Since ancient times, Japan has been considered one of the most mysterious countries in the world. The kakejiku is an ultimate tool for learning about Japan.

The Japanese people have long set a high value on aesthetic senses since ancient times. As a result, the peculiar culture which is not seen in other countries blossomed and many aspects of the modern Japanese culture come from it. Parts of Japanese culture has been introduced to people in other countries recently, so the number of people from other countries who are interested in Japanese culture has been increasing.

However the Japanese aesthetic senses, which are the bases of Japanese culture, have been nurtured through a long history. Besides, they are intertwining various elements intricately such as climate, geographical features, religion, customs. Therefore, they are very difficult to understand not only for people from other countries, but even for the Japanese people. I think the best tool which conveys these difficult senses understandably is a kakejiku.

The kakejiku (a hanging scroll; a work of calligraphy or a painting which is mounted and hung in an alcove or on a wall) is a traditional Japanese art. It’s no exaggeration to say that paintings are what express aesthetic senses at all times and places. The kakejiku is an art which expresses the Japanese aesthetic senses. The kakejiku has long been used in traditional Japanese events, daily life and so on since ancient times. As a result, there are various customs of kakejiku in Japan; kakejiku and the life of the Japanese are closely related. We can see Japanese values through kakejiku.

What Is the Kakejiku?

The “kakejiku” is a Japanese hanging scroll; it is a work of painting or calligraphy, which is usually mounted with silk fabric edges on flexible backings. The kakejiku can be rolled for storage.

The kakejiku is intended to be hung against a wall as part of the interior decoration of a room. It is traditionally displayed in the “tokonoma” alcove of a room, which is especially designed to exhibit prized objects. It can also be displayed in the most important room of the house, where a tea ceremony, or other traditional activities are performed. The kakejiku is also often hung in martial arts rooms called “doujou” (training rooms). Near the kakejiku, there are often other objects (“okimono”), such as swords (“katana”), dolls, “bonsai,” or flower arrangements (“ikebana”).

An essential aspect of the kakejiku is that it is not intended to be hung permanently; making it versatile in its placement. This means that it can be changed at frequent intervals. One of the pleasures of the kakejiku lies in selecting a suitable one, depending on occasions, guests, and seasons.

History of the Kakejiku

The kakejiku was introduced to Japan during the Heian period (794-1185), primarily for displaying Buddhist images for religious worship, or as a way to display calligraphy or poetry.

The original architecture of Japanese housing had developed considerably since the Muromachi period (1336-1573). In this newly developed architectural style, the Japanese-style room (called “washitsu”) became a room on whose floor tatami mats are laid, and it contains one special space that is called the tokonoma alcove. The most important feature of the tokonoma is the display of kakejiku. The tokonoma was regarded as a space which connects art and daily life; so landscapes, paintings of flowers and birds, portraits, and poetry became favorite themes.

During the Momoyama period (1573-1600) two great sovereigns were represented: Nobunaga Oda, and Hideyoshi Toyotomi. They liked “chanoyu” (tea ceremonies) very much. Tea ceremonies were usually performed in the room with the tokonoma alcove. The tokonoma architectural style was developed and established in this period. Accompanied with the development of tokonoma style, the techniques of painting and mounting were also developed, because the kakejiku was always displayed in the tokonoma. Moreover, Sen no Rikyuu mentioned the importance of the kakejiku, so it became extremely popular among people who were fascinated with tea ceremonies.

There were only a few big wars during the Edo period (1603-1868) in Japan. The peacefulness of the Edo period allowed Japanese culture to reach full maturity. Many famous painters flourished and competed with each other. The kakejiku also became popular among the public.

After the Meiji period (1868-), many more painters competed with each other with their techniques, because people became absolutely free to choose their own occupations during this period. Before World War 2, and for a while after that war, most Japanese-style paintings were designed to be decorated on kakejiku.

Why Is the Kakejiku Replaced?

Why is the kakejiku replaced? The spirit of the tea ceremony, a traditional Japanese art, affects this Japanese custom deeply. There is a heart of hospitality called “omotenashi” in a tea ceremony. When Japanese people think about the mood of a tea ceremony, they take it a lot into consideration. More specifically, they think about the various techniques they could use to make the mood the best. The kakejiku is displayed to express respect for guests indirectly, and is considered the most important tool in a tea ceremony. Therefore, the kakejiku is replaced depending on the occasions or seasons. The omotenashi heart makes them change the kakejiku.

The kakejiku developed during the Muromachi era (1336-1573) along with the development of tea ceremonies. As a result, people began to think that it was important to express the formality of the occasions to guests by displaying various kinds of kakejiku. Many customs of the kakejiku were derived from this type of thought in Japan.

