Japan is a country with a rich cultural history that dates back thousands of years. This long and storied past has given rise to many riddles and puzzles related to Japanese culture, geography, language, traditions, and more. Below are 81 riddles about Japan along with their answers, ranging from easy to difficult. See how many you can get right!
Easy Riddles
Let’s start off with some easier riddles to warm up:
Q: What do you call a Japanese robe? A: A kimono.
Q: What do sumo wrestlers try to do to their opponents? A: Knock them out of the ring.
Q: What is the famous bright red arch at Fushimi Inari Shrine called? A: Torii.
Q: What is the name of the famous Japanese puppet theater? A: Bunraku.
Q: What is the name of the thin noodle soup that is a popular Japanese dish? A: Ramen.
Q: What do people do at a karaoke bar? A: Sing along to music.
Q: What is the name of the alcoholic drink made from fermented rice? A: Sake.
Q: What are the wooden flip flops worn in Japan called? A: Getas.
Q: What is the name of the Japanese art of paper folding? A: Origami.
Q: What is the name of the famous Japanese volcano that erupted in 1707? A: Mount Fuji.
Intermediate Riddles
Let’s move on to some trickier riddles:
Q: What is the name of the old capital city of Japan? A: Kyoto.
Q: What is the name of the gate in Kyoto that is painted bright red? A: Kiyomizu-dera.
Q: What is the name of the Japanese warrior code of conduct? A: Bushido.
Q: What is the name of the famous Zen rock garden in Kyoto? A: Ryoan-ji.
Q: What is the highest rank you can achieve in judo? A: 10th dan black belt.
Q: What is the name of the annual spring festival with beautiful cherry blossoms? A: Hanami.
Q: What are the wooden blocks used to print Japanese characters called? A: Hanzi.
Q: What is the name of the infamous forest in Japan known for being a popular place for suicide? A: Aokigahara Forest.
Q: What is the traditional Japanese sport that involves martial arts moves? A: Sumo wrestling.
Q: What is the name of the famous Shinto shrine in Tokyo with a large red lantern? A: Senso-ji Temple.
Advanced Riddles
Now let’s try some advanced riddles:
Q: What is the name of the city devastated by an atomic bomb in WWII? A: Hiroshima.
Q: What is the name of the ritual suicide practiced by samurai? A: Seppuku.
Q: What is the name of the famous Shinto sun goddess? A: Amaterasu.
Q: What is the name of the yellow and black belt ranks in many Japanese martial arts? A: Obi.
Q: What is the highest mountain in Japan? A: Mount Fuji.
Q: What is the name of the mythological creatures that can shape-shift into human form? A: Kitsune.
Q: What is the name of the brightly-lit entertainment district in Tokyo? A: Shinjuku.
Q: What is the name of the largest bronze Buddha statue in Japan? A: Ushiku Daibutsu.
Q: What is the name of the period when Japan was ruled by shoguns from 1185-1868? A: Edo period.
Q: What is the name of the Japanese art of elegant flower arranging? A: Ikebana.
Riddles about Japanese Culture
Here are some riddles related to Japanese culture:
Q: What do people do during Hanami season? A: View cherry blossoms.
Q: What do you call someone who is obsessed with anime or manga? A: Otaku.
Q: What is sake made from? A: Fermented rice.
Q: What is washi made from? A: Paper mulberry.
Q: What is the tea ceremony called? A: Chanoyu.
Q: What color is the Gates of Hell at Hakone Shrine? A: Bright red.
Q: What do geisha wear on their feet? A: Okobo sandals.
Q: What is dashi stock usually made from? A: Kelp and dried bonito.
Q: What are the paper wishes tied at shrines called? A: Ema.
Q: What do people do at an onsen? A: Bathe in natural hot springs.
Riddles about Japanese Geography
Test your knowledge of Japan’s geography:
Q: What is the largest island of Japan? A: Honshu.
Q: What is the capital city of Japan? A: Tokyo.
Q: What sea lies to the south of Japan? A: The Philippine Sea.
Q: What ocean lies to the east of Japan? A: The Pacific Ocean.
