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 or Atsuta-sama, is the second most revered Shinto shrine in Japan after the Ise Grand...

If you know anything about cars, you are probably aware that Toyota is one of the biggest car manufacturers worldwide.  But did you know that Toyota is originally from Nagoya? Logically, Nagoya and other parts of Aichi Prefecture are the perfect places to geek out about cars in general and Toyota in particular. In fact, there are 3 Toyota museums in Aichi:  Toyota Kaikan Museum in Toyota (yes, they named...

Nagoya is known as one of largest industrial cities in the country, but it is also a very green city. Its streets are lined with trees and shrubs and there are parks of various sizes dotted about town whether it’s Nagoya’s impressive Meijo Park or a tiny little patch of grass acting as a playground for the local children. Wherever you go, you’ll see some form of nature in the...

While Japan is attractive to tourists due to its rich culture, history, and tradition, did you know the country boasts several theme parks?  Aichi prefecture is host to a few of these amazing attractions. One theme park that recently opened in 2017, is LEGOLAND® Japan Resort. LEGOLAND®, which is aimed at families with children between 2 to 12 years old, has more than 70 didactic games, live shows, workshops, and...

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 of this series, 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. However, a Grand Sumo Tournament like the one held in Nagoya...