Eat and live like a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk by staying at a temple in Japan. Shukubō 「Japanese temple lodgings, 宿坊」 are offered throughout the entire country. Zen Buddhist monks are v...
https://japantravelmate.com/photo/shojin-ryori-zen-buddhist-vegetarian-meal-rengein-koyasan
Attending a Grand Sumo Tournament 「Honbasho, 本場所」 in Japan is an amazing spectacle. The unique sport has ancient origins, and the ceremonies and rituals preceding and following each par...
https://japantravelmate.com/photo/inside-grand-sumo-tournament-nagoya-honbasho
As an English teacher working in Japan, I’m often invited to enkai 「宴会」 work parties. One school I worked at had a particular taste for, very regular, high class izakaya (Japanese bar/r...
https://japantravelmate.com/art-culture-food/nabe-hot-pot-expensive-japanese-izakaya
High school in Japan feels quite militaristic. Discipline is rigorous. Chores are timed to the minute. There are very little, if any, free breaks. Students can be at school for 12 hours a day. Wo...
https://japantravelmate.com/photo/kyushoku-japanese-school-lunch
Stay for an hour or spend the whole day, the Tokyo National Museum (東京国立博物館 Tōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) gives visitors an insight into the rich and unique history of Japan. The ...
https://japantravelmate.com/art-culture-food/tokyo-national-museum-japanese-gallery
A feel good story of young love that was meant to be, then wasn’t, but then was again, is Japan’s animated film of the year – or so the Japan Academy Prize panel would say. This is JapanTra...
https://japantravelmate.com/art-culture-food/from-up-on-poppy-hill-japanese-anime-film-review
The New Year period in Japan is a symbolic time, representing the finishing of the previous year and the fresh start for a new one. It's a busy time for domestic travel, giving tourist the opport...
https://japantravelmate.com/art-culture-food/new-year-in-japan-things-you-need-to-know
Awa Odori... over 1 million people visit Shikoku in the summer to see Japan's biggest traditional dancing festival. See heaps of photos and a HD video from the 2011 festival. The post Awa Odori...
https://japantravelmate.com/shikoku/awa-odori-tokushima-shikoku-dance-festival-japan
Sushi train restaurants are popular the world over, but I've never seen sushi as cheap, delicious and outright cool (i.e. the mini bullet train which delivers fresh sushi to your table) as in Jap...
https://japantravelmate.com/art-culture-food/sushi-train-restaurants-in-japan
The top reasons for travelling to Japan have been reviewed to give you this new and improved article on Why go to Japan? Insights from an experienced traveller now living in Japan! The post Why...