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Kobe, the world’s sake capital
Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture is not only famous for beef, but it also includes part of the Nada Gogo, or “Five villages of Nada,” that became famous for brewing sake centuries ago. Nada sake uses the area’s relatively hard water and high-quality Hyogo-grown rice to offer richer flavors and lots of body, and was the origin of many brewing techniques still in use today.
Kobe breweries, including behemoths like Hakutsuru – which has over 280 years of history – collectively account for the largest production of sake in the world. Many have museums, like the Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Museum, a huge facility displaying traditional tools, videos and dioramas exploring the history of sake brewing, with information in English and other languages. Best of all, the museum includes plenty of souvenirs and a tasting area – with some free sake, and others that require a fee. -
Experience shukubo, a temple stay, on the holy mountain site
One of the best ways to experience the true magic of Koyasan is to stay overnight at a temple. Known as a shukubo, a temple stay at Koyasan gives visitors the opportunity to relax, reflect and immerse themselves in the traditional practices of Shingon Buddhism.
Discover the day-to-day lives of Koyasan’s monks in one of 50 temples that offer the shukubo experience. With breakfast, dinner and comfortable overnight lodgings available, you can truly immerse yourself in this enriching cultural experience. Taste the traditional vegetarian dishes prepared by the monks and join them for morning prayers and meditation.
Clean and simple furnishings, including traditional tatami floors and sliding doors (fusuma) typify the temple lodgings at Koyasan and reflect the abundant peace and tranquility that define these sacred spaces. It’s important to remember, though, that rooms and meals vary depending on the temple. For further information, you can refer to our guide on temple stays. -
Mind-boggling paper statues dazzle at the Aomori Nebuta Festival (August 2–7)
The Aomori Nebuta Festival is one of the most popular in Japan. Every year, nearly 2.5 million people descend on Aomori City in Japan's northeastern Tohoku region to experience a spectacle found nowhere else.
The biggest draw and the festival's namesake are the Nebuta. These vast floats are adorned with paper mâché characters from myth and legend: colorful, snarling warriors, bizarre monsters and lifelike animals. Alongside the floats, traditional Haneto dancers whip up a frenzy driven by the music of Nebuta bayashi bands. Visitors can even join in the dancing provided they wear the traditional Haneto costume, which is available for rent.
The intricate floats that take over the streets of Aomori City are a work of exquisite craftsmanship. Each Nebuta takes a full year to construct, all in aid of this unique six-day event. At the end of the festival, visitors are awarded a two-hour firework display, illuminating the city's skies and providing a fitting climax to this special event. Away from the main festival, visitors can learn more about the historical roots of Aomori Nebuta at the Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE. -
An unforgettable evening with dazzling floats at Inuyama Festival
In Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, the annual Inuyama Festival will satisfy your desire for an authentic cultural experience woven into Japan’s unique cultural tapestry. Set in the historic city of Inuyama, this vibrant celebration was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity, and offers visitors a unique and authentic experience.
Traditionally held on the first weekend of April, this year on April 6 and 7 from 9 AM to 9:30 PM, the historic Inuyama Old Castle Town area hosts parades of three-tiered floats and doll performances using traditional Japanese puppets (known as “karakuri”) alongside flute and taiko drum performances. During the day, the thirteen floats parade through the cherry blossom-lined streets, but at night, all 365 lanterns decorating the 13 floats are lit, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere. Visitors can take in the dynamic energy of traditional floats adorned with stunning ornaments, witness captivating performances and partake in the local festivities that embody the heart and soul of Aichi’s heritage. -
Kick back and enjoy the fall colors on one of Japan’s autumn foliage trains
Japan has an abundance of trains, ropeways and cable cars that provide great views of fall foliage, but a ride on the Watarase Keikoku Railway is a truly magical way to enjoy some spectacular autumn colors.
The route, which links Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture with Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture, is especially picturesque in autumn when the mountain foliage is transformed into vibrant hues. Following the course of the Watarase River, the line runs through the steep sided Watarase Gorge affording passengers dramatic views over the valley. In addition to regular local trains there are also “torokko” – old-fashioned trolley trains – that include open cars without glass in the windows, so you can enjoy the clearest views. -
Panoramic views and autumnal splendor at Nihondaira
Located in Shizuoka city, Nihondaira is a famous location for visitors to soak in the beauty of Mt. Fuji. The area also provides views of Shizuoka’s renowned tea fields, the Izu Peninsula, the Japanese Southern Alps, Shimizu Port and Suruga Bay – the deepest bay in Japan.
