The Sanriku Coast or Sanriku Kaigan stretches from southern Aomori Prefecture, through Iwate Prefecture and northern Miyagi Prefecture, along the Pacific Ocean. The 250-km-long coastline of Sanriku offers popular tourist attractions with beautiful coastal sceneries, breathtaking views, rock formations and beaches to enjoy. The northern part of Sanriku consist mainly of cliffs, while the southern h

Japanese traditional architecture is one of the most distinct features of Japanese culture and you can find unique elements of architecture in castles, temples, shrines, and also homes. But what is the meaning behind it and why the structure has been developed like that? When you understand the details of the traditional architecture, it makes more sense and it will make it more fun to look at the

When you visit Japan and walk around, you soon will come across the many konbini that are located everywhere. Konbini is the abbreviated word for a convenience store in Japanese and there are about 58,000 konbini across Japan. The largest operators of konbini are Seven Eleven, Family Mart and Lawson, but there are many more chains. In major cities, konbini can be found on almost every corner of th

Suginami Ward is located in the west part of Tokyo, which is adjacent to the popular tourist spot, Shibuya area. Suginami is rich with hidden gems and naturally one of the popular places to live in Tokyo for its comfortable neighborhood and unique environment. From shopping districts to drinking districts, and from anime culture to historical sites, Suginami has developed one of a kind culture on

The Japanese government has launched the Go To Travel Campaign to encourage people to travel around Japan from July 22, 2020 onwards. This is a great opportunity to travel cheaply in Japan! This campaign is not for international travelers but only for residents in Japan. So if you already live in Japan, why not go for a trip around Japan with the Go To Travel Campaign? In this article, we will exp

There are 12 original castles in Japan, “original” means they have a castle tower (or main keep) which was built during the Edo period or earlier. It may surprise you, as there are a number of castles around Japan but only a dozen of them have survived over centuries without being damaged or destroyed. It is mainly because of the fact that most of them were demolished by the Meiji government in 18

Did you know that Tokyo also consists of several scenic islands? The area of the Tokyo Islands refers to a large area with a total of 219 islands of different sizes, dotted around the sea area. 11 of the islands belong to a group of islands known as Izu Islands or Ogasawara Islands and together are being called the Tokyo Islands. Some of them are inhabited and all offer beautiful natural scenery,

Looking for somewhere you can experience the more traditional Edo culture and traditions, see old buildings and shops handcraft in Tokyo? Then you should visit the Yanesen area! Yanesen refers to a district located near Ueno, in the west part of Bunkyo ward and the east part of Taito ward. It comprises of three areas called Yanaka, Nezu, and Sendagi that are located next to each other. Yanesen is

Tottori Prefecture is situated along the Sea of Japan coast in the Chugoku Region. Its same named capital is Tottori, known for the French Renaissance-style mansion of Jinpukaku and the Kyusho Park with Tottori Castle Ruins. The prefecture is famous for the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest sand hills in the country, but there are many more interesting spots to be discovered in this rural prefecture

Japan is an island country known for its beautiful landscape, with a rich variety of mountains, lakes and forest. About 70% of Japan is covered in mountains, providing great hiking options. If you are looking to escape from the busy cities and reconnect with nature, the hiking trails of Kumano Kodo are a great option for you. Kumano Kodo refers to a network of ancient pilgrimages trails situated a

You might have heard of “Edo” when you were reading about Japan to prepare your trip, or when you were reading about the country and its history. Often Edo is mentioned when talking about the history of Tokyo. However, it is difficult, even for Japanese, to elaborate on the word in detail. Edo refers to a certain period of time the country’s long history, plus it is also the former name of Tokyo,

In Japan, the summer heat is sometimes unbearable. During summer, the temperature easily gets over 30℃ or even over 35℃ with unpleasant humidity. So, how about going away from the heat and spend sometimes in somewhere cool in Japan? There are cattle and horses grazing in the 2,000 meters high plateau and you can enjoy the gorgeous panoramic view over Japanese Alps. Take a nice and relaxing walk in

英語のリーディングの練習のために、洋書多読をする方は多いと思います。多読する上でおすすめなのが、多読しやすく、かつ教養が身につくような本を読むことです。 歴史、哲学、その他学術分野の本を多読の教材として利用することで、さまざまな知識が得られて楽しく多読できるだけでなく、TOEIC等資格試験の長文読解問題などにも知識を活用できるようになります。 そこで今回は、これまでに読んだ洋書の中で、特に多読に向いているものでかつ教養が身につくものを厳選して紹介します。 ぜひ手にとって読み進めてみてください。 このサイトは人文社会科学系学問をより多くの人が学び、楽しみ、支えるようになることを目指して運営している学術メディアです。 ぜひブックマーク＆フォローしてこれからもご覧ください。→Twitterのフォローはこちら 1章：洋書多読は教養の学習と合わせて行うのがおすすめ 英語のリーディングの勉強法として多

As everyone knows, Japan is an island country. It consists of a number of islands, and each of them has different characteristics such as the size, climate, and the population. Some of them also have a role as a home to several kinds of animals, and offer an enjoyable time for tourists with adorable animals! In recent years, a better transportation system including ferries enables more people to v

Each country has its own social rules and etiquette, and Japan is no exception. Generally speaking, Japanese people like to follow the rules, and they expect everyone would do so.  No one wants to insult people without even noticing it, or to be rude when visiting Japan, but sometimes you may do something “wrong” because you had no idea of the hidden rules in Japan. To avoid any trouble, here we l