thecircumference.org catalogs the best life experiences around the world; country results for Japan

A Blazing Good Time at the Oto Matsuri Festival

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:27:12 +0000

Japan is famous for preserving old and elaborate traditions, and passing them down to younger generations to experience and enjoy. Some traditions may appear completely nonsensical like the phalluses paraded around at Kanamara Matsuri, but most can be traced back to deep and committed beliefs, like the burning torches touted at the Oto Matsuri Festival. Every year in Shingu City in the Wakasa Prefecture, the Oto Matsuri Festival is celebrated at dusk. Signifying the close of winter, the celebration begins with a purifying meal of white coloured foods like tofu, fish, miso soup and rice. This theme continues through to the outfits of local "Noboriko", and tops off the visual ambiance of the Oto Matsuri Festival. Prior to the ceremony, Noboriko prepare by bathing themselves in saltwater on a beach in Ojigahama, before donning all-white clothes specially worn only for the rite. The Oto Matsuri Festival costume consists of white underclothing, tights and a rope tied around the waist 7 times. It also makes it easier for them to spot when they come barreling down the hill with flaming torches later that evening. The Oto Matsuri festival is one of the two great fire festivals in Japan. After a few drinks of sweet saki for courage, the Noboriko head out to set their wishes ablaze for the year. The procession from town to the cliff top Kamikura Shrine is filled with pleasantries from families and roadside shops. Before going up to the Kamikura shrine, the Noboriko will visit three great shrines to pray. These shrines are the Hayatama shrine, Asuka shrine and the Moushinji shrine. Along their way to the shrines and as they enter the gates of the Kamikura Shrine, the starting point of Oto Matsuri Festival, they touch torches with each other as a sign of good luck and admiration for each other's bravery while saying, "Let's go together!" in Japanese. After climbing a steep flight of 538 steps to the top of the Kamikura Shrine, the Noboriko briefly stop to pray and then run back down the same stairs in a blazing stampede. The same fire lights all the participants’ torches. When the guard opens the Kamikura gates, the Noboriko proceed to run as fast as they can to the lower gate. From afar, it looks like a whole strip of fire going down the side of the mountain, a spectacular moment to see! Also, if you want your wish to be granted but cannot participate in the Shingu Fire Festival, you may ask someone to bear a torch with your special prayer for you.

Kanamara Matsuri the Japanese Penis Festival

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:50:11 +0000

When people talk about traveling to Japan, stories are often recalled of scarlet sunrises over Mount Fuji or Cherry Blossom filled picnics. A diverse country, Japan combines old and new, and once a year on the streets in Kawasaki, it even goes a little crazy during the Kanamara Matsuri Festival! The Kanamara Matsuri Festival, also known as the Pink Penis Parade or Festival of the Steel Phallus, is a yearly fertility festival held at the Kanamara Shrine in Kawasaki, Japan. The festival originated during the Edo period (1603 - 1867) when prostitutes used to pray for protection from STD's at the local penis-venerating shrine. Since its inception, Kanamara Matsuri has since evolved to promote fertility, harmonious marriages and even draw attention and fundraise for HIV research. Although it may sound bizarre at first, statues of giant phalluses take center stage on the first Sunday of April in Kawasaki. Kanamara Matsuri is made up of everything phallic – from candies and cookies, to ice drops and toys. The streets are swamped with phallic symbols and statues that sometimes shock and surprise new visitors. Back in the day, Kawasaki was known as a red-light district so gays, lesbians and commercial sex workers usually join in celebration of the Japanese Penis Festival. Celebrated around the Kanamara Shrine, the festivities include a plethora of what some would consider jaw-dropping activities such as a parade of transvestites, people sucking on all sorts of phallic shaped candies and old men carving phallus shaped radishes. All these activities are believed to drive out all the bad luck in marriages, pregnancy, family life and sex life. This Japanese Fertility Festival is really a diverse experience unlike any other festival in the world.

Ward Off Evil at the Setsubun Festival in Kyoto

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:16:08 +0000

Make sure bad luck isn't lingering in your future by celebrating the Japanese Setsubun Festival. Held on the first day of the spring season, it was once thought to be a New Year's Eve of sorts which no one wanted to start off on the wrong foot. Also called the "Mame maki", locals began to throw beans to drive away evil spirits or "Oni" thought to abound during a change in season. Despite being one of the lesser-known Japanese Festivals, people still celebrate it at shrines and at home as part of centuries of tradition. Every year during the Setsubun Festival, the head of the family "toshiotoko" dresses up like an evil spirit and positions himself on the front door of a house. Thereafter, the other members of the family cast fried soybeans at him and shout, "Evil spirits out! Happiness in!” in Japanese. Then members of the family are expected to pick up and eat the number of fried soybeans corresponding to their ages for good luck. Less common traditions of the Setsubun Festival also include people hanging sardine heads and holly on their doorposts to keep evil spirits away. The Setsubun Festival is celebrated in the whole of Japan especially in Buddhist and Shinto temples and shrines. However, one of the best places to visit the Setsubun Festival on February 3rd is the Yoshida Shrine in Kyoto where a giant bonfire is held on the night of the festival.