Q: What are the four main islands of Japan? A: Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.
Q: What is largest national park in Japan? A: Daisetsuzan National Park.
Q: Where is the famous valley of snow monkeys located? A: Jigokudani.
Q: What is the name of the sea between Japan and Korea? A: Sea of Japan.
Q: What is the longest river in Japan? A: Shinano River.
Q: What is the highest mountain in Japan? A: Mount Fuji.
Riddles about Japanese Language
Try these riddles about the Japanese language:
Q: What are the three writing systems used in Japanese? A: Kanji, hiragana, and katakana.
Q: What does “arigatou” mean? A: Thank you.
Q: What does “konnichiwa” mean? A: Hello.
Q: What does “sayonara” mean? A: Goodbye.
Q: What does “gomen nasai” mean? A: Sorry.
Q: What does “itadakimasu” mean? A: Said before meals meaning “I humbly receive.”
Q: What does “kampai” mean? A: Cheers!
Q: What honorific is used for teachers and doctors? A: Sensei.
Q: What honorific shows the most respect? A: San.
Q: What is the proper way to refer to yourself in Japanese? A: Watashi.
Riddles about Japanese Traditions
How much do you know about Japanese traditions?
Q: What holiday involves setting carp streamers? A: Children’s Day.
Q: What is given as money gifts at weddings? A: Shugi-bukuro envelopes.
Q: What festival involves parading mikoshi shrines? A: Gion Festival.
Q: What is draped over a sumo wrestling ring? A: A sacred rope.
Q: What ceremony involves coming of age at 20? A: Seijin no Hi.
Q: What ceremony involves visiting ancestors’ graves? A: Obon Festival.
Q: What holiday involves eating soba noodles for luck? A: New Year’s Eve.
Q: What festival involves dancing in yukata? A: Summer festivals.
Q: What festival has girls dressed in hikizuri kimonos? A: Hinamatsuri.
Q: What ceremony involves archery while riding a horse? A: Yabusame.
Riddles about Japanese History
These riddles cover key events and people in Japanese history:
Q: Who founded the city of Edo, now called Tokyo? A: Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Q: Who opened Japan to trade with the West in the 1800s? A: Commodore Matthew Perry.
Q: What was the last shogunate to rule Japan? A: The Tokugawa Shogunate.
Q: Who was the famous samurai known as the “sword saint”? A: Miyamoto Musashi.
Q: What clan ruled Japan before the Tokugawas? A: The Toyotomi clan.
Q: What period saw rapid modernization and industrialization in Japan? A: The Meiji Restoration.
Q: What major earthquake struck Kanto region in 1923? A: The Great Kanto earthquake.
Q: What was the name of Japan’s secret police before and during WWII? A: Kempeitai.
Q: Who was the emperor of Japan during WWII? A: Emperor Hirohito.
Q: What ended the Edo period leading to the Meiji era? A: The arrival of Commodore Perry’s ships.
Riddles about Japanese Food
Let’s finish off with riddles about delicious Japanese cuisine:
Q: What Japanese dish consists of seaweed, rice, and raw fish? A: Sushi.
Q: What sweet involves pounded rice cakes? A: Mochi.
Q: What sauce is made from fermented soybeans? A: Soy sauce.
Q: What Japanese curry is flavored with apples and honey? A: Kare raisu.
Q: What dish is thinly sliced raw fish or meat? A: Sashimi.
Q: What savory pancake contains cabbage and shrimp? A: Okonomiyaki.
Q: What thick, chewy noodles are served hot or cold? A: Udon.
Q: What rice dish is topped with raw egg? A: Oyakodon.
Q: What breaded, fried pork cutlet is a popular dish? A: Tonkatsu.
Q: What citrusy seasoning is often sprinkled on rice? A: Yuzu.
Conclusion
How did you do with these riddles? Japan has an endlessly fascinating culture and history to explore. Let these riddles inspire you to keep learning more about this amazing country. With its distinctive traditions, cuisine, influential arts, and storied past, Japan offers endless mysteries to uncover. Hopefully these riddles have provided some fun facts and surprises about the Land of the Rising Sun!
