Omairi

Any person may visit a shrine and one need not be "Shinto" to do this. Doing so is called Omairi.

Typically there are a few basic steps to visiting a shrine.

• At any entrance gate, bow respectfully before passing through.
• If there is a hand washing basin provided, perform Temizu: take the dipper in your right hand and scoop up water. Pour some onto your left hand, then transfer the dipper to your left hand and pour some onto your right hand. Transfer the dipper to your right hand again, cup your left palm, and pour water into it, from which you will take the water into your mouth (never drink directly from the dipper), silently swish it around in your mouth (do not drink), then quietly spit it out into your cupped left hand (not into the reservoir). Then, holding the handle of the dipper in both hands, turn it vertically so that the remaining water washes over the handle. Then replace it where you found it.
• Approach the shrine; if there is a bell, you may ring the bell first (or after depositing a donation); if there is a box for donations, leave a modest one in relation to your means; then bow twice, clap twice, and hold the second clap with your hands held together in front of your heart for a closing bow after your prayers.
• There is variation in how this basic visitation may go, and depending on the time of year and holidays there may also be other rituals attached to visitations.
• Be sincere and respectful to the staff and other visitors, and if at all possible, be quiet. Do be aware that there are places one should not go on the shrine grounds. Do not wear shoes inside any buildings.

Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県 Yamanashi-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshu.^[1]

The capital is the city of Kōfu.^[2]

Yamanashi Prefecture is bordered by Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Shizuoka, and Nagano. The prefecture is landlocked, with mountains surrounding the central Kōfu Basin. Mount Fuji is located on the southern border with Shizuoka. Mt. Fuji provides rain shadow effects, and as a result, the prefecture receives only about 818 mm of rainfall a year.

Yamanashi has a sizable industrial base in and around Kōfu city, with the jewelry and robotics industries being particularly prominent.

Yamanashi is a popular destination for tourism. Mount Fuji, the Fuji Five Lakes region, the city of Kōfu, the nearby wineries, the fine temple Erin-ji, and the popular Kuonji Temple are a few of the most popular places to visit. The Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, with its new roller coaster Eejanaika, is also popular.
Eco-Tourism is another major attraction. The natural topography of the region makes Yamanashi a hiker's paradise. The tallest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, and the second tallest mountain in Japan, Mount Kita, are both located within Yamanashi.

Given the area's volcanic activity, natural hot springs, or onsens, are found in abundance. Some of the more famous are Isawa Onsen and Yamanami Onsen.

Yamanashi is one of the major fruit producing regions in Japan, being the top domestic producer of grapes, peaches, plums, as well as wine. In addition, roughly 40% of the mineral water bottled in Japan comes from Yamanashi, mainly from around the Southern Alps, Mt. Fuji, and Mitsutōge areas.

Chōzuya/Temizuya, Chōzubachi and Tsukubai

A chōzuya or temizuya (手水舎^?) is a Shinto water ablution pavilion for a ceremonial purification rite known as temizu.

Water-filled basins, called chōzubachi, are used by worshipers for washing their left hands, right hands, mouth and finally the handle of the water ladle to purify themselves before approaching the main Shinto shrine or shaden (Japanese: 社殿). This symbolic purification is normal before worship and all manned shrines have this facility, as well as many Buddhist temples and some new religious houses of worship. The temizuya is usually an open area where clear water fills one or various stone basins. Wooden dippers are usually available to worshipers.
Originally, this purification was done at a spring, stream or seashore and this is still considered the ideal. Worshipers at the Inner Shrine at Ise still use this traditional way of ablution.

A chōzubachi (手水鉢^?) is a vessel originally designed to keep water for rinsing one’s mouth and cleansing one’s body before entering the sacred precincts of a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple in Japan.
A derivative vessel is the tsukubai (つくばい^?), an important feature of the Japanese tea ceremony found within the yard surrounding the tea house.

A tsukubai (蹲踞^?) is a small basin provided in Japanese Buddhist temples for visitors to purify themselves by the ritual washing of hands and rinsing of the mouth (perform ablutions). This type of ritual cleansing is also the custom for guests attending a tea ceremony.

