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Japanese calligraphy or ‘shodo’ is an ancient practice which retains its importance as one of the most popular fine arts in the country. Literally meaning ‘way of writing’, shodo embodies the virtues...

The teachings of the Buddha have been passed down to us in the form of written ‘sutras’ or religious scripture. By tracing the sutras in a form of calligraphy called ‘shakyo’, Japanese believe the wo...

Known throughout the world, the seemingly simple craft of ‘origami’ (paper-folding) is a great activity for visitors of all ages. From the first simple folds of paper, this ageless craft transcends t...

Gift-giving plays an essential role in Japanese culture as a sign of appreciation and respect. The presentation of gifts can be considered tantamount in importance to the gift itself, a cultural prop...

Tea ceremonies or ‘Sado’ in Japanese, offer a respite from the pace of modern life and provide time to relax and relish the sanctity of each moment and movement in life. Originally introduced from Ch...

Though a commonplace material today, paper was long considered a cherished item in Japan. Known as ‘kami’ in Japanese, the word is phonetically the same as the term for ‘god’, underscoring the revere...

When coming to the Nagano area, oyaki is definitely one thing you should try. These wheat/buckwheat buns filled with a variety of delicious filling are one of the areas specialties and are a great wa...

Less than 5-minutes walk from the centre of the town’s Tourist Information Center, Matsushiro Castle Park is open all year round but at its most spectacular in spring, when the many cherry blossom tr...

The Sanada Residence was built in 1864, prior to the large-scale demolition followed by fire that destroyed Matsushiro Castle. As such, the Sanada Residence is the only remaining building with a dire...