Obon is a cherished time when families reunite to celebrate the memory of their ancestors. It’s believed that the spirits of loved ones return to visit during this period. Think Halloween meets Día de los Muertos—but with a very Japanese touch of gratitude, family, and celebration.

Today, as we celebrate Mountain Day, let’s look at some statistics about Japan’s geography.  According to the Ministry of the Environment: Government of Japan, forests cover 67% of Japan’s total land area, and mountains and hills cover 70%.  70% is a lot of space to be covered by mountains. 

Umi no Hi, also known as Marine Day, is celebrated annually on the third Monday of July.  As a maritime country, Japan has a deep connection with the ocean, and although the holiday itself has only been officially recognized for 20 years, its history dates back much further.

If you’re traveling in Japan in June and notice fancy cuts of beef, sleek sake bottles, and heartfelt greeting cards filling store displays, you’ve likely stumbled upon Father’s Day in Japan, known locally as 父の日 (Chichi no Hi). Celebrated on the third Sunday of June, this day is a special occasion to honor fathers and father figures across the country—with a uniquely Japanese twist.

Mothers and mother figures are an important part of most of our journeys. Whether a birth mother, stepmother, or someone who you view in a maternal light, today is a perfect day to honor them. Today, in Japan, America, Canada, and other countries, we celebrate Mother’s Day. While we are all familiar with Mother’s Day, worldwide, we don’t celebrate it on the same day. Some countries celebrate it in March, while others, like us, celebrate it on the 2nd Sunday in May.

In Japan, New Year (shōgatsu) is the most significant holiday of the year. From January 1st to January 3rd, the country slows down as busine

While Christmas is celebrated in just about every country in some capacity, the way it is celebrated can be very different.  In America and

Every November 23rd, Japan celebrates Labor Thanksgiving Day (勤労感謝の日, Kinro Kansha no Hi), a national holiday to show appreciation, or 感謝 (k