Discovering the Wildlife in Japan

If you are relocating to Japan, you probably are thinking of the human-influenced parts of the tightly packed, highly populated, technologically advanced society. However, you’re probably not thinking of some of the wildlife you might be encountering when you head outside of the cities.

There are two bear in Japan; the brown bear is found in Hokkaido; the Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus, exists in the mountains of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. There are also a couple of wild cats. There is the leopard cat, a small wild cat, on Tsushima Island and the Iriomote cat, which is about the size of a domestic cat, on Iriomote island. There are grazing animals like sika deer, which resemble little elk, as well as wild boar. The most famous of the Japanese mammals is the Japanese Macaque, the world’s most northerly monkey. This is a terrestrial old world monkey that is native to Japan. It is mostly found in the forests.

In the water, you will find mammals like the Dugong, which is similar to a manatee, and is the only strictly-marine herbivorous mammal. There is also the Finless Porpoise, which lives in the coastal waters of Asia. Because it has evolved passed fins, it is in optimum physical condition.

In the air, there are over 600 recorded species of Japanese birds. Birds that are endemic include the Japanese woodpecker, the copper pheasant and the green pheasant, which is Japan’s national bird. Green pheasant males display a beautiful color scheme with green feathers on the breast and mantle, as well as some purple on the neck and red on the face. The Okinawa Rail, a medium sized brown bird that is nearly flightless, is endemic to Okinawa Island in subtropical moist forests. Migrant birds are around in the spring and fall in Japan, such as swans, geese and cranes.

Japan has 73 recorded species of reptiles, half being endemic. There is one poisonous snake in the main islands, the mamushi. There are several sea turtles and sea snakes around southern Japan, due to the warmer waters. Japan has about 40 amphibian species, one of which is the Japanese giant salamander, which is almost 5 feet in size! This salamander is nocturnal and aquatic. Click here for an informational video on this crazy creature.

In the water, Japan has many freshwater and saltwater fish breeds. In the freshwater, there are many types of carp. In saltwater, you’ll find many red sea bream and Mudskippers.

In terms of insects, Japan has about 300 different types of butterflies, such as milkweed butterflies. There are 190 dragonflies, as well as species of cicadas, crickets and fireflies. Many people visit Japan to watch the fireflies at night.

Discovering the Wildlife in Japan

If you are relocating to Japan, you probably are thinking of the human-influenced parts of the tightly packed, highly populated, technologically advanced society. However, you’re probably not thinking of some of the wildlife you might be encountering when you head outside of the cities.

There are two bear in Japan; the brown bear is found in Hokkaido; the Asiatic black bear, Ursus thibetanus, exists in the mountains of Honshu, Kyushu and Shikoku. There are also a couple of wild cats. There is the leopard cat, a small wild cat, on Tsushima Island and the Iriomote cat, which is about the size of a domestic cat, on Iriomote island. There are grazing animals like sika deer, which resemble little elk, as well as wild boar. The most famous of the Japanese mammals is the Japanese Macaque, the world’s most northerly monkey. This is a terrestrial old world monkey that is native to Japan. It is mostly found in the forests.

In the water, you will find mammals like the Dugong, which is similar to a manatee, and is the only strictly-marine herbivorous mammal. There is also the Finless Porpoise, which lives in the coastal waters of Asia. Because it has evolved passed fins, it is in optimum physical condition.

In the air, there are over 600 recorded species of Japanese birds. Birds that are endemic include the Japanese woodpecker, the copper pheasant and the green pheasant, which is Japan’s national bird. Green pheasant males display a beautiful color scheme with green feathers on the breast and mantle, as well as some purple on the neck and red on the face. The Okinawa Rail, a medium sized brown bird that is nearly flightless, is endemic to Okinawa Island in subtropical moist forests. Migrant birds are around in the spring and fall in Japan, such as swans, geese and cranes.

Japan has 73 recorded species of reptiles, half being endemic. There is one poisonous snake in the main islands, the mamushi. There are several sea turtles and sea snakes around southern Japan, due to the warmer waters. Japan has about 40 amphibian species, one of which is the Japanese giant salamander, which is almost 5 feet in size! This salamander is nocturnal and aquatic. Click here for an informational video on this crazy creature.

In the water, Japan has many freshwater and saltwater fish breeds. In the freshwater, there are many types of carp. In saltwater, you’ll find many red sea bream and Mudskippers.

In terms of insects, Japan has about 300 different types of butterflies, such as milkweed butterflies. There are 190 dragonflies, as well as species of cicadas, crickets and fireflies. Many people visit Japan to watch the fireflies at night.

Gardens of Japan

Garden design has been an important Japanese art for many centuries. Traditional Japanese landscape gardens can be broadly categorized into three types, Tsukiyama Gardens (hill gardens), Karesansui Gardens (dry or rock gardens) and Chaniwa Gardens (tea gardens). For an expat living in Japan a visit to a Japanese garden would offer an insight to several string themes in Japanese culture and Zen Buddhist philosophy, including an appreciation of discipline, a respect for art and nature and a desire to pursue quiet contemplation.

Tsukiyama Gardens

Landscape gardens use ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges and paths to create miniature reproductions of natural scenes, often of a famous landscape in Japan. The name Tsukiyama refers to the creation of artificial hills.

Tsukiyama gardens vary in size and in the way they are viewed. Smaller gardens are enjoyed from a single viewpoint, such as the veranda of a temple, while larger gardens are best experienced by following a circular scrolling path.

Suizenji Koen in the town of Kumamoto is a beautiful example of a hill garden. A circular path leads visitors around the garden, past lakes, sculpted trees and even a miniature Mt Fuji. Parts of the garden date back 400 years.

Perhaps the three most noted landscape gardens include Kenrokuen (in Kanazawa), Kairakuen (in Mito) and Korakuen (in Okayama).

Kenrokuen used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle, constructed over 200 years and opened to the public in 1871. The water for the many streams and rivers of the park is diverted from a distant river by a sophisticated water system constructed in 1632. The name Kenrokuen literally means “Garden of the Six Sublimities”, referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.

