Japan cultural vacations travel guide

Japan cultural vacations travel guide

The Japanese welcome is part of the country’s makeup, not only to foreigners but from neighbour to neighbour. Which means that traveling here is simply a joy. Because nothing is done just for tourism but is inspiringly innate.

Japan has one of the most well preserved cultures in the world with traditions such as tea ceremonies, gift giving, temple going and bathing still part of everyday life.

The ancient architecture is revered and, thus, preserved, with waterside temples looking like they have been Photoshopped, they are so perfect. There are four main islands and so it is bigger than you think. And so with highlands and islands, sacred trails and ancient tales, this country’s cultural heritage is as layered as one of its beautifully wrapped gifts. And yes, it keeps on giving and giving.

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Best time to go on a Japan cultural vacation

Japan is falling down with festivals, from the O-bon Buddhist festivals to the Sapporo Snow Festival. However, a simpler seasonal event is the planting of paddy fields, a serene sight happening everywhere during May and June.

There are no extreme climates to deal with in Japan, although there are definite seasonal influences on cultural happenings. The famous cherry blossom festivals vary geographically, starting in January in Okinawa, but at their best in late March to April in the Honshu region. In Hokkaido, you want to get there in May for the full array.

Japan’s ‘rainy’ season is from mid-May until the end of June, but visiting temples enshrouded in moody mists makes them look as if they are floating ethereally in air. And although the countrywide Buddhist O-bon festivals are planned around the lunar calendar, they are very seasonal, falling in August. Japanese travel en masse for O-bon, when trains take on a lunatic status as well.

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Japan Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

119

MAY

132

JUN

181

JUL

128

AUG

147

SEP

181

OCT

158

NOV

DEC

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Things to do on a Japan cultural vacation

Things to do on Japan cultural vacation…

Because it is volcanic, bathing in hot springs has always been part of the culture in Japan. The hot spring baths are called onsens, You will find big public communal ones, or small ones in traditional inns. There are lots of rituals and etiquette to be respected around bathing, but the most important ones to remember are – yes, they are naked, and yes, they are segregated. And also, wash before you get in. They are for chilling in, not scrubbing in. It’s almost impossible to get bad food in Japan. You will find some weird things on the menu, but from bento to miso, sushi to sashimi, prepare for an epicurean expedition. If you say itadakimasu before you start, similar to bon appetite, you will be a big hit. Try and fit a sushi class and a tea ceremony into your vacation for a cultural coup. Stay in a traditional inn called a ryokan. Usually in rural areas, they have sparse rooms covered in tatami mats, and a low table for drinking tea or eating meals. Traditional food is a feature of staying in a ryokan, as is bathing, with many of them having their own spring baths. Minshuku are budget inns, with all the tradition but not all the food.

Things not to do on a Japan cultural vacation...

Japan is one of a few countries, including Norway and Iceland, which still hunts whales for eating, despite an international moratorium. So watch out for anything marked unesu or onomi on the menu as this is whalemeat.

There are many but, if possible, don’t ignore the rules of etiquette, although Japanese people are too polite to comment if you break a rule. It is still good to learn some of the classics. Such as when to bow, when to bring gifts (always!) and what to do in a public bath. Hugging, for example, isn’t a big thing in Japan. But a good vacation company will know all the faux pas. The best thing you can do is never be rude. Welcoming and helping people is core to Japanese culture.

Don’t do dolphinariums. Although many places in the world are waking up to the fact that dolphins or whales in captivity are just wrong on so many levels, they are still prolific in Japan. Watch the award-winning film, The Cove, before you go, for a wakeup call on this subject.

Geishas should not be misunderstood. First, they are not laid on for tourists, and second, they are not prostitutes. A very old and rapidly disappearing tradition, you’ll spot ‘maikos’ or ‘apprentices’ in the hanamichi (geisha quarters) of Kyoto and Tokyo.