To know about Japan

Prepare for your trip and learn everything there is to know about Japan before the big departure!

Prepare for your trip thanks to the "Before You Go", "Travelling to Japan" and "A Bit of Vocabulary" sections. Set off on a culinary adventure with "Get Your Chopsticks Out" or deepen your knowledge of Japan with the film "Understanding Japan". You can also look through sections about history and classical literature.

 

Before you travel

Yamato Kuroneko Takkyubin Truck

Takkyubin: ship your luggage between destinations in Japan!

The Takkyubin service by Yamato Kuroneko allows for people to send parcels and luggage from one destination to another, removing the need to carry around large suitcases as they travel within Japan

Typhoon season in Japan

Different names are used across the world when talking about tropical cyclones. In the North Atlantic region, we call them hurricanes. In Asia, the term used is typhoon.

Voyager au Japon : toute une aventure !

10 gifts for those going to Japan

Going to Japan is a unique and unforgettable experience. To help your loved ones make the most of their trip, here's a selection of 10 practical and original gifts to give them before they leave.

Phone numbers to know when visiting Japan

When traveling to Japan, having essential phone numbers at your fingertips can be a lifesaver.

Traveling to japan

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Highway buses: a comprehensive guide to budget travel in Japan

Highway buses offer an economical and efficient way to traverse Japan's diverse landscapes.

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Tokyo Facts: Discovering the World's Largest Metropolis

Tokyo, the vibrant capital of Japan, is a city that seamlessly blends ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology.

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Matsuyama Ferries

Matsuyama ferries provide essential connections between Shikoku and the main islands of Honshu and Kyushu.

Tokyo subway lines

Tokyo Metro application

Travelling in Tokyo can seem daunting at first, especially when it comes to navigating its vast subway network. Fortunately, theTokyo Metro app is here to simplify your journey.

Understanding Japan

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Stone Lanterns in Japan: A Journey Through History, Culture, and Design

Stone lanterns, or ishidoro in Japanese, are iconic elements of Japanese gardens, temples, and shrines.

Punk Rock in Japan: A thriving subculture of rebellion and precision

In the land of the rising sun, a rebellious undercurrent has been pulsing through the veins of Japanese society since the 1970s.

Kenzo Tange, the influential Japanese architect who shaped modern architecture

Kenzo Tange (丹下 健三) is widely considered one of the most influential and honored Japanese architects of the 20th century.

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Kusari-doi Rain Chains: A Beautiful and Functional Japanese Tradition

Kusari-doi rain chains are a captivating blend of art and functionality, originating from ancient Japanese architecture.

Japanese History

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Katō Kiyomasa, the fierce general and castle-builder of Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period

Katō Kiyomasa was one of the most trusted generals of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, his distant cousin, during Japan's turbulent Azuchi-Momoyama period in the late 16th century.

Castle of Osaka

History of Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle, an iconic symbol of Japan's rich feudal history, has stood as a testament to the country's tumultuous past for over four centuries.

A statue of Kukai

The great monks of Japanese history

Buddhism, imported from China and Korea from the 6th century onwards, has had a profound influence on Japanese history.

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Japanese History: An Overview

Japan's history is a tapestry woven with threads of tradition, innovation, and resilience.

Japanese Food and Drink

5 kakigori shops to check out in Tokyo

Check out five great spots for refreshing and sweet kakigori in Japan's capital of Tokyo!

Chaya Matsuo, Yanaka Ginza, Tokyo

Street food in Yanaka Ginza: Eat and explore in retro Tokyo!

At first mention of Tokyo, many may initially envision the glitz and glam of crowded Shibuya streets.

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Dai Hanjo Ramen: Osaka's unique contribution to Japan's ramen culture

In the vibrant tapestry of Japanese cuisine, ramen holds a special place, with countless regional variations delighting noodle enthusiasts across the country.

Umibudo Sea Grapes: A Delicate Japanese Delicacy

Umibudo, also known as sea grapes or green caviar, is a unique seaweed delicacy that has captured the hearts and palates of food enthusiasts around the world.

Books on Japan

Osamu Dazai: The tragic genius of Japanese literature

Osamu Dazai, born Shūji Tsushima in 1909, was one of Japan's most influential and controversial writers of the 20th century.

Jean Freund, the author behind the Travel Book : Le Bon Voyage Japan

From the Japanese megalopolis to the vineyards of Alsace, the Chinese countryside and the Mongolian steppes, Jean Freund fills his Moleskine notebooks with his stories. He likes to tak

Shelves full of manga, the Mandarake is a paradise for lovers of manga in Tokyo.

Easy-to-read manga for Japanese beginners

Have you been studying Japanese at evening classes? Have you installed apps to test your hiragana and kanji on your commute? Do you have a notebook with lines of words written fiercely?

Un manga

The different kinds of manga

True phenomenon of pop culture, manga have been able to make a place for themselves on the Japanese national scene, but also internationally.

Japanese Movies

Watching history: taiga drama

Taiga dramas, or "river series", have been an institution on Japanese television for over 60 years.

My Neighbor Totoro

Travel in the footsteps of My Neighbor Totoro

Many places in Japan have been an inspiration to Hayao Miyazaki's movie "My Neighbor Totoro". From Mei and Satsuki's house, the two heroes of the film, to the forest of Sayama Hills.

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio.

Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano

The modern Japanese actor best known abroad, Takeshi Kitano, with his face half paralyzed by a motorcycle accident, starred in several successful yakuza films, such as Hana-bi or the famous movie Z

Japanese Language

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Kanji Japanese Characters

Kanji, the logographic characters adopted from Chinese, form a fundamental part of the Japanese writing system.

Les kanji ont parfois des prononciations irrégulières lorsqu'ils composent un patronyme

Rare Japanese surnames: discover the least common surnames in Japan

Japanese surnames are generally constructed from kanji related to places, features or plants.

un un (aizuchi)

Aizuchi: the art of Japanese conversation

Aizuchi, a fundamental element of Japanese communication, reveal all the subtlety and richness of the Japanese language.

Meanings and uses of the Japanese phrase "so desu ne"

Desu ne meaning: Understanding the versatile Japanese phrase

The Japanese phrase "desu ne" is commonly encountered by learners of the language, but its various meanings and uses can be confusing at first.