Kairakuen is most famous for the three thousand plum trees making February and March the most incredible time to visit. The Mito Plum Festival (Mito Ume Matsuri) is held annually from February 20 to March 31. Unusually, Kairakuen was built in 1841 and was built not only for the enjoyment of the local lord, but was also open to the public. Kairakuen means “park to be enjoyed together”.

Okayama’s main attraction is Korakuen, a beautiful landscape garden beside Okayama Castle. The local lord ordered the construction of the garden in 1687 as a place of entertainment for the ruling family and a location for receiving important guests. The public was allowed to enter the garden on certain occasions. Korakuen was opened to the public in 1884and has suffered damage from floods and bombs during WWII but detailed records have allowed for accurate reconstructions. Unlike most Japanese gardens, Korakuen has spacious lawns.

Karesansui Gardens

Karesansui gardens are typically associated with Zen Buddhism and reproduce natural landscapes in a more abstract way by using stones, gravel, sand and sometimes a few patches of moss for representing mountains, islands, boats, seas and rivers. Karesansui gardens are strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism and used for meditation. Two of the most famous rock gardens in Japan are Ryoanji and Nanzenji both in Kyoto.

Ryoanji is Japan’s most famous Zen temple with a beautiful rock garden, the most famous of its kind in Japan. The simple Zen garden consists of nothing but moss, rocks and carefully raked gravel. The meaning of the garden’s arrangement is not known; therefore each visitor must make a personal interpretation.

Nanzenji is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto’s eastern hills. It is one of Japan’s most important Zen temples. Its main building, the Seiryo-den, is famous for a beautiful rock garden and sliding doors, which are decorated by paintings of the Kano School.

Chaniwa Gardens

These are the tea gardens and are found in various places in Japan. The tea or the Chaniwa gardens were introduced in Japan once the tea ceremony was developed in the 14th century.

The emphasis of the Chaniwa gardens is to have an atmosphere solitude and detachment from the world, one that matches the simplicity of the tea ceremony. The tea gardens are very simple in decoration. The garden has a tea ceremony house connected and the tea ceremony is performed there. The attendants of the tea ceremony use the stone basins also known as Tsukubai, which are present in the tea gardens, for the purification purposes.

These types of gardens contain stepping stones that lead towards the house, they also have stone lanterns and a wash basin made of stone- this is where guests purify themselves before taking part in the tea ceremony. Most Chaniwa gardens are not open to the public, but influences from them can be seen in many larger gardens, such as Happo-en in Tokyo.

Eating and Drinking Customs in Japan

In Japan, people will often go out to restaurants to entertain guests. The reason for this is that Japanese homes are small and compact. If you go out to work with a bunch of colleagues, it is custom to split the bill evenly, no matter how much you eat or drink individually.

Japanese people typically use chopsticks to eat. If you eat out, you can request a fork or knife. These words have been adopted from the English language into Japanese, so if you say “fork” or “knife” to a waiter, they will probably understand you. If you eat at a moderately priced or expensive restaurant, waiters will usually place the oshibori, or hot towel, on your table at the end of your meal. You are meant to wipe your face and hands off with this towel.

Before Japanese people eat their meal, they usually say “itadakimasu” (ee-tah-dah-key-mass). It can translate as something like “I humbly receive,” either as praise for higher powers, or to whoever made the meal. It is traditional for Japanese people to place their hands together in front of them while they say this, but this is not very common to come across. At the end of the meal, Japanese people usually annouce “gochisosama deshita” (go-ch-soh-sah-mah de-shta), a concluding thanks. It can be translated as “it was a feast,” thanking either whoever made the food or higher powers.

Expect people to slurp their noodles while eating. It is considered rude in Western restaurants, but is often recommended in Eastern ones. Instead of blowing on hot noodles and then eating them, you do the cooling down gesture while you actually eat. Many feel as if noodles do not taste as good if you let them cool with the air. It is also normal to lift your noodle or soup bowl to your mouth so food doesn’t spill.

Eating with chopsticks requires proper etiquette. Never leave your chopsticks standing upright, especially not on rice. It symbolizes death, and people will find this disrespectful if you are not at a funeral. When you finish eating, place your chopsticks across from the dish or to the side. Never wave your chopsticks around, nor use them to move dishes around. If you are eating from a common bowl, use the back end of the chop sticks that you have not put in your mouth to dish the food out.

If you are drinking at a bar in Japan, it is custom to let other people pour your drinks. If one person at your table pours your drink, pour theirs back. If you want a refill, you should repour someone else’s drink. “Cheers” in Japanese is “kanpai.”

Great Neighborhoods in Tokyo

Tokyo is a wonderful place for expats and locals to live and work. Though very expensive, Tokyo has an amazing public transport system and is very safe. It is on the Eastern side of the main Japanese island, Honshu. The Greater Tokyo area is the world’s most populated metropolitan area, with 35 million inhabitants. It is also one of the three command cities of the world economy, along with London and New York City. It consists of twenty-three special wards with their own separate governments.

Azabu is a well-known expatriate residential neighborhood, complete with access to three subway lines. It used to be home to many diplomats and business people, but today many artists and celebrities also reside here. It is in a central location, but there are still many quiet, residential districts. Azabu is divided into five districts: Azabu-Juban, which is somewhat suburban but has a shopping district, Nishi-Azabu, Minami-Azabu, Higashi-Azabu, and Moto-Azabu, in the center. There are embassies for many European and Asian countries in this area.

Hiroo is just west of the Azabu area, and has quaint neighborhoods lined with trees on the streets. There are large supermarkets around the train station, but also many cute boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars. Though there is action during the day, it simmers down around after midnight. It has Arisugawa Park, and easy access to hospitals. It is probably the most popular, but most expensive, expat residential area.

Shirokane is south of Azabu, and has smaller neighborhoods with more greenery. There are several shopping streets, and the Nature Study park, which is very relaxing. There is also the “Platinum” shopping district, with trendy cafes and shops. This area has an interesting juxtaposition of high-rise residential towers and lush greenery.