Tsukubai are usually of stone, and are often provided with a small scoop, laid across the top, ready for use. A supply of water is provided via a bamboo pipe called a kakei.

Fukui Prefecture

Fukui Prefecture (福井県 Fukui-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island.^[1]

The capital is the city of Fukui.^[2]

Fukui is home to Maruoka Castle, the oldest standing castle in Japan. It was built in 1576.

Fukui prefecture originally consisted of the old provinces of Wakasa and Echizen, before the prefecture was formed in 1871.^[3]

The province faces the Sea of Japan, and has a western part (formerly Wakasa) which is a narrow plain between the mountains and the sea, and a larger eastern part (formerly Echizen) with wider plains including the capital and most of the population. The mountain side of the eastern part has much snow in winter.

There are several nuclear power plants located along Wakasa Bay in Tsuruga which supply power to the Keihanshin metropolitan region. It has 14 reactors, the most of any prefecture.[1]

• Ichijōdani Asakura Family Historic Ruins is one of the most important cultural heritages in Japan.
• Eihei-ji is a serene temple offering training and education to Buddhist monks. Founded by Dogen Zenji in 1244, Eiheiji is located on a plot of land of about 330,000 m².
• Myōtsū-ji's Three-storied Pagoda and Main Hall are National Treasures of Japan.
• Fukui is home to Maruoka Castle, the oldest standing castle in Japan. It was built in 1576.
• Many dinosaur fossils have been excavated in Fukui and they can been seen at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.
• Residents of Fukui Prefecture have a distinctive accent, Fukui-ben.
• Fukui has long been a center for papermaking in Japan (along with Kyoto). Its Echizen Papermaking Cooperative is a world-famous collection of papermakers making paper in the traditional Echizen style.
• Fukui is also renowned for its clean water and crops which results in delicious sake, rice, and famous soba noodles.
• Sabae is known for producing 90% of Japan's domestically-made glasses.

Zafu, Zabuton, Zaisu and Kyousoku

A zafu (座蒲 in Japanese or 蒲团 in Chinese) is a round cushion. Although also a utilitarian accessory, it is most well known for its use in zazen Zen meditation.^[1]

A zabuton (座布団) is a Japanese cushion for sitting. The zabuton is generally used when sitting on the floor, and may also be used when sitting on a chair. The zabuton is often used under a zafu cushion to provide comfort and support when engaged in zazen.

For a more casual setting the zabuton can be used in conjunction with a zaisu (座椅子^?), a type of Japanese legless chair, and with or without an accompanying kyousoku (脇息^?), a Japanese style armrest. Ordinarily any place in Japan where seating is on the floor will be provided with zabuton, for sitting comfort.

Zabuton are found throughout Japan, and enter many aspects of the culture.

• In Zen meditation, practitioners sit on zafu which is typically placed on top of a zabuton. The zabuton cushions the knees and ankle.
• In sumo, members of the audience throw zabuton toward the ring after the upset of a yokozuna by a lower-ranked wrestler, despite the dangers.^[1]
• In rakugo, performers are not allowed to rise from their zabuton for the duration of their skit.
• In yose, notably on the long-running television show Shōten, comedians receive zabuton as a form of scoring.
• In jidaigeki, according to a stereotype, the boss prisoner in a jail cell receives all the zabuton from his or her cell mates.

 A zaisu (座椅子^?) is a unique form of Japanese chair which has no legs, but has a normal chair back.

Traditionally, the Japanese would sit in seiza (正座^?) or 'correct' sitting style, kneeling with their weight on top of their lower leg, which is folded underneath the body. However this can become painful after long periods of time or for people who are not used to it, so many prefer the more comfortable zaisu option where the back is supported and legs can be sprawled in front. Zaisu come in many styles, and can either have a cushion build in or be used with a zabuton (座布団^?). For an even more relaxed seating arrangement, one may also use a Japanese style armrest called a kyousoku (脇息^?).

Zaisu are very common in Japan, particularly in houses that have traditional Japanese style rooms washitsu (和室^?) where low tables and sitting on a floor of tatami mats are commonplace.

Ishikawa Prefecture

Ishikawa Prefecture (石川県 Ishikawa-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island.^[1]

The capital is Kanazawa.^[2]

The most popular destination in Ishikawa is Kanazawa.

Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.^[3]

Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast.

The northern part of the prefecture consists of the narrow Noto Peninsula, while the southern part is wider and consists mostly of mountains with the prefecture's chief city, Kanazawa, located in the coastal plain. The prefecture also has some islands, including Notojima, Mitsukejima, Hegurajima.

Ishikawa's industry is dominated by the textile industry, particularly artificial fabrics, and the machine industry, particularly construction machinery.

The area is noted for arts and crafts and other cultural traditions.

Read the list of art and crafts.

The Mishihase

The Mishihase (粛填^?), also read as Ashihase and Shukushin, were a people of ancient Japan, believed to have lived along the northern portion of the coast of the Sea of Japan.

According to the Nihon Shoki, the Mishihase first arrived at Sado Island during the reign of Emperor Kimmei.

In 660, Japanese General Abe no Hirafu defeated the Mishihase in Watarishima at the request of the Emishi.

A theory by Arai Hakuseki in Edo period proposed that Watarishima was Ezo, which was later renamed to Hokkaidō. The battle place was recorded as the mouth of a large river, which is proposed to be Ishikari River.^[1]

They are believed to have spoken a Tungusic language.^{[citation needed]}
 
The Emishi or Ebisu (蝦夷^?) constituted a group of people who lived in northeastern Honshū in the Tōhoku region which was referred to as michi no oku (道の奥^?) in contemporary sources.
Ezo (蝦夷^?, also spelled Yezo or Yeso) is a Japanese name which historically referred to the lands to the north of Japan. It was used in various senses, sometimes meaning the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō, and sometimes meaning lands and waters further north in the Sea of Okhotsk, like Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. The word Ezo could also refer to the peoples that the Japanese encountered in these lands, referred to in modern times as the Ainu people.

Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (立山黒部アルペンルート Tateyama Kurobe Arupen Rūto^?) is a famous mountain sightseeing route between Tateyama, Toyama and Ōmachi, Nagano, Japan. The whole route opened on June 1, 1971.

The route is just 37 km in length, but the vertical interval is as large as 1,975m. It uses 7 different public transports with 5 different modes, namely funicular, bus, trolleybus, aerial tramway, and walking.

The route is carefully built so that the surrounding environment is not damaged. Consequently, three lines go entirely under tunnels. (This is also to protect the lines from snow.) Among them, two are trolleybus lines. Trolleybuses have all gone from Japan, except for these two lines which are still used here as they don't exhaust fumes in the tunnels.

The route goes through Tateyama in the Hida Mountains with a lot of scenic sites, including Kurobe dam. Some stations have hotels around them and are used as bases for mountain climbing or trekking.

The section between Kurobe Dam and Ōgisawa was originally made for construction of the dam, while the section between Tateyama and Kurobeko was for tourists from the beginning. Currently, the route is purely a sightseeing one, only used by tourists. Although this is the only route that directly links Toyama and Nagano, it is impractical for normal users as it takes 6 transfers, roughly 5 hours, and costs ¥8,060 just between Tateyama and Ōgisawa.

The Tateyama Kurobe Kankō (立山黒部貫光^?) is a public transport company that operates most lines in the route. Its official abbreviation is TKK. 

Check out all the lines and stations

Toyama Prefecture

Toyama Prefecture (富山県 Toyama-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshu island.^[2]

The capital is the city of Toyama.^[3]

Historically, Toyama Prefecture was Etchū Province.^[5]

Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity from abundant hydroelectric resources. It also contains East Asia’s only glaciers outside Russia, first recognized in 2012.[4]

Toyama Prefecture is bordered by Ishikawa Prefecture to the west, Niigata to the northeast, Nagano to the southeast, Gifu to the south and Sea of Japan to the north.

Due to the mergers in the 2000s, Toyama has the fewest municipalities of any prefecture in Japan with 10 cities, 2 districts, 4 towns, and 1 village (before the mergers took place, the prefecture had 9 cities, 18 towns, and 8 villages).

Toyama is a major producer of high quality rice making use of abundant water sources originating from Mount Tate.  Toyama is famous for its historical pharmaceutical industry which remains a top manufacturing industry in the prefecture.

