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

Un câble électrique japonais 100 volts

Electrical outlets in Japan: everything you need to know for your trip

When you're planning your trip to Japan, you often think about booking your plane tickets and accommodation, and drawing up your itinerary...

Japan Area Code: Everything You Need to Know About Calling Japan

Japan is a crucial destination for both business and tourism, attracting visitors from all over the world.

US phone charger on a dark background

Understanding Electricity and Voltage in Japan for Travelers

Traveling to Japan is an exciting adventure, but it requires some practical preparation to ensure a smooth trip.

Cherry Blossom in Tokyo

When to visit Japan to see the cherry blossoms?

The ever-popular blossoming of cherry flowers, Sakura, is a national event in Japan. However, the transience of flowers and unpredictability of the nature make forecasting difficult.

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What to do during the rainy season?

Japan, with its well-defined seasons, has a special period called tsuyu or rainy season, which generally runs from early June to mid-July

Hyogo Prefecture

Hyogo Prefecture is located in west central Japan with both Inland Sea and Sea of Japan coastlines with its prefectural capital the port city of Kobe.

Blakiston's fish owl: The endangered giant of the east

Blakiston's fish owl, the world's largest living owl species, is a rare bird found only in riparian forests of northeast Asia, including Japan, China, and the Russian Far East.

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Exploring the Kanto region in the Pokémon world

The Kanto region is where it all began for the massively popular Pokémon franchise.

Understanding Japan

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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Miko Shrine Maidens: Japan's Traditional Shinto Priestesses

In the enchanting world of Japanese Shinto tradition, miko shrine maidens stand as iconic figures, bridging the gap between the earthly and divine realms.

Tatemae, the art of concealing one's true thoughts in Japan

Tatemae and its counterpart, honne, are two concepts that govern social interaction in Japan. A behavior that can confuse Westerners and seem hypocritical.

Flower Fusuma of the Shoren-in temple in Kyoto

Fusuma: traditional Japanese sliding partitions

Fusuma are opaque sliding walls used in traditional Japanese homes to redefine the space of a room or serve as a door.

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.

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Sakamoto Ryōma: The Samurai Who Helped Bring Down the Shogunate

Sakamoto Ryōma was a key figure in Japan's transition from shogunate rule to the Meiji Restoration in the mid-19th century.

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Kamakura Period Japan History

The Kamakura period (1185-1333) marked a major shift in Japan's political and social structure.

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Saigō Takamori: the quintessential hero of modern Japanese history

Saigō Takamori was one of the most influential samurai in Japanese history and a key leader of the MeijiRestoration.

Japanese Food and Drink

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.

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Shirouo: the transparent fish that dances in your mouth

In the port city of Fukuoka, a unique and controversial culinary tradition has been passed down for generations: eating live shirouo, tiny transparent fish appreciated for the sensation of them "da

Momo: The Peach in Japan

Momo peach in Japan

Momo is the Japanese word for peach, deriving from possible origins related to the fruit's sweetness, coloring, or abundance.

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Food in Japanese: Exploring the Rich and Diverse Culinary Landscape of Japan

Japan boasts a rich and diverse culinary scene deeply rooted in history and culture. Understanding Japanese food terms is key to appreciating the nuances of the cuisine.

Books on Japan

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?

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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.

Les Japonais de Raphaël Languillon-Aussel

The Japanese, by Raphael Languillon-Aussel

In this book, you will discover personalities far removed from the image that we often have of Japan and its people, for fascinating testimonies and a certain authenticity...

Japanese Movies

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

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The Battle of Iwo Jima in featured films

Three featured films were based on the battle of Iwo Hima, including two by Clint Eastwood, in which the narrations are made in English and Japanese.

 

Japanese Language

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.

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.

Le hiragana "a" dérive du kanji 安 (an) qui signifie "paix"

Hiragana and katakana: the basics of learning Japanese

Do you dream of learning Japanese but don't know where to start? Hiragana and katakana, two syllabic writing systems, are an essential prerequisite.

Some handwritten kanji characters

Japanese kanji: discover Japan's sinographic writing system

Kanjis are an integral part of the three Japanese writing systems, along with hiraganas and katakanas. Originally from China, they have been adapted to transcribe the Japanese language.