Beat the Winter Blues At Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:53:41 +0000

When you hear the word “Sapporo” you might think of a delicious glass of beer. However, for many people in Sapporo, Japan, that word often precedes “Snow Festival”. The Sapporo Snow Festival is a yearly event taking place for a week in February. The main attractions at the Sapporo Snow Festival is the snow and ice sculptures which turn parts of of the city into a veritable winter wonderland. Glistening ice and pristine white snow are used to create beautiful and elaborate sculptures that amaze tourists and locals alike. The Sapporo Snow Festival is huge now, but came from very humble beginnings. In the year 1950, a group of high school students built six snow sculptures in Odori Park: a local, central park. The festival gained popularity very quickly as it began when parts of Japan were still reeling from the after-effects of the Second World War. The Sapporo Snow Festival gave people a sense of optimism with an event to look forward to in the future. In 1955, the newly formed Self-Defense force decided to join the fun, and they built a massive snow sculpture on their base at Makomanai. Many say that it is their assistance which guaranteed the Sapporo Snow Festival success as they built the first massive sculpture for which the festival is now famous. Odori Park is the main area for the Sapporo Snow Festival, and in 2006, a new site called Satorando (also called Satoland) joined the festival. In addition to sculptures, this site also has an ice bar, hot air balloons, and a snow maze. For those who are nighthawks, Susukino is the area to visit. The snow and ice sculptures of Susukino are carved with chainsaws. and are best enjoyed at night. Some depict famous individuals or cartoon characters. Other, more ambitious sculptors, will make life-size buildings out of snow and ice. So, bundle up, charge your camera and take in the amazing sights of the Sapporo Snow Festival.

Balance Bamboo Poles at the Akita Kanto Festival

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 12:55:19 +0000

When you travel to the Tohoku region of Japan in the summer season, you can witness several cultural festivals that display the beauty and heritage of Japan. One of four large festivals, the Akita Kanto Festival in Tohoku, Akita City, is celebrated yearly to pray for a good harvest and for divine protection from illnesses and evil spirits. It started in the 19th century when men marched through the streets, each of them balancing a kanto (bamboo pole) to display their strengths. At present, the Akita Kanto Festival is considered a “national important intangible folk cultural heritage” where hundreds fly to Japan annually to witness local performers balance bamboo poles topped with hanging lanterns that resemble stalks of rice. When you travel to Japan to take in this Bamboo pole balancing festival, you will witness a spectacular display of Japanese heritage. The Akita Kanto Festival performers use the palms of their hands without gripping the poles. It may sound or look easy, but an Akita pole bearer also balances as many as 46 candle-lit lanterns that weigh as much as 50 kilos. The paper lanterns hang from cross-poles at the top of the bamboo poles, and resemble the ears of rice plants. Some of the Kanto performers may even use their foreheads and the small of their backs to steady the heavy kanto bamboo poles while moving to the rhythm of the flutes and drums in the background. Competitions are held every year to determine which performers from outside Akita will be featured in the festival. These dazzling performances led to the creation of a competition that awards the most skilled bamboo pole bearers at each Akita Kanto Festival. It is a stunning sight to behold, and becomes more dramatic as the locals sing a chant while the performers gracefully march through the streets. While the Akita Kanto Festival dazzles in the evening, it might also interest you to go out and experience balancing your own bamboo pole in the morning. Visitors may interact with the performers and may test their own strengths in steadying bamboo poles with hanging lanterns. The performers may gradually increase the height of your poles as you become more comfortable. Lessons are also offered to children, who learn to balance smaller bamboo poles. During the day, practices and competitions are held for the performers, and this is an opportunity to see the details of the artwork in the daylight, and take lots of photos.

Itsukushima Island: A Japanese Getaway for the Mind and Soul

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 16:25:09 +0000

Somewhere among the scattered islands near Hiroshima, Japan, lies an island with a sacred treasure. Also known as Miyajima Island (Shrine Island), the island of Itsukushima takes pride in the wonderful combination of mountains and seashore, and is famous for the tranquility of its landscape. Itsukushima also cradles one of the most important shrines in Japanese history and religion: the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine. From time immemorial, the ancient Japanese believed Itsukushima to be a holy place, and they dedicated it to the three daughters of the Gods and Goddesses of the sun and the sea, who the Japanese believe created Japan. It is said that from ancient times to the 17th century, Itsukushima had to be kept pure, and for this reason, commoners were refused the privilege of setting foot on its shores. Births and deaths were also forbidden on Miyajima Island, and as a result, pregnant women and the dying elderly were always sent elsewhere. Built in 1168, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shinto Shrine of Itsukushima is the jewel of the island, and the red Otorii (gate) is its crowning glory. Situated in the middle of the harbour, the scarlet Otorii is a sight to behold—with the lush green mountains as a backdrop—it seems to float in the deep blue sea at high tide. Although the Otorii is not as striking when the tide is low, because it stands in mud or dried land, the low tide gives you the opportunity to walk near to it and marvel at its beauty. Deer and monkeys often play at its base when the tide is low, which is an enjoyable experience if you have children with you. The Otorii has weathered storms and disasters, and was always repaired to bring it back to its old glory, because, for the Japanese people, it is not merely a beautiful attraction but also an important symbol of their faith. When wanderlust sets in, we travel aficionados just need to get away from it all—the noise, pollution, problems at work, family or relationships. However, surrounded by the tranquil beauty of Miyajima Island, the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is not only a religious shrine, but a perfect getaway for visitors to connect with nature and their spiritual side, regardless of what religion they belong to. So, whether you’re looking for a cultural treasure, a religious icon, or just simple natural beauty, the Itsukushima Shinto Shrine has something to offer, and will leave you satisfied, enriched, and thoroughly at peace.