Of course, many owners have their kakejiku for the purpose of enjoying themselves, and it is also part of fun to show their lovable kakejiku to their guests.

Functionality of the Kakejiku

There is a tokonoma alcove in a washitsu (traditional Japanese-style room), where a kakejiku is displayed. However there is very little furniture inside the room other than the kakejiku. The Japanese people don’t have a custom of hanging many paintings on the walls inside the room; they usually display a kakejiku only in the tokonoma, and replace it by another depending on the occasions, guests, and seasons.

It is said that this style of display contrasts with the Western style. Many paintings are often displayed on the walls of Western buildings, such as old European buildings or palaces. For example, if there are 100 paintings, it would be the Western style to display all 100 paintings on the walls. However, the Japanese people put all 100 paintings in a closet, and choose only one to display for a short term in its fixed place (tokonoma). Therefore, there is a clear difference in functions demanded from a painting between the West and Japan. In the West, painting needs a frame for durability because it is displayed for a long time. In Japan, however, a painting does not need so much protection because it is displayed only for a short time. Handiness and convenience are very important elements for a painting, because the Japanese people will change it frequently. It is also necessary not to take up the storage space. That is to say, the style, which satisfies the above conditions, is a kakejiku-style.

The kakejiku is rolled up when putting it away, and is opened while displaying it. As a result, flexibility and strength are needed to endure the process of displaying and putting it away. Therefore, the “honshi” (main work) is reinforced by backing it with another piece of paper, and cloths are attached around the honshi, and they are combined. This is a rough mounting process for the kakejiku. If the kakejiku is rolled up, this style prevents the honshi from creasing, tearing, and getting dirty. Even if the honshi is damaged or becomes dirty, the lifetime of the honshi and its aesthetic value can be kept for several hundred years by remounting the kakejiku.

The kakejiku is an ideal style; it enables the Japanese people to enjoy their paintings at their best.

I Want to do O-toso Every Day

You might not know how much pomp and circumstance takes place in a Japanese home on New Year’s morning.

Mom is bustling around the kitchen putting final touches to her O-sechi Ryori or special (very special) New Year’s Day (Oshogatsu) feast of sweet black beans, lovely O-zoni soup, Kamaboko, seki-han red rice and much more.

She uses long chop sticks to gently pack the soft tamago yaki squares in next to the delicately braised chicken or ham in the bright red Urushi lacquered boxes.

Kayoko Tells Me to Keep Tradition Despite the Changes

Watch out if you try to take a tempting sweet bean or little taste of konbu seaweed wrap because her stink-eye look (“stink-eye” for all your non-Pidjin English speakers means “scary look”) will tell you to wait until everyone is seated around the low and splendidly laid out table, chopsticks have been raised and the resounding “Itadakimasu” or “I receive” is proclaimed.

Keeping with the “I receive” theme of the biggest family meal of the year, there is one other tradition we never missed during the 20 New Year’s mornings I was married into a wonderfully amazing Japanese family. O-toso as pictured here is the simple, yet ornate sake set passed down through generations to share sweet sake on the morning of January 1.

Three sakazuki dishes of increasing size are passed around the table and each is taken in three sips, the first being quick, the second increasing in size and the final, larger, to finish up the sake in the dish. The dish is passed to the next family member and the person who just received now pours a bit of sake into the dish for their neighbor. The sweet, cool splash of sake is said to wash away and finish off the past year and receive energy and hope for the coming one. That was exactly how it felt during this celebration each year. What wonderful memories!

My friend Kojiro Yamanaka says his O-toso set has been passed down for two generations and one day he hopes to pass this down to his daughter when she marries so that one day she may give this to her children.

As I write this I feel my mother-in-law Kayoko Shiraishi looking down from heaven and wishing I maintained this tradition with her grandchildren. Excuses come up in my mind about no-longer being married to her son after the cruelty and sadness of divorce. I don’t feel as much obliged to keep tradition with my children since I so utterly miss and pine for the wonderful family life I had with them. But… for Kayoko, as a traditional Japanese mother, wife and woman, those troubles we go through in life must seem petty, impermanent and meaningless from her view up top. All that drama must look pretty idiotic when you can see how everything, all of it, works together in the end.

The psyche of O-toso is to let the past experience be just that… a past experience that makes us stronger for tomorrow. That is why I wish I could have a little O-toso set in my room to remind me to keep and cherish the lessons I’ve learned, grow from them but yet let all the strife flow away.

Funny how three dishes are required! I am sure there is some deep meaning, but from my point of view, whoever developed this got it perfectly correct. Three strikes of sweet sake shared among family before a beautifully set and lovingly arranged array of delight? Well, that will definitely help strike out the pain and regret that so silently builds in our soul over the span of an hour, a day, a year or a lifetime. “Let it Go and Look Forward!” Kayoko insists.

