What is a Ryokan? Ryokans are the best way to experience Japanese culture and enjoy the true comforts of Japanese hospitality and service.
Hot springs have a very long history in Japan, and they are an intimate part of Japanese culture. There are over 3,000 "onsen" ,or hot springs, in Japan. Many can be found at the ryokans available on Japanese Guest Houses.
Most Important Points Japan Has an Amazing Mass Transportation System Purchase a JR Rail Pass Before You Come to Japan Pack Lightly or Use a Luggage Delivery Service Little did I know that I was going to passenger train heaven when I moved to Japan. This country has an amazingly extensive train system. And it is super-efficient. The trains run on time and leave very frequently. The Ya
Sport of Sumo To many people unfamiliar with sumo wrestling, it is just a sport where two large men charge into each other. However, this could not be further from the truth. Being a sumo wrestler requires long hours of training, technique, a strong sense of discipline, and a total commitment to the lifestyle... Sumo is a very competitive and physical sport that originated around 1,500 years
Restaurants in Japan Most Important Points There Are Hundreds of Small Restaurants All Over Generally, Restaurants Do Not Accept Reservations Tipping Your Server is Never Required Everyone coming to Japan wants to have a taste of the famous Japanese cuisine or try one of the numerous attractive restaurants. When you first start your visit to Japan, it might be hard to select a good res
Hidden Spots These are some hidden spots that we recommend to make your trip to Japan a little bit more special. Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido: This park in central Hokkaido has a wide range of hot springs, gorges, and mountains including Asahidake which is Hokkaido's tallest mountain. Transportation: take the JR Limited Express train from JR Sapporo train station to JR Kamikawa trai
After a long and hot summer, let's think about a nice plan for this winter. The Sapporo Snow Festival (Sapporo Yuki Matsuri) is the most popular winter festival in Japan. Every year about 2 millions visitors join this event. Hundreds snow statues are built every year in February. In 2013, the festival will be held from February 5 through February 11. Snow Festival in Sapporo
The Kaisan-do hall view from the main hall at Kodaiji temple Kodaiji, one of the greatest temple in Kyoto. It's located up on the hill above the Gion district. It's very quiet and always get some wind that you really enjoy during hot summer days! It was established in 1605 by the noblewoman "Nene" (Kita-no-Mandokoro) in memory of her husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598).
One of the best transportation deals available to travelers to Japan is the JR Rail Pass which gives you unlimited train rides on almost all JR Trains including the Shinkansen Bullet Trains. This one pass can save you hundreds of dollars and pays for itself with just a round trip between Tokyo and Kyoto. This pass is only available outside Japan so you will need to purchase it before you arrive. F
Japanese Kaiseki (Traditional Dinner) At a Japanese ryokan, one of the highlights is dining on "kaiseki" (a traditional, multi-course dinner). Indeed, many Japanese think of a ryokan as a place to dine on "kaiseki" rather than as a type of accommodation. One Kyoto ryokan owner told me that over 70% of his income was from his diners while the rest came from overnight guests. What exactly is kai
Refresh In Kibune Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, the richness of its past, traditional Japanese palaces, gardens…this picture of the city sounds idyllic. However, if you plan to visit Kyoto and the Kansai area during summer you will quickly learn that it is incredibly hot during summer. When you come from a dry summer country such as France, like me, your whole body will make you f
Kyoto [ destination area name ] The ancient capital of Japan for over 1,000 years, Kyoto remains the most historically important city in Japan. At first glance, Kyoto appears to be like any other Japanese city. It is a sprawling metropolis with a population of over 1.5 million people, and it possesses prosperous industrial and technological sectors. However, with a good map in hand and some pla