East Tokyo is a more local residential area, across the Sumida River, and it contains many aspects of the old life before Tokyo became a bustling international center. It has Ryogoku, the most famous sumo stadium, and many traditional shops and restaurants. There are many museums and cultural events.

Harajuku is a very young cultural center, complete with shops and restaurants and trendy teenagers. On Sundays, you can watch costume parties, where teens dress up as anime characters! There is also Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most famous shrines, and the beautiful Yoyogi Park, which is great for jogging and picnicking.

Visit Frommers or Nileguide for more information, and for details about more of the neighborhoods.

Exploring the Rivers of Japan

In Japan, the majority of the rivers are known to be very steep but short. This is because the country’s terrain is largely mountainous. The Japanese rivers tend to rise in the forests of the mountains, flow through V-shaped valleys and then turn into alluvial plains downstream. The lower reaches of these rivers are used to cultivate rice, and most rivers are damned to generate hydroelectric power.

Shinano

The Shinano River is the longest river in Japan, flowing from the Nagano Prefecture to the Niigata Prefecture. The Shinano is 367 kilometers (228 miles) in length. It originates on Mount Kobushi from the Japanese Alps of Honshu Island, and flows northwest, joining the Sai River. It eventually terminates at the Sea of Japan. This river sometimes floods, which causes ample destruction.

Tone River

The Tone River is the second longest Japanese river, with a length of about 322 kilometers (200 miles). It is located in the Kanto region, and it starts out at Mount Ominakami. From there, it picks up water from tributaries, and eventually drains into the Pacific Ocean at Choshi City.

In the past, it used to be a very uncontrollable river, but people put many consturction efforts into containing its course during the 17th century. It used to flow into the Tokyo Bay, but today the watershed is very artificial. Its flow has also been dammed, and this supplies drinking water to over 30 million people who live in Tokyo.

Ishikari

The Ishikari River is located in Hokkaido, and is 268 kilometers (167 miles) in length. It orginates in Mount Ishikari of the Kitami Mountains, and flows through Asahikawa and Sapporo. It eventually terminates in the Sea of Japan.

Teshio River

The Teshio River is also located in Hokkaido, and is 256 kilometers (159 miles) long. It originates in Mount Teshio, and then terminates at the Sea of Japan.

Yoshino River

The Yoshino River is located on the island of Shikoku, and is about 194 kilometers (120 miles) long. Its watershed spreads to all four prefectures throughout the island. This river originates at Mount Kamegamori and then flows eastward. It reaches Otoyo, where it turns north and goes through the Shikoku Mountains. There is a gorge in this area which is a huge tourist attraction. From the mountains, it goes eastward, and then terminates at the sea north of Tokushima City.

Gardens of Japan

Garden design has been an important Japanese art for many centuries. Traditional Japanese landscape gardens can be broadly categorized into three types, Tsukiyama Gardens (hill gardens), Karesansui Gardens (dry or rock gardens) and Chaniwa Gardens (tea gardens). For an expat living in Japan a visit to a Japanese garden would offer an insight to several string themes in Japanese culture and Zen Buddhist philosophy, including an appreciation of discipline, a respect for art and nature and a desire to pursue quiet contemplation.

Tsukiyama Gardens

Landscape gardens use ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges and paths to create miniature reproductions of natural scenes, often of a famous landscape in Japan. The name Tsukiyama refers to the creation of artificial hills.

Tsukiyama gardens vary in size and in the way they are viewed. Smaller gardens are enjoyed from a single viewpoint, such as the veranda of a temple, while larger gardens are best experienced by following a circular scrolling path.

Suizenji Koen in the town of Kumamoto is a beautiful example of a hill garden. A circular path leads visitors around the garden, past lakes, sculpted trees and even a miniature Mt Fuji. Parts of the garden date back 400 years.

Perhaps the three most noted landscape gardens include Kenrokuen (in Kanazawa), Kairakuen (in Mito) and Korakuen (in Okayama).

Kenrokuen used to be the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle, constructed over 200 years and opened to the public in 1871. The water for the many streams and rivers of the park is diverted from a distant river by a sophisticated water system constructed in 1632. The name Kenrokuen literally means “Garden of the Six Sublimities”, referring to spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views, which according to Chinese landscape theory are the six essential attributes that make up a perfect garden.

Kairakuen is most famous for the three thousand plum trees making February and March the most incredible time to visit. The Mito Plum Festival (Mito Ume Matsuri) is held annually from February 20 to March 31. Unusually, Kairakuen was built in 1841 and was built not only for the enjoyment of the local lord, but was also open to the public. Kairakuen means “park to be enjoyed together”.

Okayama’s main attraction is Korakuen, a beautiful landscape garden beside Okayama Castle. The local lord ordered the construction of the garden in 1687 as a place of entertainment for the ruling family and a location for receiving important guests. The public was allowed to enter the garden on certain occasions. Korakuen was opened to the public in 1884and has suffered damage from floods and bombs during WWII but detailed records have allowed for accurate reconstructions. Unlike most Japanese gardens, Korakuen has spacious lawns.

Karesansui Gardens

Karesansui gardens are typically associated with Zen Buddhism and reproduce natural landscapes in a more abstract way by using stones, gravel, sand and sometimes a few patches of moss for representing mountains, islands, boats, seas and rivers. Karesansui gardens are strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism and used for meditation. Two of the most famous rock gardens in Japan are Ryoanji and Nanzenji both in Kyoto.

Ryoanji is Japan’s most famous Zen temple with a beautiful rock garden, the most famous of its kind in Japan. The simple Zen garden consists of nothing but moss, rocks and carefully raked gravel. The meaning of the garden’s arrangement is not known; therefore each visitor must make a personal interpretation.

Nanzenji is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto’s eastern hills. It is one of Japan’s most important Zen temples. Its main building, the Seiryo-den, is famous for a beautiful rock garden and sliding doors, which are decorated by paintings of the Kano School.

Chaniwa Gardens

These are the tea gardens and are found in various places in Japan. The tea or the Chaniwa gardens were introduced in Japan once the tea ceremony was developed in the 14th century.