Okay, so it’s decided. Instead of trying to wrestle the family O-toso set from my ex, I think I will pick one up for the Jarmans and start the tradition for my new life not only out for respect for Kayoko, but because I’ve learned hope never dies and there is always much sweetness awaiting us each and every morning.

With cellphones being ubiquitous in Japan, one big problem is how to get cellphone users to access web sites that may be advertised in print. Fortunately, this problem has been solved by Nippon Denso of Japan in 1994, when they came up with Quick Response Barcodes, or QR Codes as they are commonly known as. This article will look at what they are and how these codes are used in Japan.

What are QR Codes?

QR Codes are basically two-dimensional barcodes that can encode either English or Japanese text. The text can be flagged as one of an email address, a web address, plain text or phone number. When printed out, they are large squares with lots of little squares inside them, conventionally black squares on white text, but that is just to maximize the contrast, so sometimes they can be found in other colors.

How do you use QR Codes?

To read in the data, all that is necessary is to select the QR Code reading function from your cell phone’s menus (all new phones in Japan can read QR Codes) point your mobile phone’s camera at the QR Code, and take a photo. One thing I’ve noticed is that many people try their hardest to fill the viewfinder with the image, a task made harder by shadows being cast by the cell phone, and ensure the image is properly aligned. However, this is usually unnecessary, as the average cell phone has a camera with sufficient resolution and software with sufficient smarts – QR Codes have locating markers to help software to orient the image correctly. Just poking the mobile phone in the general direction of the QR Code will suffice the vast majority of the time.

What are QR Codes used for?

The most common usage of these codes are in advertisements, of course. The two main types are for access to a web site for further details about the product advertised, or, especially in relation to restaurant advertising, access to a discount coupon. The two main ways of getting this information are first and most obviously a direct URL, but the other way is to encode an email address within the QR Code. When an empty message is sent to this address, a reply is sent containing a URL to access. From the advertiser’s point of view, the user’s email address has now been captured, so this is a very valuable way to build up a mailing list of potential customers.

Other interesting QR Codes uses:

These codes appear not just as small images in advertisements, but once or twice I have seen them hanging from new tower blocks being built. There QR Codes are at least 10 meters square, and presumably they can be captured on most standard phones. There is also a game called QR-Kill, where everyone wears a QR Code on their clothes and others hunt them and “kill” their targets by shooting their code, which sends an SMS to the victim. A third practical use is on information web sites accessed from computer, such as mapping or route planning software. A QR Code containing a URL that points to the data is displayed on the computer screen, so the user can capture that on their cell phone.

With research showing that over 60% of cell phone users use QR Codes, it is surely only a matter of time before they reach the same levels of popularity in the west.

Manga writer, Japanese Matsuri, Delicious Yamanashi Houto Udon

We call him “Master” and that honorific describes him to a “T.” The owner at a restaurant in Japan is often referred to as “Master” or in Japanese pronunciation “Masuta-.”

Senpai Hint! When you are at a loss for how to address the guy in charge at a restaurant or bar in Japan, feel free to use “Masuta-.”

When Sin-san’s parents (originally from Yamanashi Prefecture) were ready to finish up with their restaurant in one of Shibuya’s most “Shibuya-like” areas, Sin-san was the angel who came in to save the day.

There are relics and icons all over the wood-based, warm restaurant. Kamen-rider figurines, professional wrestling masks, a shogi set from days long past.., these are little things Sin holds dear. Sin is also what we would refer to as a “Nippon Danji”, basically a “Man’s Man” in Japan. The aura of his Samurai roots are evident in his straight posture, the smooth confidence in his dialogue and the focus you observe as he works behind the counter. There were several aspects of this evening and in Sin-san that I consider some of the reasons people around the world adore Japan.

First, Sin-san is one of those guys who wears a traditional coat and outfit to hold the portable and highly prized shrines for Shibuya’s annual September Matsuri. Sin is the Matsuri leader and organizes a group of 200 all dressed in their ocean blue, insignia festooned jackets. They hold up 14 different shrines and parade the streets of Shibuya, making it even more meaningful and exciting than usual… if that is even possible.

Second, Sin-san himself is a magnet for interesting people and his knowledge on the whole Shibuya area is vast. If you can find his restaurant SinKaya on the second floor of the SG building right up the street off Dogenzaka after passing under the bright red Torii emblazoned with the words “Hyakkendana.”

