Blog | Untold Japan

Inside Totoro’s Forest: The Place That Inspired Ghibli’s World

Japan is renowned for many cultural exports, but few have captured global imagination quite like its animation. At the heart of this legacy lies Studio Ghibli—an iconic name familiar to fans worldwide. With masterpieces like the Oscar-winning Spirited Away , the studio has redefined animated storytelling, proving that animation has the power not only to delight people but also to inspire and move them. Among those masterpieces is My Neighbor Totoro , a film from 1988. Set in

Places

Laksmi Wijayanti

Nov 75 min read

Inside Totoro’s Forest: The Place That Inspired Ghibli’s World

Japanese Mythological Creatures That Haunted My Childhood Curiosity

Growing up, I recall my 5-year-old self being absolutely captivated by Studio Ghibli ’s Spirited Away —a film I kept returning to, equal parts fascinated and frightened by the strange creatures roaming the mystical world Chihiro had accidentally wandered into. What were these creatures, and where did they come from? Were they gods or monsters? My fascination with the film and the questions that followed led me down many rabbit holes. It turns out that yōkai , these Japanese

Culture

Sarah

Nov 214 min read

Traditional torii gate with colorful autumn leaves in the background.

Japanese Gardens in Autumn: Kyoto’s Most Beautiful Season

The Tradition of Koyo In Japan, the tradition of enjoying the brilliant colors of autumn, known as koyo, has been loved for centuries. What began as an elegant pastime for nobles during the Nara and Heian periods, venturing into the hills, hosting princes under the red and gold leaves, and composing poetry, eventually spread to the wider public during the Edo period. Ever since, koyo has remained one of Japan's most anticipated seasonal highlights. In Kyoto , the city usually

Places

Sakura Kawamata

Nov 144 min read

Inside Totoro’s Forest: The Place That Inspired Ghibli’s World

Places

Laksmi Wijayanti

Nov 75 min read

Beyond the Ring: A Private Sumo Practice in Tokyo

Typically, when I walk through the streets of Tokyo on a weekday morning, I see countless men and women in business attire. However, on this crisp autumn morning, I was in a very different part of the city. Instead of an endless flowing river of suits and ties, I saw larger men in traditional Japanese clothes and perfectly styled hair. A Different Side of Tokyo While many know Tokyo as a bustling city full of neon lights and corporate headquarters, Ryogoku is the sumo wrestl

Activities

Jordan

Oct 314 min read

Scenic view of a coastal town with a bridge over a blue river, surrounded by green hills and distant mountains under a clear sky.

Onomichi: A Japan Heritage Port Town on the Seto Inland Sea

What Does It Mean to Be a Japan Heritage Site? “ Japan Heritage ” refers to stories that convey Japan’s culture and traditions through the historical appeal and unique characteristics of each region, officially designated by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. To tell these stories, local communities take the lead in comprehensively preserving and utilizing a wide range of captivating, tangible, and intangible cultural properties that are indispensable to the narrative. By strat

Places