Kyoto, Japan News

On July 5, the "Kippu-iri" opening ritual of the Naginata Hoko float, which leads the Yamahoko procession of the Gion Festival, was held at the Naginata Hoko community hall in Shijo-dori Karasuma-higashi-iru, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto.

Most artists are encouraged to pursue their craft, their dream, their vision, by family members or by teachers in school.

To pep up a 95-year-old futon business, a Kyoto company injects a modern twist into the good ol' zabuton, aka floor cushions.

This is a shot of the Japanese Giant Salamander that was spotted going for a stroll on the bank of the Kamogawa River in Kyoto.

Bell flowers are called kikyA in Japanese and the Tentoku-in temple is famous for them.

Sunday shoppers in Tokyo could be forgiven for wondering if they had been transported to Tibet or Myanmar as a man climbed atop a pedestrian crosswalk, voiced his reason to the crowd via megaphone and set himself ablaze.

The Gion Festival, one of Japan's three major festivals, kicked off on July 1. This year, the "Ato-matsuri," or the latter festival, is being revived on July 24 for the first time in 49 years, so the "Yamahoko Junko" float procession will parade through central Kyoto City for two days, on both that day and on July 17 for the "Saki-matsuri," or the ... (more)

In 1868, time traveling school teacher Mikako Kawabe amazes the Shogun's Navy Commissioner, Katsu Kaishu , with 2014 technology.

Walk Japan's guided 11-day Nakasendo Way walking tour is about $4,085 per person and includes accommodation for 10 nights, breakfasts and dinners, baggage transfers and entrance fees.

WHAT does it take to join Japan's oldest sisterhood? A young woman explains why she left her life in New Zealand to train as a Geisha in Kyoto, Japan.

Bangkok has lost its top spot and dropped entirely from the Top 10 of the world's best cities to visit in a poll based on the survey of Travel + Leisure magazine readers.

Sunday shoppers in Tokyo could be forgiven for wondering if they had been transported to Tibet or Myanmar as a man climbed atop a pedestrian crosswalk, voiced his reason to the crowd via megaphone and set himself ablaze.

The ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto, famed for its historical landmarks, has been ranked the best city in the world for 2014 by readers of the US magazine Travel + Leisure, but Bangkok has slipped from favour.

Japan is full of traditions, and of contrasts too! Tokyo is the ultimate example of this.

Japanese design label Nendo has unveiled a set of lampshades inspired by the traditional wire netting cooking utensils that have been used by Kyoto artisans and chefs for over a thousand years.

Thank you to Bruce Kent and the Movement for the Abolition of War and to Veterans For Peace and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Police arrested two men in Kyoto for selling the shoe mounted cameras which let voyeurs secretly photograph the underwear of unsuspecting women Hidden shoe cameras designed to take pictures up Japanese women's skirts have been banned as cops crack down on peeping Toms.

While the number of foreigners visiting Japan is increasing, the Japanese-style toilets of public restrooms have become a cause of trouble at sightseeing spots in Kyoto City.

"Doshisha Dai Ginjo," an original sake, was created in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the voyage to the United States by Joseph Neesima, founder of Doshisha University.

Though geisha can be found throughout Japan, the former Imperial capital Kyoto is considered the birthplace of geisha culture.