17 Jun: Did you know... Senjafuda
At many shrines and temples from Japan, I noticed small pieces of paper randomly glued on walls, pillars or even ceilings:Daigyo-ji Temple, KamakuraSome are new, but most of them are old, ... »
Read more » 26 comments » 10 Jun: Did you know... Binbogami
There are myriads of kami (gods) in the Shinto religion. To honor the kami, the Japanese people build shrines and organize festivals (matsuri). Many Japanese have in their homes small kamidana ... »
Read more » 36 comments » 25 May: Odd Japanese Customs - Baku
We all have bad dreams from time to time... Some treatments are available to avoid the nightmares, but in Japan we can get some exceptional help: baku, a creature who feeds on... nightmares!No, ... »
Read more » 56 comments » 
As the Japanese girls have the Hina Matsuri on March 3rd, the Japanese boys have their own festival, Tango no sekku 「端午の節句」, on May 5th, which was ... »
Read more » 23 comments » 
Many cultures have ancient rituals for invoking or for stopping the rain, and Japan is no exception. However, Japan is one of the few countries where these rituals are still part of the daily ... »
Read more » 47 comments » 12 Apr: Odd Japanese Customs - Kotobuki Bako, the Umbilical Cord Box
I wrote before about the Suiten-gu Shrine, located in Nihombashi, near the Suitengumae Station, dedicated to the God of safe childbirth and blessing of pregnancy.Right from the entrance, ... »
Read more » 25 comments » 
On April 8th, Japan celebrates Buddha's Birthday, Hana Matsuri (花祭り - The Flower Festival). According to Buddhist tradition, Prince Siddhartha Gautama (Sakyamuni Buddha), the ... »
Read more » 32 comments » 01 Apr: 5 Old Japanese Lullaby Songs
Every culture has its own cradle songs (lullabies), simple yet beautiful songs, sung by parents since ancient times.Some lullaby songs were featured in movies or were interpreted by famous ... »
Read more » 43 comments » 22 Mar: 12 Great Sakura Videos
From the end of March until the beginning of May, the Japanese celebrates Hanami ( 「花見」 - the flower viewing).The custom is not strictly related to the Japanese ... »
Read more » 29 comments » 19 Mar: Customs and traditions of Japan - Shunbun no Hi, the Vernal Equinox
Shunbun no Hi 「春分の日」, the Vernal Equinox Day, is a National Holiday in Japan since 1948. Because it's an event about stars, the date varies around March ... »
Read more » 18 comments » 17 Mar: 3 Old Japanese Sakura Stories
In Japan, sakura will start blooming soon... but the snow that fell here a few days ago reminded me of several great Japanese stories about sakura miraculously blooming in winter. 1. ... »
Read more » 38 comments » 03 Mar: Customs and traditions of Japan - Hina Matsuri: Dolls and Deli
On March 3rd, Japan celebrates Hina Matsuri 「雛祭り」, the Japanese Doll Festival, also known as the "Girl's Day", an important event, especially for families with ... »
Read more » 48 comments » 
Setsubun ( 節分 ) is a Japanese traditional celebration taking place in the last day of a season. From the four annual festivals, the most important is the one taking place today, on ... »
Read more » 20 comments » 
A lot of Japanese customs and traditions at the beginning of the year! :) At the middle of January, a festival of fire takes place in Japan, named Dondo Yaki ( ... »
Read more » 11 comments » 
One of the reasons I like Japan so much is the fact that people know how to have fun. :)On January 15th, in the Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture, a very happy festival takes place, the ... »
Read more » 12 comments » 
Seijin no hi ( 成人の日 - Coming of Age Day) is a national holiday in Japan since 1948, when it was established on the January 15th. Since 2000, when the Happy Monday ... »
Read more » 22 comments » 06 Jan: Customs and traditions of Japan - Jinjitsu and Okayu
Tomorrow, on January 7th, Jinjitsu ( 人日 ) - the Human Day is celebrated in Japan, a festival originating from the ancient China. According to the Chinese tradition, the first 7 days ... »
Read more » 20 comments » 
The beginning of a new year is always a good moment for a review of the past year. But I just published a review of these 2 years of Japan Blogging, so I thought I would just summarize the best ... »
Read more » 12 comments » 
On December 31 at midnight, the New Year is welcomed in Japan with 108 bell chimes, during the Joya no Kane ( 除夜の鐘 ) ritual taking place at the Buddhist Temples. ... »
Read more » 33 comments » 
