You can learn a lot about them in the Ninja Museum of Igaryu — the most famous museum dedicated to Ninja history in Japan. Cherry blossoms are an integral part of Japan landscape. The country is full of these beautiful trees, and they are actually considered the unofficial national flower of Japan.
There are several species of cherry blossoms, but the Japanese cherry Sakura is by far the most popular one. You can find these flowers anywhere in the country — from parks in the center of Tokyo to the mountainside. Capsule hotels are insanely popular with tourists in Japan. Showers, toilets and dining rooms are communally shared, and your belongings are kept in a locker. The main benefit of this claustrophobic accommodation is the price — capsule hotels are very cheap, and a good way to experience Japan on a budget.
But Japan is also very popular for Ryokans, which are much more comfortable and spacious. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns, and they are most often found in rural areas. Baths and toilets are also communal in these inns, but the rooms are much larger. And, in towns like Koyasan, you can stay in a Ryokan that is located inside a Buddhist temple, which is an amazing experience on its own.
In the last few years, kimonos have become more and more popular in the fashion industry. Or rather kimono-like garments — the true kimono is a traditional, T-shaped Japanese garment. There are lots of variation when it comes to the length of the kimono and its sleeves, but it is usually at least ankle length, with sleeves up to your wrists. Actually, the sleeve length of a kimono can tell you a lot about a woman — single women usually wear kimonos Furisodo with floor-length sleeves, while married women wear Tomesode, which has shorter sleeves.
Kimonos are usually tied at the waist with an obi sash , and knotted in the back. They are worn even today, by both women and men, most often for special occasions like weddings, tea ceremonies etc. People who wear kimonos on a daily basis nowadays are mostly older Japanese men and women, geishas and sumo wrestlers. In fact, sumo wrestlers are required to wear them whenever they have a public appearance.
Japan is pretty famous for its comics and cartoons, known as Manga and Anime. Not only are they popular forms of entertainment worldwide, but you can also find all kinds of memorabilia relating to them in various stores throughout the country. Comics and graphic novels known as Manga originate from Japan, but are insanely popular worldwide. They include a very broad range of genres, and are translated into many other languages.
And they conform to a style that was developed in Japan in the 19th century. Anime, on the other hand, are hand-drawn animations that originate from Japan.
The word anime means animation, and so it includes all kinds of animated media, from cartoons and TV shows. This medium focuses on realism and animation of movement, and tells part of the story with cinematography and characterization.
It is interesting that Westerners generally view Anime as something strictly Japanese. However, the definition of anime is such that it can include shows like SpongeBob SquarePants and Family Guy — just something to think about. Cosplaying is the art of dressing up like characters from books, comics, anime, cartoons, manga and video games. It is very popular at video game conventions and events like Comic Con.
But it originated in Japan — in fact, the word cosplay was coined in Japan in the 80s. Takeshita street in the Harajuku district of Tokyo is very popular for its vast choice of cosplay shops. Sumo is a type of full contact wrestling that originated in Japan. The name is often given to them by their trainers and even sometimes by fans. There are only six major sumo tournaments Honbasho each year, so every tournament is a big happening and gets a lot of media coverage. So if you want to experience a sumo tournament while you visit Tokyo, you have to go in either January, May or December.
The months are the same year after year. You can check out the exact sumo wrestling tournament dates here. You are the dancing queen. Young and sweet. Only seventeen! Aah, karaoke! Japan is definitely famous for its karaoke craze. There are numerous karaoke bars and karaoke rooms spread all over Japan. This results in over 16 million Japanese people singing karaoke every day! Weekends are more expensive.
Why is karaoke so popular in Japan? Check out prices on Amazon. Admit it, you too love samurais. One of the coolest warrior types in the world.
The age of the samurai was , so how come Japan is still known for them today? The samurais had a unique position in the old Japanese society. They were part of the ruling military class which eventually evolved into the highest ranking social caste back in the Edo period which ended in Many still today admire the samurai culture and lifestyle, and the samurai history has a special place in Japanese history. You can find samurai castles and historical samurai residents all over Japan. There are numerous museums dedicated to honoring the samurai traditions, and you even have samurai-themed amusement parks.
Like Edo Wonderland located about 3 hours outside of Tokyo. Today, more than years after the end of the samurai era, Japan is still famous for its samurais. And I suspect Japan will be known for samurais years from now. Shinkansen is the name of the network in which the Japanese bullet trains run. The Shinkansen network saw the day of light back in , and today the network is enormous and currently consists of 1, The most impressive thing with Shinkansen is its safety record and its punctuality.
Here are some key facts for you:. If you visit Tokyo and want to travel to Kyoto or Osaka , Shinkansen is the fastest way. An onsen is a hot water spring. So why is Japan known for hot springs? Yes, you have hot springs in many countries shoutout to Iceland, the US, and Australia! The onsen bathing started in the 8th century, so the onsen culture is ingrained in Japanese society. The onsens culture in Japan is unique. If they do it in a wrong way, local authorities will mark a red flag on your trash bin so all your neighbors will know you hate this planet.
