What are some types of Buddhist statues?

There are several kinds of Buddhist statues according to their roles. There are Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and guardian gods. Buddha statue represents a person who already attained enlightenment. They are Syaka, founder of Buddhist, Yakushi, Amida and so on. Statues of Buddas are represented by persons who wear simple clothes like Indian saree without any accessories.

Bodhisattva is monk who is now on the way to the enlightenment. Statues of Bodhisattvas usually wear a lot of accessories such as earings, necklace, armlets. The most famous Bodhisattva is Kannon the deity of mercy. There are various Kannon statues, some of which have eleven faces or more than two arms.

Are there sects in Shintoism and Buddhism?

In Shintoism, there are various deities who have different roles. For example, Yebisu is the deity of commercial activity. Inari is the deity of harvest and industry. Tenjin is the deity of education. People go to shrines according to what they want to pray for. For example, people planning to take an examination go to Tenjin shrine. Owners of companies go to Yebisu shrine.

Buddhism has many kinds of sects. Main Buddha which they rely on is different from other sects. Scriptures which have been considered as the most important are different from other sects. Zen is very unique compared with other Buddhist sects. Zen sect emphasis on the practice of Zen for enlightenment rather than study of scriptures and worshipping of Buddhas.

When do people practice Shintoism and Buddhism?

People practice Shintoism when they get married, have a baby, ask for blessing from deity to children at their age of three, five and seven years. Many people come to shrine to pray for success before taking examinations.
People practice Buddhism when they hold funerals and commemoration service for the deceased. Many people visit both Shito shrine and Buddhist temples on New Year holidays to pray for good fortune for the year.

How can I distinguish between a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple?

You can distinguish between a Shinto shrine and a Buddhist temple by the gates at the entrance.
Shinto shrine has an open-gate which consists of two pillars and connected by two horizontal crosspieces at the top. In the buildings of Buddhist temple, you can usually find statues of Buddha. In some Buddhist temples, there are grave yards and five-story pagoda.

about a local festival of my hometown.

My hometown has the head shrine of Yebisu which is a Japanese deity of commercial activity. From January 9 to 11, the biggest festival of Yebisu shrine is held, which is called To-Ka Yebisu. More than a million people come to the shrine to pray for good luck and prosperity of the year. Nishinomiya is famous for sake production. You can find a lot of sake barrels in the main hall of the shrine. They are wrapped with woven straw and have decorative labels identifying the makers.

After praying in the main hall, people buy bamboo branches which have many good luck charms to hang on the wall of their own houses or offices in hope of good luck of the year.

about a famous festival in Japan.

I will tell you about Aoi festival in Kyoto. This festival is one of the three big festivals in Kyoto. It is dedicated to Kamo Shrines and is held on May 15. The name of this festival comes from the leaves of aoi which is hollyhock in English. The leaves are used to decorate the heads of participants in the procession. This festival has been held yearly for more than a thousand years. You can find the description about The Aoi Festival in the Tale of Genji which is one of the most famous and most refined stories written in the Heian Period (about one thousand years ago).

about some seasonal customs or events in Japan.

visiting the grave of ancestor, offering flowers and prayin for them.

I will tell you about Buddhist rituals to pay respect to ancestors of the family. On both Vernal Equinox Day and Autumnal Equinox Day which is what is called Higan, we visit the grave of our ancestors to clean the grave, offer the flowers and pray for them. Higan means “another bank of river “ which signifies another world. We pray for ancestor who is believed to exist in another world on both two days.

an example of household Buddhist altar at the obon season.

The other Buddhist event is Obon. During Obon season, from August 13 to 15, it is believed that souls of ancestor come back to their former homes. On August 13, people in some regions go to the grave holding a lantern to guide the souls back to home. In front of the household Buddhist altar, we put a meal of vegetables served in a small red colored lacquered wares for the souls. After relaxing at home, the souls are believed to return to heaven on August 15.

Bon Odori festival is still held on the grounds of temples or shrines. This festival was originally aimed at solacing or entertaining the departed souls.

Bon dance performed in a public park, temple or shinto shrine precincts
.

About the local cuisine of my hometown.

okonomiyaki (Japanese pan cake)

I live near Osaka. As for the local cuisine of our area, I am very proud of Okonomiyaki, and Takoyaki dishes. Okonomiyaki is a kind of Japanese pancake. Batter mixed with egg, grated yam, chopped green onion, cabbages, and Japanese broth is cooked in a pan. Thinly sliced pork or shrimp are also added on the top of batter and cooked. Just before eating, thick sauce, paper thin sliced dried bonito, sometimes mayonnaise are added. This typical Osaka restaurant cuisine is nutritious and diners can enjoy cooking food themselves with an electric hot-plate at the table.

takoyaki ( octopus dumpling)

Another cuisine is takoyaki, which is ball shape octopus dumpling. This food is mainly eaten in snack time. The takoyaki stalls can be easily found on the street in Osaka. It is said that takoyaki has been so popular in Kansai region that every house have special plate for making takoyaki at home. We have of course a takoyaki plate to enjoy eating at home.

takoyaki-ki ( takoyaki plate at the table)

What is a good way of enjoying good Japanese food at a reasonable price?

