侍 (さむらい) - Samurai

侍 are without a doubt one of Japan's best known historical figures; the image of the proud warrior standing strong to his last breath is inseparable from almost any part of the nation's ancient history and culture. Like 忍者 (にんじゃ - ninja) though, it doesn't take long before the history ends and the fantasy begins. Let's try to keep the demons and magic swords to a minimum - the stories and legacies of some of Japan's most famous 侍 are amazing enough as they are.

Places to visit in Hyogo 9: 丹波 (たんば - Tamba)

The 丹波 region is an agricultural area north of 神戸 (こうべ - Kobe) on the eastern border of 兵庫 (ひょうご - Hyogo). It's probably the last thing you would imagine when thinking of Japan - compared to the bigger cities it's sparsely populated and forgoes the skyscrapers for sprawling rice paddies, ancient farmhouses and verdant hills. Don't let the lack of billboards and plasma screens put you off though - 丹波 has a rich cultural heritage and the farmland isn't just for show; the area is famous for its handmade crafts and fresh produce. If you feel you need a change of pace from rush-rush 大阪 (おおさか - Osaka) and 東京 (とうきょう - Tokyo), 丹波 may be just what the doctor ordered.

お酒 (おさけ - osake) - Sake

お酒 or "rice wine" as it's sometimes mistakenly called, is a piece of Japanese culture and history that's been filling flasks and seasoning dishes for the better part of 2000 years. In fact, domestically it's known as 日本酒 (にほんしゅ - nihonshu) or "Japanese alcohol", which should give you some idea of its sway. With 2000 breweries currently operating in Japan and exporting internationally, the お酒 business appears to be booming - it now comes in as many varieties as wine or beer and can accompany cuisine from all over the world. It can be served hot in 冬 (ふゆ - fuyu - winter), cold in 夏 (なつ - natsu - summer) or at room temperature in between; you won't be left wanting for choice if you want to experience お酒 for yourself.

Places to visit in Hyogo 8: 宝塚 (たからづか - Takarazuka)

宝塚 is a suburban city located a short distance north of 神戸 (こうべ - Kobe) and 大阪 (おおさか - Osaka), on the eastern side of Hyogo. Its name, amusingly, means "treasure pile" and there are certainly shiny trinkets to be found there, thanks in part to a politician and businessman determined to make 宝塚 more than a sleepy commuter town. After several attempts, he finally struck gold with the creation of a musical theatre group now known as the 宝塚歌劇団 (たからづかかげきだん - takarazuka kagekidan - "Takarazuka Revue"). As a counterpoint to 歌舞伎 (かぶき - Kabuki), the 歌劇団 features an all-female cast and its flashy shows are still the city's most famous drawcard after nearly 100 years. I think that's our cue.

歌舞伎 (かぶき) - Kabuki

歌舞伎 is arguably Japan's most famous form of theatre, instantly recognisable by its all-male cast, elaborate makeup, over-the-top costumes and stylised drama. The word "歌舞伎" is made up of the three 漢字 (かんじ - kanji) for "sing", "dance" and "technique", which is a pretty good summary of what's involved. Modern 歌舞伎 often features comprehensive guides and headsets to help follow along with all the dramatic plot twists, but apart from that it's much as it was hundreds of years ago. With tragic stories of love, betrayal and death delivered with some of the most outrageous acting I've ever seen, I think we might have discovered Japan's first soap opera.

富士山 (ふじさん - fujisan) - Mount Fuji

At 3776m, 富士山 is the tallest of Japan's many mountains, a ponderously large active volcano that most people don't have much exposure to beyond the odd misty glimpse out the 新幹線 (しんかんせん - shinkansen) window. Nevertheless, its cultural impact is striking. Where "flower" means 桜 (さくら - sakura - cherry blossoms) to the Japanese, "mountain" means "富士山" - in fact, more than 135 smaller mountains in Japan have been named after it. It also has a starring role in endless books, poems, photographs, prints and paintings stretching back many hundreds of years - not to mention the back of the ¥1000 note - and I'd be very surprised if you weren't at least familiar with its shape. That's not enough for some people though - every year, tens of thousands of visitors get to know 富士山 personally during the July-August 登山 (とざん - tozan - mountain climbing) season. This time around, I was one of them.

