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Where is Lithuania?
Lithuania forms one of the Baltic states along with Estonia and Latvia, and is considered to be in Northern Europe by the United Nations and in Eastern Europe by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency/USA).
In addition, the Nordic Council granted "Observer" status just after independence from the Soviet Union, and the door to becoming "Nordic" is still open.
The three Baltic states, including Lithuania, are in the midst of a shift in both image and definition from the former Eastern Europe to the new Northern Europe.
Compared to Hokkaido, it is a very spacious country with 55% of the population and 80% of the area. The capital Vilnius is located at about 55° north latitude, far north of the northern tip of Japan. It is a cold region where the temperature can drop to -20℃ in winter.
Lithuanian is said to be one of the oldest surviving languages in the world, and has a lot in common with Sanskrit. Many people can speak English, and in tourist areas, English alone is almost always sufficient. Credit cards are accepted at most stores.
These are the local specialty products you often see in souvenir shops. Linen is the most popular, but it is becoming a bit expensive even locally, so amber and wooden goods are also unique.
Lithuania is also a honey-producing country, so we also recommend honey and mead, a honey wine, which can be purchased inexpensively at supermarkets.
More in-depth souvenir information follows.
Surprisingly, the legend of storks bringing babies also exists in Lithuania, and its roots are apparently in Europe.
Among sports, basketball is by far the most popular, ranking 10th in the world (as of September 2024). The famous basketball player, Sabonis, is a second generation player in the NBA.
The world ranking for average height is 14th for men at 180.72cm, and 9th for women at 167.63cm (as of September 2024). The reason of unnecessarily large hotel doors and a strong basketball country are explained.
If you want to go, the above three routes are the options. There are no direct flights, so you need to be prepared for about 17 hours one way, including transit.
If you are traveling from Helsinki to Northern Europe, or from Germany to Poland, it would be a smart idea to go a little further and visit Lithuania as well.
A train will run from Vilnius to Riga from the end of 2023. There are plans to extend it to Tallinn in the future.
One of the largest old town in Europe
Old Town is said to be one of the largest old towns in Europe that still exists from the Middle Ages. Gate of Dawn , Gediminas Tower , Vilnius Cathedral , St. Anne's Church , Halle Market . All of these are within the Old Town area, so you can see them all in one day if you try. On a nice day, we recommend viewing the Old Town from the top of Gediminas Tower (free of charge).
The annual Kaziukas Festival, held in the Old Town, is the busiest event of the year, with craftsmen from all over Lithuania selling miscellaneous goods and food.
For a more modern style, explore the graffiti art in Užupis or visit the MO Museum of Modern Art.
This traditional dance, designated as an intangible cultural heritage, is held once every four years for nearly a week from the end of June to the beginning of July. The year 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of the event.
On the final day, "Song Day" held at Vingis Park , you can see them without a ticket as well. On the previous day, "Dance Day" held at LFF Stadium , you need a ticket. If you can time it right, it's worth going.
The city where "Visas for Life" was issued
Kaunas also has an old town with many historical buildings ( Kaunas Castle , St. Michael's Church (aka Soboras) , and the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul ). The magnificent Statue of Vytis (Knight of the National Emblem) next to Kaunas Castle is worth a visit.
The painter and composer Čiurlionis is a well-known artist in Lithuania, so this is a place you should definitely visit. If you are Japanese, you might also be interested in Sugihara House, famous for the "Visas for Life."
Don't miss the world's only museum dedicated to the devil. At the Ninth Fort, a Nazi concentration camp, you can learn about the horrific times through authentic photographs.
If you want to experience nature, we recommend a walk on Nemunas Island along the 937km long Neman River (Nemunas).
Kaunas is also home to the team that has won the most domestic league titles. You can learn about the history of Lithuanian basketball at the museum for enthusiasts. If you can't go, we recommend the documentary film "The Other Dream Team."
Stone castle floating on the lake
Trakai, which can be reached by bus from Vilnius, was the capital in the late 14th century. If the weather is nice in summer, I recommend taking a lakeside boat trip around the castle.
Kibinai is a traditional dish of Trakai made of meat wrapped in puff pastry. There are so many restaurants where you can choose this dish. Traditionally, lamb is used, but there are also variations using pork, venison, beef, or chicken, as well as plant-based dishes using mushrooms.
Hot air ballooning is also famous, with competitions held in the country. It costs money, but you can experience a little skydiving. There seems to be a course above Vilnius as well.