The emphasis of the Chaniwa gardens is to have an atmosphere solitude and detachment from the world, one that matches the simplicity of the tea ceremony. The tea gardens are very simple in decoration. The garden has a tea ceremony house connected and the tea ceremony is performed there. The attendants of the tea ceremony use the stone basins also known as Tsukubai, which are present in the tea gardens, for the purification purposes.

These types of gardens contain stepping stones that lead towards the house, they also have stone lanterns and a wash basin made of stone- this is where guests purify themselves before taking part in the tea ceremony. Most Chaniwa gardens are not open to the public, but influences from them can be seen in many larger gardens, such as Happo-en in Tokyo.

Eating and Drinking Customs in Japan

In Japan, people will often go out to restaurants to entertain guests. The reason for this is that Japanese homes are small and compact. If you go out to work with a bunch of colleagues, it is custom to split the bill evenly, no matter how much you eat or drink individually.

Japanese people typically use chopsticks to eat. If you eat out, you can request a fork or knife. These words have been adopted from the English language into Japanese, so if you say “fork” or “knife” to a waiter, they will probably understand you. If you eat at a moderately priced or expensive restaurant, waiters will usually place the oshibori, or hot towel, on your table at the end of your meal. You are meant to wipe your face and hands off with this towel.

Before Japanese people eat their meal, they usually say “itadakimasu” (ee-tah-dah-key-mass). It can translate as something like “I humbly receive,” either as praise for higher powers, or to whoever made the meal. It is traditional for Japanese people to place their hands together in front of them while they say this, but this is not very common to come across. At the end of the meal, Japanese people usually annouce “gochisosama deshita” (go-ch-soh-sah-mah de-shta), a concluding thanks. It can be translated as “it was a feast,” thanking either whoever made the food or higher powers.

Expect people to slurp their noodles while eating. It is considered rude in Western restaurants, but is often recommended in Eastern ones. Instead of blowing on hot noodles and then eating them, you do the cooling down gesture while you actually eat. Many feel as if noodles do not taste as good if you let them cool with the air. It is also normal to lift your noodle or soup bowl to your mouth so food doesn’t spill.

Eating with chopsticks requires proper etiquette. Never leave your chopsticks standing upright, especially not on rice. It symbolizes death, and people will find this disrespectful if you are not at a funeral. When you finish eating, place your chopsticks across from the dish or to the side. Never wave your chopsticks around, nor use them to move dishes around. If you are eating from a common bowl, use the back end of the chop sticks that you have not put in your mouth to dish the food out.

If you are drinking at a bar in Japan, it is custom to let other people pour your drinks. If one person at your table pours your drink, pour theirs back. If you want a refill, you should repour someone else’s drink. “Cheers” in Japanese is “kanpai.”

Great Neighborhoods in Tokyo

Tokyo is a wonderful place for expats and locals to live and work. Though very expensive, Tokyo has an amazing public transport system and is very safe. It is on the Eastern side of the main Japanese island, Honshu. The Greater Tokyo area is the world’s most populated metropolitan area, with 35 million inhabitants. It is also one of the three command cities of the world economy, along with London and New York City. It consists of twenty-three special wards with their own separate governments.

Azabu is a well-known expatriate residential neighborhood, complete with access to three subway lines. It used to be home to many diplomats and business people, but today many artists and celebrities also reside here. It is in a central location, but there are still many quiet, residential districts. Azabu is divided into five districts: Azabu-Juban, which is somewhat suburban but has a shopping district, Nishi-Azabu, Minami-Azabu, Higashi-Azabu, and Moto-Azabu, in the center. There are embassies for many European and Asian countries in this area.

Hiroo is just west of the Azabu area, and has quaint neighborhoods lined with trees on the streets. There are large supermarkets around the train station, but also many cute boutiques, restaurants, cafes and bars. Though there is action during the day, it simmers down around after midnight. It has Arisugawa Park, and easy access to hospitals. It is probably the most popular, but most expensive, expat residential area.

Shirokane is south of Azabu, and has smaller neighborhoods with more greenery. There are several shopping streets, and the Nature Study park, which is very relaxing. There is also the “Platinum” shopping district, with trendy cafes and shops. This area has an interesting juxtaposition of high-rise residential towers and lush greenery.

East Tokyo is a more local residential area, across the Sumida River, and it contains many aspects of the old life before Tokyo became a bustling international center. It has Ryogoku, the most famous sumo stadium, and many traditional shops and restaurants. There are many museums and cultural events.

Harajuku is a very young cultural center, complete with shops and restaurants and trendy teenagers. On Sundays, you can watch costume parties, where teens dress up as anime characters! There is also Meiji Shrine, one of Tokyo’s most famous shrines, and the beautiful Yoyogi Park, which is great for jogging and picnicking.

Visit Frommers or Nileguide for more information, and for details about more of the neighborhoods.

Exploring the Rivers of Japan

In Japan, the majority of the rivers are known to be very steep but short. This is because the country’s terrain is largely mountainous. The Japanese rivers tend to rise in the forests of the mountains, flow through V-shaped valleys and then turn into alluvial plains downstream. The lower reaches of these rivers are used to cultivate rice, and most rivers are damned to generate hydroelectric power.

Shinano

The Shinano River is the longest river in Japan, flowing from the Nagano Prefecture to the Niigata Prefecture. The Shinano is 367 kilometers (228 miles) in length. It originates on Mount Kobushi from the Japanese Alps of Honshu Island, and flows northwest, joining the Sai River. It eventually terminates at the Sea of Japan. This river sometimes floods, which causes ample destruction.

Tone River

The Tone River is the second longest Japanese river, with a length of about 322 kilometers (200 miles). It is located in the Kanto region, and it starts out at Mount Ominakami. From there, it picks up water from tributaries, and eventually drains into the Pacific Ocean at Choshi City.

In the past, it used to be a very uncontrollable river, but people put many consturction efforts into containing its course during the 17th century. It used to flow into the Tokyo Bay, but today the watershed is very artificial. Its flow has also been dammed, and this supplies drinking water to over 30 million people who live in Tokyo.

