Travel

Japanese Culture

The Land of the Rising Sun

Japan’s culture still bears witness to a thousand year old history, as many customs and traditions have been preserved. Japan tours are a perfect way to explore this rich and vibrant culture characterised by the unique mix of deep rooted tradition and fast-paced modernity. During your Japan tours you will have the opportunity to see the many monasteries and temples, as well as traditional architecture which reside alongside high-tech companies and fast paced pop culture.

Japan tours highlight the importance of theatre, performance, and music in Japanese culture, which are all deeply rooted in the country’s history. There are a number of theatre and performance cultures across Japan, including Noh ; the oldest existing form of theatre in the world, and Kabuki ; an art form influenced by Noh and largely popular amongst the masses. Banraku. a greatly developed form of puppetry, has been performed in Japan for almost a thousand years and encompasses complex stories and narratives in an artistic form. Most famously, perhaps, is the Geisha culture which continues to fascinate the world. Geisha essentially means ‘person of the arts’ and it predominantly incorporates dance, music, and poetry. The abundance of performance culture means that Japan tours always provide a fun, culturally rich experience.

Music is also a major part of Japanese culture, which is evident on Japan tours. Traditional Japanese music is steeped in a rich, varied history where many forms were imported from nearby China. The Shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument resembling a guitar, is a popular accompaniment to songs of various types, whilst Taiko drumming, a fairly recent art-form, has a specific structure that rapidly speeds up as it nears the grand finale.

More recently, J Rock (Japanese Rock), or Visual Kei. as well as J Pop (Japanese Pop), have become huge not only in Japan but throughout Asia and the rest of the world, and have inspired new fashion and lifestyle trends visible on Japan tours. The importance of music means that Japan tours aren’t just visually exciting, but are also rich in sound.

Japan tours also highlight the importance of the eating and drinking culture in Japan. One of the biggest aspects of this is Nomihodai ; ‘all you can drink’, and Tabehodai ; ‘all you can eat’. Many clubs, restaurants, bars, and karaoke establishments throughout the country are home to these buffet style events, so get stuck in during your Japan tours!