It is often observed that Japan borrows ideas and technologies from various sources, adapting them to suit Japanese needs and sensibilities, essentially making them Japanese. Paper, one of Japan's earliest borrowings from China, is no exception. Japanese paper is nothing short of amazing. Traditional hand-made washi paper is lovely and soft; fun to make and … Continue reading Origami Kaikan: a chance to explore the folds and layers of paper
August in Japan is always a time when television programming is replete with movies and documentaries about World War II. It was on August 15, 1945 (JST), that the Japanese officially surrendered to the Allies, thus ending the Pacific War. That fact, combined with the fact that August is traditionally a time when Japanese people … Continue reading One impact of war, the desire for peace
Thanks to its position as the leading city of central Honshu island, Nagoya has a long and fascinating history. One place where some of that history can be discovered is the neighborhood of the Osu Kannon. Osu Kannon Temple (official name Kitano-san Shinpuku-ji Hosho-in) was originally founded in 1324 to house a wooden statue of Kannon, … Continue reading Nagoya’s Osu – a fascinating temple and market district
Many Chinese cities feature a pond around which there are walkways and parkland where people can relax and connect with nature in spite of being in the city. Such publicly accessible ponds are not common in Japanese cities, where instead the historic strolling gardens usually had carefully sculpted water features. Senzoku-ike, just 9 minutes on … Continue reading Senzoku-ike: a suburban escape
Japan doesn't have a lot of mineral resources, but has done its best to exploit what there is. The copper mine at Ashio, in the Watarase valley of western Tochigi Prefecture, is a great example of that. Although the mine was closed in 1973 after three centuries in operation, it is now open to visitors … Continue reading The Ashio Copper Mine: digging through history
Who doesn't love a performing clock, with various figurines that dance or move at appointed times throughout the day? In Tokyo there are a number of such clocks, including the Marionette Clock at Ebisu Garden Place and the Mullion Musical Clock outside the Hankyu Men's Store in Yurakucho. But perhaps the busiest and most intricate … Continue reading Nittele Big Clock: a Ghibli-inspired clock like no other
These days we hear a lot about recycling to reduce waste and ease pressure on the environment. Nishi-Rokugo Park, also known as Tire Park, is a great example of turning waste items into something both useful and fun. In this suburban playground/park, more than 3,000 tires are repurposed into whimsical shapes and playground equipment to … Continue reading Never get tired of recycling at Nishi-Rokugo Park
On January 22, 1954, a 25 meter long wooden fishing boat named Dai-go Fukuryu-maru (in English "F/V Lucky Dragon #5") set sail from Yaizu, a fishing port in Shizuoka, Japan, with a crew of 23. The boat was scheduled to be at sea for approximately two months, making a clockwise sweep around an area of … Continue reading The not-so-Lucky Dragon – “fallout” from nuclear testing
This article describes various lessons one can take while visiting Okinawa (including karate, glass blowing and pottery-making) to get a real taste of the culture of the islands. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Japan has several centuries of history in the use of decorative glassware, with a particular flowering of the craft in the 18th and 19th century. Among the glass arts practiced in Japan that tourists can also try their hands at are glass blowing, cut glass (known as "Edo Kiriko"), and sand blasting. The Tokyo Glass … Continue reading Glass art in Ota-ku
For some in Japan, the spectre of leprosy seems to spark fear, even in the 21st century, more than eight decades after a cure for the disease was developed. The National Hansen’s Disease Museum in Tokyo’s Higashi Murayama City was founded to promote public understanding and de-stigmatize the disease. The museum's location is adjacent to … Continue reading The Legacy of Leprosy in Japan
Japan is full of onsen (hot springs) towns at which, needless to say, the primary enjoyment for visitors is a nice hot soak. But tourists these days often want more to do than just bathe, even when visiting an onsen town. In the little onsen town of Yugawara, just over an hour from Tokyo between … Continue reading Alternative onsen enjoyment – tour a cookie factory
