Visiting Koke-Dera, Kyoto’s Moss Temple
Formally known as Koinzan Saiho-ji, or Saihoji for short, this Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple is located in...
Suizenji Garden: Where the Art of War and Culture Resonate with One Another
One of Japan’s most renowned landscapes, Kumamoto’s Suizenji Garden is a stunning representation of engineering wisdom gained from wars and the artistic...
Tohoku’s Kizuna Festival Raucously Blends Six Great Traditions
Tanabata Festival in Sendai
Japanese festivals are raucous and joyful events, filled with noise and songs. For a...
Dogo Onsen: Wrapped in History and Charm
Just a short tram ride from Matsuyama city center in Ehime is Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring....
Yesterday’s Yamagata is Today’s Travel Treasure
If you’re looking to travel somewhere in Japan beyond the usual major cities, you could do a lot worse than Yamagata —...
Sakura Jingu Shrine: Pretty in Pink Cherry Blossoms and Ribbons
There are plenty of places to see cherry blossoms in Tokyo, but Setagaya’s Sakura Jingu Shrine has...
Tenku no Torii: Kawaguchiko’s Torii in the Sky
If you’re looking for breathtaking Mount Fuji views while in Kawaguchiko, perhaps you’ve come across Tenku no torii (torii in the sky)...
Ine Bay Sightseeing Boat: Birds and Boat houses
When most people think of Kyoto, they picture famous shrines and bamboo forests. But the northern Kyoto fishing village of Ine is...
Art, Tranquility, and Synth-playing Monks at Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple
Kyoto’s beauty and charm cannot be denied. However, it has led to a rather serious case of overtourism, so much so that...
Mizumoto Park: Tokyo’s Biggest and Best Place to See Irises
The northeastern reaches of Tokyo are home to the oft-overlooked Katsushika Ward, bordered by the Edo and Ara Rivers and dissected by...