Food & Travel

January 1 marks the beginning of the new year in many cultures. People in Japan also hold many different ceremonies on this day to wish for happiness in the year to come. These wishes are also expressed in the form of food.

Small, colorful and fresh sushi carried on a conveyer belt that travels around the restaurant—entertaining and almost theme park-like kaiten-zushi is popular among the Japanese, regardless of age.

Trams that travel on roads together with cars are well-known by many in Japan, and have the nickname Chin-chin Densha (ding ding trains).

With a history spanning more than 80 years and on a scale that made it one of the largest in the world, the Tsukiji Market in Tokyo (known as "Japan's kitchen") closed in October 2018 and relocated its business to Toyosu Market. We would like to introduce you to Toyosu Market which has become a new tourist spot.

The Setonaikai (Seto Inland Sea) calmly stretches between the Western Honshu and Shikoku to the south.

Taking a tourist train in Japan's northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido, to enjoy the spectacular natural scenery from the window as you travel is becoming popular.

Rice is the staple food of the Japanese people. Japan consumes approximately 8 million tons of rice annually, which makes around 55kg per person per year; of which 98% is domestically produced.

Sado" is a tea-drinking ceremony, well-known as one of Japan's traditional cultural events. You pour the tea and drink it. The series of moves involved are both formal and mysterious.

Bike trips where you can explore local regions leisurely are very popular. Across the country there are places in Japan where you can enjoy the beauty and the gourmet food of the fleeting four seasons.

Staying in accommodation away from one's daily life is one of the pleasures of traveling. Japan offers luxury and business hotels as any other countries, but it also has a unique form of accommodation called ryokan (traditional inn).

Japan offers a wide variety of lodgings, including Japanese-style inns and western-style hotels. Choosing accommodations is part of the fun of traveling, and one type of accommodation has attracted the attention of tourists from inside and outside Japan recently.

To effectively use the space in Japan's urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, facilities are built under elevated structures. These spots are filled with appealing shops, and their popularity has been growing recently, with many foreign visitors too checking them out.

Castles in Japan were built with a lot of ingenuity. In addition to serving the functions of a castle, each has a beauty that has enchanted people, leading to a castle craze in recent years.

Japanese kitchenware, tableware, imitation food samples, and other culinary goods are popular among tourists to Japan from all over the world.

Toshogu Shrine, the most famous of the World Heritage Site Nikko Shrines and Temples, still has the beauty of that era.

Mountain climbing and camping have become popular in Japan over the past few years. More and more young people are enjoying mountain climbing in fashionably colorful clothing that combines function with style. Also, long trail hiking is starting to boom as a new and enjoyable activity.

A Myriad of Hot Spring Qualities and Bathing Styles
Beppu city, Japan’s representative hot spring tourist spot in the central part of Oita, offer a variety of spring qualities and bathing styles.

Ruminate About the Ancient Times in the “Dinosaur Kingdom”
Fukui, renowned for Echizen crab and Wakasa blowfish, is also full of highlights such as Tojinbo, Eihei Temple and Dinosaur Museum.

Onomichi is a port town, surrounded by mountains and sea,that stretches along an east-west strip of land, with historic temples and modern buildings scattered throughout, the town retains a retro ambiance. This location was the main stage for Tokyo Story; the show-case work of world-famous film director Yasujiro Ozu.

Asakusa, the neighborhood surrounding the ancient Senso-ji Temple which has a history of 1400 years,is leaving a trace of the good old Japan. This neighborhood is full of attractions such as traditional festivals, delicate traditional crafts, and also a wide variety of Japanese cuisine.

Nagasaki, a port city on the western tip of Kyushu, has been open to Asia and Europe as a center of trade and cultural exchanges for many centuries. Every scene and custom of Nagasaki make you feel the city represents a fusion of Japanese and foreign cultures.

Home of Folktales
The city of Tono in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, is the home of many folktales, old legends and mysterious stories featuring spirits, ghosts and other imaginative creatures, handed down by word of mouth. Scenery of the city’s nature and countryside produces an atmosphere reminiscent of one of scenes appearing in a tale.

Mount Fuji is a world-famous mountain symbolic of Japan. Mt. Fuji presents different faces in different seasons, fascinating people. In summer, many climbers throng to Mt. Fuji. Hot springs as well as food and wine of Yamanashi charm tourists.

In Aizu, you can enjoy abundant nature such as Mt. Bandai, the Goshiki-numa lakes and Higashiyama hot springs, as well as Wakamatsu Castle and Ouchijuku where Japan’s old town with thatched?roof houses harks back to the medieval Edo period.

A freestanding structure that seems to stretch right up to the sky from the Tokyo plain will open in May and provide new, towering vistas of the city and well beyond.

With an ancient history and a deep cultural heritage, Karatsu is a peaceful township that features natural beauty, delectable foods, traditional pottery, an old castle, and a festival with floats that attract visitors form everywhere.

Sado Island continues to attract travelers, thanks to its unique culture and fascinating history.

Steeped in ancient Japanese history and tradition, Hakone is the place domestic and foreign sightseers and Tokyoites alike go for rest, relaxation, nature, hot springs and more!

A popular travel destination boasting Japan's oldest onsen, historical sights and delicacies from the Seto Inland Sea.

Known throughout the centuries for its rich cultural heritage?resplendent Buddhist temples and breathtaking gardens that change through each season?Hiraizumi is now striving to become the leading light in the recovery of the Tohoku region.

Experience spiritual tranquility and enjoy delicacies fresh from the sea in the Ise-Shima area of Mie Prefecture.

Now conveniently accessible by Shinkansen, Kagoshima in southern Kyushu offers travelers a variety of sights, culture, food, and relaxing hot springs.

Blossoming cherry trees (sakura) have held a special place in Japanese people's hearts for centuries. Famous cherry-blossom spots around the country include mountain spots where cherry trees grow wild, historic temples and castles, and parks.

Lined with exclusive department stores and, boutiques, and restaurants, Tokyo's Ginza district is Japan's number-one destination for luxury shopping and gourmet dining. Many of the famous shops and restaurants here have been in business since the early years of the last century or even longer.

Niseko in western Hokkaido is one of the world's finest ski resorts. Some 700,000 skiers and snowboarders visit each year, drawn by the superlative powder snow and numerous onsen hot springs.