Gokayama (五箇山) is an area within the city of Nanto in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its traditional gasshō-zukuri houses, alongside nearby Shirakawa-gō in Gifu Prefecture.^[1] 

Etchū Province (越中国 Etchū no kuni^?) was an old province in central Honshū, on the Sea of Japan side.^[1] It was sometimes called Esshū (越州^?), with Echizen and Echigo Provinces.

Horimono

Horimono (彫り物, 彫物, literally carving, engraving), also known as chōkoku (彫刻, "sculpture"), are the engraved images in the blade of a Japanese sword, which may include katana or tantō blades.^[1]

The images are most often carved into ceremonial blades due to the inherent weakness associated with the compromised integrity of a carved blade.^[2]

The artist is called a chōkokushi (彫刻師), or a horimonoshi (彫物師, "engraver"). There are a variety of designs, which include kozumi (claws), kusa kurikara (草倶利伽羅) (Arabesque style), Munenagabori (created in Munenaga), rendai (lotus pedastal), tokko (a type of Indian sword), fruit, dragons, and many others.

Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture (新潟県 Niigata-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan.^[1]

The capital is the city of Niigata.^[2] The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".

Until after the Meiji Restoration, the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province and Sado Province.^[3] 

The city of Niigata is now the largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan. It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea.

Niigata Prefecture hosts the Fuji Rock Festival, an annual event held at the Naeba ski resort. The three-day event, organized by Smash Japan, features more than 200 Japanese and international musicians. It is one of the largest outdoor music events in Japan, with more than 100,000 people attending in 2005.

The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaidō in rice output. The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan.

Much of the tourism in Niigata centers around skiing and going to onsen, especially in the alpine areas of Myōkō and Yuzawa.
Sado Island off the west coast of Niigata is accessible via ferry (taking one to two and a half hours) from Naoetsu or Niigata City.

Suama and Uirō

Suama (寿甘^?), a combination of the kanji for celebration "su" (寿) and sweet "ama" (甘) is a Japanese sweet made of non-glutinous rice flour, hot water, and sugar characterized by its red food dye.

It is dyed red, because red and white symbolize celebration in Japanese tradition.

It is kneaded and then optionally shaped by a sushi rolling mat (sudare), which gives the final product a textured, slightly bumpy surface.

Suama is similar to, but not the same as, other rice-based Japanese snacks mochi and uirō. Mochi uses glutinous rice flour; while uirō is not kneaded, but rather mixed, placed in a mold, and steamed.

Suama is also the Japanese cartoon character Tarepanda's favorite food.

Uirō (外郎^?), also known as uirō-mochi (外郎餠^?), is a traditional Japanese steamed cake made of rice flour and sugar.^[1] It is chewy, similar to mochi, and subtly sweet. Flavors include azuki bean paste, green tea (matcha), yuzu, strawberry and chestnut.

Nagoya is particularly famous for its uirō, but there are other regional versions, notably in Yamaguchi and Odawara. It can also be purchased in traditional Japanese confectionery shops throughout Japan.^[1]

Uirō was originally the name of a medicine in the Muromachi period (1336 – 1573). References to uirō as a confection first appear in the Wa-Kan Sansai Zue, Ryōan Terajima's massive Edo-period dictionary published in 1712.^[2]

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture (神奈川県 Kanagawa-ken^?) is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan.^[1]

The capital is Yokohama.^[2]

Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.

In medieval Japan, Kanagawa was part of the provinces of Sagami and Musashi.^[3]

The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period (around 400 BC). About 3,000 years ago, Mount Hakone produced a volcanic explosion which resulted in Lake Ashi on the western area of the prefecture.

Kanagawa is a relatively small prefecture and its eastern side is relatively flat and heavily urbanized, including the large port cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki.

• The city of Kamakura is famous as the location of many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines.
• Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan, larger than Chinatowns in both Kobe and Nagasaki, and one of the largest in the world.
• Other sightseeing spots include Hakone, Ashinoko, Enoshima, and Kawasaki Daishi^{[citation needed]}

Ōmisoka and Toshikoshi-soba/udon

Ōmisoka (大晦日^?), New Year's Eve, is the second-most important day in Japanese tradition because it is the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year's Day, which is the most important day of the year.

