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Jan 17, 2025 | 
savvytokyo.com | Elizabeth Sok
From the stage to the halls of government By Elizabeth Sok | January 18, 2025 | Inspiring Women Let’s start the new year on an inspirational note.
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Jan 15, 2025 | 
japantoday.com | Elizabeth Sok
Located on the southern island of Kyushu, Miyazaki Prefecture sits between Oita’s renowned onsen towns to the north and Kagoshima, the region to the south noted for its famed black pork. While often overshadowed by its famous neighbors, Miyazaki has its fair share of historical gems, scenic nature and delicious cuisine.
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Jan 14, 2025 | 
travel.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
The time around New Year’s is all about purifying yourself for a fresh start. As one of the great fire festivals in Japan, the Nozawa Fire Festival is no exception. The Nozawa Fire Festival occurs on January 15 and features a fiery battle as its centerpiece event. Like many Japanese festivals in January, fire is an essential component. Many people believe that fire is purifying and can prepare you for a new beginning.
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Jan 12, 2025 | 
travel.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
The largest festival of its kind in Japan, the Dontosai Festival, held at Osaki Hachimangu Shrine in Miyagi Prefecture, is a celebration that closes the chapter on the previous year and looks ahead to the next. With fiery ceremonies and a memorable procession, this festival is a great way to welcome the new year in northern Japan. Dontosai FestivalDontosai Festival started in the Edo Period when local sake brewers would visit Osaki Hachimangu Shrine at the beginning of the year.
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Jan 10, 2025 | 
japantoday.com | Elizabeth Sok
Unless you live in one of these warmer winter destinations in Japan, it’s going to get quite a bit colder as we move into the winter months. While there are plenty of ways to stay warm outside, keeping toasty at home is a different matter. It costs more to heat homes with appliances than it does to cool them off. So, save some cash by making sure that precious warm air (and your hard-earned yen) doesn’t escape out the window. Keep reading for our top Japanese winter home insulation hacks. 1.
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Jan 9, 2025 | 
blog.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
Unless you live in one of these warmer winter destinations in Japan, it’s going to get quite a bit colder as we move into the winter months. While there are plenty of ways to stay warm outside, keeping toasty at home is a different matter. It costs more to heat homes with appliances than it does to cool them off. So, save some cash by making sure that precious warm air (and your hard-earned yen) doesn’t escape out the window. Keep reading for our top Japanese winter home insulation hacks. 1.
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Jan 8, 2025 | 
travel.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
The Osaka Toka Ebisu Festival is believed to welcome economic prosperity for the coming year. Dedicated to Ebisu, the deity associated with commerce, this festival is the perfect opportunity to up your chances of financial success during the next 12 months. One of Japan’s seven gods of luck, Ebisu has historically had strong ties to fishermen due to its maritime origin story. Over generations, Ebisu’s protective sphere has extended to include merchants, farmers and commercial enterprises.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
japantoday.com | Elizabeth Sok
Held every January 9, the Maebashi Hatsuichi Festival in Gunma Prefecture celebrates the end of the previous year and welcomes good luck for the upcoming one. This family-friendly festival features eye-catching displays and plenty of market stalls to keep everyone entertained. Maebashi Hatsuichi FestivalThe Hatsuichi Festival has been running for about 400 years and takes the ideas of daruma (Japanese dolls associated with good luck and prosperity) to a public forum.
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Jan 6, 2025 | 
travel.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
Held every January 9, the Maebashi Hatsuichi Festival in Gunma Prefecture celebrates the end of the previous year and welcomes good luck for the upcoming one. This family-friendly festival features eye-catching displays and plenty of market stalls to keep everyone entertained. Maebashi Hatsuichi FestivalThe Hatsuichi Festival has been running for about 400 years and takes the ideas of daruma (Japanese dolls associated with good luck and prosperity) to a public forum.
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Jan 2, 2025 | 
blog.gaijinpot.com | Elizabeth Sok
Japan gets cold in winter, and we’re all looking for ways to stay warm and bundle up outside. Depending on where you live in Japan, you’ll experience different degrees of cold. For example, average daily temperatures can dip to -10℃ in Hokkaido. But everywhere will be relatively chillier than in previous months. Japan has several appliances to help you get through the winter, such as kotatsu (a low table with a built-in heater and thick blanket). But what else is there?
