Japan opened it’s borders to independent travelers from 11 October 2022. However, evidence of having had three approved vaccinations, or…

Japan Travel Advice 12 July 2022 About a month ago, on 10 June, the Japanese government announced the opening of…

News from Japan Today on 18 October 2021: https://japantoday.com/category/national/vaccines-masks-japan-puzzling-over-sudden-virus-success?

O-mizutori, the 1200-year old, sacred water drawing ceremony observed annually in mid-March, has just been held at the Nigatsudo Hall,…

A marathon This pandemic has turned into a real marathon. A marathon for people working hard on the front line,…

Fire has a highly significant place in Japanese culture. The heart of the home was traditionally the irori, an open…

In Chapter 2, IYA VALLEY In Praise of Shadows, in Alex Kerr’s book Lost Japan (Lonely Planet, 1996), Alex says…

The only formal public holiday during August in Japan is Mountain Day on the 12th. But O-bon, normally held over…

Today, the 12 August, is Mountain Day (Yama no Hi) in Japan. It’s one of no less than fifteen national…