Winter in Japan is magical — sparkling illuminations, relaxing hot springs, powder snow, New Year traditions, and warm seasonal foods.But if you’re visiting from the UK, you might be surprised by how cold some parts of Japan can get , especially compared to London, Manchester, or Edinburgh. Northern and inland regions, such as Hokkaido, Nagano, and Tohoku, can reach –5°C to –15°C , with heavy snowfall.Even cities like Tokyo and Kyoto are generally colder and drier than most p

For many people in the UK, sumo is something they’ve only seen in photos, cartoons, or short social media clips. Two huge wrestlers. A small ring. A fast, dramatic push. But recently, London hosted a special sumo performance , and it surprised many visitors who thought they had little interest in the sport. People said things like: “It’s so much more exciting than I expected!”“The rituals are beautiful.”“I didn’t know they moved so quickly!” Whether you saw the London event,

What Is Onomatopoeia in Japanese? If you’ve started learning Japanese, you might have noticed words that “sound” like the feeling they describe — words such as dokidoki , kirakira , or wanwan . These are called onomatopoeia  (オノマトペ), and they’re everywhere in daily Japanese! Unlike English, which uses sound words mostly for noises (like buzz  or bang ), Japanese onomatopoeia covers a much wider range — sounds, feelings, actions, even silence. That’s why they’re often called “

The Allure of Japanese Art Japanese art has long fascinated people from around the world for its unique harmony of simplicity, nature, and emotion. Unlike Western art, which often focuses on realism or grandeur, Japanese art expresses beauty in subtlety — through empty space, balance, and impermanence. From delicate ink paintings to bold woodblock prints and contemporary installations, Japanese art captures both the visible and the invisible. It reflects a philosophy that bea