Wakayama Prefecture has long served as a pilgrimage route and a resource-gathering area in Japan. This still holds true today. Its mountains, coastlines, and sacred grounds still draw people to the area for the same reasons. But today, it also supports modern tourism alongside its traditional fishing and spiritual communities.
Long ago, this quiet region was one of Japan’s main travel routes, connecting people, timber, and knowledge across the country. Today, we’ll explore five sites in Kiso Valley, each with its own story and charm.
Japan’s seasonal plants and trees bring color to the country each year. However, it may surprise you to know that some of the most popular are not native Japanese plants at all. Lavender is one such seasonal flower that blankets landscapes during the summer months.
Hello, Sakuraco community! We hope you’re doing well. Here are the winners of the February 2026 Reviewer Contest!
Few places in Tokyo combine history, culture, and nature as clearly as Ueno Park. Located in one of the city’s busiest districts, the park attracts millions of visitors each year. People come to see museums, temples, cherry blossoms, and wildlife at the zoo.
Sumi-e is a style of ink painting that uses black ink to create images with simple brush strokes. The name comes from the Japanese words for ink, sumi, and painting, e. Artists use brushes, ink, and paper to create landscapes, plants, animals, and calligraphy-like forms.
A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn that offers a unique style of hospitality. These inns feature tatami floors, futon bedding, baths, and carefully prepared meals. Today, ryokan are popular with Japanese travelers and international visitors.
Burdock root is a long, brown root vegetable that appears in many traditional Japanese dishes. Known as gobo in Japan, it has a crunchy texture and a mild, earthy flavor that works well in soups, snacks, and sweets. T
Anko donuts combine a familiar Western pastry with a classic Japanese filling. These soft, fried treats are filled with sweet red bean paste known as anko. The result is a dessert that blends two food traditions in a simple and recognizable way.
Amazake is one of the most unique traditional drinks enjoyed by Japanese people since the Nara period (710-794). Even though its name includes the word sake (alcoholic beverage), most amazake contains little to no alcohol, so both children and adults can enjoy it together.
Jelly wagashi brings a touch of elegance to Japan’s confectionery traditions. This dish offers a light and cooling alternative to denser sweets like mochi or festival pastries. Crafted from agar, a seaweed-based gelling agent, these translucent delights capture subtle flavors of fruit, tea, or seasonal blossoms.
Yokohama, a city just south of Tokyo, is home to the largest of Japan’s three Chinatowns, called “chukagai” in Japanese. Established in the late 19th century, Yokohama Chinatown is a historic area home to hundreds of businesses.
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