Aomori Nebuta Matsuri 青森ねぶた祭り - A summer festival in Aomori Prefecture, Japan in early August. Nebuta designates the...
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en 兼六園 - One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, developed from the 1620s – It is...
Shiraito Falls
Shiraito Falls 白糸の滝 – A waterfall in Shizuoka Prefecture, near Mount Fuji, Japan - Added to the World...
The Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu
The Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu 秩父十三仏霊場 - A group of 13 Buddhist sacred sites in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.
Tsukuba Science City
Tsukuba Science City 筑波研究学園都市 - A planned science park, pionneer as a center for research and education, developed...
Yotaka festival
Tonami Yotaka Matsuri 砺波夜高祭り or Yotaka festival – An event held in June in Toyama Prefecture, Japan -...
National Museum of Japanese History
National Museum of Japanese History 国立歴史民俗博物館 – A history museum founded in 1981 focusing on the history, archaeology,...
Mount Zaô
Mount Zaô 蔵王山 - A complex volcano between Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture in Japan - Famous for...
Tokyo Wan Kannon
Tokyo Wan Kannon 東京湾観音 - A Kannon Statue located in Chiba - 56m high, it was built in...
Ôuchi-juku
Ôuchi-juku 大内宿 - A post station in Japan's Edo period located in Fukushima Prefecture – With traditional thatched...
Itsukushima
Itsukushima 厳島 - An island located in Hiroshima Bay - Known as Miyajima 宮島and its Shrine, including a...
Eihei-ji
Eihei-ji 永平寺 “temple of eternal peace” - One of two main temples of the Sōtō school of Zen...
Kumamoto
Kumamoto 熊本市 - The capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture - Kyushu, Japan. In 2010 is a mascot was...
Kintai Bridge
The Kintai Bridge 錦帯橋 – A unique and historical wooden arch bridge, built in 1673 and spanning the...
Tomioka Silk Mill
Tomioka Silk Mill 富岡製糸場 - Japan's oldest modern silk reeling factory located in Gunma Prefecture.
Sanbutsu-ji
Sanbutsu-ji 三仏寺 - A Buddhist temple in Tottori Prefecture, Japan - Founded by En no Gyōja (ca. 634–701)...
Yoshinogari
Yoshinogari 吉野ヶ里 遺跡 - A large and complex site from Yayoi period, in Saga Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan –...
Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Shirakawa-go 白川郷and Gokayama 五箇山 - Traditional Japanese villages (respectively In Gifu and Toyama Prefectures) known for their building...
Shô Tai
Shô Tai 尚泰 (1843 –1901) - The last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom before its annexation by Japan...
Kotohira-gû
Kotohira-gû 金刀比羅宮 - A Shinto shrine, also known as Konpira-dai-gongen 金比羅大権現 or Konpira-san, located in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan...
The three wise monkeys
The three wise monkeys - "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Mizaru: covering his eyes,...
Ame ni mo makezu
Ame ni mo makezu 雨ニモマケズ "Be not Defeated by the Rain" - A poem written by Kenji Miyazawa...
Nakahama John Manjirô
Nakahama John Manjirô 中濱 万次郎 ( 1827 –1898) - The first Japanese person to visit the United States...
Miyamoto Musashi
Miyamoto Musashi宮本 武蔵 (1584 –1645) - A Japanese master of sword, philosopher and strategist – He was a...
Sika deer
Sika deer - nihonjika 日本鹿（ニホンジカ) "Japanese deer" - A species of deer native to East Asia, overabundant in...
Momotarô
Momotarô 桃太郎, "Peach Boy" - A popular Japanese hero born from a giant peach. After befriended a talking...
O-jigi
O-Jigi お辞儀 – The Japanese etiquette of bowing, with very precise codes depending on the protagonists and the...
Sushi
Sushi 寿司 – A Japanese dish of prepared vinegared rice, accompanied by seafood, vegetables…
Salaryman
Salaryman サラリーマン – A salaried worker who enters a company after college staying there all his whole career.
