horiehiroki– Author –

How Masks Became Part of Daily Life Masks in Japan are not an emergency response or a temporary trend. They are a familiar, everyday item that has quietly in...

Ochanomizu is one of Tokyo’s most intellectually rich yet understated neighborhoods. The atmosphere here feels markedly different—shaped by academic traditio...

For travelers searching beyond central Tokyo icons, Kawasaki Daishi offers a temple experience grounded in active ritual life. Officially named Kongōzan Kinj...

Every year on March 3, Japan celebrates Hinamatsuri, also known as the Japanese Girls’ Day Festival. Unlike loud summer matsuri, this is a refined seasonal t...

Kanda Myojin Overview Kanda Myojin stands as one of Tokyo’s most historically authoritative Shinto shrines, with origins dating back to the year 730. From th...

Ehomaki is a unique Japanese food tradition that appears only once a year, yet dominates supermarkets and convenience stores every February. For many interna...

Naritasan Omotesando is far more than a simple shopping street near Japan’s international gateway. It is a living approach road where faith, food culture, fe...

Mamemaki is one of the most visually striking and symbolically rich seasonal customs in Japan. Performed duringSetsubun, usually in early February, this bean...

Naritasan Shinshoji Temple is one of the most important Buddhist temples in eastern Japan and one of the most accessible cultural destinations for internatio...

Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, is one of Japan’s most meaningful seasonal traditions. In Tokyo, this custom is inseparable from rai...