Japanese Culture

As much as Japan has thrust into the future and strives to be one of the most competitive countries, when it comes to science and technological advancements, it is still by and far a country that still carries its culture and traditions into the 21st century.

Festivals and parades are still carried out in Japan, with hundreds of people from all over the world coming to see them.

Japanese festivals, known as a Matsuri, are still prevalent in modern day Japan. I myself was able to have a look at both the Kanda Myojin Matsuri and Asakusa Sanja Matsuri. 

Kanja Myojin Matsuri is a two day festival always held on a Saturday and Sunday, with constant parades being held throughout the festival.

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri starts on a Friday with an initial parade and two shrine dances, intended for prosperity and a great harvest, with further parades on the following Saturday and Sunday.

It just wouldn't be a Japanese festival without dozens of food and souvenir stalls.

No festival would be complete without a wide variety of food, beverages and little bits of entertainment around the festivals. I myself enjoyed a couple of common treats that one can enjoy at festivals.

Choco-banana: These come in all kinda shapes and sizes and styles but for the most part it's a banana with chocolate and sprinkles on it. The chocolate tasted great but the banana I got was a bit too ripe so it was overall too sweet.
Kakigōri (shaved ice): It was a nice warm day so of course I had to get one of these, so I went for a melon one and it was terrific.

Big, gold, small, old. Japan still has many shrines and temples of all different sizes and variations

Many shrines and temples still exist to this very day in Japan and are located virtually everywhere, from small towns, to big cities such as Tokyo. 

I had the chance to have a look at a part of Tokyo called Ueno Park, which consists of multiple temples and shrines situated around some of the most beautiful parklands Tokyo has to offer.

Two noticeable parts of Ueno Park are the Kiyomizu Kannon Temple, and the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Both of these are based on a popular temple and shrine from Kyoto, and have almost the exact same setup and look as what they are based on.

Tea ceremonies are a nice soothing experience with the chance to make and drink some Matcha tea as well.

Even in this day and age you can still find many places in Japan that still practice the art of tea ceremonies and there are still many places that allow others to book a session so they can learn the history, etiquette and unique culture behind tea ceremonies, and even try it themselves with a hands-on experience at the end of the tea ceremony.

Matcha tea has what I would describe as a fairly bitter taste. Those who drink coffee frequently would likely find Matcha to be more enjoyable, compared to tea (and more so sweetened tea) drinkers consuming Matcha.


Beyond culture and traditions still being kept alive in Japan, there is also other common courtesy and general politeness that occurs. This is but a small sample of everyday politeness and etiquette being carried out day to day in Japan.

• Eating and drinking while walking is frowned upon. Generally you are expected to drink and eat where you bought items, usually at a dedicated eating area where you purchased items. Vending machines have recycling bins for bottles/cans located next to them with the intent that you consume the drink there and throw the rubbish away right then and there.
• When you are meeting another person for business, it is customary to exchange business cards by handing them the card directly with both hands and details facing the person you are exchanging business cards with.
• While on escalators in Tokyo you stand on the left if not walking up, so that people on the right can walk up. In Osaka the sides are switched around.

Thanks to Donny Kimball for the tour around Ueno Park and some interesting tidbits. Check out his Twitter and Website to see more interesting culture and sights around Japan.

For more pictures regarding Japanese culture, click through here.
For a short video of a festival parade that I saw while in Japan click through here.