Photos by Yoshifumi Saito. It is well known that Japanese people love onsen, hot springs, but actually you don’t have to be Japanese, or even human, to enjoy a hot bath! In Japan one can experience the sight of wild Japanese Macaques enjoying the bliss of an onsen. Our photographer, Yoshifumi Saito, recently went to […]
Tag: Onsen
Kazuo Sato – Togatta Kokeshi Doll Artisan
By Saneyuki Owada Kazuo Sato 佐藤一夫 Born 1st January 1936- Togatta Kokeshi doll Maker A Togatta Kokeshi doll maker who has received three Prime Minister Prizes in 1988, 1995 and 2003 (a grand prize which is a commendation bestowed by the Prime Minister of Japan) at the Japan Kokeshi Dolls contest which have been held […]
How to use an Onsen – The Ultimate Guide
By Weini Liao As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen (a term for hot spring in Japanese) around the country. For hundreds of years people have taken the opportunity of using these naturally hot springs to bathe themselves and relax. Today in modern Japan it is possible to enjoy both natural onsen […]
Kokeshi Dolls – Tsuchiyu Style
By Mike Sullivan In a previous article I discussed one type of Kokeshi Doll from Naruko, altogether there are eleven official kinds of Kokeshi dolls, the Naruko style was started by a woodturner called Matagoro Onuma. The popularity of this doll was particularly sparked by a train line to Naruko that was built in 1915.In […]
Kawazu Cherry Blossom Festival
By Mike Sullivan Traditionally when people think of seeing cherry blossoms in Japan they think of late March to April, however perhaps not so well known is that it is possible to enjoy the blossoming of these beautiful trees from February in the countryside. One of the most well-known places is in Kawazu, in Shizuoka […]