Not only adult but also children are taught to recycle their milk cartons after lunch and sorting rubbish into the right recycle bins. Treating nature with respect and reverence is one of the most basic manner that a kid is taught at school. Japanese children are taught to clean school themselves. Without a doubt, Japan is one of the most innovative and creative societies in the world. Japan is known worldwide for its weirdness. Japan used to an island nation with a history of isolation.
No wonder why many aspects of Japanese culture were developed completely unaffected from outside influences, which have to make a visitor raise an eyebrow. Due to some estimation, Japan has up to 5 million vending machines which means each one serves 23 people.
You can buy everything from these vending machine, not only snacks and drink as usual but also bananas, umbrellas, hot lunch, soup cans, balls, mysterious box or even used panties? Yes you read that right! Explore some big supermarket in large city, you can easily catch sight of square watermelons.
Originated from wish to fit more space in transportation, this fruit is used for decorating or as a gift and they are extremely expensive. Imagine your family bathing in a pat of pork soup and ramen noodles in exchange for beautiful skin? Have you ever imagined soaking yourself in a ramen soup bath? Kawaii means cute or lovely in English, this term is used to describe the love of all cute, colorful things. No place in the planet adore the cuteness like this country does.
Not only is Japan cherry blossom so famous worldwide that it has become the iconic scene of Japan over the years, but it also plays an important part in Japanese culture. Having picnic with the family is the most favourite activity during cherry blossom season. Especially in the dark, the color of the flower contrast perfectly with the dark night, creating magical illumination. Many tourist time their visit in order to have a chance experience this incredible view.
The main month of cherry blossom in Japan is usually April, but it also depends on where you at in Japan. So you should check the blossom forecast in advance to make sure you come in the right time. Cherry blossom magically illuminates at night. Is Japan known for Onsens or hot springs?
The answer is yes. Throughout this article, you may accumulate the fact that Japanese people love bathing. This shows clearly in their daily habits like each people spend a particular amount of time a day soaking in the bath tub. During holiday, many Japanese families choose to stay in a traditional inn called ryokan and soak themselves in the hot water from onsens or hot springs.
There are various onsens can be found in Japan because basically, this country is a volcanic island. The onsen cultured has been ingrained in Japanese society since the 18 th century. This stunning onsens will surely be the first choice of many families on holiday. When relax in an onsen, not only do you feel relaxing and comfortable but also healing. Due to some research, onsens are actually really good for your health because of its geothermally heating.
While many visitors from other countries prefer not to show off their naked bodies in a shared bath room, for the Japanese it can be considered normal. They say that when you take off your clothes, like the shield you wear every day, you can be yourself and get to know other people on a deeper level.
So if you are not comfortable with being naked and sharing one bath tub, you may have to do some more checking to assure you have your own onsen and enjoy the best of your time. Japan is such an attractive destination that the country has up to 30 million visitors each year. Having originated here, Japan is a literal paradise for manga black and white comics and anime animated version of the manga lovers!
Anime and manga are a major part of Japanese popular culture. Pokemon and Naruto are believed to be the most popular. The best places in Tokyo for anime lovers is Akihabara or Nakano Broadway, where you can hunt down anything to do with your favourite characters such as figurines, books and other merchandise.
The fascinating balance of old and new architecture throughout Japan is reason enough to visit alone. With modern architecture such as the Tokyo SkyTree overlooking centuries-old wooden temples such as Senso-ji, one cannot help but feel a connection to the past and the people who walked these streets centuries ago.
My personal favourites are preserved Edo-era towns , a very prosperous time in Japan when the country was closed off from the outside world. Obviously there are many more than listed here, but they are few ideas to get you started:.
While it may sound overwhelming to cross a junction with that many other people, it really is a kind of organised chaos and not nearly as scary as you may believe! Find out more here. So there you have it with my extensive list of famous things Japan is known for! From various kinds of foods, many conveniences and the culture of its people to stunning natural wonders, preservation of history and tradition. Find out by reading my 1 Amazon New Release Book! Did I miss any famous things in Japan that you would add to this list?
How many of these Japanese things do you hope to experience for yourself? Let me know in the comments below. If you found this helpful, please share, save it for later and come and join me on Facebook , Pinterest , TikTok or Instagram for more travel inspiration!
Do you love Japanese sweets, snacks and candies? Read my Tokyo Treat review and get popular Japanese snacks delivered here , or read my Sakuraco review and get traditional Japanese sweets delivered here! This guide to things Japan is known for contains some affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase and if you do, thanks for your support!
This helps with the costs of running my blog so I can keep my content free for you. As always, I only recommend a product or service that I genuinely love and use myself! Australian-based Alyse has travelled "The Invisible Tourist Way" for thirteen years and hopes to encourage fellow travellers to do so, too. Her dreams? Always about the next destination and how to make the most of it by "blending in". Your email address will not be published. Skip to content. This guide to things Japan is famous for will cover: Japan famous for food, of course!
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