Written by: Ota-san, Samurai Tours Japan staff The first thing you will see from the plane to Japan is Mt. Fuji. It rises above the clouds. It’s Japan’s highest mountain with a height of 3776 meters. Because of its graceful corn-shape, Mt. Fuji has been worshiped as a sacred mountain since ancient times. ‘Fuji’...Read More
Atami Onsen Overall Onsen Rating Atmosphere Atami Onsen (the literal translation of Atami is “warm ocean”) is located on the Pacific Ocean at the north-eastern edge of the Izu Peninsula about 100 km (70 miles) southwest of Tokyo. There is a Shinkansen station for the Tokaido Shinkansen that runs between Tokyo and western Japan...Read More
Anime and manga are big parts of modern Japanese culture today as well as attracting fans from all around the world. Here is a shortlist of destinations for the manga/anime lover travelling to Japan. Ghibli Museum If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli and their famous works such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited...Read More
Much like the United States, the education system in Japan consists of elementary school, middle school, high school, and university. The system there is divided into 5 cycles: Yōchien(幼稚園, Nursery school) from 3 to 6 years old. Shōgakkō(小学, Elementary school) from 6 to 12. Chūgakkō(中学, Middle School) from 12 to 15. Kōkō(高校, High school) from...Read More
Natto is unknown in the west, but very popular in Japan. Natto is a traditional food made from fermenting soybeans. It is commonly mixed with karashi (mustard), soy sauce and sometimes chopped onions, and served over white rice at breakfast. It is an acquired taste because of the powerful smell, strong flavor and sticky, slimy...Read More
Bowing is a well-known form of Japanese etiquette and deeply ingrained in Japanese culture. The Japanese believe the head is the most important part of the body, and by bowing, they are showing their respect. Although bowing may seem pretty straightforward, it’s actually quite complicated, with everything from the depth of the bow to its...Read More
If you have never been to Japan, you may be surprised to know that there are more than 5.5 million vending machines all over the country, approximately one machine for every 40 people. Anyone can own one for an application fee of about 10 thousand yen (about $2000 USD) and if you choose the right...Read More