Feed the Sika Deer at Nara Park

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 02:28:25 +0000

The approach to Nara Park in the old capital city of Nara, Japan, is dominated by an imposing view of a wooden pagoda and beautiful tall trees. However, it is arguably the deer that make Japan's Nara Park as famous as it is. In fact, in many cases, Nara Park is known as “Deer Park” for the hundreds of so-called “wild” sika deer that roam the grounds. Although they are not raised by humans, the 1,200 sika deer within Nara Deer Park have grown so accustomed to tourists feeding them that they will boldly venture up to visitors, expecting pieces of rice crackers, sold at carts throughout Park for this purpose. Nature-lovers from Western countries will undoubtedly deplore this interference with the natural habits of these wild animals. However, the Japanese attitude towards the sika deer, officially designated as “National Treasures,” is quite different. Parents encourage children to hand-feed the deer with the packages of rice crackers, despite warning signs cautioning that the Nara deer can be unpredictable. Throughout the grassy knolls of Nara Park, deer wander next to tourists, close enough to touch. They certainly are fascinating to watch, even if you disapprove of their treatment. You may catch a glimpse of a fawn struggling on its wobbly feet, or a pair of bucks butting heads. Everywhere you look, the grass of Nara Park is closely cropped by the grazing animals. As with so many of Japan's fascinating historic sites, Nara's deer have a history closely bound up with Japan's mythology and folklore. According to the legend, a god descended to the earth riding a white deer, and from that moment, the deer were held to be sacred. In fact, killing one of the sacred deer was punishable by death at one time. The Nara deer are almost enough to detract from the grandeur of the park grounds themselves, but if you tear your gaze from the cute animals long enough to take a look around, you'll see one of the most beautiful scenic attractions in Nara, Japan. The trees are ancient and tall, and towering above them are some of the most beautiful wooden structures in the world, including the five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji, and the great wooden hall of Todai-ji, which houses a gigantic bronze Buddha, and is the largest wooden building in the world. These impressive structures nest harmoniously within the landscape, and are the most beautiful in the spring when plum and cherry trees bloom, or in the autumn with the changing colours of the leaves.

Feasting on Fugu: Flirting with Death in Japan

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:14:22 +0000

Whenever I travel, especially to the East, I get this overpowering urge to eat bizarre delicacies. Something about the local fare, the tentacles squirming in buckets at neighborhood markets, strange new meats, and steam rising off grills charring unrecognizable animal parts gets my blood pumping - it almost makes me feel that, despite the McDonalds and KFCs at any given corner, I'm actually traveling to places that are authentically different from where I grew up. During my last break, I became obsessed with finding and feasting on fugu, or pufferfish. Fugu, literally "river pig", is a fish prized for its unique look, its delicate flesh, and its ability to puff up to scare predators. It's also extremely poisonous to humans. Every year, hundreds of people, usually amateur chefs, die from fugu poisoning. The fish must be prepared in a particular manner by specially trained chefs to prevent the dish from killing the diner. The fish contains a neurotoxin that slowly numbs the body, eventually causing paralysis and death. The most nerve-wracking part of the entire experience is that even if the fish is prepared properly, if you eat enough, trace toxins in the fish cause your mouth to go numb. If that's not a culinary double-dare, I don't know what is. With this in mind I flew to the fugu capital of the world, Osaka, for adventure, for culinary enjoyment, and to foolishly test my own mortality. In the trendy Shinsaibashi area of Osaka, I easily found several fugu restaurants, heralded by huge fugu balloons. For a reasonable price I found a great set menu, which served the fish sashimi, deep-fried, and in a soup. The fish was delicate, but definitely not the culinary explosion that I had anticipated. So, to me, it was all about the numbness. Was the toxin working? Was that numbness I felt? No. So, naturally, I ordered another huge platter of sashimi, the fish cut so thin that you could see the ceramic pattern of the dish underneath. Nothing. But then something felt.....different. And sure enough, with a few questions to confirm that I wasn't just dreaming it, I realized that I was high. Not like alcohol, not like numbness, but a floating, dreamlike sensation that clouded my mind. NOW I understood the goofy grins plastering the faces of the regulars. As I walked – no - floated through Shinsaibashi, the aches and pains from traveling fell away and I realized that the old Japanese men populating the restaurant have a more traditional option to fall back on when their bar of choice is closed for the day. For the time being, flirting with death never tasted so good.

