Japanese food is famous around the world for its rich ‘umami’ flavour and healthy yet delicious ingredients, but the common use of fish broth and animal-derived ingredients can make it difficult for vegetarians, vegans and allergy sufferers (amongst others) to truly enjoy the local cuisine when they visit Japan. While vegan-friendly restaurants and meals are...
You may have heard of a ‘Global Citizen’ before, but what does it mean, and how can you become one? Simply put, ‘Global Citizenship’ is a new way of thinking and living that transcends the barriers of nationality, race and language. Having been actively implemented in the education of children across the world for well...
It’s already July, yet for many of you living across the world, the confusion and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are still as severe and life-affecting as it was in March or April. This month was set to bring the 2020 Olympics to Tokyo, introducing sports fans and curious visitors from around the world...
Taking an active, off-the-beaten-track tour through rural Japan makes for a truly unforgettable and unique trip, with plenty of opportunities to explore and experience Japan’s authentic culture and traditions first-hand. With that said, we also know that travelling around the countryside isn’t the right fit for everyone. Whether it be due to scheduling restraints, activity...
There’s nothing better than a holiday, and very few things can beat the excitement and anticipation that accompany a trip to Japan. Unfortunately, travel restrictions and health concerns mean that for most people, travelling abroad is not a current possibility. For those who had plans to visit already in place, this is understandably disappointing –...
The traditional Japanese sport of ‘Sumo’ is widely-known across the world, with the instantly-recognisable image of a Sumo wrestler now considered synonymous with the country’s global reputation. Yet despite Sumo’s global appeal, very few people outside of Japan have ever actually watched the sport, or know much about it. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways...
Few traditions are as thrilling and mesmerising as Kagura, a special form of dance-based performance worship that has existed within Japan for over 1,300 years. Dressed in elaborate, brightly-coloured costumes and masks, Kagura performers twirl and dart across stages erected within and around Shinto shrines in order to reenact well-known Japanese folktales to entertain and...
Planning your dream holiday can be pretty tough. Quickly search for your ideal destination online and you’re sure to find hundreds of different companies, all claiming to provide ‘perfect’, ‘unforgettable’ and ‘once in a lifetime’ trips that sound suspiciously similar to what all of their competitors are offering too. What’s more, you may discover that...
Here at Heartland Japan, we love including authentic, traditional Japanese performances into the itineraries of all the exciting, off-the-beaten-track package and custom tours we create. For many of our customers, this means experiencing something brand new that they may not even have ever heard about before visiting Japan. To help shed some light on the...
When it comes to planning your perfect Japan tour, you’re sure to come across some confusing, unfamiliar terms – especially when it comes to accommodation! Here at Heartland Japan, we love to include some of Japan’s authentic and unique accommodation options into your special, once-in-a-lifetime trip itinerary. That’s why we’ve created this handy glossary, to...
When it comes to traditional Japanese culture, few things are as globally-misunderstood as the art of the ‘Geisha’ – beautiful women with flawless hairstyles, intricately-detailed silk kimonos and faces coated in thick white makeup. While the western media and pop culture have built a reputation for Geisha as expensive, high-class escorts living a glamorous yet...
Here at Heartland Japan, we strive to introduce rural communities and off-the-beaten-track locations to our customers, but more often than not our tours will actually start and end in Tokyo. While in the Metropolitan area, our customers are eager to visit not only the major highlights and tourist-friendly locations of the city, but also to...