Ishikari

The Ishikari River is located in Hokkaido, and is 268 kilometers (167 miles) in length. It orginates in Mount Ishikari of the Kitami Mountains, and flows through Asahikawa and Sapporo. It eventually terminates in the Sea of Japan.

Teshio River

The Teshio River is also located in Hokkaido, and is 256 kilometers (159 miles) long. It originates in Mount Teshio, and then terminates at the Sea of Japan.

Yoshino River

The Yoshino River is located on the island of Shikoku, and is about 194 kilometers (120 miles) long. Its watershed spreads to all four prefectures throughout the island. This river originates at Mount Kamegamori and then flows eastward. It reaches Otoyo, where it turns north and goes through the Shikoku Mountains. There is a gorge in this area which is a huge tourist attraction. From the mountains, it goes eastward, and then terminates at the sea north of Tokushima City.

Shogatsu: Celebrating the Japanese New Year

In Japan, New Years is called “shogatsu” or “oshogatsu.” It lasts from January 1st-3^rd, and businesses close down so families can celebrate together. Schools often close for a week or two. The Japanese celebrate this holiday as separating the two consecutive years completely, which includes completing every prior obligation for a fresh start.

The Japanese throw bonenkai parties so that they can forget all about the year before, and start the new one. Bonenkai parties are very festive and involve lots of eating and drinking. Japanese often do this with their work associates. Outside of the workplace, they decorate their homes with pine, bamboo and plum trees, making sure they are very clean. They eat soba, which are buckwheat noodles, because they symbolize longevity. Many people also tune into “kohaku uta gassen,” a TV program, which has a bunch of Japanese pop music performances.

On the first of January, the Japanese often go out to view the sunrise. This symbolizes leaving the last year’s worries behind. For the rest of the day, people are supposed to enjoy their clean surroundings and do no stressful work. People traditionally visit shrines or temples, like Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine. Japanese people often write many different shogatsu cards, or nengajo, addressed to their friends and families, which have to be delivered on January 1^st. Traditionally, the Japanese would conduct card games like karuta, play badminton and go kite flying, but this is declining in popularity.

A traditional shogatsu drink is otoso, a sweet rice wine, and ozoni, a miso soup. Ozoni is usually served with mochi, which are sticky rice cakes. There are a few different versions of ozoni, but it’s the traditional first food people eat on New Years, after toasting sake in the morning.

The Japanese also enjoy osechi-ryori (above), a dish that contains about 20-30 different items of food in a 3-tier set of boxes. Some common foods in these dishes are kuromame, boiled black soybeans; kazunoko, salted herring; and kuri kinton, mashed sweet potatoes served with chestnuts. Sushi and sashimi are common today as well, along with foreign foods.

Sometimes it’s a little difficult to visit or be an expat in Japan during the holiday of shogatsu. It’s taken very seriously, and is definitely a product of Japan’s unique culture. Nevertheless, it is an interesting phenomenon to experience.

The Shinkansen: Japanese Bullet Trains

The Shinkansen, or “Bullet Train” is a high speed train that can take you in between cities in Japan. It is more similar to flying than it is to taking the train. Though it costs about as much as flying from city to city in Japan, it will drop you off at the city center, so you don’t have to worry about getting all the way to the airports. Each Shinkansen line has its own name, and each train has its own name. If you go to Japan, you won’t see “Bullet Train” on any of the English signs; they will only be labeled with “Shinkansen.”

The Shinkansen has been open since 1964. When it opened, it traveled at 210 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour); today it travels at about 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour). It can go even faster if it needs to. Since opening, it has also carried almost 6 billion passengers, and without one major accident.

Many Bullet Trains recommend you to make a reservation in advance. If a Bullet Train contains 16 carriages, it is common that only five operate without reservation, and only two of those would be non smoking. If you are taking a popular journey, like from Tokyo to Kyoto on weekends, that it is strongly advised. Japan is very crowded and populated, so there’s no guarantee that the trains won’t get filled up. You can reserve a spot anywhere from a month in advance until a few minutes before the train departs. They also offer overnight trains.

If you miss your proposed Shinkansen trip, you’ll probably be able to catch the next one without much delay. For instance, there are 6 trains per hour between the Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

The Shinkansen system is built so that the trains use tunnels and viaducts. They go through and over objectsTrespassing on the tracks is very illegal, and you’ll get strict penalties. The trains use a 25,000 V AC overhead power supply. The vehicles are light compared to most trains, so that eliminates some of the track damage. The cars are air sealed, so they have stable air pressure when they go through tunnels at high speeds. instead of going around them.

Other than the Shinkansen, the country of Japan has an extensive 12,400 miles of track. You can travel to almost anywhere using the rail system. Keep in mind that the other trains are completely separated from the Shinkansen, which is part of the reason they are so efficient.

Japanese Tea Ceremony, ‘The Way of Tea’

History

Tea was brought tea in the brick form from China to the Japanese court in the early ninth century. The drinking of tea in Japan was confined to the court aristocracy and Buddhist ceremonies until the twelfth century when appreciation of tea spread among the warrior class. Tea gatherings of this era were often boisterous affairs that included contests in which participants identified various teas and prizes were offered to the winners. These were usually accompanied by liberal consumption of alcoholic beverages and gambling.

Tea drinking became more refined in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with influences from the aristocracy and the newly influential merchant class combined with the influence from the basic ceremonial tea drinking in temples. Beyond entertainment, medicine or religious ceremony, tea drinking became identified as an act to represent the Zen belief that every act of daily life is a potential act that can lead to enlightenment. And so the tea drinking ceremony developed.

The Way of Tea Today

The tea ceremony, or The Way of Tea, is meant to help us to do away with the discrimination that the ordinary mind makes: between man and nature, nobleman and commoner, priest and laity, beautiful and ugly, religious and secular. This is reflected in all parts of the ceremony from the location to the utensils used: The tea hut and the path that leads to the hut is meant to heighten awareness of man’s oneness with nature. Many tea huts are designed so that guests need to crawl through an entrance, no matter what position they hold in society. The utensils are plain and simple, allowing our minds to transcend any distinctions between beautiful and ugly.