Japaneats その12 – おでん - Oden

As we've seen before, despite its reputation for delicacy Japan is no stranger to stodgy food. As 夏 (なつ - natsu - Summer) burns itself out and the nights start to cool down again the おでん carts will start to reappear; the steaming bowls of brown stuff they serve up are guaranteed to prove that Japan isn't always form over function. It's definitely not pretty and the taste might not be for everyone, but おでん holds a very special place in the Japanese heart.

芸者 (げいしゃ) - Geisha

芸者 have become a bit of a "thing" for people over the past few years, abruptly going from a shorthand symbol of Japanese culture to a talking point in book clubs and living rooms all over the world. As ubiquitous as they are in paintings and cute little pop culture references, the reality is that 芸者 are an endangered species and comparatively few people - Japanese or otherwise - ever get to see one in the flesh. As you might expect then, misunderstandings and half-truths abound. They're commonly thought of as hostesses, courtesans and concubines and while none of these are completely wrong in a historical sense, the devil is in the detail.

Japaneats その11 – 和菓子 (わがし - wagashi) - Japanese sweets

It may not be the first place you imagine when you think of desserts, but believe it or not Japan has a huge sweet tooth. Like most Japanese food, 和菓子 have evolved significantly over the years and they can now be enjoyed in a traditional, understated way with a cup of お茶 (おちゃ - ocha - green tea) or in vast quantities at a café or 食べ放題 (たべほうだい - tabehoudai - all you can eat) dessert restaurant. Let's have a look at some of the most common 和菓子 and see if we can kill that sugar craving.

Places to visit in Hyogo 7: 甲子園球場 (こうしえんきゅうじょう - koshien kyuujou - Koshien Baseball Stadium)

甲子園球場 - often known simply as 甲子園 (Koshien) - lies between 大阪 (おおさか - Osaka) and 神戸 (こうべ - Kobe), in a smaller city called 西宮 (にしのみや - Nishinomiya). It's one of the most famous stops on the 阪神 (はんしん - Hanshin) train line and perhaps best known as the home of the 阪神タイガーズ (Hanshin Tigers), who were originally the official team of 大阪 but are now embraced region-wide as the charming underdogs of professional 野球 (yakyuu - baseball). Despite a hit-and-miss track record and what could be a full-blown curse from beyond the grave, the 阪神タイガーズ have some of the most outrageously dedicated fans in the country. It's time to have a bit of a look at the colourful history of 甲子園, starting with yellow and black.

Japaneats その10 – 寿司 (すし) - Sushi

No discussion of Japanese food would be complete without 寿司, the most instantly recognisable example of them all. In a few short years, 寿司 has gone from an Eastern curiosity to a worldwide staple, evolving to suit local tastes wherever it goes. For all intents and purposes, it's the sandwich of Japan - the product of an intense dislike of cutlery and as simple or fussy as you like it. Whether it's enjoyed as a halfway-out-the-door snack on the run or a proper sit down meal,  寿司 is a healthy, versatile food that you can enjoy on almost any budget.

Places to visit in Hyogo 6: 有馬温泉 (ありまおんせん - Arima Onsen)

有馬温泉 is a natural 温泉 (おんせん - onsen - hot spring) resort northeast of 神戸 (こうべ - Kobe) on the opposite side of 六甲山 (ろっこうさん - rokkousan - The Rokko Mountains). It is the oldest 温泉 in Japan, dating back more than a thousand years and featuring prominently in the country's history; priests, feudal lords and even the occasional Emperor were known to enjoy having a soak there. Fortunately even we common folk can enjoy it these days - the only thing stopping you from stepping back into simpler times is the price of a ticket.

忍者 (にんじゃ) - Ninja

忍者, or 忍び (しのび - shinobi) as they are sometimes known, hardly need any introduction - they would have to be among the strongest associations people have with Japan. It's easy to see why - for as long as there's been a medium for them, these shadowy figures have been prowling our screens, books, comics, video games and imaginations. They can be faceless assassins, figures of fun or anti-heroes standing alone in the face of corruption. Invariably they're skilled fighters, but sometimes they border on being full-blown superheroes or magicians as well. The question is how much of 忍者 folklore is true and how much is pure fantasy; it might be the facts that surprise you most of all.

日本の四つの季節その4：冬 (にほんのよつのきせつそのよん：ふゆ） - The Four Seasons of Japan 4: Winter

冬 (ふゆ - fuyu - Winter) is the first and last season of the Japanese year, its icy fingers officially taking hold in December and refusing to loosen until the start of 春 (はる - haru - Spring) in early April. Like 夏 (なつ - natsu - Summer), 冬 takes up more than its fair share of the year and it's just as uncomfortable, particularly for people used to living south of the Equator. Having said that, it can be extraordinarily beautiful, it plays host to one of the most spectacular festivals of the year and best of all, noone will notice your クリスマス (Christmas) kilos under that big coat. Grab your scarf and gloves, because it's cold out there.

