Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Visit any shrine or temple around Japan and you’ll find strips of paper tied to the branches of trees or rack-like structures. These are omikuji or “sacred lots.” Long ago, omikuji were used to divine the gods’ opinion on important matters, choosing successors, determining battle strategy, etc. […]
Culture & History
Step back in time with kimono-wearing in Kyoto
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Charlea leads group tours across Japan, helping our customers get beneath the surface in destinations all over the country. Here, she gives her insight into one of our favourite experiences: trying on a kimono in the cultural capital of Kyoto. Like this post? Help us by sharing […]
An introduction to otaku: Japan’s counterculture heroes
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Akihabara: The spiritual home of otaku
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! When reading Matt’s blog post on itasha car culture, I was struck by an awful thought – we have never explained to you what an otaku is. We’re constantly referring to them, referencing their culture and generally bandying about the term – yet we’ve never once written […]
Three tips for an alternative Kyoto day trip
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! As a resident of Japan’s ancient capital, I sometimes find it hard to find a reason to leave this great city. With more temples, shrines, museums, restaurants and bars than you can shake a kyosaku (Zen hitting-stick) at, there is so much going on in the city […]
Greetings, earthling!
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Welcome to the world of Japanese greetings
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Lots of people ask us for useful phrases in Japanese to make their travels easier – and we highly recommend that you do learn a few words here and there to impress your Japanese hosts. As our Senior Operations Assistant, Akiko, quite rightly says: “It makes us […]
A local’s guide to onsen bathing
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Everyone here at Inside Japan Tours loves a soak in one of Japan’s many wonderful and famous hot springs (onsen) – in fact, we’ve written about onsen etiquette and our favourite hot spring baths a few times before. However, tour leader Richard Pearce claims to be the […]
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Everyone here at Inside Japan Tours loves a soak in one of Japan’s many wonderful and famous hot springs (onsen) – in fact, we’ve written about onsen etiquette and our favourite hot spring baths a few times before. However, tour leader Richard Pearce claims to be the […]