Introduction  In the Japanese language, there is a delightful word that describes the autumnal leaf color change (notice how in English we have to say “autumnal leaf color change” because there is no one word for this natural phenomenon) and that is Koyo.  Literally translating to “red leaves”, koyo is an intrinsic part of Japanese culture – as significant as the blooming of cherry blossoms in spring. As a …

Introduction Japan is home to approximately 35,000 rivers (and Village House has over 1,000 properties across the island’s 47 prefectures!), most of which start from a mountainous area, flow down to farmland, and then eventually empty out into the ocean or sea. Many of these rivers are short and flow quickly due to the island’s narrow and mountainous terrain. In this article, we’ll explore 5 of Japan’s most beautiful …

Introduction  Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, is home to many native animals such as the Hokkaido red fox, Hokkaido sika deer, Japanese cranes, and whooper swans.   However, in this article, we will specifically focus on some cute land, air, and seabound creatures of Hokkaido that are sure to get you cooing while making anime-worthy heart eyes.   Pika  One very, very cute animal that can be found in Hokkaido is the …

It probably comes as no surprise that Japan is currently seeing a huge surge of tourists due to the attractiveness of the weak yen. Having greeted around 17.7 million international visitors in the first half of 2024, the country has managed to surpass its pre-pandemic tourist numbers and these numbers don’t seem to be dropping anytime soon.   So, what comes with huge swathes of tourists? Crowds. Many, many crowds, …