Traveling in Japan often means walking over 20,000 steps a day, which can get exhausting. But Japan isn’t only about the excitement and long days of exploring, you can also enjoy a more relaxing side of the country. Imagine soaking in warm water while taking in beautiful views of nature. That’s the onsen experience. With over 27,000 hot springs spread across Japan, you’ll easily find a place to unwind and recharge after days of adventure. But there’s more to onsens than meets

The winter cold melts away and spring peaks its way through to welcome new life and a new year for Japan.  Out with the old and in with the new.  To welcome spring, Japan celebrates Shunbun no Hi (春分の日) also known as Vernal Equinox, or even simpler, Spring Equinox.

For two weeks, from March 1 to 14, the historic temple becomes the stage for one of Japan’s oldest living traditions: the Omizutori Festival (お水取り). This ceremony has been held every single year since 752. That’s more than 1,270 years of continuous history.

If you’ve travelled to Kyoto in the past decade, you may have noticed that at certain times of the year, a soft warm glow lights up temples across the city as it welcomes the night. That’s Hanatouro.

When people hear the word “Chinatown,” most people would immediately think of Yokohama. But did you know there is also a strong Chinese influence further south in Kyushu? Yes, you can find it in the heart of Nagasaki Prefecture.

While we are all familiar with cherry blossoms, did you know that there are more than 600 varieties (The Gate).  There are 10 types of cherry blossom trees that grow naturally in Japan, among them are the Kawazu cherry blossoms. The discovery of these cherry blossoms less than 70 years ago led to the creation of the famous Kawazu cherry blossom festival.

The Harbin Ice Festival and the Quebec Winter Carnival are among the most famous winter festivals in the world. But did you know that Japan also hosts one of the largest snow festivals on the planet? Held on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, the Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) welcomes over two million visitors from Japan and abroad every year and rivals its famous counterparts in China and Canada in both scale and spectacle.

If you ever visit an Inari Shrine in Japan around February, you might notice something different from your regular visit: special offerings, unique foods, and a lot more visitors. That’s because it’s Hatsuuma (初午), one of the most important days in the Shinto calendar for Inari shrines. But what is it really all about? Let’s jump right in!