No.06 - Culture

Culture, rule by rule

See Japan's temples and shrines, history, tea ceremony, samurai castles, sumo, festivals and Gion, with what to book ahead and the etiquette that matters, page by page.

Guides

CultureAinu history and Hokkaido: laws, names and UpopoyAinu history and Hokkaido: the 1869 renaming, the 1997, 2008 and 2019 laws, and Upopoy in Shiraoi with its fees and winter hours.
CultureAsuka and Nara Japan: Buddhism, Horyuji and Todai-jiThe Asuka and Nara periods, to 794: how Buddhism and a law code arrived, the Great Buddha of 752, and Horyuji and Todai-ji, with fees and hours.
CultureEdo period Japan: 1603 to 1868 and where to see itThe Edo period, 1603 to 1868: the travel rule that grew Edo past a million people, the four-tier class system, seclusion, and places to see it today.
CultureEmperor vs shogun: who ruled Japan, period by periodWho held power in Japan: emperors, shoguns and regents from the Yamato rulers to 1868 and after. A period table and three places to see in Kyoto and Gifu.
CultureGion: what you may photograph, what you may notWhat Kyoto officially asks in Gion, what is only reported about private lanes and the fine, and ticketed ways to see geiko and maiko.
CultureGoshuin: temple stamps, fees and how to get oneWhat a goshuin is, how to get one and what it costs: Todai-ji states $2 (¥300). Pray first, then go to the stamp desk, and arrive before 16:00.
CultureHatsumode: New Year at Japan's temples and shrinesTemples and shrines stay open at New Year while many shops close 29 Dec to 4 Jan. Hatsumode crowds, queues of an hour or more and the hours known for 2026-27.
CultureHeian period Japan: Kyoto, the Tale of Genji and what to seeThe Heian period, 794 to 1185: why the capital moved to Kyoto, the lost manuscript of the Tale of Genji, the Phoenix Hall, and sites to visit today.
CultureHeisei and Reiwa Japan: 1989 to today and what to seeHeisei (1989 to 2019) and Reiwa (from 2019): the bubble's end, the 1995 and 2011 disasters, the first abdication in about 200 years and memorial sites.
CultureHiroshima and Nagasaki museums: hours, fees, closuresHiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum: hours, fees, booking and closures for 2026-27, including Nagasaki's Section C closure.
CultureJapan culture and traditions: what to see, whenGeisha, samurai, ninja, sumo, tea, kabuki, festivals, temples, onsen and art islands: dates, last-known prices and the rules a visitor needs for each.
CultureJapan tea ceremony: styles, etiquette, prices, bookingHow a Japanese tea ceremony works for visitors: chakai, chaji and senchado, JNTO etiquette, Camellia and Uji prices from $10 (¥1,500) and how to book.
CultureJapan temples and shrines: 30 sites with fees and hoursCompare 30 Japanese temples and shrines by region: entry fees, opening hours, rules, goshuin stamps and Koyasan temple stays, from official pages.
CultureJapanese era names (nengo): convert Reiwa and Showa yearsJapan counts years in eras. Add 2018 to a Reiwa year, 1988 for Heisei, 1925 for Showa, 1911 for Taisho or 1867 for Meiji. Conversion table and examples.
CultureJapanese history for travellers: eras and places to visitTen eras of Japanese history, each with a turning point, a surprising fact and places to visit, plus how to read an era year on a ticket.
CultureJapanese tea regions: Uji, Shizuoka and KagoshimaWhere Japan's tea comes from: MAFF tea types, the Uji picking calendar, Kagoshima's first tea in late March and the Makinohara and Shizuoka City farms.
CultureJomon and Yayoi Japan: oldest pottery and where to see itThe Jomon and Yayoi periods: pottery about 16,000 years old, the arrival of rice farming, and the sites to visit, with fees and hours.
CultureKabuki, noh and bunraku 2026-27: dates and ticketsKabukiza dates and dark days to March 2027, the English audio guide, and the autumn 2026 noh and bunraku prices, with the 2027 schedules still unpublished.
CultureKamakura period: shoguns, Mongols and what to seeThe Kamakura period, 1185 to 1333: how warriors took power, how typhoons ended two Mongol invasions, and where to see it, with fees and hours.