Race to the Top of the Bun Tower in Hong Kong

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 18:43:31 +0000

If you're looking to experience traditional Hong Kong in one of its most unique and fascinating festivals, look no further than the weeklong Cheung Chau Bun Festival. This whimsical holiday, characterized by folkloric costumes, traditional handicrafts, crowded festive streets, and crowned by the race to the top of the bun towers, is one of the liveliest events in Hong Kong every year. Taking place in late April or early May (it's a lunar festival, celebrated in the fourth moon of the year), the Cheung Chau Bun Festival makes the little island of Cheung Chau (the smallest of Hong Kong's outlying islands) the focus of the entire metropolis. Take the half-hour ferry ride to Cheung Chau during the Bun Festival, and you will be greeted by crowds of happy celebrants feasting on snacks and goodies: traditional street food served by locals during the Bun Festival. If you're expecting chicken kabobs and hot dogs, you might be disappointed to know that this traditional festival is vegetarian. Even the local McDonalds bows to tradition, serving mushroom burgers instead of its normal menu. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a Taoist festival that originated when the inhabitants of the island were being decimated by a severe plague. When local fishermen brought a statue of the god “Pak Tai” to the island, however, the plague was mysteriously cleansed. Afterwards, locals began an annual festival, dressing up in costumes and pretending to be deities to scare away the evil spirits. Today, this most popular of Taoist festivals continues the tradition of wearing costumes, and you will see lion dances and dragon dances with colourful costumes and rhythmic dancing. The entire island is a flurry of good cheer. The highlight of the day, is of course, the race to the top of the bun tower, without which the name of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival would have no meaning. In the days preceding the Bun festival, the framework of the tower is erected of bamboo scaffolding, and then hundreds of steamed buns are attached to it, completely covering the surface of the tower with buns. On the day of the Festival, racers compete to attain the summit of the bun tower first, snatching the uppermost bun, and then dismantling the rest of the buns as they return to the bottom. It is an exciting event to watch, but sometimes a dangerous one. Injuries in the past have caused safety regulations to be strengthened, and in 2007, a new regulation decreed that the buns be made of plastic to prevent them from disintegrating into slippery mush as the racers climb to the top. Some of these plastic buns are now sold as souvenirs, a unique, though admittedly kitschy, memento of the Cheung Chau Bun Festival.

Hike Ten Thousand Gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine

Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:00:53 +0000

The vision of thousands of crimson torii gates stretching up the mountainside is one of the most iconic images of Kyoto, and of Japan. The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto is one of the most famous shrines in the city, and one of the oldest Inari shrines in Japan, founded in 711. Popularized throughout the world in the film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha, walking through the tunnel of red lacquered torii (a distinctive shape for Shinto gates) is one of the most memorable experiences you can have in Kyoto. The Fushimi Inari Shrine stands out among the temples of Kyoto as a unique and whimsical tribute to the Shinto god of rice and industry, Inari, whose representatives are fox spirits (“kitsune”). When first arriving at the main shrine, at the bottom of Inari Mountain in Kyoto, visitors pause to rinse their hands and mouth with water from a fountain at the entrance to the Shrine. Here, you can buy prayer tablets, incense and miniature torii gates to place on the kitsune shrines for luck. Look around at the tiny stone fox statues dotted among the main sanctuary. Each one is an individual in its own charming way, with a red cape tied around its shoulders. After getting your fill at the main shrine of the Fushimi Inari Shrine, head behind to where the lines of torii stretch out in their thousands up the hillside. Hiking through the forest feels both mystical and peaceful with lacquered red gates standing in vivid contrast to the stands of giant bamboo and the green woods. As a tribute to the god of industry, thousands of Japanese businesses have donated these crimson gates in hopes of wealth and prosperity, making the Fushimi Inari Shrine one of the premier destinations in Japan. You will quickly lose count of the torii, as well as of the countless fox statues that you encounter on your way. At various points in the two-hour hike, you can stop and rest at small snack bars and other smaller shrines dedicated to Inari. Pause and cool yourself at the shrine fountain and nibble on some Inari sushi, vinegar-rice wrapped in fried tofu, which is said to be the fox spirit's favorite food. Alternatively, slurp down a bowl of kitsune udon: fox noodles topped with fried tofu. The path continues on a loop around the mountain, with views over the city of Kyoto at the top. The journey, however, is more interesting than the destination, and walking through the scores of red gates makes you feel like you've travelled a thousand years into the past.

Early Morning Hustle of the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:18:55 +0000

