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Kobe Hotels: 183 Reviews - 547 Photos
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Japan Local Customs

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Most Viewed Local Customs in Japan

Etiquettes and Behaviors Tokyo

44 Reviews Japanese baseball fans seem to be much more enthusiastic than American baseball fans. I'm sure part of it is the Japanese cultural mindset of blending with others, which causes them to dress the same,...

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Visiting Temples and Shrines Kyoto

25 Reviews It's tradition but a lot of visitors of the temple miss this local custom! There is a covered fountain fronting the gate of the Ginkakuji Temple. The water fountain has a bamboo scooper where you...

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etiquettes / behaviors Osaka

9 Reviews In the streets you will at some places see trees that are lighted at night, that looks quite funny and romantic. It has nothing to do with christmas, because we had been there in March. We had 3...

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Tradition Tokyo

20 Reviews The Buddhist religion has been observed in Japan since the Sixth Century and possibly earlier. About 70 percent of Japan's population claims to be Buddhist, but many are also Shinto, as the two...

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Geisha and Maiko Kyoto

13 Reviews In Gion at a Geisha bar. Again, this was only possible via an introduction. The Geisha were more sophisticated than the Maiko. They focused on the male members of our party. I asked a friend who often...

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food & specialities Osaka

6 Reviews Our hotel room was included breakfast and when we checked in the receptionist ask if we want to have standard western breakfast or Japanese breakfast? Common, we have "normal" breakfast all over the...

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People Tokyo

29 Reviews Vending machines seem to be in breeding overdrive in Japan. I heard one source say there were over six million and still going strong. I think they would only work in a society that is on the whole...

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Language Kyoto

7 Reviews The Kyoto dialect (Kyo-kotoba) is quite distinct from standard Japanese and other dialects. Because it developed in the ancient capital, the feeling it gives Japanese people when they hear it is one...

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culture & history Osaka

9 Reviews There are many interesting classes you can take in a wide range of traditional Japanese arts and crafts. Such things as ikebana (flower arranging), traditional dance, taiko drumming, tea ceremony,...

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Religion Tokyo

19 Reviews Fujizuka Mound in Hatomori Shrine in Sendagaya is one of the well-preserved mounds in Tokyo. Fujizuka was made so that people who cannot climb Mt. Fuji either for financial or health reasons can...

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Public Restrooms Kyoto

5 Reviews Most of the bathrooms in Japan (just the local ones not those in luxury hotels and upclass shopping malls), are not equipped with papertowels to wipe hands. By having a wash cloth in your pocket will...

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language Osaka

3 Reviews OSAKA DIALECT: Osakaben is a special dialect spoken by the people of Osaka. Some of the commonly used terms are as follows:mo-karimakka Hi! How are you doing? ohayo-okaeri Have a nice day! o-kini...

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Speak / Learn Japanese (Nihongo) Tokyo

8 Reviews When in Tokyo I tried to learn Japanese. I had a Japanese textbook in Russian and I understood that it wasn't so difficult as we used to think. Very soon I could write my name and surname in...

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Festivals Kyoto

3 Reviews Gion Matsuri is held annually in Kyoto and is probably one of the most famous festival in all of Japan. It is on during the entire month of July and the Yama-boko Junkō, which is the parade with...

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15.

castle Osaka

2 Reviews The old classic Japanese construction and architecture is obvious very local. However, OSaka is very large business modern city, there is not much about temples and history to see with the exception...

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Street Scene Tokyo

17 Reviews I was intrigued to see some workers reinstalling the stanchions around planting beds. I had to take a photograph of the stanchions, because they struck me as quintessentially Japanese -- an attention...

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17.

Gardens Kyoto

5 Reviews Maruyama Park, at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, behind the Yasaka Shrine, becomes a busy and festive place in spring. The many cherry trees there are a riot of blossom and centre-stage stands a giant...

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18.

Have you ever seen this before? Tokyo

13 Reviews The Japanese obsession with automation, astronomical land prices and sense or order all come together when you look at car parking. There are a good number of these giant vending-type machines all...

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Infrastructures Tokyo

15 Reviews Most guides will advise buying Yen before you go to Japan to cover initial expenses but then buying more once there as there is a better exchange rate in the country itself. You also avoid the...

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Japanese Style Room / House Tokyo

1 Review If you get the chance, there is nothing that beats putting up a night at a traditional inn or RYOKAN. There are quite a few within Tokyo city, but those that offer better facilities and a more...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Japanese symbolism: the peacock

by Ewingjr98

The peacock is the national bird of India, so how did it gain prominence in Japan? It's all about religion, and the blend between Hinduism and Buddhism. In India, peacocks are known to be able to predict rain and kill snakes, sometimes even those of the poisonous variety. Due to these unique attributes, Hindus celebrated peacocks from the earliest times, and in their religion, they associated peacocks with the god Murugan, who travels on the back of a giant, mythical peacock. Since Buddhism and Hinduism developed together, they share many traditions. The peacock became not just a Hindu symbol, but also a Buddhist symbol, related to the Buddhist Wisdom King (Queen), Mahamayuri or Kujaku. As Buddhism spread east to Japan, these Indian traditions followed. In Buddhism, Mahamayuri is known to prevent poisoning, both physical poisoning from things like snakes, but also spiritual poisoning. In...

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Niō guards

by Ewingjr98

Many Buddhist temples in Japan have an outer gate called niōmon. Inside the gate you will find statues of traditional Niō guards. These "benevolent kings" guard the temple and ward off evil spirits. The muscular figure with the open mouth is called "Agyō" or "Naraen Kongō," and he is said to be speaking the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. The closed-mouth figure to the left is "Ungyō" or "Misshaku Kongō," and his closed mouth is said to be speaking the last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet.