CultureKofun period Japan: giant tombs and where to see themThe Kofun period, roughly AD 250 to 592: Daisen, Japan's largest tomb at 486 m, the 2019 UNESCO listing, and where to see it, with fees and hours.
CultureKoyasan temple stay: booking, prices and rulesHow a Koyasan temple stay works: book via the Shukubo Association, one temple's price from $90 (¥14,000), vegetarian meals, curfew and cancellation terms.
CultureKyoto temples and shrines: fees, hours, closuresSeven Kyoto temples and shrines with fees, hours, closed days, booking and 2026-27 changes: Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, To-ji and more.
CultureJapan matsuri calendar 2026-27: dates known and missingMonth-by-month Japan festival calendar: Sapporo Snow Festival 4 to 11 Feb 2027, Kyoto's Gion, Aoi and Jidai as last known 2026, and dates not found.
CultureMeiji period Japan: 1868 to 1912 and where to see itThe Meiji period, 1868 to 1912: the end of the samurai, a calendar that lost about four weeks, daily life changes and where to see it today.
CultureMuromachi and Sengoku Japan: 1336 to 1603 explainedMuromachi and Sengoku Japan, 1336 to 1603: the Onin War, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Sekigahara, decided by a commander who waited. Places to visit.
CultureNara, Osaka, Koyasan and Ise temples and shrinesTodai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Horyu-ji, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Koyasan, Ise Jingu and Atsuta Jingu: fees, hours, closed days and 2026-27 changes.
CultureNinja museums in Japan: Iga and Koka experiencesIga-ryu Ninja Museum hours, entry, show price and closures, plus the Koka ninja house and village, which have no readable official page.
CultureNorth and central Japan temples: fees, hours, closuresFees, hours and closed days for Zenkoji, Chusonji, Yamadera and Zuiganji, with winter closing times from 15:00 to 16:30 and the 2026-27 changes.
CultureRyukyu history and Okinawa: kingdom to Shuri CastleThe Ryukyu Kingdom (1429 to 1879), Okinawa Prefecture, and what to see now, including Shuri Castle's main hall from 23 November 2026.
CultureSamurai castles and houses: fees, hours, winter statusWhere to see samurai history: Himeji and Matsumoto castles, Kanazawa's Nomura house and Kakunodate's samurai houses, with fees, hours and winter closures.
CultureSumo tournaments 2027: dates, tickets, stable visitsSumo 2027 tournament dates (Jan, Mar, May, Jul), January ticket sale from 5 Dec 2026, last-known seat prices and what we could not confirm about stable visits.
CultureTaisho and Showa Japan: 1912 to 1989 and where to see itTaisho (1912 to 1926) and Showa (1926 to 1989): the 1923 earthquake, the war years, the 1964 Shinkansen and museums to visit, with fees and hours.
CultureKyoto tea ceremony, kimono and maiko: prices and mannersCamellia tea ceremony from $26 (¥4,000), Gion Corner's adult show ticket at $35 (¥5,500) and the manners for a rented kimono in Kyoto.
CultureShrine and temple etiquette: gate, hall and shopHow to behave at a Japanese shrine or temple, from gate to stamp desk: two bows and two claps at shrines, no clapping at temples, no fixed offering.
CultureTokyo, Kamakura, Nikko temples and shrines: fees, hoursFees, hours, closed days and winter changes for Senso-ji, Meiji Jingu, Nikko Toshogu, Kotoku-in, Hasedera, Engakuji and Tsurugaoka Hachimangu.
CultureWestern Japan temples and shrines: fees, hours, closuresFees, hours and closed days for Itsukushima, Izumo Taisha, Kotohira-gu and Dazaifu Tenmangu, with winter closing times and 2026-27 changes.
CultureWhere to try a tea ceremony: Kyoto, Uji, Tokyo, KanazawaWhere to try a tea ceremony by city: Camellia and Gion Corner in Kyoto, Taiho-an in Uji from $10 (¥1,500), Tokyo's Hamarikyu and Kanazawa tea rooms.
CultureYakuza in Japan: what visitors should knowVisitor safety only: choose your own venues, ask prices first, call 110 or go to a koban. Official points use police wording; no group names or history.
Coming soonKyoto temples worth the queueAnd what to skip.
Coming soonGeisha in KyotoEtiquette and what is respectful.
Coming soonJapanese food by regionDishes worth the trip.
Coming soonArt islands and teamLabA modern art route.

