Video. The annual Kanchu Misogi ritual saw around 100 worshippers plunge into icy water at a Tokyo shrine on Sunday.

Rice, a universal symbol of prosperity and fertility, is an integral part of wedding ceremonies across the globe ...

Prince Hisahito attended Wednesday for the first time Japan's Imperial New Year poetry ceremony, known as "utakai hajime," at ...

Japanese Emperor Naruhito expressed his hope for peace in Japan and the world in the new year in a poem recited at the annual ...

Once a familiar sight at funeral processions in Japan, traditional decorative hearses are disappearing as mourners shift ...

Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly said millions of people climb Mount Fuji annually. It is hundreds ...

Drummers pounded in the New Year and a stampede of computer-generated horses was shown over a section of the Great Wall as China and the rest of East Asia marked the start of 2026. Temple bells rang ...

These most walkable cities in Japan combines top destinations with expert tips and walking tours to enrich your walking experience.

Across the globe, certain places resonate with a power that transcends the ordinary, where natural beauty, myth, and ritual ...

Dozens of worshipers took a deep breath and a brave plunge into icy waters at a Tokyo shrine Sunday, keeping afloat a New Year tradition to purify the soul and pray for good health.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is planning to skip the award ceremony for the winning sumo wrestler at the New Year's tournament, as the ring is traditionally off-limits to women, a government ...