Amazing Seasons, Life and Culture

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Photos

Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto = AdobeStock 1

Photos Kyoto

2020/6/3

Photos: Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto

The most popular tourist attractions in Kyoto are Fushimi Inari Shrine Shrine, Kinkakuji Temple and Kiyomizudera Temple. Kiyomizudera Temple is located on the slopes of a mountain in the eastern part of the city of Kyoto, and the view from the main hall, ...

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Photos of snow-covered villages1 Shirakawago

Photos Snow Destinations

2020/5/30

Photos: Snow-covered villages in Japan

I would like to share with you the scenery of the snowy villages of Japan. These are pictures of Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, Miyama and Ouchi-juku. Someday, you'll enjoy the pure world in these villages! Photos of snow-covered villages Shirakawago (Gifu Prefe ...

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Beautiful morning in summer, Hokkaido, Japan = Shutterstock

Photos Hokkaido

2020/6/4

Photos: Biei and Furano in summer

The most popular tourist destinations in Hokkaido in summer are Biei and Furano. These areas, located in the center of Hokkaido, have rough plains. Colorful flowers bloom there. Seeing the change of nature on this plain will heal your mind. As for Biei an ...

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Photos of Gion = Shutterstock 1

Kyoto

2020/6/2

Photos: Geisha (Maiko & Geigi) in Gion, Kyoto

Japan still has a "geisha" culture. Geisha are women who entertain their guests wholeheartedly with Japanese dances and songs. Geisha is completely different from the courtesan "Oiran" that existed during the Edo period. In Kyoto, the geisha is called "ge ...

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Kinkakuji Temple in Kyoto, Japan = Shutterstock

Photos Kyoto

2020/6/3

Photos: Kinkakuji vs Ginkakuji -Which is your favorite?

Which do you like better, Kinkakuji or Ginkakuji? On this page, let me introduce the beautiful photos of these two temples that represent Kyoto. For more information about Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji, please see the articles below. Photos of Kinkakuji and Gin ...

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View of the port from Motomachi in Hakodate = Adobe Stock

Photos Hokkaido

2020/5/28

Photos: Hakodate

Hakodate in southern Hokkaido is covered with snow from January to March.Hakodate at this time is really beautiful.The seafood rice bowl at the market called Asaichi is also the best. Let's take a virtual trip to Hakodate! Please refer to the following ar ...

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JR Tadami Line in Fukushima Prefecture = Shutterstock 10

Photos Fukushima

2020/6/3

Photos: Tadami Line in Fukushima Prefecture

If you want to enjoy beautiful Japanese countryside views from the train, I recommend the JR Tadami Line in western Fukushima Prefecture. The Tadami line runs from Aizu-Wakamatsu, an ancient city where you can feel the samurai culture of Japan, through th ...

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Beppu Mountain Burning Festival= Shutterstock

Photos Oita

2020/6/16

Photos: Beppu (1) Beautifully shining hot spring resort

Beppu, located in the eastern part of Kyushu, is Japan's largest hot spring resort. When you visit Beppu, you'll first be surprised at the hot springs that spring up here and there. When you look out over the cityscape of Beppu from the hill, as you can s ...

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The Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima prefecture

Photos Fukushima

2020/5/30

Photos: The Miharu Takizakura -The best cherry tree in Japan!

If you were to ask me which is the most beautiful cherry blossom in Japan, I would say the Miharu Takizakura in Fukushima Prefecture.The Miharu Takizakura tree is over 1000 years old. This beautiful cherry tree has long been protected and loved by the loc ...

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Takachiho Gorge in Autumn = Shutterstock

Photos Miyazaki

2020/6/2

Photos: Takachiho in Miyagaki Prefecture

Takachiho is a mysterious land known as the home of Japanese mythology. It is located in the mountainous area of Miyazaki Prefecture in eastern Kyushu. The town still retains the mythical spots and Kagura dances associated with them. It is also famous for ...

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Message from the editor:

Thank you for visiting “Best of Japan”! My name is Bon Kurosawa and my goal is to provide useful information hopeful visitors and those interested in Japan need. These articles, pictures and video will give you a unique taste of Japan. I hope that through “Best of Japan” you will feel closer to Japan and have a better idea of what you can expect.

 

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Life & Culture

Life and Culture

2020/5/31

Japanese life and culture! live in harmony with nature and people

From here I would like to introduce you to Japanese life and culture. I think that the keyword to understand Japanese life and culture is "Harmony". Therefore, I would like to summarize Japanese life and culture from this viewpoint of "harmony" on this si ...

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Bamboo Forest. Asian woman wearing japanese traditional kimono at Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan = shutterstock

Interests

2020/5/27

20 Best things to do in Japan and how to make reservations

There are many things you can enjoy on your trip to Japan. Among them, what kind of things do you intend to build your travel plan for? On this page, I enumerated what you can enjoy in Japan. Please click on the image of the item you are interested in and ...

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Hakodate, a popular city in Hokkaido = Shutterstock

Destinations

2020/6/18

Best Tourist Destinations in Japan! winter, spring, summer, autumn

On this site, I have pages to introduce individually in various parts of Japan. You can go to the pages by watching the menu and clicking on the titles you are interested in. However, I listed these pages below. Look at the following and if there is a pag ...

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Accommodation

Accommodation

2020/5/28

How to Book Accommodation in Japan!

There are people with a variety of strange hobbies. Actually, I love comparing hotel reservation sites. When I book a hotel, I check it with many booking sites and book it with the site I was most convinced about. For me with such a hobby, I feel that the ...

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Transportation

Transportation

2020/6/3

Transportation in Japan! Japan Rail Pass, Shinkansen, Airports etc.

