The season of summer festivals has come to an end, and it is finally getting cooler in Nagoya. Autumn is finally here. Autumn is considered one of the most beautiful seasons to visit Japan, and depending on whom you ask, it may even rival spring! September, the official start of autumn can still be quite...Read More

Eel is a Japanese delicacy. Eel is served in many different ways, such as in sushi, Una-don (eel and rice bowl with sweet savory sauce), Unaju (generous portion of eel served over rice in a bento box). These are just a few of the many different ways you can eat eel in Japan. In addition,...Read More

Bathing is a part of every culture across the world.  Nowadays, because of our busy lives, many people prefer a quick shower to start or end their day and don’t think about it twice. Despite that some people might think baths are a waste of water, many people love the ritual of bathing. Many countries...Read More

The Nippon Domannaka Festival, commonly known as Domatsuri, is one of the most energetic and vibrant festivals in Japan. It’s a multi-day festival held in Nagoya at the end of August, when the summer heat reaches its peak, and it fills the city and its surroundings with hundreds of Yosakoi dancers coming from all over...Read More

For over 1300 years, local fishermen in Japan have used an unusual technique to catch river fish during the summer. Japanese cormorants, called “u” in Japanese, are trained for up to three years by their owners to help catch fish. Known as “ukai” in Japanese, cormorant fishing is a unique traditional method that is rare...Read More

Summer is finally here, and with the arrival of the hot weather, we are ready to have some fun! Japanese summers are synonymous with incredible festivals. In particular, Summer inspires some of the most stunning Natsu Matsuri (summer festivals), featuring Obon dances and spectacular fireworks displays. Everyone dresses up in their most beautiful Yukata and...Read More

A fairy tale might not have been what you were expecting when you opened this blog post, but we will tell you one anyway. It is a story of gods and love. Orihime, the sewing princess, and daughter of the Sky King, was sewing beautiful clothes by the Heavenly River, known in our modern understanding...Read More

Cosplay — the art of dressing up as characters from anime, manga, video games, TV shows, or any other media — has become a global phenomenon over the years. Once dressed in their cosplay, cosplayers attend conventions to take photos, enter competitions, or perform theatrical routines. The World Cosplay Summit is a perfect occasion to...Read More

Hydrangea is a flower with a long history and tradition in Japan. Because of its beauty and special significance, Japanese people adore hydrangea flowers the same way that they do Sakura flowers during spring.  If the plum blossom is a sign of early spring, the hydrangea (Ajisai in Japanese) is a sign that summer is...Read More

Of the roughly 70 festivals each year held at Atsuta Shrine, the Atsuta Festival (Atsuta Matsuri or Shobu-sai) is by far the biggest and most important. This festival is held every June 5th and signals the arrival of summer. Summer in Japan is the season of summer festivals and fireworks! Atsuta Jingu, also called Atsuta-san...Read More