100,000 crosses covering the hill
To get there, plan on taking a bus or train, which takes about 3 to 4 hours one way. Be careful, as the bus stop where you get off is not well marked and you might miss it if you're not paying attention.
In the 1990s, there were 50,000 crosses, but in 2006, the number increased to 100,000. It seems that the number is still increasing. It is interesting that such a place exists in Lithuania, which is said to be the last country in Europe to accept Christianity.
World Heritage and Baltic Amber
I recommend taking a walk around Klaipeda looking for the sculptures scattered around. The Amber Museum in the neighboring town of Palanga is quite large, so you'll want to set aside plenty of time to explore.
The 98km-long Curonian Spit, a World Heritage Site, is a delight to view on a sunset cruise departing from the town of Nida.
There are various spots scattered along the Curonian Spit. Grab a parasol and climb the Dead Dunes for a panoramic view, trek through the eerie sculptures of Hill of Witches, or go swimming at the shallow beach of Nida. There are plenty of nature-focused activities to enjoy.
Capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 13th century
Although it is close to Vilnius (about 2 hours), it is not a high priority location and is not easily considered an option.
The Midsummer Festival, which is characterized by the worship of nature, sees craftsmen and artists at work from noon. At night, the atmosphere changes with bonfires and dancing. If you are an Ayurveda lover, this is a must-visit.
You can also buy high-quality Lithuanian linen fabric as a souvenir for someone who loves sewing. The finished products are relatively expensive, but face towels and other items are reasonably affordable.
The amber accessories sold around town are all one-of-a-kind, so if you come across something you like, don't hesitate to buy it.
Beekeeping is popular here and beeswax is produced in abundance, so soaps and candles are also commonly found here. Soaps in particular are recommended as gifts, as there are some unique craft soaps that contain flower petals.
Apple cheese is a sweet and delicious dessert that resembles apple jam made into a yokan. Contrary to the name, it does not contain cheese. It keeps its freshness well and it is a perfect pairing with tea.
The first one is honey! You can get high-quality raw honey at a great price even if it doesn't have a brand name. Although it takes up a lot of space on your suitcase, you won't regret it.
"Džiugas" cheese, which can be aged for a certain period, is also a great souvenir to bring along with alcohol. It comes in small bags, so you'll want some for yourself when you drink at the hotel.
If you're looking for tea with a good package, try "Etno," which has a Scandinavian-style berry flavor. There are also many berry-flavored chocolates and snacks, so it's smart to buy them in packs and share them with others.
You can get any alcoholic drink at a large supermarket, but please note that Lithuanian law stipulates that alcohol sales end at 8 pm, and 3 pm on Sundays (excluding consumption at restaurants and bars).
High-quality vodka, which is also Protected Geographical Indication(PGI), comes in a wide variety of sizes. The bottle "Stumbras" with an ear of wheat inside is quite impressive.
For berry wine, you can choose between the popular "Voruta" or the high-end "Gintaro Sino." They also come in a variety of flavors.
If you're looking for a modern craft beer, we recommend "Genys Brewing", and if you want the original Lithuanian taste, we recommend "Rinkuškiai".
Lietuviškas Midus' mead, which comes in a wide variety including mead and liqueurs, can be purchased at our shop in Japan, but if you're buying it locally, we recommend brands that are not available in Japan.
The national flag is yellow, green, and red, and when hoisted vertically, yellow is on the left.
The national emblem of the knight "Vytis" is also depicted on the coat of arms of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a powerful European state in the 15th century, and is also used in the design of Lithuanian euro coins and various souvenirs.
The highest point in Lithuania is Aukštojas Hill in the southeast of the country, with a height of 293.84m. There are no mountains in Lithuania.
Instead, the country is dotted with more than 3,000 lakes and has an abundance of mineral-rich groundwater sources, such as the 937 km long Neman River. The town of Birštonas , near Kaunas, is particularly famous as a health resort with a number of luxury spas.
Lukiškės Prison in the capital, Vilnius, is a former prison that has now been renovated into an event venue where people can enjoy alcohol.
It was used as the location for an important concentration camp that appears in season 4 of the Netflix series "Stranger Things." A ticket is required for the location tour.
The metal festival Kilkim Žaibu has been held every year since 1999 in Lithuania, a country that resisted the acceptance of Christianity to the very end and where paganism and Midsommar nature worship are still deeply rooted.
