic, with its origins in myths and folklore. It is also very mystical, adding to the appeal of the Japanese dragon tattoo. Over the ages, from Egyptian times the dragon has represented good and also represented evil. However, the attraction of […]
Tokyo Weather and Climate Conditions
Tokyo weather – plan your Tokyo trip in advance according to the weather forecast. Tokyo weather can be extreme. September is the typhoon season. Few of them are strong, usually it ends with some hard-hitting winds. If you are visiting Tokyo at this time of the year, I recommend paying attention to the weather forecast. […]
How to See a Sumo Match in Japan
Sumo is one of Japan’s most popular and long-running spectator sports with a 2,000 year legacy. Performed in the past to entertain the Shinto gods, sumo still holds much weight (literally) in the modern era. In sumo, two rikishi or wrestlers enter the ring wearing a silk sash. After throwing salt and performing rituals and […]
Japan The Sumo-Way of Negotiating
By Philippe Huysveld “Difference is a concept you must own, deepen and further put into practice.” (H. Lefebvre) In export business, success depends, among others, on the ability of managers to understand and manage differences of culture and society. Understand means, above all, to be able to put oneself in someone else’s place and to […]
The Best Time to Visit Japan
Japan, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Cherry blossom or Sakura in Japanese. Those beautiful leaves, ranging from a bright pinky colour to a pure snow white. Only problem they are not round very long. Sometimes only a week depending heavily on the weather. Wind and rain are cherry blossoms biggest enemy. Of […]
The Cherry Blossom Festival – A Tribute to Japanese Culture
My first thought about bringing food to a festival seemed kind of strange to me. This is a Cherry Blossom Festival, right? Silly me, who knew the Cherry Blossom Trees, known as Sakura, didn’t give any fruit. That doesn’t stop whole families from partying into the night during this very (very, very) short growing season […]
Top 10 Snowboarding Spots Near Tokyo
1. Nozawa Onsen This is an incredibly picturesque mountain and village, located at the base of the mountain and blanketed in snow for the duration of the winter season. The township itself is slightly hilly, being at the very foot of the mountain, and absolutely oozes character. There are 13 free Onsens scattered around the […]
Tea Facts – Why the Shape of the Japanese Tea Bowl is so Important
Japanese tea sets are considered today as a status symbol in Japanese and Asian homes, and they come in certain shapes and a great variety of colors, sizes, and styles, both to give every tea enthusiast a fine tea-drinking experience and the chance to enjoy the creativity and ingenuity of the Japanese potters and artists […]
Sites to See in Japan – Hiroshima Peace Park
There are several sites to see when visiting Hiroshima Peace Park. However, my approach has always been more straight forward and succinct, so as not to clutter what’s essential. Below are my choices for what to see at the Hiroshima Peace Park. The three locations I will highlight are: -Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum -Atomic Bomb […]
Ryokan, Japan – One of the Best Possible Travel Destinations
Japan has always been one of the top tourist destinations in Asia. Tourists want to revisit the country’s historic past and experience its rich culture. They would also want to check on the country’s diverse natural resources and have a taste of Japanese cuisines. The country boasts of several key cities and towns. There’s definitely […]
Popular Tourist Attractions in Kyoto
Kyoto is a beautiful city located in the central part of the island of Honshu. Annually, it receives over 30 million tourists. A large number of temples, shrines and historical sites still survive in this beautiful city. As there are many places to visit and popular attractions in Kyoto, you need to plan your trip […]
Planning a Ski Trip to Japan
Even though Japan has a lot of ski and snowboarding resorts across the country it received the recognition it deserves regarding the features and quality of the slopes only recently. Therefore, if you love winter sports, you could consider giving one of the resorts in Japan a try. In case you are planning a trip […]
Business Etiquette in Japan – Tips for the First Time Visitor to Japan
Visiting Japan for your first business trip can be a daunting experience. This article provides some tips for the first time business traveler to Japan. Etiquette generally is an important aspect of Japanese life and culture, so it should come as no surprise that business etiquette in Japan is one of those things Westerners would […]