Urushi
Urushi 漆 – The Japanese lacquerware - Nurimono塗物designating the "coated thing".
O-seibo
O-seibo お 歳 暮 - A gift exchange period prior to the Japanese New Year, designed to show...
Tengu
Tengu 天狗 ("heavenly dog") – A Japanese legendary creature taking their name from a dog-like Chinese demon and...
Ginza
Ginza 銀座 – A district of Tokyo, a most famous and luxurious Japanese shopping area.
Jinmu Tenno
Jinmu-tennô 神武天皇, Emperor Jinmu - The first Emperor of Japan dated as 660 BC - descendant of the...
Rakugo
Rakugo 落語 – A form of Japanese verbal entertainment, a storyteller (rakugoka) sitting on stage in seiza position.
Joyo Kanji
Jōyō kanji 常用漢字 (literally "regular-use Chinese characters") – An official list of 2,136 characters issued in 2010 –...
Onsen
Onsen 温泉 – One of the thousands of the Japanese hot volcanic springs – May be outdoor (roten-buro)...
Fushimi-Inari
Fushimi Inari Taisha 伏見稲荷大社 - The head shrine of the god Inari, god of rice and the patron...
Maneki Neko
Maneki-neko 招き猫 (literally "beckoning cat") – A Japanese figurine usually displayed at the entrance of shops or restaurants...
Joya no kane
Joya no kane 除夜の鐘 – A Japanese ceremony that takes place in the New Year’s eve with a...
Genpuku
Genpuku元服 – A Japanese coming-of-age ceremony dating back to Nara Period (after a Tang Dynasty Chinese custom) –...
Daruma
Daruma だるま (doll) – A Japanese traditional doll (generally painted red but not only) modeled after Bodhidharma, the...
Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi侘寂 – A Japanese concept who calls for the acceptance of impermanence and imperfection – Many aspects are...
Yakyu
Yakyu 野球 - The baseball in Japan.
Yakushima
Yakushima 屋久島 - With Nansei Islands subtropical evergreen forests.
Ubugi
Ubugi (産着 or 産衣) - A baby kimono.
Torii
Torii 鳥居 "bird abode" - A traditional Japanese gate at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) - The first shôgun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan.
Teru teru bôzu
Teru teru bôzu てるてる坊主 "shine shine monk" - A small traditional handmade doll made, for bringing good weather...
Tanabata
Tanabata 七夕 - Evening of the seventh, the Star Festival in Japan.
Susanoo
Susanoo 須佐之男 - The god of the sea and storms in Shinto.
Sumô
Sumô 相撲 - A Japanese competitive full-contact wrestling - The world of rikishi.
Shimenawa
Shimenawa 標縄 - A rice straw or hemp rope for ritual purification in the Shinto.
Shibuya
Shibuya 渋谷区 - A special ward in Tokyo.
Sapporo
Sapporo 札幌 - The largest city on Hokkaido.
Nô Theatre
Nô 能 - A classical Japanese musical drama.
Nakasendô
Nakasendô 中山道 - A road connecting Edo to Kyoto (during the Edo Period).
Nachi no hi matsuri
Nachi no hi matsuri 那智の火祭 - A fire festival in Japan at Kumano Nachi Taisha (熊野那智大社).
Mottainai
Mottainai 勿体無い - A Japanese term transmitting a regret over waste.
Mizuhiki
Mizuhiki 水引 - A Japanese cord created from rice paper and used for special events (wedding, birth, funeral).
Miike Coal Mine
Miike Coal Mine 三池炭鉱 - One of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution, which the largest coal...
Pachinko
Pachinko パチンコ - A mechanical game, usually a gambling device, very famous in Japan.
Ô-yoroi
Ô-yoroi 大鎧 - Early Japanese armor.
Origami
Origami 折り紙 - The art of Japanese paper folding.