One of the nicest Japanese traditions related to the New Year is the one about the Seven Gods of Luck (or Lucky Gods). As Santa Claus is coming on his sleigh on Christmas Eve and brings gifts, ... »
Read more » 13 comments » 
Kagami mochi (鏡餅) is a special New Year Japanese decoration, usually displayed in the kamidana, for the toshigami, the god of the new year, to bring good luck and prosperity in the ... »
Read more » 19 comments » 
On the New Year, there is a custom in Japan to display, on the house entry door or on the porch, a special knitted rope made from rice straws called shimenawa, on which are hung special strips of ... »
Read more » 28 comments » 24 Dec: Japanese Christmas Cake
The customs and traditions regarding the Christmas were brought in Japan by the Christian missionaries. Usually, in Christian countries, the Christmas menu is important and varies widely from ... »
Read more » 19 comments » 22 Dec: From Hotei to Santa Claus, Short History of Santa in Japan (part 2)
Santa Claus was quickly adopted in Japan, even if its legend is not related to the main religions practiced in Japan. However, there is an interesting similarity that, according to some ... »
Read more » 16 comments » 21 Dec: The Christmas tree in Japan
Since the number of Christians in Japan is relatively low (under 1%), the Christmas day is not a national holiday and the Christmas in Japan is mainly a commercial event. The big companies ... »
Read more » 35 comments » 20 Dec: From Samurai to Doraemon, Short History of Santa in Japan (part 1)
The earliest record of a Christmas celebration in Japan was in 1552, when a Jesuit missionary held a mass in Suo, Yamaguchi prefecture. However, it is believed that small Christmas celebrations ... »
Read more » 26 comments » 17 Dec: The Hagoita Fair
The Winter Holidays are coming, with Christmas trees, traditional food, Christmas carols and New Year traditions. I have a lot of interesting things to share with you during this time of year, ... »
Read more » 9 comments » 24 Nov: Children's Mikoshi
For me, a Mikoshi parade is always a source of joy. I participated at several parades and, every time, I met happy and friendly people, many smiled at me, some of them posed for photos and some of ... »
Read more » 36 comments » 
Shichi-Go-San ( 七五三 - seven-five-three ) is a festival marking a Japanese traditional rite of passage for 3 and 7 year-old girls and 3 and 5 year-old boys. Because it is not a ... »
Read more » 28 comments » 
Tsukimi (月見), the moon-viewing, is a festival related to the moon phases, which takes place on the 15th night of the 8th month, calculated by the traditional Japanese lunisolar ... »
Read more » 12 comments » 
Shubun no hi ( 秋分の日 ), the Autumnal Equinox Day, is a national holiday in Japan since 1948. Because it's related to an astronomical event, the date of this holiday ... »
Read more » 10 comments » 06 Jul: Customs and traditions of Japan - Travel impressions from last years Tanabata
I like Japanese festivals, Buddhist and Shinto alike, they transpose me into their magical world, with kami, supernatural beings and romantic stories, they make me see the world with child's eyes ... »
Read more » 69 comments »
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02 Sep: A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji 
Gokokusan Tenno-ji Temple was established some 600 years ago (sometimes between ... »
Read more » 21 comments » 01 Sep: A Japan Photo per Day - Asakusa Shrine Haiden 
Asakusa Shrine is built in the gongen-zukuri style, a complex of three ... »
Read more » 21 comments » 31 Aug: Did you know... The Oldest Structure in Sumida, Tokyo 
One of my sightseeing trips brought me to Sumida, outside the touristic ... »
Read more » 26 comments » 31 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Yamada Denki LABI Akihabara 
One of the most popular stores in Akihabara, opened 13 years ago, is the Yamada ... »
Read more » 21 comments » 30 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Inari Shrine at World Trade Center 
Choosing the wrong exit from the Hamamatsucho Station, I discovered this ... »
Read more » 23 comments »
Japan photography, travel in Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese history, customs and traditions, J-music, Japanese cuisine, Japan facts and trivia
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From Genghis Khan to Kamikaze
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
Did you know... The Oldest Structure in Sumida, Tokyo
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji
A Japan Photo per Day - Rainy Day at Gokokusan Tenno-ji