Shintō beliefs comprise indigenous Japanese religious beliefs and practices, and the word Shintō was brought into use to create separation between indigenous beliefs from those of Buddhism. In this post, we explore some of Shintōism’s basic beliefs and how they are still practised today. Shintōism Basic Teachings Kami Shintōism doesn’t follow a single god or …
Japan holds a great cultural resonance for cherry blossoms’ meaning, woven throughout its history. Because of the significance of cherry blossoms in Japan, they are considered the country’s national flower. Visitors travel far and wide to witness the blooming cherry blossoms, and we consider seeing cherry blossoms in Japan as one of the main reasons …
As Shibori patterns grow more popular and more fashionable on the British high street, we thought we’d dig a little deeper into the history of the traditional Japanese tie-dyeing. Read on to discover the different types of Shibori dyeing techniques. What is Shibori? Shibori – meaning to wring or squeeze – is an old Japanese …
The Land of the Rising Sun is a country with historic and contempory traditions abound. While there may be plenty of Japanese traditions which come to mind, there are also many customs, pastimes and habits which are still brand new to many of us in the Western world. Whether you’re testing your knowledge of Japanese …
Japan is known for its many diverse festivals and vibrant celebrations, and the Tanabata Festival is one of the most prominent to take place during the glorious summer months. ‘Tanabata’ translates to ‘the evening of the seventh’ as it annually takes place on the 7th of July. Derived from the Chinese celebration known as Qixi …
Omamori – what are they? What does it mean? What do I keep mentioning them at every shrine in every travel blog post? Well it’s probably about time I explained what these beautiful little things are. Omamori are commonplace in traditional Japanese culture, and if you get the opportunity to travel the Land of the …
Happy Children’s Day! In Japan, Golden week is coming to a close with the final national holiday, Children’s Day. To learn a bit more about it, you can read our blog post all about Golden Week in Japan! In honour of this national holiday – and everlasting boredom – we thought we would share some …
If I asked you what comes to mind when you think of Japanese culture you might say kimono-wearing geisha, anime, manga, sumo-wrestling, and sushi. While of course these are significant and popular parts of the culture, there is so much more to discover – much of which I hadn’t even heard of until I lived …
What is a Goshuinchō? The Japanese Book of Seals Read More »
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably cooped up at home dreaming of exploring somewhere new, learning a new language and visiting new sights. Maybe you’re looking for a mental getaway, a pleasant distraction in these uncertain times, or new inspiration to make future holiday plans come together. It seems only right to spread some …
