Kabuki, is one of Japanese traditional stage arts along with Nho   It is said to have originated in Kyoto with a woman named Okuni at the beginning of the 17th century. However, it is now performed only by male actors, so it amazing that the very first performance was by a woman. Male actors called onnagata specialize in playing female roles.　 Kabuki started out as theater for the common people, so it does not have strict rules like nho or traditional Japanese music and dance. The stage was similar to nho stage at first, but has changed  gradually. The hanamichi is a platform extending from the main stage,  and is used by actors to come and go from the main stage.   In Kyushu, you can watch Kabuki at Hakata-za located in Fukuoka-city   Hakata-za The theater for Kabuki plays, musicals, the Takarazuka  Revue and variety of other shows that are performed  monthly. more …     About us　Tailor-made tourSelf-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語  

Kabuki…の続きを読む

  Sake is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages made from fermented rice.   Today there are about 3000 manufacturers of refined Sake in Japan including  Fukuoka and Kyushu area. 　　　　   Sake is made with steamed rice, yeast of rice, malted rice, and water. This is placed in vat, additional amounts of those ingredients are added in three cycles,  and the mixture is left to ferment for 20 days. After fermentation the mixture is ready for pressing, figuration, and blending. The Sake is then pasteurized, butted, and stored. The alcohol content of crude Sake is about 40 proofs; Sake on the markets is about  32 proofs.   A good-quality Sake has a subtle blend of so-called five flavors (sweetness,  sourness, pungency, bitterness and astringency) and a mellow fragrance.        About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語    

Sake, Japanese alcoholic beverage…の続きを読む

  Waka is a style of verse usually containing thirty-one syllable in five lines. It follows a 5-7-5-7-7 syllable pattern.          　 Waka is probably the oldest poetic style in Japan. In Heian period ( 784-1185) the exchange of romantic waka between men and women  of noble families became popular. However, waka was used almost exclusively by the cobles, and was never very popular  among commoners. In the past there were several styles of waka. They were all based on a similar syllable pattern, but had different length. Over time, however, the five-line style known as tanka became dominant and is the only style still popular today. Indeed, the term of tanka has now become synonymous with waka.   During Kyokusui-no-en festival held at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, waka are  made and are written it down on a strip of fancy paper.     About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語  

Waka…の続きを読む

Beppu in Oita Prefecture is a popular hot spring town nestle at the foot  of volcanos, Mt. Yufu and Mt. Tsurumi.           Boasting more than 2,800 hot spring sources and flowing rate of nearly  137,000 kiloliters per day, Beppu is considered a paradise of hot springs  famous for high therapeutic effects. The town is divided into eight major hot spring areas collectively called  “Beppu Hatto”, which offer beautiful scenery and various type of water of  different qualities. About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Beppu Onsen resort…の続きを読む

Yabakei Region is a part of Yaba-Hita-Hikosan Quasi-National  Park located in Nakatsu-city, Oita-prefecture. A grand gorge created through a lava plateau of the largest  scale in Japan by the flow of Yamakuni-gawa River.  Extending 36 km east and west and 32 km north and south,  this huge gorge full of strange-shape rocks and stones is a  spectacular sight.       　 About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Yabakei…の続きを読む

Matsumoto Seicho Memorial Museum near Kokura castle is a facility dedicated to the memory of one of the great writers in modern Japan, Seicho Matsumoto, who is a native of Kitakyushu.   Directions 　・A 10 minute walk from JR Kokura Station 　・A 5 minute walk from JR Nishi Kokura Station 　 About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Matsumoto Seicho Memorial Museum…の続きを読む

Fukuoka Akarenga Cultural Center was built as an insurance company  office in 1909. 　　 The building is designated as a nationally important cultural property. The chic British-style building was designed by renowned architect  Kingo Tatsuno. About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Fukuoka Akarenga Cultural Center…の続きを読む

Akiyoshidai is one of the largest limestone caves in the world, located  approximately 100 meters beneath the Akiyoshidai limestone plateau in the western  part of Yamaguchi Prefecture.     One kilometer of this 10 kilometers long limestone cave is open to the public as a  sightseeing course. This cave is characterized by rows of intricately shaped cave form formations including the  15-meter-high Koganebashira, or “Golden Column” and Hyakumenzara, or “One Hundred  Plates”. The temperature inside the cave remains constant throughout the year at around 17  degree Celsius. About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Akiyoshidai…の続きを読む

Kintaikyo Bridge, located in Iwakuni-city, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a series of five-arched wooden bridge on four stone piers that extends across the lower Nishiki River.     This unique bridge, which is 193.3 meters long and five meters wide, has an  elaborate wooden framework made of winding wires and clamps, and is counted  as one of the three most famous bridge in Japan. It has gone through three reconstructions since it was originally built in 1673  by third load of Iwakuni domain, Kikkawa Hiroyoshi. About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Kintaikyou Bridge…の続きを読む

Arita porcelain called Arita-yaki is 400-year old porcelain from Arita in  Saga Prefecture. The piece have bright, elegant pictures drawn in transparent while  porcelain. In the early 17th century, a group led by the Korean potter Yi Sam-pyeong  discovered a pottery stone in the Izumi Mountain of Arita. He was the first  to make porcelain in Japan.      In those days, it was shipped from Imari Port, and do Arita-yaki is sometimes  called Imari. Arita-yaki was exported to Europe in the later half of the century, and it, along  with Chinese porcelain, greatly influenced European pottery. The unique Arita-yaki red, green and yellow pattern called Kakiemon style was  loved by Europe’s aristocrats. Every year during Golden Week in spring, the Arita Ceramic Bazaar is held  in Arita. Over 500 shops set up business and over a million people come from around  the country. You’ll find all kinds of pottery, from daily items costing less than  100yen to masterpieces costing millions of yen.   About us　Tailor-made tour　Self-guided tour　Golf tour　Study tour　Contact us  Kyushu Travel Guide　Suggested itinerary　Blog & local News　About Japan　日本語

Arita porcelain…の続きを読む