2011 May « Get beneath the surface

Mt. Fuji Climbing Season!

Posted on 26 May, 2011 by Superfatsamurai

Many may find it hard to understand why so many people make this gruelling trek up crowded hillsides in the freezing cold through thin air only to wait for a sunrise that may or may not penetrate the dense clouds that stick to Mt. Fuji throughout much of the year. Fortunately, the Japanese have no [...]

Filed under: Culture, Sightseeing, Travel Advice | Tagged: 'climbing Mt Fuji', 'fuji san', 'Japan Volcano', 'Tours climbing Mt Fuji', 'Travel in Japan', Hiking in Japan, Japan, Mt. Fuji | 3 Comments »

Volunteering in Ishinomaki

Posted on 25 May, 2011 by tomointokyo

This Friday I will join a group of volunteers bound for tsunami-devastated Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture. Around hundred of us will take the bus from Shinjuku to spend a week helping with emergency relief activities. It will make a strange contrast to tour leading, but I am glad of the opportunity to be doing something practical, rather than just watching the news and feeling helpless, and I am grateful [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: ishinomaki, miyagi prefecture, ngo, peace boat, volunteering | 5 Comments »

A guide to drinking in Japan

Posted on 23 May, 2011 by jimbojapan

InsideJapan Tours (IJT) is lucky to have a talented bunch of staff in Japan with our office staff in Nagoya, our tour leaders across Japan and our private guides. Ayako Kiyono san is one of IJT’s professional guides in the Kyoto area who has a great knowledge of the Kansai region, the country, its history, [...]

Filed under: Culture, Restaurants, Sightseeing | Tagged: 'drink in Japan', 'free drink in Japan', 'Kyoto and Osaka', beer, Japan, Kansai, whisky | 4 Comments »

Japan Honeymoon

Posted on 18 May, 2011 by jimbojapan

It’s the big moment in many couples lives – The Honeymoon. It has to be perfect and it will be remembered for ever….for better or for worse! Japan is a fantastic destination for a Honeymoon; Romantic mountain top traditional guest houses, hot spring baths, beautiful scenery, sub-tropical beaches, great food and an attractive and romantic [...]

Filed under: Culture, Honeymoon, Sightseeing | Tagged: 'Best Honeymoon', 'Japan Honeymoon', Honeymoon, Japan, Japanese culture | 5 Comments »

Breakfast at Tsukiji fish market

Posted on 17 May, 2011 by tomointokyo

On Tuesday, nine members of our Essential Honshu group got up for a 6am subway ride to Tsukiji fish market – the biggest in the world. The sights outside the market can be as interesting inside. Wandering amongst the closely-packed stores, we saw wasabi plants, beanpole-shaped burdock root and some rolling-pin-shaped daikon, then in the market itself, we saw live shellfish, wriggling eels [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: burdock root, essential honshu, may 2011, sushi breakfast, tsukiji fish market, yamazaki`s | 7 Comments »

Trip of a lifetime surpasses all expectations

Posted on 16 May, 2011 by jimbojapan

InsideJapan Tours have worked with many thousands of people over the years, doing our little to bit to help them to discover this amazing country as well as their own cultural experiences. Barrie and Marilyn Ellison from Derby recently travelled to Japan (April 22- May 2) to fulfill a lifetime travelling goal and to celebrate [...]

Filed under: Culture, Sightseeing | Tagged: 'travelling inJapan', Geisha, hakone, Hiroshima, Japan, Japan trip, Kyoto, Osaka, tokyo | 2 Comments »

Sendai and Matsushima after the tsunami

Posted on 12 May, 2011 by jimbojapan

InsideJapan Co-Director, Simon King is currently travelling in Japan meeting up with colleagues, suppliers and business partners across the country. His travels included a trip to the Tohoku region which had areas very badly damaged as a result of the earthquake and tsunami on March 11th 2011. Simon was keen to meet with people that [...]

Filed under: Culture, Sightseeing, Travel Advice | Tagged: 'Northern Soul', 'Tohoku Tsunami', Japan, Matsushima, Sendai, Tohoku | 6 Comments »

Beautiful, magical, fascinating Japan

Posted on 11 May, 2011 by jimbojapan

We have had some fantastic customers over the years. One of the reasons why InsideJapan set up over ten years ago was so that we could make Japan accessible to others and reveal the beauty of this unique country and culture. We are all really pleased when we hear from our customers on their return [...]

Filed under: Culture, Sightseeing | Tagged: 'Cherry blossom' 'Japan now', Japan, Kyoto | 3 Comments »

Tomoko’s Wedding

Posted on 10 May, 2011 by madsinjapan

With wedding fever well and truly upon us last week, here in the UK office we started wondering about how Japanese weddings work. Maddy interviewed Tomoko from our Japan office, who got married in November 2009. She kindly provided us with the following fascinating information, and let us show you her beautiful photos. Arigatou Tomoko! [...]

Filed under: Culture, IJT Company News | Tagged: 'Japanese wedding', 'Royal wedding', 'Weddings in Japan', Weddings | 4 Comments »

Real Geisha, Real Women… a documentary

Posted on 9 May, 2011 by Superfatsamurai

From the moment I first set foot in Japan everything about this country fascinated and enchanted me. It was like no place I had ever been before and like nowhere I have been since. 10 years later, I am living in Tokyo and have travelled up and down the country so many times that I [...]

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Sightseeing | Tagged: 'Women in Japan', Geisha, Japanese culture, Kyoto, Maiko | 2 Comments »

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