お正月 (おしょうがつ - Oshougatsu) - New Year

A very belated あけましておめでとうございます (akemashite omedetou gozaimasu - Happy New Year) - and welcome to 2011! If you're like a lot of Australians, your クリスマス (kurisumasu - Christmas) probably completely overshadowed New Year and if you're like me, you rang in 2011 with a nice casual barbeque or something to that effect. お正月 goes a bit beyond grabbing a spare gas bottle and firing up the grill; it's steeped in tradition from the food to the festivities and needs to be planned far in advance. Let's have a look and see how it works on this side of the pond - before, during and after the countdown to midnight.

クリスマス (kurisumasu) - Christmas

Suddenly, it seems to be well and truly that time of year again; with an abrupt cold snap announcing the start of 冬 (ふゆ - fuyu - Winter), everyone seems to be following Rudolph's lead. Despite Japan not celebrating クリスマス to any great extent, decorations are up in the shops and a lot of people seem to be getting into the spirit with wreaths hung on their doors and twinkling lights strung up across their balconies. At first glance things seem much the same here as at home, but let's park the sleigh and have a proper look at exactly what the silly season is like in Japan; I bet my fake beard there'll be a few surprises in store.

Places to visit in Hyogo 5: 淡路島 (あわじしま - Awajishima - Awaji Island)

Today we cross the bridge from 明石 (あかし - Akashi) to the small island on the other side of the strait. 淡路島, usually just known as 淡路 (あわじ - Awaji), is the southernmost part of 兵庫 (ひょうご - Hyogo), forming part of the long road over the bridges and down to 四国 (しこく - Shikoku). Many people only see it whipping past during their travels, but if you get off the highway and take the time to explore a little, I'm sure you'll find something to like. Let's hop off at the next exit and have a look around - there's more to it than just the expressway. In fact, if you believe the stories, it may well be the first part of Japan that was created.

お中元とお歳暮 (おちゅうげんとおせいぼ - ochuugen to oseibo) - Mid-year and end of year gifts

Japan has always had a strong gift-giving culture that predates recent imports like バレンタインデー (barentain de-) Valentine's Day and クリスマス (kurisumasu - Christmas); お中元 (おちゅうげん - ochuugen - mid-year gifts) and the corresponding お歳暮 (おせいぼ - oseibo - end of year gifts) have been traditions since feudal times. They're sometimes known as Summer and Winter gifts, due to the arrival of お中元 just before 夏休み (なつやすみ - natsu yasumi - Summer holidays) and お歳暮 just as 冬 (ふゆ - fuyu - Winter) starts to bite. Wondering why that big box has arrived at your door days after you'd be expecting any クリスマス presents? Wonder no more - 'tis the season for giving, in more ways than one!

日本の四つの季節その3：秋 (にほんのよつのきせつそのさん：あき） - The Four Seasons of Japan 3: Autumn

秋 (あき - aki - Autumn) is widely considered the best season of the year in Japan, sharing a very comfortable temperature range with 春 (はる - haru - Spring). While 春 is associated with the excitement of new beginnings, in some ways 秋 is much more subdued; it's a time to relax, reflect and enjoy the weather as it cools the scorching highs of 夏 (なつ - natsu - Summer). Having said that, 紅葉狩り (もみじがり - momijigari - Autumn leaf viewing, literally "maple hunting") is as big a deal as 花見 (はなみ - hanami - cherry blossom viewing) and when you start seeing whole hillsides turning blazing red, I'm sure you'll understand why.

七五三 (しちごさん - shichi go san) - 7-5-3

七五三 is a coming-of-age festival that takes place on or around the 15th of November every year. Children aged three, five and seven are taken to 神社 (じんじゃ - jinja - shrines) nationwide and offered blessings by the priests to ensure good fortune and longevity. What makes this most interesting to watch is that all the kids are dressed to the nines in 着物 (きもの - kimono) or Western-style suits for the occasion; they totter along beside their parents like little stunt doubles. On an otherwise fairly gloomy day at 生田神社 (いくたじんじゃ - ikuta jinja - Ikuta Shrine) in 三宮 (さんのみや - Sannomiya), all the bright colours were a very welcome addition.