Direction tip: Let’s say you have the Scramble Crossing at your back. If you look around you will see Shibuya’s super famous shopping building “109” at the fork of two roads. Take the one on the left. Walk up with Hooters on your right and TOHO Cinema on your left. Soon you will come upon the big red Torii on your right. Turn right and walk under the Torii up the street past the perfumery on your left and you will see a building on the corner. It looks old and it is hard to find the entrance… but that is SG building. The address is 2-17-3 Dogenzaka, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0043 (there is no marking in English for SinKaya, but if you look up to the second floor you should see the Heineken sign). Go Go Go! You can find it!

We were there for about one hour and we learned about some great clubs and hot spots nearby and then, out of the blue, we met and had a lively conversation with a popular Manga writer. This writer specializes in the Bakumatsu theme (Ruroni Kenshin and Shinsengumi might be close to what she does) and she is one of Sin’s many friends. Many regular customers at SinKaya are part of the underpinnings to Japan’s pop culture.

Third, it is the only place in Tokyo you can eat authentic homemade Houtou Udon noodles. As you know, Yamanashi prefecture is located at the foot of Mt. Fuji and the frigid Winters taught people of old how to survive with the warm broth and sweetly boiled vegetables in this Udon delicacy. Sin-san actually pounds out home-made noodles once every two days, leaves them just a bit to emphasize the body of the noodle, and then places them in the delectable Yamanashi specialty soup to complete the Houtou dish.

I am a huge fan of the Chronicles of Narnia books and this dish made me imagine what a Japanese Edmund would consider a delectable “Turkish Delight” in Yamanashi.

Sin-san is himself a vegetarian so most of his menu is friendly to non-meat eaters and though local Japanese may think of Yamanashi as just an hour ride outside of Tokyo… it is a bigger challenge to get there for we internationals.

Plus… just down the street you have Shibuya’s infamous “Scramble Crossing”, a myriad of clubs and shopping, one of the most interesting “pink” areas around and a bunch of entertainment hotels to goggle at. Yep, this is Shibuya in its truest, purest form. Join Sin-san at SinKaya and learn the ins and outs of Pure Shibuya from ground zero.

Learn Japanese easily! When you first visit Japan, people will probably ask you if you’ve been there before. You’ll want to tell them, “It’s my first visit to Japan.” You’ll also want to be able to ask others whether they have visited Japan before. Once you get past this step, it’s critical that you know whether to use formal or informal Japanese. And, you’ve got to use them both correctly. This Beginner Japanese article teaches you how to use hajimete (“for the first time”) and other important words you’ll use when you talk about your first trip to Japan. You’ll also find an indispensable review of Japanese formal and informal speech and an explanation of when to use each one. Don’t miss the awesome chart and practice sentences in this Beginner Japanese article!

Vocabulary: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

moo – “already” (adverb)

tsuku – “to arrive at, to reach” (verb 1)

okiru – “to wake up, to get up” (verb 2)

yoku – “well, very”

tsukareru – “to get tired” (verb 2)

sama – (pol) “Mr.” or “Mrs.”

aruku – “to walk” (verb 1)

hajimete – “for the first time”

nikkei – “Japanese descent”

Burajiru – “Brazil”

umareru – “to be born” (verb 2)

sodatsu – “to be raised” (verb 1)

mago – “grandchild”

Jitsu wa – “the truth is, actually”

Grammar: In this article, you’ll learn the following words and phrases:

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases

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yoku

“well”

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Yoku is the adverbial form of the adjective yoi or ii (“good”), and it means “well, nicely, properly,” or “often.”

*For more information on adverbial form see Nihongo Doojoo: Beginner Series Season 4 Article 5

For Example:

1. Yoku dekimashita.
   “Well done!”
   Literal translation: “Could do well.”
2. Yoku tabemashita.
   “( I ) ate a lot.”
   Literal translation: “Ate well.”

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nikkei

“Japanese descent”

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The first Chinese character means “sun, day,” or “Japan.” The second Chinese character means “lineage, system,” or “group.” When the name of a country follows, it refers descent. However, it is nikkei that describes Japanese descent, not nihon-kei.

1. Correct: nikkei Burajiru-jin
2. Incorrect: nihonkei Burajiru-jin

For Example:

1. Nikkei peruu-jin
   “Japanese Peruvian”
2. Mekishiko kei amerika-jin
   “Mexican American”
3. Furansu kei kanada-jin
   “French Canadian”

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umareru – “to be born”

sodatsu – “to be raised, to grow up”

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The particle de follows the place one was born or raised. Check the usage in the examples.

For Example:

1. “I was born in Mexico.”
   (Watashi wa) Mekishiko de umaremashita.
2. “I grew up in France.”
   (Watashi wa) Furansu de sodachimashita.
3. “I was born and raised in Japan.”
   (Watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, nihon de sodachimashita.
   (Watashi wa) Nihon de umarete, sodachimashita.

