Animated Pictograms

Fun and easy-to-understand presentation of historical culture and traditional customs that are uniquely Japanese.

  • VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE
  • BOWING
  • POUNDING RICE CAKE
  • HAILING A CAB / TAXI
  • TAKING A BATH
  • WATER ABLUTION
  • TEA CEREMONY
  • RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AT CELEBRATIONS
  • RIDING THE TRAIN
  • WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ
  • AWA DANCE FESTIVAL
  • Coming Soon

About The Project

EXPERIENCE JAPAN PICTOGRAMS were developed to provide visual support for tourists in Japan.
For more information about the objectives and design concept of the project, please click here.

Request

If you would like us to create new PICTOGRAMS for you or have other requests, please contact us here.

KUROBE GORGE

黒部峡谷[KUROBE KYŌKOKU]

The Kurobe Gorge in Toyama Prefecture along the coast of the Sea of Japan is one of Japan’s deepest gorges, sitting between the 3,000 m-high Tateyama and Ushiro-Tateyama mountain ranges. Because of the steep, nearly vertical cliffs, the gorge was long inaccessible to people until a railway was built to aid the construction of a hydropower station. Today, tourists can enjoy the majestic landscape while riding a trolley train through the ravine. The train was initially built exclusively for construction workers, but later, local residents were also allowed to use the train for free. The train ticket in those days carried a warning that said, “There is absolutely no guarantee of safety.” I guess people back then had to risk their lives literally to enjoy this rollercoaster adventure ride deep in the mountains.