Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Following the runaway success of Spirited Away, an animated film about a young girl who has to save her parents by infiltrating a bathhouse for the spirits, Studio Ghibli has become a household name all over the world. Hayao Miyazaki, the mastermind behind the studio, has been […]
Culture & History
The secret world of geisha
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! The world of the Japanese geisha is shrouded in myth, mystery, and misconception. Though nearly everybody will recognise their distinctive make-up, hairstyles, and elaborate kimono, surprisingly few people really understand the role of the geisha in Japanese society. Like this post? Help us by sharing it!
Red Stamping for Temple Tramping
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Time to start collecting!
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! If you’re hoping to find a unique souvenir to buy in Japan, look no further! A temple stamp book is a great way to remember your trip. It’s pretty much impossible to have a holiday in Japan without stumbling into a Buddhist temple at some point during […]
Nikko is Nippon
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! I remember a particular and inescapable JR promotional travel poster from years back. Unlike other advertisements, the deceptively simple message was actually more striking than the beautiful image. Three simple words: Nikko is Nippon. Beating like a drum as you marched through any and every train station […]
Tea with a Maiko
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! On my recent trip to Japan, I had the privilege of having tea with a trainee geisha, commonly known as a Maiko. Despite having lived in Japan for 3 years, my knowledge of this world was fairly limited. So it was with nervous excitement that I approached […]
Japanese Tea Ceremony Etiquette
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! A Japanese tea ceremony is about tea only on its surface. From the positioning of guests to the cleaning of the tools to the scooping of the loose-leaf tea, everything has significance. The deeper purpose of the tea ceremony is appreciation – of the items served, of […]
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! A Japanese tea ceremony is about tea only on its surface. From the positioning of guests to the cleaning of the tools to the scooping of the loose-leaf tea, everything has significance. The deeper purpose of the tea ceremony is appreciation – of the items served, of […]