JAPAN: Top 7 Cultural & Historical Experiences

08/09/2022

When a top five, not even a top six list is appropriate, you apply that top seven! 

If you're putting in the time, money, and distance for an escape to Japan, consider these experiences before finalizing your custom tour package or personal itinerary. 

Hope you find this breakdown helpful. 

7. CATCH A SUMO MATCH IN THE ONLY COUNTRY YOU CAN

It's very likely that you've heard of sumo but may have never seen a match. Commonly only televised in Japan, sumo is a sport that is seemingly as old as the country's culture itself. A wrestling sport made up of only men, a match often lasts only moments. With large wrestlers occupying the space of a small ring, a wrestler loses by either stepping out of the ring or touching the floor with any part of their body other than their feet. In this way, it's important not to take your eyes off of the match once its begun.

Tournaments only occur annually and in specific major cities (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka). However, they occur in every season. These tournaments last fifteen days and can be attended by anyone. As there aren't necessarily any divisions, there can only be one grand champion. Therefore, sumo-goers can catch wrestlers of all weights and sizes at a tournament. The dedication taken by wrestlers, both for their weight and life-style transformations, is astounding, and witnessing its fruition is not to be taken likely. It's a very special event.

Tickets can be purchased either at convenient stores or online at ticket sellers like buysumotickets.com. Likewise, they can be caught on public televisions in restaurants and bars all over Japan. You're likely to find yourself visiting during tournament time!

6. EXPERIENCE THE SERENE ATMOSPHERE OF A TEA CEREMONY

While tea may not mean much to most people aside from drinking it leisurely if one chooses it over any other bottled beverage from a convenient store, tea, particularly matcha (green tea), means something different to the Japanese. While also available anywhere in Japan, it takes on a new form during a traditional tea ceremony.

A traditional that's well over a thousand years old, tea ceremony is still celebrated and performed throughout Japan. Traditionally only performed for the upper class, tea ceremony is now a staple for tourists and those wanting to experience tea in a different way.

In a ceremony, tea is delivered to participants in a way that is delicate and peaceful. Stemming from Zen Buddhism, everything in a tea ceremony is appreciated through silence. Observing the tea, sipping the tea, observing the beauty of the bowl, tasting the delivered sweets, and sitting quietly are all a part of a ceremony. Usually lasting anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half, the ceremony ends when all participants agree that they've had enough tea. Pretty simple, right?

That's the idea - simplicity. An experience far removed from the usual hustle and bustle.

Ceremonies are commonly found in tea houses located in Japanese gardens that often accompany castles. The Soju-an Tea House in Himeji Castle's garden is a particularly lovely place to experience such a thing. Still, tea ceremonies are offered throughout Tokyo. Maikoya in Shinjuku is a popular place to experience this. They also offer kimono rentals for those wanting to dive deeper in the experience. Maikoya can be found in Kyoto and Osaka as well.

Happy sipping!

5. JOIN IN ON A SEASONAL OR REGIONAL FESTIVAL

All over Japan. festivals mark annual comings and goings locally and nationally. Particularly in the summer, the streets of cities both big and small become flooded with families hoping to bring home a goldfish from a carnival game or young couples sharing a chocolate covered banana. While no two are completely alike, the common dominators are food, fun, and, in the warmer months, yukata (a thinner, casual summer kimono).

One of the earliest times of year to spot a sea of yukata is in Hiroshima City for the Toukasan Festival. This matsuri (festival) is one of the earliest annual summer events in the country always occurring in early June. Carnival game and candied fruit sellers call out through blankets of hanging red lanterns while visitors line up at the local temple to wish for good fortune.

Even earlier, in May, in the heart of Tokyo, the Kanda Matsuri lasts for an entire week with portable shrines being carried through the central streets. The parade route hits several popular Tokyo attractions, so it'll thankfully be hard to miss while staying in the city. Further north, almost as north as you can get in Japan, the Sapporo Snow Festival in the capital of Hokkaido is known globally for its annual ice sculpture event. Known for their detail, the carvings can often be found to be over twenty meters tall!

Don't miss out on a chance to join in on the fun. Be sure to research festivals in your area of stay before you visit!

4. CONNECT WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL SIDE AT A TEMPLE OR SHRINE

It's no secret that one of most prominent eye-catching wonders of Japan are its religious sites. Often nestled in nature or focal points of major cities, the splendor of their architecture and fantastical vibe invites a sense of calm. Often glittered with glowing incense, the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples of Japan invite people of all faiths to dedicate a few quiet moments at the alter box.

Some of the most celebrated include an internationally recognized site known as Sensoji Temple in Tokyo. Centuries old, the shopping street leading to the main temple is a recognizable scene. The entrance is adorned with an enormous red lantern inviting prayer-seekers in. Situated between Asakusa Shrine and the temple's Five Story Pagoda, the grounds are something to admire.

In Nagano City, the capital of Nagano Prefecture, all roads lead to Zenkoji Temple. An area famous for its hosting of the 1998 Winter Olympics, the center of the city houses a temple complex over a thousand years old. Detailed with gold and surrounded by garden pathways, the massive temple and its gates are a site to behold.

If that's not enough Buddhist temple for you, consider making your way west to Wakayama Prefecture to visit the homebase and holy mountain of Japanese Buddhism, Mt. Koya. With nearly ancient complexes tucked away in cedar forests, Koya is sure to tingle your temple senses. If that's not enough, stroll through the mountain's prime cemetery, Okunoin Cemetery, which houses plots for modern tech dynasties and dynasty leaders of eras past. Observe monks praying and wandering past the gravesite of Kobo Daishi - the man who brought Buddhism to Japan.

