Sharing favorite finds from across the archipelago
The craziest time of Japan's travel calendar is almost upon us. Who's ready for Golden Week 2016?? Golden Week is made up of four individual holidays. Starting off the spree on April 29th is Showa Day. This date marks the birthday of the late Emperor Showa (known to most non-Japanese as Hirohito, Japan’s Imperial ruler during... Continue Reading →
Two years ago, I posted about the Emperor's birthday celebration on December 23rd, an official Japanese holiday and one I technically could be able to celebrate this coming week. However, do to some wonky scheduling, I actually have to work! So I'll miss the "festivities" at the Imperial Palace. But I am reposting the history... Continue Reading →
The blog looked a little sparse in October, and I apologize for that. Things have really picked up here since the move to Tokyo and while I did my utmost to blog in advance of my parents' visit last month, somehow the free time I thought I'd have was lost in the flash of weeks.... Continue Reading →
Ah, here we are again, at another long weekend. Autumn is just replete with them though this one I never seem to get to celebrate. While my daughter has attended Japanese nursery school in the previous years, we never managed to be in town for the annual Sports Day festival. This year, she actually attended... Continue Reading →
Think Japan's holiday travel madness is reserved only for Golden Week? You're nearly right, but every five to six years, a special holiday comes around on the calendar - Silver Week. I have to admit, with the craziness of the move and the trip to Tohoku this past summer, I almost forgot entirely about this... Continue Reading →
Happy Star Festival, everyone. I'm plagiarizing myself by reposting last year's Tanabata entry (with a few changes). As we're confined to the hotel now before our real move begins, you'll have to make do with last year's pics. But I'll try to get out into the arcades in downtown Kumamoto today and maybe share some Tanabata photos... Continue Reading →
My recent trip to Okinawa and the importance of 2015 as the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II made me want to highlight this relatively unknown holiday on the Japanese calendar. It's not an uplifting holiday, like many of the other celebrations I have mentioned (such as New Year's or Girls' Day)... Continue Reading →
We're coming to the meat of Golden Week right now, with Greenery Day (Midori-no-Hi) drawing to a close today. Tomorrow, May 5th, marks Children's Day, one of the more visually exciting holidays of this period. For many years, Children's Day exclusively honored the male offspring of a family. After all, girls already have their own... Continue Reading →
Alright, right off the bat, I'll admit this entry is a bit of a cop-out. 🙂 If you follow me at all on Facebook (just search Uncover Japan), you'll know that I just returned from a somewhat impromptu but rather amazing trip to Shikoku. (I'm a bit tired. Hence, none of the usual themed entries... Continue Reading →
Ahhh, Girls' Day. The older my daughter gets, the more I love this holiday. And truth be told, the longer she's in school, the more cultural tidbits I get to pick up as well. In last year's post, I wrote mostly about the tradition of putting up Hina Dolls in one's house (but only if... Continue Reading →
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