A trip to the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo is a defining experience, and often a thought-provoking one. It is a hub for fish and sea life deliveries from all over the world, and the place to get the freshest sushi in Tokyo. Watching rubber-booted fishermen with deft hands fillet, slice and clean fish of every variety, as well as sea urchins, eels, shellfish, and pretty much anything imaginable, is an intriguing sight. As you make your way around buckets and trays full of live sea life, this is not a place for the squeamish, or the vegetarian. The Tsukiji Fish Market's crowning glory, as well as its bitter shame (depending on who you talk to) is the fresh tuna fish auction early in the morning. The tuna auction is now closed to foreigners, likely due to the backlash of public sentiment against the overfishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks. This gigantic fish, the king of the world's tuna varieties, is an awesome specimen of beauty and power. The Atlantic bluefin is a tightly muscled creature with a “pineal window” on the top of its head⎯a kind of natural GPS navigational system guiding the fish across thousands of miles of ocean every year at 40 miles an hour. Not only that, but the tuna is able to use its metabolic heat to raise its body temperature above that of the surrounding oceans, making it one of the rare warm-blooded fish in existence. Their beautiful silvery skin and huge size (reaching over a 1,000 Ib) is another reason why Atlantic bluefin are so unique. What makes Atlantic bluefin tuna such an apt symbol for the unique beauty and wildness of sea creatures⎯also makes it a prized food item in many countries. Japan consumes most of the world's shipments of Atlantic tuna. The tuna's dense muscle structure and fatty underbelly make it one of the most sought fish for sushi. Different cuts from various parts of the fish have varying characteristics. The buttery and fatty underbelly, known as “otoro,” is a noted delicacy, fetching high prices in Tokyo's restaurants. The tuna underpins Japan's fishing industry, but hopefully a sustainable alternative is found soon. Like it or not, when the tuna stocks become depleted, even these fishermen will be out of a job. The Tsukiji Fish Market has much more to offer besides just tuna. Pretty much any kind of sea life you could imagine has its stall here, such as live freshwater eels swimming in their tanks, vibrant scarlet red snapper, plump sea scallops, huge geoduck clams, and fat prawns. The atmosphere is friendly as you head to the dozens of sushi restaurants that have sprung up around the Tsukiji Fish Market. Here you can get the freshest sushi in all of Tokyo at a fraction of the prices in downtown Tokyo. Sit around the cramped counter as your sushi chef expertly slices thin pieces of fish and lays them on top of rice. Opt for some slices of salmon, whitefish, mackerel or eel. With your appetite sated, browse the extensive food market where Japanese housewives come to pick up their weekly supply of dried seaweed and other necessities. This is daily life, with fishermen making their living and housewives buying daily goods.

Explore a Five-Hundred-Year-Old Feudal Castle in Japan: Himeji Castle

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:27:26 +0000

Himeji Castle is the quintessential castle to see in Japan, and the most visited castle in all of Japan. This towering white feudal castle of incredible beauty is authentic 17th century splendour. Poised like a white heron in flight at the top of a hill, Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is sometimes called the "White Heron Castle". The delicate old-ivory coloured edifice dates back to the 1300s, and was the dwelling place of some of the most prominent feudal lords, or "daimyos," in Japan. Extensively remodelled during its history, one of Himeji Castle's unique features is a tower built for Honda Tadamasa's daughter-in-law, Princess Sen. The temple complex is a warren of narrow stone streets, white-washed walls, whimsical gates and wells, and enchanting views over the surrounding landscape. Several of Himeji Castle's buildings are open for visitors, such as the Cosmetic Tower, known to have been Princess Sen's private retreat. The dark wood of the Tower had been painstakingly restored and adorned with tatami mats and simple furniture. Other outlying buildings include storage rooms, quarters for the Princess' ladies-in-waiting, and defensive buildings that were equipped with ingenious holes for shooting arrows and guns at enemies. The maze of streets leading to the keep deliberately confused any would-be attackers. There are several wells on the castle grounds. One in particular, Okiku's Well, appears in a popular story of Japanese folklore. The beautiful lady-in-waiting, Okiku, uncovered a plot to murder the reigning lord of Himeji Castle. She revealed the plot and was lauded as a heroine. However, the perpetrator of the plot, Chief Retainer Tetsuzan, took revenge by accusing her of stealing one of ten royal plates, destined to be given to the Shogun. As punishment for allegedly stealing the plates, Okiku was killed and her body thrown into the well. This is just one of the interesting facts you will uncover on a visit to Himeji Castle in Japan.

Climb Mount Fuji to Meet the Land of the Rising Sun

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:52:43 +0000

What better symbol for mountainous and volcanic Japan, than an active volcano climbed by 200,000 people annually? Mount Fuji, which last erupted in 1707-1708 is a holy site for many Japanese people. The first part of an ancient Japanese saying tells one, "A wise man climbs Mount Fuji once in their life," and there is really no excuse to be unwise since Mount Fuji is only two hours from Tokyo by bus. Mount Fuji is visible from a distance, and for postcard perfect pictures, you should take them in the towns around the mountain before the mountain looms over you. Before climbing Mount Fuji, you need to decide if you want to climb from the base, or from the halfway-point (as most Japanese do). The area below the halfway-point (fifth station) is more scenic with trees, temples and shrines. They're also considerably quieter. However, it will increase the time to climb Mount Fuji dramatically. Climbing up from fifth station takes three to eight hours depending on individual fitness, timing and weather conditions. The climb up from fifth station can be grueling for its monotony. After sixth station, the trees disappear and you're left with volcanic rocks and an occasional shrub here or there. The only things that break the landscape up are the various porta-potties, huts and stores. The stores sell everything you might need for the climb – including oxygen - with prices that make theatre concessions seem cheap. The coolest service on sale are the “brands”. Each station/store has a different brand, and they will brand your wooden walking stick for 200 – 300 yen ($2 - $3). Remember to save room for the one at the peak. While climbing Mount Fuji during the day is safer, many choose to climb at night in order to reach the peak at sunrise. Another reason to climb at night is that there are often fireworks in the summer. If you time it right, you will be able to see fireworks setting off below you. For those who don't want to climb at night, but want to see sunrise, there are mountain huts along the routes, and a sleeping spot can be rented for exorbitant prices. Emerge before dawn to climb the rest of the way. Seeing the sun rise over the Land of the Rising Sun is a poetic experience. You can see the land of Japan sprawled out below you. The lakes are crystal clear, and mountains stretch out from all sides. Numerous clouds float below, deceptively touchable. There is a shrine, a few stores and a post office at the top. You can also circle the gigantic crater at the top of Mount Fuji, after which, the trek downward beckons. The hike downwards is considerably faster than the hike up Mount Fuji, as you are sliding down volcanic ash. This is either the best part (for those who like to run down mountains) or the worst (as the ash forms mini dust clouds that coat everything in grey, and there is absolutely nothing of visual interest), but you can meditate on the second part of the old saying as you go down. “A wise man climbs Mount Fuji once in their life, only a fool climbs it twice.”

