Celebrating Showa Day

by Kyle Yates | Apr 29, 2009 | Japan Related

Today is Showa Day in Japan. It is a national holiday to commorate the previous Emporer’s birthday just before the Golden Week holiday period. Before 2007, Showa Day was called Greenery Day. Before it was called Greenery Day, it was celebrated as The...

Prepare for Some Major Traffic!

by Kyle Yates | Apr 28, 2009 | Japan Related, Kansai Living

This Golden Week will be like no other this year. Why? Because the Japanese government has lowered the fees for toll roads to 1000 yen for 2 years! Everyone and their mother will be on the roads this Golden Week and most won’t be traveling the side roads to...

Kigensetsu Japan National Foundation Day

by Kyle Yates | Feb 11, 2009 | Japan Related

National Foundation Day is a national holiday celebrated annually on February 11th in Japan. The day commemorates the founding of the nation and the first emperor, Jimmu, a controversial issue considering Amaterasu, the Meiji Emperor, declared himself the one, true...

Preparing Wisely for Golden Week Holidays

by Kyle Yates | Mar 31, 2008 | Kansai Living

Golden Week is one of the busiest times of the year in Japan, especially in the Kansai area. Most people in the Kansai area travel outside the region back to their hometowns or abroad. Those who choose to go somewhere nearby often go camping or to an onsen, sometimes...