Can you think of anything more quintessentially Japanese than meeting a maiko or geisha in Kyoto? Well, what if I told you that many of the maiko you see when you wander around Japan’s ancient capital are not actually professional artists, but tourists who have had a maiko makeover for the day. Japan is a great place for dressing up (they call it cosplay) and it’s totally possible for non-Japanese folks to get involved in the fun! Most of the…
The hadaka matsuri (裸祭り) is over 500 years old, and it has to be one of the most hilarious and fun festivals I have ever visited in Japan. It is held on the coldest weekend in February (on the third Sunday of the month.) Around 10,000 men take part in this festival, with even more people involved as spectators. The event culminates at 10pm when priests drop some shingi sticks into the crowd which all the men try to grab…
There are so many fun things to visit in Japan, but this has to be one of the best giggles! Did you know there is a Ninja Village located in Mie prefecture that has an amazing Ninja museum? You can dress up like a ninja, visit a Ninja Yashiki (the modified farm houses that ninjas use as bases), and even spot ninjas around the local castle. Then, once you are ninja-ed out, there is another awesome place to visit nearby;…