A Fiery Inferno at the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival in Japan

Tue, 04 May 2010 20:32:47 +0000

The Yamayaki Festival has a flare for tradition! This fiery rebirth ritual takes place annually on Wakakusa Hill in Nara Park, Japan. Every January during Wakakusa Yamayaki, local monks fulfill a tradition hundreds of years old which involves setting the entire 342-meter-tall Hill ablaze. The origin of Wakakusa Yamayaki dates back to the Kamakura Period, between 1185 and 1333. It is thought this ritual was begun to rid farmland of pests and dead vegetation, and to prepare the earth for new growth in spring. This preparation for new life is a beautiful sight to see, as the flames leap high in the winter night sky. Wakakusa Yamayaki begins at around 5:30 p.m. with purification rituals and sacraments, as well as prayers for safety during the fiery event. Following this a procession of locals and monks carrying torches stream from the Silk Road Exchange Hall in Nara Park to Wakakusa Hill. When the time comes to set alight to Wakakusa Hill, monks will sound blasts on conch shells. The dead winter grass at the base the hill is then ignited by priests dressed as warriors. They use torches lit with the sacred flames of Kasuga Shrine (known as Kasuga Taisha), originally built in 768 AD as a powerful royal shrine. In accordance with the Shinto concepts of purity, the Shrine was destroyed and rebuilt in its original form every twenty years, continuing this way until 1863. More than 100,000 people come to watch Wakakusa Yamayaki each year. Once the hill is set ablaze, it takes less than an hour for the whole thing to be engulfed in flames. The best views of this fiery spectacle are to be had at the foot of the hill in Nara Park. After the event, fireworks light up the sky to prepare Japan for new beginnings.

Hiking Princess Mononoke's Forest on Yakushima

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:50:24 +0000

Yakushima (Yaku Island) is a UNESCO World Heritage site flooded by Japanese hikers every year, and remains relatively unknown to foreigners. Visitors go to Yakushima island, that lies south of Kagoshima, for only one reason—to see the magnificent cedars that are the inspiration behind the forests of the animated film Princess Mononoke. Going all the way to an island to look at trees may seem extreme, until you walk between archways of roots that are as thick as the trunks of your average oak or maple. The twisting curves of the trunks and branches make Yukushima forest take on postmodernist sculpture. Moss carpets everything and glows in the filtered light that shines through the leaves. Hikers and nature lovers should put this on their to-do list, but even non-hikers can join in since the trails vary from mountain treks to flat man-made paths. The cedars (known as sugi) only grow on Yakushima in Japan due to its semi-tropical climate and constant dampness. They are over 1,000 years old and called Yakusugi, and individual trees may be given special names to honour their age. The oldest tree is called Jomon-sugi, after the Jomon Period (the Neolithic era of Japan), and is reputed to be 7,000 years old due to its massive size (its diameter is a little over 5 meters long). Hiking Jomon-sugi is at least ten hours for a return journey, and travellers are recommended to start out early if they want to make it a one-day trip. For visitors who prefer to sleep in, hiking Shiratani Unsuikyo (Shirani Ravine) may be a better bet. Shiratani Unsuikyo is also where one of the creators of Princess Mononoke spent his time walking, and a section of it is affectionately named Princess Mononoke's Forest. The trails are easier (going to the Jomon-sugi is a constant upward trek since it's located on the tallest peak of Yakushima), and most people agree that the scenery is actually better than the one you see along the trail to the Jomon-sugi. Most of the locals recommend Shiratani Unsuikyo over Jomon-sugi, and regard travellers who are going to see Jomon-sugi with bemused puzzlement; they happily offer advice to these “adventurous fools” though. Shirtani Unsuikyo also contains a number of Yakusugi, including the second most venerable cedar, the Yayoi-sugi (3,000 years old). There is also a route from the Shiratani Unsuikyo to the Jomon-sugi, and intrepid travellers can see both trees in one go. No matter which route you take to trek Yakushima forest, you will skip over moss-laden rocks and snack beside vistas of trees and birds, with views of drops and mountains on the horizon.