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hajimete

“for the first time, first time”

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Hajimete is an adverb, so we generally use it with a verb. However, to mention that it is one’s first time experiencing something, we use the sentence structure “[ noun ] wa hajimete desu.”

For Example:

1. (Watashi wa) hajimete nihon ni kimashita.
   “I came to Japan for the first time.”
2. Nihon wa hajimete desu.
   “It’s my first time in Japan.”
3. Nihon wa hajimete desu ka.
   “Is it your first time in Japan?”

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Grammar Review

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In this article, we are going to learn more about formal and informal speech by reviewing the past tense of a verb.

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“I’m tired.”

Formal: Tsukaremashita.

Informal: Tsukareta.

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How to create the formal past form of a verb:

1. Change the verb into its corresponding –masu form.
2. Drop –masu and add –mashita.

For more information see Nihongo Doojoo: Newbie Series Style You and Beyond Article 23

For Example:

Dictionary Form / –masu Form / Formal Past Form

aruku / arukimasu / arukimashita

neru / nemasu / nemashita

How to create the informal past form of a verb

1. Change the verb into its corresponding –te form.
2. Drop –te and add –ta.

For more information see Nihongo Doojoo: Beginner Series Article 24

For Example:

Dictionary Form / -te Form / Informal Past Form (-ta form)

aruku / aruite / aruita

sodatsu / sodatte / sodatta

okiru / okite / okita

neru / nete / neta

umareru / umarete / umareta

suru / shite / shita

kuru / kite / kita

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Review:

Please rewrite the sentences in informal form.

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1. Watashi wa Burajiru de umaremashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________
2. Watashi wa Burajiru de sodachimashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________
3. Kyoo wa yoku arukimashita yo.
   ___________________________________________________________________
4. Nihon ni hajimete kimashita.
   ___________________________________________________________________

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Please rewrite the sentences in formal form.

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1. Kamakura ni itta.
   ____________________________________________________________________
2. Yoku, neta.
   ____________________________________________________________________
3. Kinoo nani shita?
   ____________________________________________________________________

Little is known of the early history of Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls. One school of thought believes that Kokeshi dolls have their origins in the practice of spiritualist religion. Wooden dolls were thought to contain the spiritual essence of the dead and were often made for honorary remembrance.

The modern history of Japanese Kokeshi dolls began in the latter part of the Edo Era (1603-1867). Originating in the Tohiku region of northern Japan, famous for it’s hot springs and rejuvenating spa waters, Kokeshi Dolls acted as an important source of extra income for local artisans known as Kijiya (which means woodworker in Japanese), who specialised in wood work and the production of household utensils such as trays and wooden bowls. In severe winters these Kijiya craftsmen began making “Kokeshi Dolls” to sell as souvenirs to visitors who frequented the local hot springs. The dolls acted not only as souvenirs but also as massage tools used by the bathers to tap their shoulders whilst enjoying the warming benefits of the hot springs.

The Kokeshi dolls were very simple in design, originally made on hand-powered lathes. Traditional Kokeshi dolls had common characteristics that consisted of a basic cylindrical limbless body and a round head. Though the first dolls might have been unpainted, today most Kokeshi are painted in bright floral designs, kimonos, and other traditional patterns. Colors used were red, yellow and purple. As all the dolls are hand painted, no two faces are alike. This is perhaps the greatest charm of the Kokeshi. Some dolls are whimsical, happy and smiling, while others are serious.

Soon their popularity spread throughout Japan and they became favoured as wooden toys for those unable to afford porcelain dolls. In addition the simple rounded shapes of the dolls lent themselves as early teething rings for young babies.

Kokeshi dolls traditionally represented young girls and they quickly became popular for their depiction of feminine beauty. In addition their simple charm and association with childhood meant that they were often given as gifts when a child was born, as birthday presents or as symbols of remembrance when a child died. In addition Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls were popular with the children of farmers as it was widely thought that they would promise a good harvest, as it was believed that it would create a positive impression on the gods if children played with the dolls.

The woods used for Kokeshi vary. Cherry is distinguished by its darkness. Mizuko or dogwood is softer and used extensively. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple is also used. The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used to make a doll. Today, Kokeshi is recognized as one of the traditional folk arts of Japan.

Despite their common features two schools of design exist, Traditional Kokeshi and Creative Kokeshi.

Traditional Kokeshi are for the main part still only produced in the six prefectures of the Tohoku region. The twelve schools of design here all exhibit distinctive features that allow experts to tell exactly where they have been produced and often by whom.