When traveling in Japan you can move very efficiently by combining shinkansen (Bullet train), airplane, bus, taxi, car hire etc. If you add a Shinkansen ride to your itinerary, it will be a pleasant memory. In that case, purchasing "Japan Rail Pass" would ...

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Recommended articles / Preparation

Let me introduce some of the articles on this site.

Accommodation
How to Book Accommodation in Japan!

There are people with a variety of strange hobbies. ...

Concierge giving the documents to hotel guest = shutterstock
How to book and buy tickets and tours in Japan! Sumo, Baseball, Concert, activities...

If you do not participate in a tour that acts with ...

Transportation
Transportation in Japan! Japan Rail Pass, Shinkansen, Airports etc.

When traveling in Japan you can move very efficient ...

 

Recommended articles / Destinations

Hakodate, a popular city in Hokkaido = Shutterstock
Best Tourist Destinations in Japan! winter, spring, summer, autumn

On this site, I have pages to introduce individuall ...

Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan = Adobe Stock
Best Things to do in Tokyo : Asakusa, Ginza, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Disney etc.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. While traditional cu ...

Autumn leaves of Rurikoin, Kyoto, Japan = Adobe Stock
Kyoto! 26 Best Attractions : Fushimi Inari, Kiyomizudera, Kinkakuji etc.

Kyoto is a beautiful city that inherits traditional ...

 

Recommended articles / Interests

Bamboo Forest. Asian woman wearing japanese traditional kimono at Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan = shutterstock
20 Best things to do in Japan and how to make reservations

There are many things you can enjoy on your trip to ...

Snow wall, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Japan - Shutterstock
12 Best Snow Destinations in Japan: Shirakawago, Jigokudani, Niseko, Sapporo snow festival ...

On this page, I would like to introduce about the w ...

Cherry Blossoms and Geisha = Shutterstock
Best Cherry Blossom Spots and Season in Japan! Hirosaki Castle, Mt.Yoshino...

On this page, I will introduce sightseeing spots wi ...

 

11 basic information to know before traveling in Japan

The Japanese creatures that appear in this slide show will surely convey useful information to you !

Best Time To Visit Japan

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

When is the best time to visit Japan?

When is the best time of year for travelling to Japan? The answer depends on your purpose for traveling. Perhaps you want to see Japan’s famous cherry blossoms? If that’s the case, I recommend coming to Japan during the month of April. Maybe you want to s ...

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Japanese Language

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Language! 3 things to remember when speaking to Japanese people

Many Japanese people are not good at using English. For this reason, people who come to Japan cannot communicate well with Japanese people. Foreigners sometimes wonder how to ask anyone for help when they get lost or need information. When they go to a sm ...

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Japanese Currency

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Japanese currency How to exchange money and how to pay for it

The currency in Japan is Yen. This page has the latest in exchange rates so please refer here before exchanging money. Here you will also find information on Japanese bills and coins. In addition, I’ll explain the current situation in regards to the use o ...

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Owl looking at a clock in a Akihabara owl cafe, Akihabara. Tokyo, Japan = Shutterstock

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Recommended useful sites when preparing for your trip to Japan

On this page, I will introduce various websites related to Japan. I will update this information from time to time. It would be a helpful resource for you to use to gather information. The hotels, transportation, restaurants, and local related websites ar ...

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SIM Card vs. Pocket Wifi in Japan

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

SIM Card vs. Pocket Wi-Fi Rental in Japan! Where to buy and rent?

During your stay in Japan, you may want to use a smartphone. How do you get one? There are six possible choices. First, you can use roaming service on your current plan but please check with your service provider for rates. Second, you can utilize free Wi ...

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Japan Time Now

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Japan time now! Time difference from your country

There is only one time zone in Japan. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Sendai, Nagano, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Okinawa are all at the same time. Furthermore, since there is no daylight saving time in Japan, it is not so difficult for you to know Ja ...

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Raccoon dog sitting on grass = Shutterstock

Fundamentals

2020/5/27

Holidays in Japan! Tourist attractions are crowded in spring's Golden Week

There are 16 statutory holidays in Japan. If the holiday falls on Sunday, the closest weekday (usually Monday) after that will be a holiday. Japanese holidays are most concentrated in the week from the end of April to the beginning of May. This week is ca ...

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Annual Events in Japan

Fundamentals

2020/5/27

Annual Events in Japan! New Year, Hanami, Obon, Christmas and more!

There are still many traditional annual events in Japan. Many Japanese people choose to celebrate these annual events with their families. Recently, many foreign tourists have enjoyed such events. Through one of these events you can get a good idea of Jap ...

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Climate & Weather in Japan

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Climate and Yearly Weather in Japan! Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido etc.

When you plan on visiting Japan, how will the climate and weather be? In this article I would like to introduce the climate and weather of Japan and the features of each area. The climate of Japan is diverse Japan is an elongated archipelago extending 300 ...

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Earthquake & Volcanos in Japan

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Earthquakes & Volcanos in Japan

In Japan, earthquakes occur frequently, from small tremors not felt by the body to large fatal disasters. Many Japanese feel a sense of crisis not knowing when natural disasters will occur. Of course, the possibility of actually encountering a large natur ...

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What to do in case of typhoon or earthquake

Fundamentals

2020/6/8

What to do in case of a typhoon or earthquake in Japan

Even in Japan, damage from typhoons and heavy rains is increasing due to global warming. In addition, earthquakes often occur in Japan. What should you do if a typhoon or earthquake occurs while you are traveling in Japan? Of course, you are unlikely to e ...

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Emperor of Japan and Japanese Flag

Fundamentals

2020/5/30

Emperor of Japan and Japanese Flag

When you travel in Japan you may be able to feel a deeper enjoyment if you had basic knowledge of Japanese history. This page will include a brief summary of important Emperors in Japanese history. In addition, I will include information about Japans nati ...

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