Sumo wrestling is an integral part of Japan’s culture and has been practiced in one form or another for around 2000 years. In part 1 we shared everything you need to know if you are new to Sumo, and want to attend the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. If you haven’t read it yet, follow this link. But a Grand Sumo Tournament like the one held in Nagoya each summer isn’t...Read More

When people think about Japan, one of the first things they think of is Sumo Wrestling. So when people plan their trips to Japan, they often want to see a Sumo tournament. But what most people don’t realize is that getting to see a Sumo tournament or even a morning Sumo practice is normally quite difficult.  Nagoya is lucky to host the Grand Summer Sumo Tournament, one of only six...Read More

If you love shrimp, then Nagoya is a fantastic place to visit. Aichi Prefecture, home of Nagoya,  has one of the highest per capita shrimp consumption in the country. This is probably because shrimp can be easily fished in Ise Bay. And because seafood tastes best when it’s fresh, it is often found on the plates of the locals. In fact, the official fish of the Aichi Prefecture is the...Read More

For over 1,300 years, local fishermen in Japan have used an unusual technique to catch river fish during the summer. Japanese cormorants called Ukai in Japanese are trained for up to three years by their owners to help them catch fish. Known as Ukai in Japanese, cormorant fishing is a unique traditional method that is rare today and mostly continued as both a tourist attraction and a way to keep...Read More

Atsuta Shrine, also called, Atsuta-san or Atsuta-sama, is the second most important Shinto shrine in Japan, after the Ise Grand Shrine. The venerated sun goddess Amaterasu is enshrined here as well as being home to the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi which is one of the three Japanese imperial treasures. Legend has it that Amaterasu gave the sword to the first emperor of Japan and from it gained the right to rule....Read More