Distraction is discouraged. Everything about the tea ceremony is designed to bring the individual’s focus onto the Zen Buddhist concept of ‘living in the moment’ – and yet this does not mean the tea ceremony has to be a religious event.

The tea ceremony embraces many art forms including architecture, gardening, ceramics, textiles, calligraphy, flower arrangement and food plus a few rather art forms such as the sculpting of ashes and the building of a beautiful fire. Everything involved in a tea ceremony has been given careful aesthetic attention, even the ashes.

Types of Tea Ceremonies

There are two types of tea ceremony in Japan, the chakai and the chaji. Both have the purpose of serving food and drink to guests. The difference lies in the quantity of food and drink, and the increased amount of ritualized movement that is necessary when you are serving.

The chakai is an informal tea which consists of serving a sweet and some tea, or even a small meal with the sweet and tea, can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or so. The number of guests for this sort of tea can be as small as one, and the highest number of guests is determined only by the limitations of the host’s facilities.

The chaji is the more formal, involving highly structured gathering rituals, the serving of a meal in multiple courses, an intermission in a garden, and then a solemn thick tea ceremony followed by the less solemn thin Japanese tea ceremony. A chaji will last from 3 to 5 hours and only 5 guests at most will be present.

Tea ceremonies in Japan have three main aspects: social, aesthetics, and spirituality.

Social: The host will invite people who are compatible. There is no reason to sit down with enemies to share this moment.

Aesthetics: Food should be tasted with the eyes before it is tasted with the mouth.

The appearance of the food, the utensils used in serving the food, and the decoration of the eating-place should look appealing. Body movement is completely choreographed, even down to finger positions. This attention to appearance is so important in the tea ceremony that the ceremony is called an art form.

Spirituality: The Zen Buddhist religious dimension of the tea ceremony is optional, but the benefits of the influence from Zen Buddhism are integral to the ceremony.

Zen Buddhists suggest the whole universe can be experienced in the drinking of tea. This experience comes from allowing yourself to be completely present in the here and now and fully participate in the tea ceremony, free from distraction or discrimination. The ideals in the Way of Tea are known in English as Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility. Any religion can understand and take part in the contemplative qualities of the tea ceremony.

Proceedure

The host begins by cleaning the serving bowls and boiling a pot of water. The hosts then serves a sweet treat to guests before the tea, mixes the powdered bitter green tea (Matcha) with water to make a frothy tea, and serves this to the guests. The flavors of the sweets and bitter tea are meant to compliment each other, as a symbol of harmony.

The guest bows when he or she receives the cup of tea, or chawan, and takes the chawan with the right hand then places it in the palm of the left hand. The chawan is then turned clockwise three times before a drink is taken. When the tea is gone, a loud slurp tells the host that the tea was enjoyed.

The guest then wipes the part of the chawan that touched his or her lips with their right hand and then turn the chawan counterclockwise to return it to the host.

It takes as long to learn the tea ceremony as it does many art forms—if you’re a fast learner you could learn the basics in a few weeks. If you want to really master it as an art form then expect many years. To perform the tea ceremony as true art, it will need to appear so subtle that it looks completely natural and not at all contrived.

The Way of Tea, is a cultural practice that encompasses every aspect of life: art, religion, philosophy, and social life. Few if any other practices in the world can compare to the tea ceremony for its creation of an holistic and non-discriminatory experience, allowing the host and the guest to truly experience living in the moment.

Bodhi Day: Buddhist Holiday

Today is Bodhi Day, the 8^th of December. This holiday commemorates the day that the Buddha, Siddhartha Guatauma, experienced enlightenment, or “Bodhi.” According to legend, Siddhartha had sat under a Pipul tree and meditated to relieve suffering. He eventually was able to overcome suffering by finding the root of it, and then liberating himself. He was able to ignore all distractions of greed, anger, restlessness and any other desire. Siddhartha thus became the Buddha, or the enlightened one.

The process of this meditation is debated. Some claim that Siddhartha made a great vow to nirvana and to the Earth in order to to find roots of his suffering. Others claim that he was able to discover himself by meditating deeper and deeper into his own roots, peeling away at layers until he found some peace.

This day is not celebrated as much as the birthday of the Buddha, Wesak Day. But in many Zen and Shin Buddhist schools, this holiday is observed. This holiday is the most acknowledged in Japan. The celebrations and commemorations are different according to the different sects, but all acknowledge the achievement of nirvana by the Buddha. Many Buddhists will meditate on this day, chant Buddhist texts or studying the Dharma.

Learning the Business Customs of Japan

The Japanese are aware of the challenges that foreigners face when in their country. Though they have some specific standards within their own culture, they do not expect foreigners to completely conform to these. They will not expect foreigners to understand or speak Japanese very well, and they may also be shy themselves if they are not fluent in your native tongue.

Japanese people like to do business with people they are personally affiliated with. It is a good idea to be introduced to Japanese business people by someone who already has an established relationship with the company.

Japanese people like to exchange seasonal and greeting cards. If you want to strengthen your relationship with the prospective business people, it is a good idea to send them cards. Shogotsu, or New Year’s Day, is the most important Japanese holiday, so you should send cards for that. You should also be consistent with corresponding with your partners.

In terms of meetings, appointments are necessary, and should be made a few weeks in advance. The best way to arrange an appointment is through the telephone, rather than fax, mail or email. You should arrive to meetings on time, as being late is considered sloppy.

Expect to meet with a group of people. You will seldom meet with individuals, as Japanese society functions in group form. Japanese business society is very hierarchical. The meeting table will be arranged where the most senior person sits the furthest away from the door, and then it goes down until the youngest person is closet to the door. You should bring with you a booklet containing information about your company. You should also bring a small gift for the senior person of the company.

You will probably have to sit through more than one meeting with Japanese business people in order for them to be comfortable enough with you to start making any decisions. You should take the time in familiarizing yourself with these people seriously, as it sets the tone for all of your future interactions. They may even give you a small amount of business to do to test out your commitments and skills.

In terms of negotiating, the Japanese are not confrontational people, and have a difficult time saying no. You should try to make your questions so that they can answer with “yes.” You should never raise your voice or lose your temper when you are negotiating with Japanese people.