Culture in Japan runs on etiquette and on bookings: shrines, temples and Gion each have their own rules, and the best-known experiences sell timed or dated tickets. This hub covers temples and shrines, Japanese history, tea ceremony and the living traditions. Food has its own hub.

What to explore

Start with Japan’s culture and traditions: the full guide, which covers dated shows, tournaments and festivals, last-known prices and the etiquette rules, theme by theme. The groups below take each theme further.

What is in this hub?

Traditions

Geisha and Gion etiquette Point the camera at buildings, not people. Gion Corner’s adult ticket is $35 (¥5,500), and some private lanes carry a reported $65 (¥10,000) fine.
Samurai castles and history Himeji is $16 (¥2,500) and closes 29 and 30 December; Matsumoto’s fee is unclear right now; Kakunodate keeps two samurai houses open in winter.
Ninja experiences Iga-ryu Ninja Museum: $6 (¥1,000) entry, $4 (¥600) show, closed 29 December to 1 January.
Sumo tournaments and tickets The January tournament is 10 to 24 January 2027 in Tokyo, with sale from 5 December 2026; last-known chair seats start at $23 (¥3,500).
Kabuki, noh and bunraku Kabukiza lists programmes to March 2027, with an English audio guide at $5 (¥800); autumn 2026 noh seats started at $30 (¥4,600).
Festival calendar One firm 2027 date (Sapporo, 4 to 11 February), plus yearly patterns for Takayama and Nebuta.
Yakuza: what visitors should know Choose your own venues, ask the total price first, and call 110 or go to a koban if threatened.
Shikoku guide: Naoshima and the art islands Chichu is $16 (¥2,500) online on weekdays with timed tickets, and shut 12 January to 19 March 2027.

Temples and shrines

Temples and shrines: the 30 that matter Fees, hours and notes for 30 sites from Kyushu to Tohoku, with a picker by time, interest and season.
Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji, To-ji, Sanjusangen-do and Yasaka Shrine.
Nara, Osaka, Koyasan, Ise and Nagoya Todai-ji, Kasuga Taisha, Horyu-ji, Sumiyoshi Taisha, Koyasan, Ise Jingu and Atsuta Jingu.
Tokyo, Kamakura and Nikko Seven sites, in an order that fits winter closing times.
Western Japan Itsukushima, Izumo Taisha, Kotohira-gu and Dazaifu Tenmangu.
Tohoku and Nagano Zenkoji, Chusonji, Yamadera and Zuiganji, with winter closing times from 15:00 to 16:30.
Temple and shrine etiquette At a shrine you bow twice, clap twice and bow once; at a temple you do not clap.
Goshuin Pray first, then go to the desk; the usual fee is $2 to $3 (¥300 to ¥500).
Koyasan temple stay One temple’s two-meal plan costs $90 (¥14,000) to $140 (¥22,000) per adult; book through the Koyasan Shukubo Association.
Hatsumode at New Year Four sites draw over 1 million visitors each, with queues of an hour or more.

