Culture Shinichi Suzuki Memorial Hall Arlene Bastion One of the most famous of the contributors to Matsumoto's music heritage and fame is Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki..
Culture Shirone Kite Battle 2026 Early Jun The Shirone Kite Festival is an annual event dating back to the mid 1800's. A kite was crashed by residents of Shirone into..
Culture Nagaoka Hodare Festival 2026 Sunday - Mar 8th Wishing for fertility? The annual Nagaoka Hodare Festival is said to bring luck to those trying for a child, or hoping for a bountiful..
12 Culture Hokkei-ji Temple in Mishima Peter Sidell In Mishima in central Japan's Shizuoka prefecture, Hokkei-ji is a Buddhist temple with a welcoming committee of interesting..
6 Activities Tokamachi Ajisai Park Kim Bergström Rainy season isn't all doom and gloom - it's prime hydrangea time! The Tokamachi Ajisai Park boasts plenty of the beautiful..
6 Activities Osaki Dam Park Kim Bergström The Osaki Dam Park in Minamiuonuma is a pleasant spot to enjoy the springtime blooms. It's also a site which features numerous..
Activities Strawberry Picking in Nakajima Park Ramon Geoffrey Evangelista Spend the day picking and eating sweet strawberries in Yamanashi's Nakajima park. There are different varieties that you can..
Culture Urasa Naked Man Festival 2026 Late Feb - Early Mar Urasa's Naked Man Festival lays claim to being one of Japan's most unique winter festivals. Participants push and jostle..