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The Tanuki and his testicles

by Ewingjr98

The Tanuki is a Japanese raccoon dog, that is important in Japanese folklore. The tanuki is troublesome and happy, but absentminded. This animal is often displayed as a statue around Japanese restaurants and temples, and is oddly depicted with giant testicles, a sake bottle, and a bank ledger or promissory note. Supposedly the Tanaki is a sign of good fortune and money for the business. A children's poem about Tanuki:Tan Tan Tanuki no kintama wa,Kaze mo nai no ni,Bura buraThe Tan- Tan- Tanuki's testicles are,Despite there being no wind blowing,Swaying, swaying, swaying

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Cherry Blossoms

by Ewingjr98

Cherry blossoms, or Sakana in Japanese, are a popular symbol of Japan and viewing these delicate flowers is a springtime tradition throughout the country. The Japanese have a term, Hanami, which means to have a picnic lunches with sake under a cherry blossom tree. In Japan the cherry blossoms bloom at varying times each year, but it begins in Okinawa, usually in January, then it reaches Tokyo by late March or early April. Acres upon acres of cherry trees are planted in parks, at schools and government buildings, and around temples, and people flock to see them when in peak bloom. The cherry blossom has become a symbol of Japan, and it can be seen in a number of places: on money, on kimono fabric, and on military uniforms. During Japan's colonial days, cherry trees were often planted as a way to claim occupied lands for Japan; therefore, you will find cherry blossoms in former colonies...

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Pachinko

by Ewingjr98

Pachinko is Japan's version of a Western slot machine. Rather than matching shapes on spinning wheels, as in sots, pachinko players shoot steel balls into the machine in an effort to get more steel balls. When the play ends, any balls acquired my be redeemed for prizes. Some "special prizes" can be redeemed off premises for cash, which allows pachinko parlors to avoid Japanese laws that forbid gambling. In Tokyo the exchange locations are called TUC shops, short for Tokyo Union Circulation, Pachinko parlors are similar to slots areas of casinos, except perhaps more loud and bright. There are about 16,000–17,000 pachinko shops in Japan, about 90 percent of which are owned by Zainichi Koreans, permanent residents of Japan.

Buddhist Temples in Japan

by Ewingjr98

The Buddhist religion has been observed in Japan since the Sixth Century and possibly earlier. About 70 percent of Japan's population claims to be Buddhist, but many are also Shinto, as the two religions have much overlap in beliefs. Buddhist temples are plentiful around Japan, and are primarily used to store sacred relics rather than as a place of collective worship. There are about 77,000 Buddhist temples in Japan, but they have been closing at a rate of 100 per year since World War II.The entrance to a Buddhist temple complex is usually marked by a wooden gate with doors and a large wooden roof, but the entrance could also have a simple torii gate of Shinto origin. The gates typically have a pair of guardian statues. Most temples are constructed of wood, and dominated by a huge roof. Around the outside of the temple you will often find a wide veranda covered by the roof, but...

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Kokeshi Dolls

by Ewingjr98

Kokeshi are traditional hand-made wooden dolls from Japan. The dolls were originally created in the Edo Period (around 1700 AD) in northern Japan. Some theories explain the dolls are substitutes for unwanted babies killed after birth, others believe the kokeshi were created as gifts for Japanese visiting the hot springs in the north. The traditional dolls are made from a simple piece of wood, so the dolls have a thin, plain body, and a large head, but no arms or legs. Some simple facial features are usually painted onto the face, and the body usually has a painted floral design. The bottom of the doll has a signature or stamp of the craftsman.

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Bicycles

by Ewingjr98

Japanese people love granny bikes with wicker baskets, cargo racks, baby seats and only one gear. This is one of the most fashion-conscious countries in the world, but they ignore sense of style when it comes to transportation? While Japanese people might spend 3,000 Yen for a nice dinner, and even 15,000-20,000 Yen for tolls on a day trip, most spend only about 10,000 Yen on a bicycle. Children, adults, even the elderly ride bikes in Japan, and they ride in all weather conditions; it is not uncommon to see a person riding a bike while carrying an open umbrella to block the elements. People ride bikes to work, to school, to the neighborhood bus or rail terminal, to get groceries and more. The rules for bicycling in Japan are pretty lax, in a country that is know for following rules. Bicycles drive on the left side of the road, with traffic, but much more often, they are driven on...

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Japanese Town Houses - Machiya

by Ewingjr98

Michaya is the Japanese name for the traditional wooden houses found in many towns and cities across Japan, but are most well known in Kyoto. Michaya were first seen in Japan around 1000 AD, and were long the homes of merchants and craftsmen. The front of the homes was traditionally used as a storefront and the back as living quarters.

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Turtles in Japanese tradition

by Ewingjr98

In Japan, the turtle is a symbol of longevity, good luck, and support.The Japanese legend of Urashima Tarō is about a fisherman who rescues a turtle and is rewarded with a visit to Ryūgū-jō, the palace of Ryūjin, which is located under the sea. Urashima Tarō stays at the palace for three days but it is 300 years in the future when he returns to his home.Lesson: don't take rewards from turtles.

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Top 3 Hotels in Japan

Park Hyatt Tokyo Tokyo

7 Reviews and 530 Opinions Most memorable

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Hotel Granvia Kyoto Kyoto

6 Reviews and 722 Opinions We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,...

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Dotonbori Hotel Osaka Osaka

7 Reviews and 160 Opinions I've personally stayed in this hotel twice in my previous 2 trips to Osaka. Famous for their...

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