Japanese history

Japanese history for travellers Ten eras, one turning point each, and the sites that show them.
Jomon and Yayoi Japan’s oldest pottery, made by foragers; rice came later via Kyushu.
Kofun and Yamato Roughly AD 250 to 592; keyhole-shaped tombs, the largest 486 m long.
Asuka and Nara The arrival of Buddhism to the Great Buddha of 752, with Horyuji and Todai-ji today.
Heian The move to Kyoto in 794 to the warrior wars of 1185.
Kamakura Warriors ran Japan from 1185; two Mongol invasions failed, and the shogunate fell in 1333.
Muromachi and Sengoku Civil war ended at Sekigahara on 21 October 1600, and Ieyasu became shogun in 1603.
Edo About 260 years without a major civil war under the Tokugawa shoguns.
Meiji The shogunate fell, the capital moved to Tokyo and the samurai lost their stipends.
Taisho and Showa From the 1923 earthquake to the 1964 Shinkansen.
Heisei and Reiwa The bubble’s end, the 1995 and 2011 disasters and the 2019 abdication.
Japanese era names 2026 is Reiwa 8; a conversion table runs back to Meiji.
Emperor vs shogun Shoguns led the military government from 1192 to 1868 while the emperor stayed in Kyoto.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki museums Adults pay about $1 (¥200) at each; Nagasaki’s Section C is closed from 24 November 2026 to about March 2027.
Ainu history and Hokkaido Hokkaido’s name dates from 1869; Upopoy in Shiraoi is $8 (¥1,200), closed Mondays.
Ryukyu and Okinawa The Ryukyu Kingdom lasted from 1429 to 1879; Shuri Castle’s main hall opens 23 November 2026 by timed reservation, $6 (¥1,000).

Tea

Tea ceremony in Japan The three styles, JNTO’s etiquette steps and venue prices from $10 (¥1,500).
Where to try a tea ceremony Venues by city with the prices and booking steps their pages state.
Japanese tea regions Which teas are shaded or open-air, and when Uji, Makinohara and Kagoshima pick.
Tea, kimono and maiko experiences What a tea ceremony and a Gion Corner seat cost, and which manners apply in a rented kimono.

Looking for food and sake? See the Food hub.

Dollar figures use about ¥155 to US$1 and are rounded; you pay in yen, so check the rate.

Can I…?

Can you photograph maiko on Hanamikoji in Gion? Depends. Kyoto’s tourism site asks you not to stop geiko or maiko for photos or photograph them without permission.

What is open in winter?

Temples and shrines generally stay open at New Year, but many attractions, shops and restaurants close on some days between 29 December and 4 January, and 1 January is the hardest hit. Gion Corner’s winter programme runs 1 December to 11 March, and its official page contradicts itself on which days, so check the booking site.

Upopoy, the national Ainu museum and park in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, is open 9:00 to 17:00 from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027. It closes on Mondays, from 28 December to 4 January and from 27 February to 8 March. Adults pay $8 (¥1,200).

More for the cold months: Hokkaido in winter, Sapporo Snow Festival 2027, hot-spring etiquette in the Onsen hub and the Japan regions.

Before you book Book Naoshima, tea houses and sumo before you fix dates. Chichu is shut 12 January to 19 March 2027, and the January sumo sale opens 5 December 2026.

Quick answers

Can I photograph a geisha in Gion?

Depends. Kyoto's tourism site asks you not to stop geiko or maiko for photos or photograph them without permission. Some private lanes are reportedly closed to pass-through since 2024, with a reported $65 (¥10,000) fine that no Kyoto City notice confirms.

What is closed over New Year?

Many attractions, shops and restaurants close on some days between 29 December and 4 January, and 1 January is the hardest day. Temples and shrines generally stay open. Himeji Castle closes 29 and 30 December and Upopoy closes 28 December to 4 January.

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