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.

AIZU SAZAEDO

会津さざえ堂[AIZU SAZAE-DŌ]

A Buddhist pagoda built in 1796 on Mt. Iomori in Fukushima Prefecture. The world’s only wooden building with a double-helix structure, it is designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Upon entering this unique structure, whose design mimics a sazae (sea snail), you will follow a one-way spiral path that takes you up to the top and back down again without encountering anyone moving in the opposite direction. It gives you a sense of walking through a maze. Some say that it is influenced by the double-spiral staircase of the Château de Chambord by Leonardo da Vinci. Bob felt dizzy looking at the photo of Sazaedo’s spiraling slope. Is this going up or down? This feels familiar. Where have I seen this before? Ah yes, the illusionary stairs by M. C. Escher!