I recommend “Kaiten-sushi restaurant” if you would like to eat sushi. It is a casual restaurant for sushi. You can find conveyer belt carrying many kinds of sushi. Customers can grab any of plate when it passes by.. You can also order your favorite sushi to the sushi chef. I also recommend Izakaya, a Japanese tavern. They serve various kinds of dishes and beverages at a reasonable price.

What are some differences between sake and shochu? How are they usually drunk?

chu-hai cocktail with shochu , soda, and fruit juice.


Sake is fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice, while shochu is distilled alcoholic beverage made from various ingredients such as sweet potato, buckwheat, rice, wheat and the like. Sake is served hot or cold. Shochu is often mixed with other kinds of drinks such as hot water, tea, juice and soda. We enjoy drinking shochu mixed with other drinks like a chocktail.

What are some typical Japanese dishes?

I think sukiyaki is famous as a typical Japanese dishes. Sukiyaki is thinly　sliced marbled beef and vegetables cooked in a shallow pan on a small burner at the table. Soy sauce, sake and sugar are added as a flavor. The other one is sushi, which is small oval shaped vinegared rice topped with a sliced of raw fish such as tuna, yellow tale, and squid. Just before eating it, they dip it into soy sauce. I want to add another famous dish, tempura which is deep fried vegetables and fish. They are eaten after dipping into a special sauce or salt.

Thought about the travelers in the old days

I am always amazed how people in the old days were good walkers. It is true that travel in the old days would be physically exhausting. Now we can go anywhere using the train, bus, car even bicycle in a short time. However I think quick travel using modern transportation system to a certain destination could deprive me of enjoying the process. For example, travelers from Tokyo to Kyoto, it took for them about 2 weeks in the old days. It may be tiring travel but I think people could enjoy every station on the way to the destination. They could enjoy staying at an inn, eating a local cuisine, viewing local attractions.
I think we obtain the efficiency and rapidity by abandoning enjoyable long journeys.

What tourist attractions does my hometown promote?

Konishi brewery village

My hometown, has sake factories which have been running since 16th century. As a guide, I will show travelers a sake museum whose wooden building is was once a sake brewery.

The second floor of Konishi brewery village is sake museum. (The first floor is a restaurant!)

sake barrel

After visiting it, I will give them a chance of sake testing.

Saigoku kaido highway

I will also show them a ruin of the old castle near JR station and a part of a famous highway connecting between Kyoto and Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi prefecture. There are some interesting stone monuments along this road.

What to do when a big earthquake occurs during the stay in Japan.

Japan is an earthquake prone country. First of all, you ensure your safety. If you are in a building, you should keep away from the window in case the glass breaks. You should turn off any fire immediately, go beneath the desk or table and follow the instructions of the staffs in the building. The best destination after the earthquake would be an evacuation site. These sites may be public schools, or public parks. The local government will provide information and some service.

Where can travekers do some tax-free shopping?

Overseas travelers in Japan who spend more than 10,001yen on in one shop are entitled to a refund of the 5% consumption tax. Only department stores and specialty shops used to dealing with foreign tourists offer the refund, and you must show your passports. No refund is granted for cosmetics, food, alcohol, cigarettes, medicine, film and batteries, which include the consumption tax in their price tag.

About lodgings in Japan

Ryokan entrance

a room of Ryokan

a shared bath of Ryokan (some ryokans offer hot springs)

If you stay at a Japanese style inn, at first, you have to take off your shoes at the entrance, and switch to slippers. You do not enter into your room with slippers. Before entering your room, there is a small space to take off the slippers, so you enter the Japanese style room barefoot. I think you can relax sitting on a tatami floor barefoot. You have to make sure about the times and the place for dinner and breakfast. Japanese inns serve the meals in your room or in a large dining room. And the time is fixed. If the inn has a shared bath, you can enjoy soaking in a hot water bath tub. While taking bath, you will be surprised that some staffs enter your room and lay out futon, which is Japanese bedding.

Are car rental services available in Japan? Could you give me some tips on driving in Japan?

Yes, car rental services are available in Japan. However you have to obtain the international driver’s license ahead of coming to Japan. And you people drive on the left in Japan which is similar to UK.

Is there a way for foreign tourists to make their travel economical?

a room of Ryokan (Japanese style inn)

Western style hotels and Japanese inns called Ryokan are usually rather expensive for young travelers. To make their travel economical, one of the best accommodations would be staying at Japanese friend’s house.