Around 11:00 pm on Ōmisoka at home, people often gather for one last time in the old year to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba (年越しそば) or toshikoshi-udon (年越しうどん) together—a tradition based on people's association of eating the long noodles with “crossing over from one year to the next,” which is the meaning of toshi-koshi. While the noodles are often eaten plain, or with chopped scallions, in some localities people top them with tempura. Traditionally, families make Osechi (おせち) for new year day because cooking during the first 3 days of the new year is considered unlucky. Nowadays, most families buy Osechi or cook ordinary dishes.

At midnight, many visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumōde (初詣).

Another regular feature of Ōmisoka starts at 7:30 pm when public broadcaster NHK airs Kōhaku Uta Gassen ("Red vs. White singing contest"), one of the country's most-watched television programs. Popular singers (and singing groups) split into two teams, women in the red team and men in the white, which then alternate while competing for the audience's heart throughout the evening.

When seeing someone for the last time before the new year, it is conventionally to say 良いお年を (yoi o-toshi wo), "Have a good New Year"; once the new year has started and one sees someone again for the first time, one instead says a greeting such as 明けましておめでとう (akemashite o-medetō) "Happiness on the opening (of a new year)".

Hatsumōde (初詣 hatsumōde^?) is the first shrine visit of the New Year in Japan. Some people visit a Buddhist temple instead.

Osechi-ryōri and Jūbako

Osechi-ryōri (御節料理 or お節料理) are traditional Japanese New Year foods.

The tradition started in the Heian Period (794-1185). Osechi are easily recognizable by their special boxes called jūbako (重箱), which resemble bentō boxes. Like bentō boxes, jūbako are often kept stacked before and after use.

The dishes that make up osechi each have a special meaning celebrating the New Year.

Read about these meanings.

The term osechi originally referred to o-sechi, a season or significant period. New Year's Day was one of the five seasonal festivals (節句 sekku) in the Imperial Court in Kyoto. This custom of celebrating particular days was introduced from China into Japan.
Originally, during first three days of the New Year it was a taboo to use a hearth and cook meals, except when cooking zōni. Osechi was made by the close of the previous year, as women did not cook in the New Year.

The Heian period (平安時代 Heian jidai^?) is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185.^[1] The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto

Chiba Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture (千葉県 Chiba-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area.^[1]

Its capital is Chiba City.^[2]

The name of Chiba Prefecture in Japanese is formed from two kanji characters. The first, 千, means "thousand" and the second, 葉 means "leaves".

Chiba Prefecture was settled in prehistoric times, as evidenced by the Jōmon period remains in every part of the region.

Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north at the Tone River, Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture to the west at the Edo River, the Pacific Ocean to the east and Tokyo Bay around its southern boundary.

Chiba Prefecture is home to one of Japan's largest industrial areas. Chiba Prefecture is now 6th in Japan in industrial output with the bulk of the industry focued on the petroleum, chemical, and steel and machine industries.^[24] Together, these industries account for forty-five percent of the prefecture's exports.

The prefecture also boasts Japan's overall second-highest agricultural output.
Peanuts are considered a specialty product of Chiba: 78 per cent of the country's peanuts are produced in the prefecture.^[25]

Various rock bands have roots that stem from Chiba prefecture, including the popular X Japan, Plastic Tree, girugamesh and Ellegarden.

The Jōmon period (縄文時代 Jōmon jidai^?) is the time in Japanese prehistory from about 14,000 BC^[1][2] to about 300 BC, when Japan was inhabited by a Neolithic culture which reached a considerable degree of cultural sophistication, above all in pottery, despite limited development of agriculture and no use of metal.

Kakizome

Kakizome (書き初め, literally "first writing") is a Japanese term for the first calligraphy written at the beginning of a year, traditionally on January 2. Other terms include 吉書（kissho）, 試筆（shihitsu）and 初硯（hatsusuzuri）.

Traditionally, kakizome was performed using ink rubbed with the first water drawn from the well on New Year's Day. Seated facing a favourable direction, people would write Chinese poetry containing auspicious words and phrases such as long life, spring, or perennial youth. These poems were then often burned.