Dip into Japanese Culture at a Traditional Onsen

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:11:41 +0000

Japan can be freezing cold during the winter, especially since the older generations believed that braving the climate without insulation or central heating was a matter of cultural pride. Or, perhaps it was just an excuse to visit the local bathhouse (sento) or hot spring (onsen); either way, a soak at one of Japan's onsen is a great way to dip into a warm cultural tradition. Due to their ubiquity and relatively low cost, Japan's onsen are easily accessible to most travellers. Any prudish sensibilities must be left behind, and although Japan has become famous for its modesty in the last hundred years, it was traditionally much more comfortable with nudity than Western nations. This can still be seen in Japanese onsen culture in the many mixed gender onsen still operating. Leave your modesty at the door and embrace onsen tradition. Although it superfluous, it is customary that you bathe before you enter the hot spring. There is also a no clothing policy that is strictly enforced, and trying to smuggle a towel in will only leave you with a scolding from other bathers. All you are permitted is a face towel no larger than two hands, which you can use to some advantage as you shimmy and shiver your way to the nearest pool and slip into the steaming water. While scalding at first, the water soon becomes comfortable. Often, snow lines the side of the Japanese onsen, somehow not melting despite the steam rising just centimeters away. Sit back and soak in the healing properties of the hot spring, while enjoying well-manicured gardens and soaring natural scenery. Afterward, most onsen have two or three saunas (if not more) that you can relax in before showering and leaving all limber and refreshed. As a cultural staple, there are many onsen in Japan, and it is safe to assume you can find one close to wherever your travels take you. There are also countless sento in every almost every town. Sento are similar to onsen in most aspects, except for the lack of sulfur, and there are added supplements: You can dip into pools of green tea, cream; as well as various mud baths. Going to an onsen is not only a way to warm yourself up in winter; it also lets you get closer to both Japanese culture and Japanese nature in a way few other experiences can match.

Cherry Blossom Festival: More Than Just a Spring Party!

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:21:28 +0000

They say that the "Land of the Rising Sun" is at its prettiest during springtime, and this certainly is no bogus claim. The famous Japanese Cherry Blossom or 'Sakura' blooms during this time of the year; showcasing its beauty on every street, corner and park of Japan. Along with the blooming of the Sakuras is the tradition of Hanami or the Cherry Blossom Festival. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a special social event in Japan from the time of antiquity when aristocrats along with their artists, musicians and poets spent some time under the blooming Sakuras. It might be surprising to know that "Hanami" simply means “flower viewing" and for non-Japanese as well as those who do not possess knowledge of Japanese culture, it might be a wonder why viewing some flowers in a park is a special event. The Sakura is an icon in Japanese culture and society, and is often depicted in Japanese art and even on candy wrappers. The flower represents the rare beauty of a woman, and aside from its exquisite charm, it only blooms for ten days during the year. This flower may literally be a "late bloomer," but when it does it is certainly the prettiest of its kind. The traditional way of observing the Cherry Blossom Festival is to visit parks and temples and adore the beauty of this unique blossom with some traditional Japanese music, dancing and even a tea ceremony. In modern times, Hanami is celebrated more with a picnic or a party. Some people think it's just a time for Japanese people to get drunk with their foreign friends. However, to others, it's more than that. The Cherry Blossom Festival is a time to bond and hang out with your friends outside of the bars and clubs of Roppongi district in Tokyo. The Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan is also a chance for foreigners to wear a Yukata (a Japanese cotton Kimono). When donning a Japanese costume, visit a park nearby which is favoured by older Japanese people. This way, you can avoid rowdy picnic-goers. The parks are shaded with little pink flowers, and as the wind gusts the fallen petals draw a magical twirl. With all the trees in full bloom you will be transported into this enchanting experience. If you look closely, the flowers are almost white in colour, but if you watch the trees from afar, it has a pretty and faint pink hue. Watching the Sakura, these dainty little flowers explicitly symbolize simplicity and beauty.

Witness the Emperor's Address in Japan

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:04:16 +0000

Foggy days are nicer when you’re abroad. At home you would want nothing more then to stay in bed,especially the day after New Years, but when you’ve only got a few days left of exploration, you practically leap from your tatami-mat and burst through your rice-paper doors. In this case, however, the locals are doing so too. January 2nd is, for Japan, the day when the Emperor speaks. After celebrating the New Year with throngs of Japanese locals just a few hours before, I decided to head over to the Imperial Palace for the Emperor’s address. The Palace is smack bang in the centre of Tokyo, situated on the site of old Edo Castle, where the chief shogun of Japan once resided. The place was destroyed during World War 2 and subsequently rebuilt, but you’d be hard pressed to notice. Green-black streams trickle under and around the ornately-pruned gardens, and the palace itself rises up from the waters that protect it against invaders and overly-enthusiastic subjects. There are stories of fervent Japanese patriots swimming the moats to get to the Emperor. With a chill that swept at our faces and turned our cheeks redder than the Rising Sun, it wasn’t a surprise to only see ducks on the waters. By the time we got out of Tokyo Station, the closest terminal to the palace, a hundred tributaries of sweaters and flags were converging on the palace’s main gates. Once upon a time, you could just waltz into the palace to hear the Emperor, but now you’ve got to get past metal detectors, police dogs, and an imposing wall of officers surrounding the gate. The queues were slow and the security meticulous. Despite not being considered a deity after World War 2, the Emperor still commands enormous respect and love from the Japanese, and though no dramas are expected the thought of another attack like the Aum Shinrikyo incident still weigh heavy on the government’s mind. Finally passing the checkpoint, for the first time we didn’t need to fumble for directions. You can’t help but be borne along with the crowd, over the stately granite Meganebashi Bridge and down the palace’s wending garden paths. People chat excitedly but there’s no pushing or shoving, and you’ll see a number of visitors carrying small Japanese flags. I didn’t know what for, not yet. The flags are preparation for the Emperor’s address itself, not at the palace but at Chowaden Reception Hall, an extensive steel-grey affair fitted out with bulletproof glass and a very noticeable security detachment. The guards stand to the sides and the crowd – thousands strong now, packed into Chowaden’s vast courtyard – eagerly stares at the glass box from which the Emperor will make his speech. There’s silence. Then, as sudden as the drop of a baton, a sea of cheering and fluttering flags breaks out around us, perfectly timed to the appearance of a small grey-haired man in a suit. He doesn’t look like anyone extraordinary, but after a few minutes he clears his throat and there’s silence once again. I don’t know what he’s saying – I find out later that he discusses big issues like terrorism and praises the people for their support – but I’m impressed and a little moved by the amount of devotion in the air. Perhaps there’s something divine about this man after all.

