Japan is among the perfect destinations for a cycling holiday. Basing this purely from the fact that cycling is widely accepted in Japan as a mode of transport and a sport and as a sociable activity. Having a highly advanced transport system and this is basically attributed to the well-organized railway system which is efficient. This makes it easier for the people living in Japan to ride to the train station as opposed to using their cars. This reduces congestion and it is...
Read MoreFestivals and Events for October 2013 in Japan
5-6 October 2013 Event: Oda Nobunaga Festival in Gifu Location: Downtown Gifu City Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Price of Admission: Free The festival honours the feats of Oda Nobunaga, a samurai warlord who used Gifu City as a base on his mission to unify Japan during the Warring States (Sengoku) period of Japan. It is a celebration of his contribution towards the construction of Gifu City and the legacy that he has left behind. The must see events are the memorial ceremony at...
Read MoreWhere to see all the famous movie sights in Kyoto
Kyoto, the city of samurai moviesIntroduction of Kyoto, a city associated with the master of classic Japanese cinema, Kenji Mizoguchi, and his movies, that even those who are new to Japanese cinema can enjoy Kyoto is the Hollywood of samurai movies so to speak, with many temples and shrines in the city being used for shooting movies and having a studio for Japanese period dramas. Moreover, the city is noted in connection with Kenji Mizoguchi, one of the greatest movie...
Read MoreSurfing in Tokyo
The perfect wave is closer than you think For many Tokyoites, surfing is synonymous with just one place: Shonan. The coastal area in Kanagawa Prefecture is generally regarded as the birthplace of Japanese surf culture, and it teems with boarders during the summer months – never mind that the swell is often pretty pathetic. Local schools include Easy Surf in Shichirigahama (beginner classes ¥5,000; private lessons ¥15,000), and Shonan Surfin School, which has shops...
Read MoreSailing and yachting in Tokyo
Want to get out on the water? Meet Captain Milne… ‘Japan looks very different when seen from the water,’ explains Captain Stuart Milne of the Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron. ‘The views of Mt. Fuji from the middle of Sagami Bay can be spectacular.’ We’ve never been a part of a squadron before, but we’re already tempted to fork out the membership fees. The squadron consists of approximately 100 shipmates, all sailing and powerboat...
Read MoreThings to do: Visit a Japanese miso factory
Okazaki City is located southeast of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture and prospered in the Edo period (1600-1868) as a castle town and an important post-station along the Tōkaidō Road. History In the Sengoku period (1467-1568), the area of modern-day Aichi Prefecture was controlled by the Matsudaira clan, who would later be known as the Tokugawa and who in 1600 established a shogunate that would control Japan’s fate during the Edo period (1600-1868). The first...
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