Today, there are new Shizuoka views available with the completion of the Nihondaira Yume Terrace. Constructed with local timber from Shizuoka, the 360-degree observatory constructed by Kengo Kuma & Associates offers incomparable views of Mt. Fuji. The first floor hosts an exhibition showcasing the history and culture of Nihondaira, while the lounge on the second floor offers refreshments including seasonal teas and sweets. -
Celebrate diversity at the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships
If you’re looking for a different kind of celebration, the Kobe 2024 Para Athletics World Championships offer another unique perspective on Japanese cultural appreciation. From May 17 to 25, select skilled athletes of different levels of ableness will gather from around the world to compete among peers and test their abilities.
The 11th edition of the global event will be East Asia’s first time hosting the World Para Athletics Championship. Hosted in Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, this year will feature both men’s and women’s wheelchair racing, seated shot put, long jump, javelin and varying length races. There are many different dynamic events to experience, fostering an appreciation for the resilience and skill of para-athletes. While visiting Kobe for the Para Athletics World Championships, make sure to check out the night sights, gardens and try some Kobe beef, of course. -
UBE Biennale: Sculpting a legacy of art and community
Finally, Ube in Yamaguchi Prefecture has the honor of being the first city in Japan to hold a large-scale outdoor sculpture exhibition. Started in 1961 as a citizen-led project to beautify the town with greenery and public art, the Ube City Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition has been held every two years since and eventually evolved into the UBE Biennale. The city has amassed a collection of roughly 400 pieces, which remain on display in Ube’s plazas, public facilities and airport.
Perhaps the most scenic location of all is lakeside Tokiwa Park, where several of the largest and most noteworthy installations are on permanent display. This is also the customary viewing venue for new award-winning sculptures. With the festival’s upcoming 30th iteration scheduled for October 27 to December 22, 2024, visitors taking a stroll around Tokiwa then won’t just be going for a walk in the park, but a walk through 60-plus years of contemporary sculpture on vibrant display. -
Forest Festival of the Arts Okayama: Celebrating northern Okayama Prefecture’s bountiful nature through art
Okayama’s most famous attractions, like Okayama Castle and the canals of Kurashiki, are in the southern part of the prefecture. Head north into the mountains, though, and you’ll be ensconced in beautiful mountain woodlands, where the Forest Festival of the Arts will take place from September 28 to November 24, 2024. Through its featured exhibits, this festival shines a light on forests and Japanese nature as a source of inspiration for community engagement. This cooperative nature of the festival aspires to create a “new form of capital” that enrichens the local area.
A wide genre of domestic and international creators that include artists, musicians, dancers, architects, designers, flower artists, chefs and more will showcase their work at the festival, which will be spread across a dozen venues in the towns of Tsuyama, Nagi, Niimi, Maniwa and Kagamino in the Chugoku Mountains of Western Japan. These installations will transform and further enhance the already stunning locales, including Tsuyama’s historic Joto district, Niimi’s Makido Cave and Kagamino’s Okutsu river valley, famous for its vivid autumn colors. -
The Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival: Bringing art to Sado’s ports
Over the centuries, Sado Island off the northern coast of Japan’s Niigata Prefecture was a remote exile site and the location of one of Japan’s largest gold mines. These days, the beautiful bucolic community has become a hidden travel destination gem, welcoming visitors to the annual Sado Island Galaxy Art Festival.
Ryotsu Port, the primary gateway for visitors arriving by ferry, hosts the majority of the installations, but not all of them. Others can be found at historical buildings and scenic sites of the natural landscape elsewhere on the island, rewarding those who take the time to venture further into a part of Japan most tourists never see.
The Galaxy Art Festival is more than a purely visual celebration of the arts, too, as the program has included Sado’s unique folk songs and “onidaiko,” a dance and drum performance by a masked musician dressed as an oni, a ferocious demon or ogre from Japanese folklore. This “demon drumming” is a Sado tradition that dates back centuries as a means of warding off evil and giving thanks for good harvests, making it a perfect fit for the Galaxy Art Festival, whose goal is to introduce and preserve the island’s culture.