Auspicious Beginnings on New Years Eve at Sensoji

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:48:43 +0000

Jammed up against suit-clad salarymen on all sides, I barely had room to breathe. A signal went off somewhere in front of me and we shuffled forward, pushing and shoving – politely, of course, this is Japan after all – towards our goal. Except this is not a metro station at peak hour. This is Nakamise-dori, the aisle of shops stretching up to Tokyo’s biggest Shinto shrine, Sensoji, and in a few hours it’ll be Japan’s New Year. It was relatively quiet in the afternoon. The usual hubbub of tourists flowed in and out of Sensoji, the monumental Shinto shrine, built almost one and a half millennia ago it is Japan's oldest temple. Nakamise-dori echoed with the chatter of food-sellers and souvenir-peddlers, and from time to time a tour group peeled out to sample the melting warmth of red-bean cookies or the sharpness of a souvenir katana. Looking over Sensoji, also known as Asakusa Kannon Temple, stands Kaminarimon, or ‘Thunder-Gate’, imposingly varnished in red and black lacquer. The only thing taller is the shrine itself, around which lay various huts and stone paths where you can send up prayers, receive your fortune, or just meditate in the miraculous calm of it all. Asakusa, a district in Tait?, like virtually all of Tokyo, runs at a breakneck pace, with the unsleeping fashion centre of Ginza just next door, yet despite this Sensoji has retained its peaceful air, and the certain sense of universal Zen. It’s not as peaceful as Japan’s New Year closes in, although it is strangely quiet for such an occasion. The shops along Nakamise-dori are shuttered in for the night and the aisle, all two-hundred-odd meters of it, is crammed full of foreigners and locals alike waiting to visit Sensoji. This night is not just a time for songs and sake; it’s also a religious occurrence. Everyone at Sensoji patiently awaits their chance to visit the temple to entice good fortune in the New Year – with the odd exception of an elbow here and there – and on the other side of Tokyo similar crowds are converging on Meiji-jingu, the city’s largest Buddhist temple. Craning my head up – no one around me goes up past my shoulders – I could see a row of uniformed guards up the front, holding what appeared to be protest signs. In fact, they were the signals to tell the crowd when to stop and when to go. Japanese efficiency at its best, I thought to myself. The signs are in katakana, but green and red cartoons, which bear a suspicious resemblance to Astro-Boy, make goings-on clear to tourists. Not that resisting the crowd is much of an option. The minutes inched by and tensions grew. Nearly at the final stone steps to Sensoji the clock ticked over, and the great iron bell in the shrine started to boom as the crowds erupted into cheers. Five minutes into the New Year I got past the final guards to toss a handful of yen into the shrine. The gesture is meant to grant you luck for the year, and as the coins tinkled down I turned around to face the sea of bodies stretching into the Tokyo streets. With so much spirit, Japan’s New Year couldn't help but be off to an auspicious start.

Try Your Luck at Okayama’s Naked Man Festival

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:01:22 +0000

For most of the year southern Japan’s Okayama City is a tranquil midsized town that offers a typical Japanese experience tourists will not find in Tokyo or Kyoto. But for one weekend every February the city transforms into a testosterone-charged den of mayhem and festivity. Brave men from near and far congregate at the Saidaiji Kan'nonin Temple for the internationally renowned Hadaka Matsuri—more commonly known as the Naked Man Festival. The Naked Man Festival, which dates back to the sixteenth century, features nearly 10,000 near-naked men vying for a pair of sacred sticks thrown by a priest into the Saki-charged mob. Male bonding takes on a new meaning as the loincloth-clad participants struggle to gain the sacred sticks, and the lucky winner is blessed with a year of happiness. The remaining combatants have the opportunity to earn a smattering of also-ran items, which also bestow luck upon their champion. For decades the Naked Man Festival has been a popular tourist event, inviting travelers to strip down and shout “Wasshoi! Wasshoi!” with the unruly crowd approaching the temple. Near-freezing temperatures in the dead of night assure that only the toughest competitors can withstand the challenge. An entire day of fun precedes the Hadaka Matsuri midnight climax, when the lights are extinguished and the sacred sticks are thrown into the melee. Participants fret not if they are not among the lucky winners of the sacred talismans—every witness of this ancient and bizarre spectacle is a winner in the end.