North of Tokyo is a little wonderland that will take you back in time, back to the Edo period, a time when Samurai and Ninja walked Japan. Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura is an amazing theme park where you can roam the streets with Samurai and Ninja and explore what life was like in the Edo…
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You would be mistaken if you thought that Sumo is just big, almost naked, men trying to push each other out of a ring! Sumo is Japan’s national sport. A sport of strength and skill, bound in tradition and ritual. Sumo wrestling began as an entertainment for deities and the Sumo ring is considered a…
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Mount Takao or Takaosan is a beautiful mountain hike with a view of Mount Fuji and it’s an easy day trip from Tokyo! Mount Takao is West of Tokyo and is a mountain that offers not only hiking and amazing views but lots of places to explore including a Monkey Park, temple and Onsen. It’s…
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Christmas If you are dreaming of a White Christmas in Japan you can certainly get the white and it’s easy to get to from Australia, however, Christmas is not a big celebration in Japan. You will hear Christmas music (minus the words) playing in the shops and Western shops will be wrapped up like a…
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One of Japans most amazing festivals is the Nozawa Onsen Fire Festival which is held each year on the 15th January in the snow fields of Nozawa Onsen. Nozawa Onsen is a picturesque hot spring town in Nagano Japan. It is famous for its multiple public onsens, the amazing ski fields and it is home…
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Okinawa is known for Ryukyu glassware. Okinawa is part of the chain of Ryukyu islands, the most southern islands of Japan. Glassware began in Okinawa around the late 1860’s the time of the Meiji Era. However, after World War II, resources were scarce so empty glass bottles from American troops were recycled and used to…
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As a family with three boys, when we discovered a sword making experience with a traditional Japanese blacksmith outside of Kyoto we just HAD to do it! There are a couple of places that offer this experience, see below for details. Samurai and swords are synonymous with Japan and Japanese culture. Today there are still…
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Unfortunately Oodeo Onsen is now permanently closed. If you are looking for a hot spring experience near by try the Heiwajima Onsen. Onsens are synonymous with Japan and Japanese culture. However, it can be a very foreign idea for Aussies to be hopping in a big hot tub naked with strangers! Ooedo Onsen offers onsen…
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If you or your kids are into Gundam and have watched some of the anime then they will absolutely love visiting the Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba. The life-size statue from the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Series is 19.7m tall and is awe inspiring, even if you have no idea what or who Gundam is!…
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teamLab are a group of Japanese artists that use digital technology and interactive art with exhibitions around the world. Their exhibitions range from individual artworks to restaurants with interactive displays to full museums. We visited teamLab Borderless in Odaiba, which closed in August 2022 and is relocating to the Toranomon-Azabudai Project (completion 2023). teamLab Planets…
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