Business cards are taken seriously in Japan. Your business card should have a nice design, and you should have one side translated into Japanese. You should include your title on your business card. When Japanese people give you their business cards, you should take a while to examine them.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Japan

The Japanese have their own way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. The most common tradition is for Japanese women to give chocolate to men on February 14^th. They may also give other gifts, but chocolate is the most common. Women do not only buy chocolate for their boyfriends and husbands, but also for most of their male friends, co-workers, bosses and brothers.

The chocolate that Japanese women give to men they are not romantically involved with “giri choko.” The word “giri” translates as obligatory, and when one party does such a favor, it is expected to be reciprocated. Sometimes women will buy 20 or 30 boxes of chocolate and give them to all the men they associate with at the office or in their social lives.

“Honmei choko” refers to the special chocolate that a woman would give to her lover. The “honmei choko” is typically nicer and more expensive, and women often throw in an extra small present along with it. Japanese people generally do not send Valentine’s cards to each other. Like most places, Valentine’s Day in Japan is a consumer-oriented holiday, and there are advertisements everywhere and red hearts all over retail stores. About a quarter of all chocolate sales per year in Japan take place for Valentine’s Day.

The next holiday like this is March 14, which is White Day. Japanese men who receive these chocolates will then return the favor to the respectful women. Neither of these days are national holidays, but expats living in Japan will likely be involved in this phenomenon.

The Museums of Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto National Museum

The Kyoto National Museum is located in the center of Kyoto, and focuses mostly on ancient Japanese art. There is the Collections Hall, which has the permanent exhibits, houses over 12,000 specimens of calligraphy, textiles, artifacts, metal works, paintings and sculptures. These are displayed on rotating exhibits. There is also a Special Exhibition Hall which has temporary exhibits that change a few times throughout the year.

Kyoto Chopstick Culture Museum

This museum displays over 500 sets of chopsticks, some of which are traditional Japanese ones, and others are from foreign lands. They let visitors try their hand at making chopsticks for free, as they have real tools for crafting chopsticks. One can learn much about these fine utensils through a visit to this museum.

Fukuchiyama Castle Folk Museum

The building of this folk museum was originally a fortress of the Yokogama family. It is surrounded by the Hajigawa and Yuragawa rivers, so there is water on three sides, acting as a moat. The building was rebuilt in 1986, in order to display historical materials that have to do with the castle and historical matters, from ancient to modern times. It has many photographs, paintings, graphic art and prints on display.

Kyoto Museum of Traditional Crafts “Fureaikan”

This museum has many different traditional crafts on display. Much of the material is shown through videos and personal computers. In terms of physical displays, there are items like dolls, dyed fabrics, laquerware, Buddhist shrines and textiles. Its gallery also does rotating exhibits.

Tale of Genji Museum

The Tale of Genji Museum is located in Uji, and focuses around the Tale of Genji, which is argued to be the world’s first novel, as well as the Heian period. They have many replicas of items from this historical period, such as lanterns, oxcarts, folding screens and inkstone containers. There is also a scents exhibit, and displays of the Ten Uji Chapters. The museum also has a small video exhibition room that has short films made just for the museum.

Hosomi Museum

The Hosomi Museum is located in Okazaki Park, in a part of Kyoto that is considered the “cultural zone.” It has many different art displays, such as Buddhist art, ink paintings, lacquer, glassware and some other traditional crafts. They put on different displays for each season.

Shogatsu: Celebrating the Japanese New Year

In Japan, New Years is called “shogatsu” or “oshogatsu.” It lasts from January 1st-3^rd, and businesses close down so families can celebrate together. Schools often close for a week or two. The Japanese celebrate this holiday as separating the two consecutive years completely, which includes completing every prior obligation for a fresh start.

The Japanese throw bonenkai parties so that they can forget all about the year before, and start the new one. Bonenkai parties are very festive and involve lots of eating and drinking. Japanese often do this with their work associates. Outside of the workplace, they decorate their homes with pine, bamboo and plum trees, making sure they are very clean. They eat soba, which are buckwheat noodles, because they symbolize longevity. Many people also tune into “kohaku uta gassen,” a TV program, which has a bunch of Japanese pop music performances.

On the first of January, the Japanese often go out to view the sunrise. This symbolizes leaving the last year’s worries behind. For the rest of the day, people are supposed to enjoy their clean surroundings and do no stressful work. People traditionally visit shrines or temples, like Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine. Japanese people often write many different shogatsu cards, or nengajo, addressed to their friends and families, which have to be delivered on January 1^st. Traditionally, the Japanese would conduct card games like karuta, play badminton and go kite flying, but this is declining in popularity.

A traditional shogatsu drink is otoso, a sweet rice wine, and ozoni, a miso soup. Ozoni is usually served with mochi, which are sticky rice cakes. There are a few different versions of ozoni, but it’s the traditional first food people eat on New Years, after toasting sake in the morning.

The Japanese also enjoy osechi-ryori (above), a dish that contains about 20-30 different items of food in a 3-tier set of boxes. Some common foods in these dishes are kuromame, boiled black soybeans; kazunoko, salted herring; and kuri kinton, mashed sweet potatoes served with chestnuts. Sushi and sashimi are common today as well, along with foreign foods.

Sometimes it’s a little difficult to visit or be an expat in Japan during the holiday of shogatsu. It’s taken very seriously, and is definitely a product of Japan’s unique culture. Nevertheless, it is an interesting phenomenon to experience.

The Shinkansen: Japanese Bullet Trains

The Shinkansen, or “Bullet Train” is a high speed train that can take you in between cities in Japan. It is more similar to flying than it is to taking the train. Though it costs about as much as flying from city to city in Japan, it will drop you off at the city center, so you don’t have to worry about getting all the way to the airports. Each Shinkansen line has its own name, and each train has its own name. If you go to Japan, you won’t see “Bullet Train” on any of the English signs; they will only be labeled with “Shinkansen.”