Creative Kokeshi do not follow the traditional designs originating from the Tohoku region and instead have an unstructured inspiration which is completely free in terms of shape and painting, the only traditional constraint being their manufacture by means of the lathe. Unlike traditional kokeshi, they do not display any of their distinctive local colour nor the techniques that had been passed down through the generations. They simply represent the creative thought and ability of the craftsman.

Traditional and Creative crafted dolls have become a cause for celebration in Tohoku and across Japan. Every year, in early September, people gather in Naruko Onsen where craftsmen from across the nation gather to honor Kokeshi in a competition where the number one prize is an award from the Prime Minister.

There are many different styles of Kokeshi, but there is one philosophy that all Kokeshi dolls share, and that is the pursuit of beauty and artistry through simplicity. This philosophy is extolled at the website: http://www.dollsofjapan.co.uk

Japan is a wonderful blend of ancient history and the latest in high tech innovation. Beautiful old temples sit near modern skyscrapers and dizzying lights. Meticulously groomed gardens, high-speed trains, mountains, and a sometimes quirky culture create a fascinating society that has evolved over thousands of years. Visitors to Japan will never want something new or interesting to explore.

Transportation
The majority of visitors will arrive at one of Japan's two international airports, Narita Airport in Tokyo and Kansai Airport in Osaka. From there it's possible to take domestic flights to other regions or travel by train, car rental, or coach. Japan's train network is excellent and reliable, making it one of the best ways to travel through the country. It is home to the world's first high-speed train, the bullet train. There is a special tourist Japan Rail Pass the lets you take unlimited train journeys for up to three weeks at excellent value for money. It is important to note that the pass must be bought in advance before arriving in Japan and there are a few restrictions, but not many. The cheapest way to travel is by coach, known as a kosoku bus.

Weather
Japan has distinct seasons, making it great to visit at any time of year. Spring in Japan is famous for the beautiful blooming cherry blossoms. Summer can get very hot and humid, but the mountains provide fantastic escapes and it is the time of year when many festivals take place. Autumn brings the fiery blaze of foliage. In the winter, the mountains and northern Japan provide good skiing. The south and Pacific coast is milder than other parts of the country. This time of year is a great time to experience Japan's hot springs, many of the best can be found in Tohoku, the northern most region of the main island.

Accommodation
Japan has plenty of accommodation options available in both Western and Japanese styles and catering to various budgets. To get a truly Japanese experience try and spend at least one night in a Ryokan. These Japanese inns almost always include breakfast and dinner. Bed and breakfasts are another good way to experience Japanese style living. Western style hotels are common with many familiar names throughout the country. Budget travelers will find hundreds of hostels that will suit their needs. One of the most unique options is to stay in a Japanese temple and take part in the morning Buddhist prayers.

Main Attractions
Japan has enough attractions to fill many guide books. It has forests, gardens, hot springs, mountains, sea, museums, shrines, temples, and much much more. Temples are found in all regions of Japan and are fine examples of traditional architecture. Some temples still function as Buddhist monasteries and house sacred shrines. Some of the most beautiful temples are Takkoku no Iwaya, Motsuji Temple, Yamadera, Sensoji Temple, Kokedera, and Ankokuronji Temple. Sea life lovers and families will enjoy Japan's amazing aquariums, such as Aquamarine Fukushima and Churaumi Aquarium, arguably the most spectacular in two aquariums in Japan.

Even though Japan is known for its mega and ultra modern cities, it is also rich with nature to explore. Cherry blossoms are one of the country's largest attractions and most celebrated plants. The best time of year to see them is at the start of April. Popular viewing spots are Chidorigafuchi in Kitanomaru Park in Tokyo, Sankeien Garden, Chureito Pagoda, and Hikone Castle. There are several national parks where visitors can experience spectacular scenery and hiking trails. One of the best places to see autumn colors is Daisetsuzen National Park. For hot springs head to Towada Hachimantai National Park.

Kyoto is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture and a major part of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. Formerly, the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto has a population close to 1.5 million and geographically located in the central part of the island of Honshu, Japan. This paper lists the best of the best hospitals available within Kyoto city, suitable for foreign visitors.

A list of top 5 hospitals providing services which are absolutely suitable for foreigners are listed below. The list includes the addresses of the hospitals along with the facilities the hospitals provide. For the safety of the visitors, it is strongly advised to have the list with every foreign visitor who visits Kyoto as this helps a lot in case of medical emergency.