Most of all, be sure to leave your worries at these sites, and prepare for the adventures ahead.

3. WALK THROUGH THE RUINS AND REMNANTS OF WORLD WAR II

As is often bolded in history books, Japan is the only country to have fallen victim to the horrors of nuclear war. During the era of the second world war, the middle of the twentieth century, Hiroshima City and Nagasaki City were annihilated by uranium and plutonium bombs. Now, those bomb sites have been memorialized with their very own Peace Parks which are now surrounded by flourishing metropolises, as the cities have grown successfully through adversity.

Both located in west Japan, the cities Peace Parks are adorned with memorabilia and permanent displays of what's been left behind. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, not far from the iconic bronze Peace Statue installed to symbolize both the past the future of nuclear war, displays testimonials and digital reenactments of that infamous day in 1945.

Likewise, Hiroshima's Peace Park, visited by presidents, popes, and all sorts of world leaders and celebrities, has its own Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum that also draws a heap of emotions. An even more famous site, the Victims Memorial Cenotaph, often adorned with reefs, rests a short walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome - a former promotional hall in ruin forever trapped in the moment the bomb exploded. The Dome and its Peace Park, all a UNESCO World Heritage Site, promote the education of world peace and international unity. Occasionally, you can even witness an in-person testimonial by a hibakusha(bomb survivor) at the museum.

For naval history buffs, take a short JR ride to Hiroshima City's neighbor of Kure. There, dedicated to the largest battleship ever built, the Yamato Museum teaches visitors about the history of Kure's maritime importance during World War II and the intense history surrounding the Yamato battleship.

Whatever your preference, these sites will leave you moved and inspired. 

2. CLIMB UP CASTLES THAT ARE CENTURIES OLD

If your image of Japan was never, at least once, of ninjas hopping over rooves of Japanese castles and turrets, you may be lying to yourself. The legacy of old Japanese architecture, much of which is still applied today, is globally recognized and often adored. While castles still litter Japan, many of which are reconstructed or redesigned, there are still twelve remaining in the country that are practically untouched. These originals, over 400 years old, capture the hearts and minds of local and international tourists alike.

Matsumoto Castle, located a few prefectures north of Tokyo in Matsumoto City, Nagano, is one of these originals that commonly makes the cover of magazines. Sitting in its moat beneath the gaze of Nagano's section of the Japanese Alps, it is a stunning representation of times past. Like many originals, the scent of old wood still lingers. Filled with samurai armor, weapons, and information on the Matsumoto family history, the view from the top is also a view of a town just as historic and charming.

In west Japan, Himeji Castle very often overshadows its competition. In Himeji City in Hyogo prefecture, all eyes stay fixed on the giant white fortress. Himeji Castle is the only castle in Japan with the UNESCO stamp of approval, and while other castles may also deserve it too, Himeji takes the cake. The grounds, the gardens; the castle itself all make for an unforgettable experience. Climb the steep staircases of these historic keeps to reach scenic views unrivaled, and be sure to visit Okiku Well on the way out to look down the same well that inspired the legend of the popular horror films The Ring.

In other parts of Japan, rebuilt and reconstructed castles also stun visitors with their beauty. Kumamoto Castle of Kumamoto City, for example, has been rebuilt several times due to fires and, in 2016, its scars left from the Kumamoto earthquakes. In this way, its reconstruction inspires and encourages visitors to walk through its terrors of a recent past. Still, it's one of Japan's most incredible castles.

Any castle, old or new, will do, but be sure to take the time to see a few!

1. CELEBRATE THE AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS OF MODERN JAPAN

For decades now, there is perhaps no more iconic sight of Japan than the glowing neon lights all massed together in a Tokyo night scene. The metropolises of Japan call us to dive in to all they have to offer. The fun, the food; the unknown lives of the locals - the Japan of today has done well at holding on to its history, but it has also made large leaps in the realm of technological development, innovation, and creativity.

Anywhere you visit outside of Tokyo, you'll probably want to take a shinkansen, otherwise known as the bullet train. High speed rail is both thrilling and undeniably convenient. Japan's rail system is enough to win the hearts of any tourist that may also leave wishing they had a similar system in their own country. Today, almost all of mainland Japan is connected by high-speed rail. You can get from the two largest cities in Japan, Tokyo and Osaka, in just under two and a half hours. There's no excuse not to spend your time exploring as much of the country as possible!

Celebrate the way the Japanese do by taking yourself and your friends for a night out at a karaoke parlor. A common find in cities all over Japan, the characters for karaoke, カラオケ, can be easily spotted through the bright lights of Tokyo. Spend a few hours singing your heart out in any language in one of the many private booths accompanied by a landline telephone that allows you to order a food or drink service at any time. Open all night, these are popular spots for those who miss their trains either by accident or on purpose.

If your nostalgia connection is with video games, hit up an arcade, or game center as they're called in Japan, to battle your way to the top of systems of new and old. Play arcade versions of games you grew up with or mount a moving Gundam seat to take on space robots like you've always wanted to. If you're hoping to take some of that nostalgia home, check out areas like Akihabara in Tokyo to shop for anything from the original Gameboy and its games to the consoles of today.

As the innovators of so much, don't just come for the temples. 


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