In modern times, people often write out auspicious kanji rather than poems.

School pupils up to senior high school are assigned kakizome as their winter holiday homework.

Each year on January 5, several thousand calligraphers gather at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo's Chiyoda-ku for a kakizome event that is widely covered by media.

The kakizome paper is usually burned on 14 January in the Sagicho festival. If the burning paper flies high, it is said that the person will be able to write a more fair hand

Saitama Prefecture and the Chichibu Region

Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県 Saitama-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu.^[1]

The capital is the city of Saitama.^[2]

This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.^{[citation needed]}

 Saitama Prefecture was formerly part of the old Musashi Province.^[3]

 Saitama Prefecture is bordered by Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Nagano, and Yamanashi.

Most of the popular tourist sites in Saitama are located in the northwestern part of the prefecture, which is known as the Chichibu Region. This region mostly consists of a hilly and moderately mountainous area, and is situated in a rich natural environment. The region is very popular among residents of Saitama and neighboring prefectures for short trips, as it is easily accessible via the railroad network.

Chichibu (秩父市 Chichibu-shi^?) is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. 

Kobaton (コバトン^?) is the prefectural mascot, a Eurasian collared dove, which is also the prefectural bird. Kobaton was made originally as the mascot of the fifty-ninth annual national athletic meeting held in the prefecture in 2004, and was inaugurated as mascot of the prefecture in 2005 with an inauguration ceremony and a letter of appointment from the governor. A wheelchair-using version of Kobaton also exists.^[13]

 Sayama Tea is a tea variety grown in Saitama prefecture

Melody Roads (aka Musical Roads)

Musical roads are known to exist in four countries: Denmark, Japan, South Korea, and the United States of America.

The first known musical road, the Asphaltophone, was created in October 1995 in Gylling, Østjylland, Denmark, by Steen Krarup Jensen and Jakob Freud-Magnus, two Danish artists.^[1]

In Japan, Shizuo Shinoda accidentally scraped some markings into a road with a bulldozer and drove over them, and realised that it was possible to create tunes depending on the depth and spacing of the grooves.^[2]

In 2007, the Hokkaido National Industrial Research Institute, which had previously worked on infra-red lights to detect dangerous road surfaces, refined Shinoda's designs to create the Melody Road. They used the same concept of cutting grooves into the concrete at specific intervals and found that the closer the grooves are, the higher the pitch of the sound; while grooves that are spaced further apart create lower pitched sounds.^[3]

There are three permanently paved 250 m stretches of Melody Roads;^[4] one in Hokkaido, another in Wakayama where a car can produce the Japanese ballad "Miagete goran yoru no hoshi wo" by Kyu Sakamoto, and a third in Gunma, which consists of 2,559 grooves cut into a 175 m stretch of existing roadway and produces the tune of "Memories of Summer".^[5]

The roads work by creating sequences of variable width groove intervals to create specific low and high frequency vibrations. The pavements were designed so that the songs were heard right only when a car drove at a certain speed, encouraging drivers to observe speed limits.

Gunma Prefecture

Gunma Prefecture (群馬県 Gunma-ken^?) is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island.^[1]

Its capital is Maebashi.^[2]

The prefectural symbol consists of the first kanji of the word 'Gunma' surrounded by three stylized mountains symbolizing the three important mountains of Gunma Prefecture: Mount Haruna, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Myogi.

One of only eight landlocked prefectures in Japan, Gunma is the northwestern-most prefecture of the Kantō plain. Except for the central and southeast areas, where most of the population is concentrated, it is mostly mountainous. To the north are Niigata and Fukushima prefectures, while to the east lies Tochigi. To the west lies Nagano prefecture, and Saitama is to the south.

Gunma has a traditional card game called Jomo Karuta (上毛かるた). Both children and old people can enjoy this card game.

Gunma is home to two of Japan's four Melody Roads, which is made from grooves cut into the ground, which when driven over causes a tactile vibration and audible rumbling transmitted through the wheels into the car body.^[4][5] It consist of 2,559 grooves cut into a 175 meter stretch of existing roadway. When driven over at 50 km/h it produce the tune of "Memories of Summer".^[6]