Try On the ‘Samue,’ Japanese Work Clothes for Monks — and the Rest of Us
Timothy Nerozzi for JAPAN Forward When searching for Japanese-style clothes, many newcomers are at a loss of where to start. Kimono, while luxurious, can be…
Culture
Byōdōin temple: The temple you can hold in the palm of your hand
Photo credit: Connie Sceaphierde Kyoto is perhaps best known for the traditional ancient atmosphere that you can experience by walking through its old streets. It…
Convert Your Name To Kanji And Stamp It Your Way With Personalized Japanese Hanko Seals
Often used in lieu of signatures, hanko (personalized seals displaying one’s name) are a necessary means of identification to stamp official documents in everything from…
Dogo Onsen: Have a relaxing soak in Japan’s oldest bathhouse
Located on the western side of the often overlooked island of Shikoku is the ancient bathhouse town of Matsuyama. The small city is steeped in…
We Visited The Beastars Cafe: Fans of The Series Are In For A Treat!
Although viewers in the US and other countries will have to wait until early 2020 to watch the anime version on Netflix, many manga fans…
Climb the bridge between heaven and earth at Amanohashidate
Kyoto. The proud former capital of Japan, internationally famed as the place where you can still see Geisha and Maiko, drink real matcha in a…
Beautiful Castles and Idyllic Panoramic View during winter in Japan
Source: PR Times Japan has magnificent castles scattered all over the country and each of them is a delight for our eyes as they bring…
Nezu Shrine: One of Tokyo’s hidden gems
The quaint little neighborhood of Nezu Home to over 9,000,000 people, Tokyo is the world’s largest and busiest metropolitan city. Add an extra 2 million…
A Festive Fusion of Japanese Culture and Dance Music at “MATSURI Presented by SUNTORY”
Here at grape Japan, we’re always on the lookout for cool events which put a new spin on Japanese culture, especially those which welcome English-speaking…
How to forget the year at your bōnenkai party
December has rolled around and the end of the year is drawing nearer. As the nights become colder and the days become shorter, it can…
Christmas in Japan: How Do The Japanese Celebrate Christmas?
Compared to predominantly Christian countries where Christmas is usually celebrated with your family, in Japan, Christmas is most of the time spent with your lover…
Spending New Year 2020 in Tokyo? These Cute Mouse-Themed Sweets Make Great Gifts
Oshōgatsu is coming, Oshōgatsu is coming! What’s that, you ask? It’s the Japanese word for New Year’s, and a special time for Japanese families to…
Japanese Photographer Captures Breathtaking Images Of Gifu Castle Against Reiwa Era’s First Cold Moon
The last full moon of December is known as the Cold Moon, but this past week’s holds a special value in Japan as being the…
The Rise of Companion Robots in Japan
Humans are social creatures, but what happens when their social networks break down? Depression, cognitive decline, cortisol imbalances, and so on, and so on [1]….
The Edo-Tokyo Open-Air Architectural Museum
A hidden gem in Musashi-Koganei Lots of tourists make it to Tokyo’s preeminent historical museum, the Edo Tokyo Museum in Ryogoku. It’s a shame that…