The Kyoto University Hospital is considered to be one of the most prominent hospitals in the city providing proper diagnosis followed by effective treatments and medicines. Located at Ohtsu, Shiga, the hospital offers proper nursing and effective care along with the well-being of the patients. This hospital also provides modern cancer and tumor treatments. The hospital claims that it has performed successful liver transplantation and regeneration of blood vessel by using human embryo stem cells. The various medical departments include general medicine, internal medicine, ophthalmology, surgery, neurosurgery, dermatology, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, radiology, urology, cardiovascular surgery, psychiatry, physical therapeutics, nutrition, gastroenterological endoscopy and more. Many doctors are able to speak foreign languages too thereby enabling the patients to understand and communicate better. They strongly say that they can easily understand the difference between patient expectations and its perception of patient expectations and hence they will be in a better position to differentiate their perceptions of patient’s expectations and thereby offer a better quality of service.

Japan Baptist Hospital in Kyoto carries the treatments in a most unique way. Patients are treated here as creations of God. Located at Kitashirakawa, Sakyo-ku, extraordinary special and minute care is taken for the physical and spiritual well-being of the patients. They call this process as Whole Person Healing. A detailed understanding of the human nature and the nature of diseases are carried out with perfect dedication and warmth by highly qualified professional doctors and efficient nurses.

Kyoto Prefectural Medical University Hospital is considered to be another significant hospital in the city. Located at Kawaramachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku, this hospital claims to provide the best of the best services available within the city. They also claim to offer treatment to AIDS.

Kyoto City Hospital provides treatments and facilities like internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, pediatrics, radiology, urology, anesthesiology, gynecology, otorhinolarynogology, dermatology and ophthalmology. Located at Mibu, Nakagyo-ku, this hospital claims to offer top quality services.

Kyoto First Red Cross Hospital is located at Higashiyama-ku offering various levels of services to its patients. They primarily focus on monitoring the difference between the service quality specifications and the actual service delivered which helps to upgrade as and when needed. The management is keen in observing the difference between the service delivery and the essence of what is communicated to their patients and their services. By understanding the patient’s perceptions of service quality, the hospital displays a sense of reliability, responsiveness, empathy and assurance to the patients.

Hopefully, nothing will go wrong on your trip to Kyoto. However, just in case you have an accident or fall ill, you now have some ideas where to go for good medical care.

Kyoto offers travelers of Japan an interesting alternative to Tokyo. This beautiful city is a blend of the modern and the ancient, with many reminders of this city's past, and its place as the cultural heart of the country. The main residence of the Japanese Emperor was in Kyoto from the eighth century until the nineteenth, when it moved to the current capital, Tokyo. There is plenty to see here since, unlike other cities, Kyoto sustained no damage during the Second World War.

Kyoto is a true experience of unique history and culture. In order to see everything, you will need to allow plenty of time to visit as many of its' attractions as you can. If you are only able to visit for a short period of time, decide which places you want to visit most, rather than trying to rush around them all.

There are many temples in Kyoto that offer a glimpse of the varied nature of Japanese culture. They are also historically and architecturally interesting. You will find that many of the attractions recommended to Kyoto tourists will be temples of some sort.

The two predominant religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shinto; each having their own temples. The most impressive Buddhist temple in Kyoto is the Golden Pavilion Kinkakuji, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. The two highest floors are encased in gold leaf, which is reflected in the pond below, connecting the heavens above with the earth below. The importance of this temple to Buddhists comes from the shrine within it, containing relics from the life of the Buddha.

The nearby Silver Pavilion, or Ginkakuji, was intended to be a complement to the Golden Temple, with a contrasting covering of silver leaf, but this plan was never carried through. The Silver Temple is there before much plainer than its neighbor, although it does have its own simpler charm. There are two peaceful gardens here; one with a pond surrounded by a rockery, where you are supposed to move around and experience the changes in perspective that ensue; and another where sand has been sculpted into meditative patterns, creating a very calm atmosphere. Both are perfect antidotes to the stresses of travel and jet lag.

Another Buddhist temple, definitely worth a visit, is the Pure Water (Kiyomizudera) Temple. This world-famous temple is recognized by UNESCO for its unique value, and has been named as a site of world heritage. It has stood since the eighth century when it was founded by one of the oldest Buddhist sects in Japan. It looks over the city of Kyoto from a nearby hill, surrounded by woodland. The view of Kyoto from the temple's terrace is breath taking! There is also a beautiful fresh spring here from which the waters are believed to have healing powers.

There are two Zen temples that make an interesting addition to the main Buddhist ones. The Heavenly Dragon (Tenryuji) Temple was once the residence of an Emperor. When Go Daigo died, his home was made into this temple in remembrance of him. The name was chosen when a priest who was dozing nearby dreamed that a dragon appeared from out of the river. When he woke, he concluded this was a sign that the Emperor's spirit had not found peace in death, and that the temple should be placed there in order to appease the uneasy spirit. The current building was only built about a century ago, after the eighth in a series of unfortunate fires, had damaged the various incarnations of the temple. However, the gardens date from the fourteenth century, and offer a peaceful space for a quiet walk.