It is held every year around the summer solstice in late June as the "Baltic culture and extreme music festival," bringing together pagan, black, folk and other extreme metal bands.
It's evolving as the festival is gaining recognition as a good metal festival, with good overseas bands starting to appear little by little. There are plenty of attractions other than live performances. Aim for Wacken!
It is said that beer brewing in Lithuania began in the northern town of Biržai around the 12th century. Lithuanian beer has a fragrant and slightly sweet taste.
Biržai's recommended breweries are Rinkuškiai, which has stylish packaging and a restaurant on-site, and Biržų Alus, where you can buy rare beers in plastic bottles (probably sold in limited quantities every day) that have a shelf life of only a few days.
While this phantom beer is only available at the brewery, other brands from both breweries can be purchased at supermarkets in Vilnius or so.
If you go, buy some Biržų Alus's beer, then enjoy a meal and beer at Rinkuškiai, and enjoy the legendary beer for an evening drink when you get home.
Since the birth of laser technology in Lithuania in 1966, the laser industry has continued to grow, and currently over 90% of laser products are exported overseas and are used by NASA, IBM, Hitachi, TOYOTA, Mitsubishi, and others.
Furthermore, Lithuanian laser technology is used in more than 90 of the world's top 100 universities (QS World University Rankings).
Startups that support companies are also thriving, and the country has begun issuing startup visas , allowing people from overseas to stay in the country for two years (or up to five years, depending on the conditions).
Apparel company Vinted , e-commerce company Oberlo , and transportation company Trafi are some of the Lithuanian startups that seem to have achieved success.
All three Baltic states allow working holiday visas. As they are also members of the Schengen Agreement, it is very easy to travel to neighboring countries.
Lithuania is a pro-Japanese country, thanks in part to the achievements of Chiune Sugihara, famous for the Visa for Life. There should be Lithuanians in Japan studying abroad or on a working holiday visa, so if you're interested, it might be a good idea to look for communities on sites like "Meetup."
I think it's a good country for people who value individuality and uniqueness over competition and busy lives. (This is a very subjective opinion.)
The thunder god Perkūnas races through the sky chasing the demon, the god of death Velnias, and a flaming stone chariot drawn by two horses is said to be the symbol of the deity.
Perkūnas is described as a white-haired, bearded old man wearing white and black clothing and carrying a horn, an axe, a bow and arrows, etc.
Meanwhile, the demon Velnias is desperately trying to escape Perkūnas. He is said to have been hiding in hollows of large oak trees, which are abundant in Lithuania, and deceiving people by transforming into animals, or by cleverly deceiving people by promising them wealth and beauty.
The chase reaches its climax when a thunderstorm strikes, and Perkūnas, the god of thunder, purifies the demon Velnias and other evil spirits, and recovers the stolen livestock and weapons.
Perkūnas is associated with Zeus in Greek mythology and Thor in Norse mythology. He is also closely related to "Thursday", as in many legends Thursday is the day of the "Thunderer".
The human fisherman Kastytis worked in the Baltic Sea and caught a lot of fish.
Jūratė, the sea goddess who lives in an amber castle at the bottom of the sea, decided to punish Kastytis, who disturbed the peace of the sea. However, when she confronted him and saw his appearance, she fell in love with him, and Jūratė took Kastytis to her underwater amber castle, where they forgot about time and grew their love.
Enraged by her love for a human, the thunder god Perkūnas (equivalent to Zeus in Greek mythology and Jupiter in Roman mythology) struck Kastytis with a lightning bolt, shattering the amber castle.
Jūratė was also punished by being chained to the bottom of the sea, and her tears, grief over the loss of her loved one, turned into amber and still wash up on the shores of the Baltic Sea to this day.
Amber is a Lithuanian specialty that is mined in the Baltic Sea. It is said that larger pieces of amber are fragments of castles, and smaller pieces are the tears of Jūratė.
Long ago, a beautiful giantess named Neringa lived on the Baltic coast of western Lithuania. A dragon proposed to Neringa, but when she refused, the dragon began to attack fishermen in the Baltic Sea.
To protect the local fishermen, they brought in sand to fill the area and create a sandbar, keeping the dragons away from the mainland.
This is said to be the beginning of the Curonian Spit, which is 98 km long and designated a World Heritage Site, and the town on which it stands is called Neringa, after a giant.
There is a theory that the dragon was buried in sand, and the town of Neringa, with a total length of 50 km, is said to be the "longest" town in Lithuania.