The Shinkansen has been open since 1964. When it opened, it traveled at 210 kilometers per hour (130 miles per hour); today it travels at about 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour). It can go even faster if it needs to. Since opening, it has also carried almost 6 billion passengers, and without one major accident.

Many Bullet Trains recommend you to make a reservation in advance. If a Bullet Train contains 16 carriages, it is common that only five operate without reservation, and only two of those would be non smoking. If you are taking a popular journey, like from Tokyo to Kyoto on weekends, that it is strongly advised. Japan is very crowded and populated, so there’s no guarantee that the trains won’t get filled up. You can reserve a spot anywhere from a month in advance until a few minutes before the train departs. They also offer overnight trains.

If you miss your proposed Shinkansen trip, you’ll probably be able to catch the next one without much delay. For instance, there are 6 trains per hour between the Tokyo and Shin-Osaka stations.

The Shinkansen system is built so that the trains use tunnels and viaducts. They go through and over objectsTrespassing on the tracks is very illegal, and you’ll get strict penalties. The trains use a 25,000 V AC overhead power supply. The vehicles are light compared to most trains, so that eliminates some of the track damage. The cars are air sealed, so they have stable air pressure when they go through tunnels at high speeds. instead of going around them.

Other than the Shinkansen, the country of Japan has an extensive 12,400 miles of track. You can travel to almost anywhere using the rail system. Keep in mind that the other trains are completely separated from the Shinkansen, which is part of the reason they are so efficient.

Japanese Tea Ceremony, ‘The Way of Tea’

History

Tea was brought tea in the brick form from China to the Japanese court in the early ninth century. The drinking of tea in Japan was confined to the court aristocracy and Buddhist ceremonies until the twelfth century when appreciation of tea spread among the warrior class. Tea gatherings of this era were often boisterous affairs that included contests in which participants identified various teas and prizes were offered to the winners. These were usually accompanied by liberal consumption of alcoholic beverages and gambling.

Tea drinking became more refined in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with influences from the aristocracy and the newly influential merchant class combined with the influence from the basic ceremonial tea drinking in temples. Beyond entertainment, medicine or religious ceremony, tea drinking became identified as an act to represent the Zen belief that every act of daily life is a potential act that can lead to enlightenment. And so the tea drinking ceremony developed.

The Way of Tea Today

The tea ceremony, or The Way of Tea, is meant to help us to do away with the discrimination that the ordinary mind makes: between man and nature, nobleman and commoner, priest and laity, beautiful and ugly, religious and secular. This is reflected in all parts of the ceremony from the location to the utensils used: The tea hut and the path that leads to the hut is meant to heighten awareness of man’s oneness with nature. Many tea huts are designed so that guests need to crawl through an entrance, no matter what position they hold in society. The utensils are plain and simple, allowing our minds to transcend any distinctions between beautiful and ugly.

Distraction is discouraged. Everything about the tea ceremony is designed to bring the individual’s focus onto the Zen Buddhist concept of ‘living in the moment’ – and yet this does not mean the tea ceremony has to be a religious event.

The tea ceremony embraces many art forms including architecture, gardening, ceramics, textiles, calligraphy, flower arrangement and food plus a few rather art forms such as the sculpting of ashes and the building of a beautiful fire. Everything involved in a tea ceremony has been given careful aesthetic attention, even the ashes.

Types of Tea Ceremonies

There are two types of tea ceremony in Japan, the chakai and the chaji. Both have the purpose of serving food and drink to guests. The difference lies in the quantity of food and drink, and the increased amount of ritualized movement that is necessary when you are serving.

The chakai is an informal tea which consists of serving a sweet and some tea, or even a small meal with the sweet and tea, can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or so. The number of guests for this sort of tea can be as small as one, and the highest number of guests is determined only by the limitations of the host’s facilities.

The chaji is the more formal, involving highly structured gathering rituals, the serving of a meal in multiple courses, an intermission in a garden, and then a solemn thick tea ceremony followed by the less solemn thin Japanese tea ceremony. A chaji will last from 3 to 5 hours and only 5 guests at most will be present.

Tea ceremonies in Japan have three main aspects: social, aesthetics, and spirituality.

Social: The host will invite people who are compatible. There is no reason to sit down with enemies to share this moment.

Aesthetics: Food should be tasted with the eyes before it is tasted with the mouth.

The appearance of the food, the utensils used in serving the food, and the decoration of the eating-place should look appealing. Body movement is completely choreographed, even down to finger positions. This attention to appearance is so important in the tea ceremony that the ceremony is called an art form.

Spirituality: The Zen Buddhist religious dimension of the tea ceremony is optional, but the benefits of the influence from Zen Buddhism are integral to the ceremony.

Zen Buddhists suggest the whole universe can be experienced in the drinking of tea. This experience comes from allowing yourself to be completely present in the here and now and fully participate in the tea ceremony, free from distraction or discrimination. The ideals in the Way of Tea are known in English as Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility. Any religion can understand and take part in the contemplative qualities of the tea ceremony.

Proceedure

The host begins by cleaning the serving bowls and boiling a pot of water. The hosts then serves a sweet treat to guests before the tea, mixes the powdered bitter green tea (Matcha) with water to make a frothy tea, and serves this to the guests. The flavors of the sweets and bitter tea are meant to compliment each other, as a symbol of harmony.

The guest bows when he or she receives the cup of tea, or chawan, and takes the chawan with the right hand then places it in the palm of the left hand. The chawan is then turned clockwise three times before a drink is taken. When the tea is gone, a loud slurp tells the host that the tea was enjoyed.

The guest then wipes the part of the chawan that touched his or her lips with their right hand and then turn the chawan counterclockwise to return it to the host.

It takes as long to learn the tea ceremony as it does many art forms—if you’re a fast learner you could learn the basics in a few weeks. If you want to really master it as an art form then expect many years. To perform the tea ceremony as true art, it will need to appear so subtle that it looks completely natural and not at all contrived.

The Way of Tea, is a cultural practice that encompasses every aspect of life: art, religion, philosophy, and social life. Few if any other practices in the world can compare to the tea ceremony for its creation of an holistic and non-discriminatory experience, allowing the host and the guest to truly experience living in the moment.