Asakusa’s Tori no Ichi festival which takes place annually in November on the days of the rooster (modeled after the Chinese lunar calendar system that…

A tradition almost lost to time, Tokushima’s Yusan-bako boxes were once a part of everyday life for the locals of the area. According to regional…

Knighted by society as Japan’s ‘Father of Kawaii’, Sebastian Masuda’s ultra-cute, ultra-colourful designs can be found all around us. Some of Masuda’s best works include…

On Halloween night, October 31st, 2021, residents of Kagoshima City were treated to a “fox wedding” procession. There are many legends about “fox weddings,” known…

Ornamental dolls play quite a big role in Japanese tradition and culture, and as such, there’s quite a variety when it comes to their types….

A new series: “Words that changed my life” We’re happy to announce the beginning of a new special interview series at grape Japan: “Words that…

During early October, I got invited by one of my dear friends to an exhibition in Nihonbashi at the Maruzen Store (丸善 日本橋店). The exhibition featured the artworks…

Toru Narita is most famous his work on the Ultraman series, particularly his creative monster design, but took much inspiration from oni, the demons of…

At temples in Japan, there’s usually a chozu (purifying water basin) to wash your mouth and hands as a way of cleansing prior to praying….

In celebration of it’s 35th year since opening, Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura will hold a special ‘Autumn Night in Edo’ event to express gratitude for…

There is a style of Japanese Zen garden often seen in temples known as karesansui, which uses pebbles and rocks to represent waves and mountains…

The Japanese term 謝礼 sharei can simply mean thanks or gratitude, but it also can refer to a sum of money paid as a gratuity…

Gyoda Hachiman shrine is located in Gyoda city, Saitama prefecture. The shrine has had a monthly event held since April, 2021 where they display a…

When Japanese Twitter user Keiko Otohata (@otsuhata) shared a photo of a cute sand structure her husband made, she apparently didn’t expect it to garner…

But why did Kōfukuji select Hakkaisan? “We were fascinated by the spiritual features and culture of the land there,” said Myoshun Tsuji, of Kōfukuji Temple….