Minshuku inn

If they do not have any Japanese friends, I will recommend to stay at Youth Hostels or dormitories which can be found in large cities. They could be located outside of town. However, the transportation system in Japan is well equipped and recent dormitories have been renovated and they are said to be more comfortable than before. I also recommend minshuku which is a private home offering overnight accommodation. Travelers can enjoy the homey atmosphere and home cooking in Minshuku inn.

Seishun 18 ticket (for JR Line)

As for transportation, JR lines offer a special ticket called “Seisyun 18 ticket” with which travelers can get on any train for a period of five days with the exception of bullet and express trains.

What are some notable historical facts of my town?

Ruin of Arioka castle. A part of stone wall still remains.

Araki Murashige, the lord of Settsu (region including a part of Kobe, Ashiya, Nishinomiya, Amagasaki, Itami, Ikeda, Takatsuki, Mino, Ibaragi city)

The most notable historical facts of my town is the Battle between Oda Nobunaga, one of the most famous and powerful samurai lord in Owari ( now called Gifu) and the local lord Araki Murashige. The stronghold of Araki was almost impregnable. Unfortunately, some of Araki’s retainers betrayed him, and the fort fell after about one year battle. Now, there are some ruins of castle near the JR station. But I like to take a walk around the traces of moat imagining battle.

one of my favorite historical figures

↑Koyaike, one of the reservoir he developed with farmers.

My favorite historical figure is a great Buddhist monk, Gyoki. He taught Buddhism to commoners using simple words in the period when Buddhism was still exclusively practiced by aristocrats.
In addition, he helped develop some rural areas by creating storage reservoirs for farmers. I look up to him who lived with poor neighbors instead of living in a big temple.

Have you ever seen the Emperor?

No, I have not seen the Emperor in person. I see him and the Empress only on TV. They make public appearances twice a year from the balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on his birthday, December 23rd and January 2nd. If we would like to go to see them, we can see them from the ground in front of the balcony.
I heard one of my neighbors could see and even talk to the Empress who came to console people suffered from the Great Hanshin Earthquake in the evacuation center.

the Emperor and the Shogun

What was the difference between the Emperor and the Shogun?

The Emperor has been only a symbol of Japan in most of Japanese history. Whereas, the Shogun was the title granted by the Emperor to a military leader. The Shogun was allowed to govern all the other local lords. However his power was actually the highest authority of bakufu military government from the Kamakura period to the end of the Edo period.

Harakiri

Why did samurai have the practice of hara-kiri?
Hara-kiri was the way of dying honorably after defeat in battle. They considered Hara-kiri as more honorable than execution. In the Edo period, hara-kiri was a punishment for samurai who committed serious crimes.

Who was the first Emperor of Japan?

The first Emperor of Japan is a legendary figure called Jinmu. He ascended the throne in 660 B.C. It is said on February 11th. This day is now a national holiday called National Foundation Day so that we commemorate the day he ascended the throne.

My city

Okada house, one of the oldest sake brewery house in Japan, built in the early Edo period. It is designated as an important cultural asset by Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

About my city.

My city is a suburb in Kansai region, the west part of Japan, near Osaka.
My city has been very famous for Japanese sake breweries since the Edo period.
The reason why the sake factories are there is because the water is suitable for sake production. In addition, my city is located on the Osaka Bay. They could easily ship sake barrels from Osaka Bay to Edo which is now Tokyo.
Although my hometown suffered from the Great Hanshin Earthquake, and lots of buildings were destroyed, people have kept their chin up and gotten through difficulties.

Mt. Fuji, the highest, the most popular, and the most hallowed mountain in Japan

What is the highest mountain in Japan? The highest mountain in Japan is Mt. Fuji. It is located in the north part of Shizuoka, and in the south west of Yamanashi prefecture. Mt. Fuji is an active volcano. It has not erupted for about 300 years. Mt. Fuji is almost perfectly cone-shaped mountain. You can see it from the window of the Shinkansen, the Japanese bullet train in Shizuoka prefecture.

How high is it? Could you tell me a bit about it?
Mt. Fuji is 3776 meters high and is a symbol of Japan. Mt. Fuji has been depicted in various kinds of art works, such as Ukiyo-e, the wooden block printing by Hokusai and in some folding screens. In the traditional public bath house, you can find the wall painting of Mt. Fuji. This mountain has been loved by Japanese.
Mt. Fuji itself has been regarded as divine.


Which do you think is the best season for touring around Japan?

In my personal opinion, the autumn is the best season for touring around Japan. The temperature in the autumn is so pleasant. In addition, it has a lot of days free of rain. You can appreciate the leaves turn beautifully crimson and yellow in the ground of shrines and temples. However, each season has each attractive point. You can see the cherry blossom in the early spring everywhere in Japan. In the summer, you can enjoy visiting a summer festival in a shrine.