The second temple, and a world heritage site, is called the Peaceful Dragon Temple (Ryoanji). The Zen garden here is best example of its kind that you will see. There are carefully placed rocks and furrows of sand that have been raked into precise patterns, creating a haven of calm within the simple walls of clay.

The Shinto religion is more unique to Japan's culture than Buddhist, although the difficulties here do give an impression of a Buddhism molded to Japanese minds. Two of the local Shinto forms provide interesting activities in Kyoto. The first is the Fushimi Inari, dedicated to the rice god. If you do visit, keep a look out for the many ornaments in the form of foxes. These were traditionally the animal messengers of Inari. The shrine is beautiful and peaceful; especially in the evening light. The most stunning feature of this temple are the various spectacular gates or tori around it.

Even more examples of these gates are found at the second local Shinto temple. Heian Jungu is a nineteenth century temple that is dedicated to two Japanese Emperors, Kammu and Komei. It was built to commemorate eleven hundred years since the founding of the city. At the end of each October, the Jidai Matsuri festival is held here. Thousands of people parade and celebrate the day when Kyoto was made the capital of Japan, despite the fact that it no longer holds this honor.

There are also some interesting places to visit if you are less keen on temples. The Imperial Palace is a spectacular complex of buildings with many beautiful gardens and interesting architectural features. The current palace was constructed in the eighth century, as similar to Tenryuji, it too has suffered from a number of fires. Numerous Emperors have also chosen to be crowned here at the Palace.

The district of Gion is one of the most famous features of Kyoto. An exciting day can be sent wandering its charming streets, trying to spot a geisha or maiko in traditional dress. Geisha are trained entertainers, and not as is often believed, prostitutes. The area has been well preserved so many of the buildings date from the Middle Ages and there is a unique atmosphere appealing to most tourists.

Kyoto is also a busy modern city, and offers excellent shopping among other things. This gives those of you less interested in historical sights an opportunity to spend time seeking out the latest fashion and technology.

Japanese dating and marriage might appear obnoxious to a Western young adult. Dating and marriage practices in Japan are way too different from the liberated strategies of most American gents and ladies. Well, Japan is in Asia and the traditions of the families are a half a world apart. If in any case your blood relation is attracted to a Japanese lady, consider first how dating and marriage happens in her community.

Japanese dating and marriage are utterly a product of discipline. It is sometimes told that Japan is run by thinking robots and this is somewhat true in a sense. They can be tagged as robots because they ritually follow the norms and “correct” practices of the society. Unlike Americans who can freely do and say what they feel, Japanese are bound to be acting like professionals, holding back the things they think might destruct the normal way of living.

For example in a date, a Japanese woman will never confront a man in public displaying anger and other disruptive emotions. She will be patient until they are alone. This is the only time that she will say what she feels. If she did confront a man in public, she will be considered undisciplined by the people around and by herself. The society’s order must not be disturbed by one girl complaining to her date. This is the way it goes in Japan.

Coming to a date on time is one practice that you must not take for granted. In Japan, it’s really bad taste to let your date wait for you. The Japanese have always lived up to the adage that time is gold and have been proud of being time conscious. Tell a Japanese girl the time and date you want to meet her and she’ll be there right on the dot.

Dating a woman in her late 20s is an act of desperate move to get married. In Japan, a woman who is 30 and still unmarried is no longer a good candidate for marriage. It is best to look for Japanese women between 28 and 29 years old because you will find many willing brides.

It is a common belief that Japanese women are frail and must only do light work. Japanese women get tied to the notion that a woman must stay home to take care of the kids and the house. The men, otherwise, are supposed to work 60 hours a week to sustain their family.

Knowing these things, one might ask if there are women in Japan who dream of being the boss. Well, not very likely, not even in this age of technology. The Japanese women never want to appear in command of their men. It is a greatly respected fact that the man decides for the group or for the family. This might sound unfair to the contemporary woman who thinks that what a man can do, a woman can do as well, if not better.

If you are a foreigner considering a Japanese girl to marry, ask yourself if you are ready to commit to the lady who treats you as her lord. She may be submissive but she can be loving, frail but strong for her family. This sounds like a harmonious relationship where one is deciding for the family and the other supporting the decision.

Japan may have dramatically opened its doors for globalization but not wholly. Many women still keep the dating traditions of old, and they are bound to pass this tradition even with the constraining effects from the influence of media. But who can tell, Japanese dating and marriage might change later after all.