Atsuta Shrine, also called, Atsuta-san or Atsuta-sama, is the second most important Shinto shrine in Japan, after the Ise Grand Shrine. The venerated sun goddess Amaterasu is enshrined here as well as being home to the sacred sword Kusanagi-no-tsurugi, which is one of the three Japanese imperial treasures. Legend has it that Amaterasu gave the sword to the first emperor of Japan and from it, he gained the right to...
Japan has a wide variety of traditional noodle-based dishes. Nagoya uses a lot of noodles in their signature Nagoya Meshi, which are dishes local to Nagoya. In fact, five of them are noodle bases dishes! (Ok fine, two of those are actually spaghetti… not sure if that counts!) Another popular type of noodle is udon. Udon noodles are thick white noodles made from three basic ingredients: wheat flour, salt, and...
Springtime in Japan is famous for a variety of beautiful flowers. One of them is the Japanese wisteria, a flower that captivates with its mysterious beauty and its sweet fragrance. Like wisteria’s more famous cousin the cherry blossom, multiple varieties of wisteria bloom at different times. The average blooming period extends from mid-April to early May. The characteristic color of the wisteria is purple, but they are also found in...
Tokoname is home to Chubu Centrair International Airport, the largest airport in the region. What many people don’t know, is that it is also a city with a long tradition of pottery and amazing craftsmanship. Tokoname is an excellent place to visit for a day or half-day trip from Nagoya (or the airport if you have a long layover). Let Yourself Be Transported to Tokoname by Watching A Whisker Away...
After years of waiting it finally opened, the world’s first Ghibli Park, and we were first in line! So here it is, everything you need to know about the new Ghibli Park, the home of Totoro, Mononoke, Chihiro, and Co. What is Ghibli Park? Map of Ghibli Park, image via ghibli-park.jp Ghibli Park is often called a theme park, but we really shouldn’t compare it to the popular Universal Studios...
