Japanese Culture

A shallow, outdoor hot spring with large stones around and in it for decoration. It is surrounded by trees changing colors (green, red, yellow) in the fall season.

A Beginners Guide to Onsen (Hot Springs) in Japan

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If you ever get the chance to visit Japan, one of the must-do experiences is to visit an onsen. An onsen is a natural bath that uses spring water to provide a warm, potentially healthy bathing experience. Visitors enter the baths in the nude, with the onsen usually separated into male and female areas. Then … Read more

A photo of five hands each holding a mug filled with beer that are converging in the middle of the image to toast. Under them on the table are plates of food like edamame, cucumber, and cabbage.

A Look Into Japanese Izakaya: A Quick Guide

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Having a drink after work is a universal pleasure. Somewhere to retreat to after a long week or punishing day. Britain and Ireland have their pubs, Germany has the beer hall, the USA has the bar, from South Africa’s Shebeens to the Cantinas of Latin America and Spain. All have their quirks, but each is … Read more

A photo with a black microphone in focus in the middle on a table. In the background, a green and pink drink in glasses, a yellow tambourine, and a tablet for karaoke can be seen but are blurry.

A Short History of Karaoke & Its Culture In Japan

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Karaoke, meaning “empty orchestra” in Japanese, is singing along to an instrumental backing track. A visual accompaniment usually shows scrolling lyrics on a screen in time to the music. Many people have tried karaoke, one of the most popular nightlife activities in Japan and globally, but few know the story behind it.   Karaoke: Origins The origins … Read more

A dark background with smoke and a director's "cut" take board with two rolls of film on the ground. The text reads,"The 20 Best Japanese Movies of All Time"

20 of the Best Japanese Movies of All Time

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  Japan, a forerunner in world cinema, has one of the most acclaimed film industries in the world. Their contribution to world cinema has not gone unnoticed with Japan winning—not once, but four times—the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (the record high for any Asian nation). This list will chronicle some of the … Read more

A collage of the Miyajima Toori gate, a Shinto priest with his fingers touching his head, and some sort of alter, with mountains in the background. The image has tints of yellow and purple over it.

Shinto: A Look Into the Religion of Japan

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Shinto, which means “the way of the Gods” or “Kami” (spirits), as they are referred to, is the oldest religion of the Japanese indigenous people. Shintoism dates back to around the sixth century B.C.E. Despite this lengthy history, Shinto is commonly understood to have become popular around the sixth century C.E. to distinguish between Buddhism, … Read more

A big Buddha statue in Japan. This statue shows the Buddha sitting down and meditating.

Buddhism: A Look Into the Beliefs, Practices & History 

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Buddhism is an exercise in spiritual development. The ultimate aim is achieving enlightenment through the practices of meditation and mindful living. Practitioners also strive to develop qualities such as compassion, wisdom, and awareness. Enlightened beings experience life without rose-colored glasses, understanding that life—with all its beauty, trials, and tribulations—can be glorious. Buddhism teaches that by … Read more

A young woman sitting in a car and looking out of the window and smiling. She is holding keys in her right hand.

How to Get a Japanese Driver’s License

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A Japanese driver’s license may seem unnecessary to anyone living in a large city. Places like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya have great public transportation systems, so driving is easily avoided. On the off chance you can’t get to your destination by train, there’s definitely a bus within walking distance of where you’d like to go. … Read more