Lafcadio Hearn
Lafcadio Hearn 小泉 八雲 (1850-1904) - Author of Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange thing.
Kyûdô
Kyûdô 弓道 - Japanese martial art of archery.
Kiku no gomon
Kiku no gomon 菊の御紋 - Imperial Seal of Japan.
Keiro no Hi
Keirô no Hi 敬老の日... Respect for the Aged Day.
Shigeru Kayano
Shigeru Kayano 萱野 茂 (1926-2006) - The first Ainu politician to sit in the Diet of Japan (in...
Katana
Katana 刀 - The traditional Japanese sword.
Kasuga Grand Shrine
Kasuga Grand Shrine 春日大社 - A Shinto shrine in Nara - Bronze and stone lanterns.
Hachikô
Hachikô ハチ公 (1923-1935) - A Japanese Akita dog known for his loyalty to his owner.
Kumadori
Kumadori 隈取 – Kabuki’s makeup.
Kôraku-en
Kôraku-en 後楽園 - One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, located in Okayama.
Kokeshi
Kokeshi (こけし, 小芥子) - Wooden Japanese dolls.
Kojiki & NihonShoki
Kojiki 古事記, "Records of Ancient Matters" (711-712), the oldest chronicle in Japan... and Nihon Shoki 日本書紀, The “Chronicles...
Koinobori
Koinobori 鯉のぼり - A traditional event, taking place on May 5th, today Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi, 子供の日).
Kofun
Kofun 古墳 - Megalithic tombs in Japan (3rd to 7th century AD).
Kiyomizu-Dera
Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 - The "temple of pure water" in Kyoto.
Kintsugi
Kintsugi 金継ぎ - The Japanese art of repairing broken pottery ("golden joinery").
Jukai
Jukai 樹海 "Sea of trees" (Aokigahara) - Known as "the Suicide Forest".
Genkan
Genkan (玄関) - A traditional Japanese entryway.
Geisha
Geisha 芸者 - A Japanese woman who can perform the ancient traditions of art, dance and singing.
Jûshichijô Kenpô
Jûshichijô Kenpô 十七条憲法 - Seventeen-article constitution (7th century in Japan).
Ikebana
Ikebana 生け花 - Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Izanami & Izanagi
Izanami イザナミ and Izanagi いざなぎ - Creators of the World in Japanese mythology.
Hikimayu
Hikimayu 引眉 - Removing the natural eyebrows and painting similar ones on the forehead in old Japan.
Tale of the Heike
The Tale of the Heike 平家物語 (Heike Monogatari) - An epic about the struggle between the Taira clan...
Hanami
Hanami 花見 - A Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the blossom of cherry trees ("sakura") ou plum trees.
Shinkansen
Shinkansen 新幹線 - High-speed railway line in Japan.
Shichi-go-san
Shichi-go-san 七五三 "Seven-Five-Three" - Rite of passage in Shinto.
O-Sake
O-Sake お酒 - Japanese rice wine.
Saito Musashibō Benkei
Benkei (1155–1189) 武蔵坊弁慶... a Japanese warrior monk.
Seppuku
Seppuku 切腹... "cutting [the] belly"... Japanese ritual suicide.
Ishiguro Hiroshi
Ishiguro Hiroshi 石黒浩 - Director of the Intelligent Robotics Laboratory (Osaka).
Iio Sōgi
Iio Sōgi 宗祇 (1421-1502) - A Japanese Buddhist monk and poet.
Hokusai’s Wave
Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾 北斎) - A Japanese ukiyo-e painter and printmaker (1760-1849).
Inu Hariko
Inu hariko 犬張子- A little dog made with papier-maché - symbol of protection in Japan (partic. for children...
Ise Grand Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine 伊勢神宮 – The main Shrine in Japan dedicated to Amaterasu…
Fugu
Fugu 河豚 - The "river pig" - Can be lethally poisonous.