Located in the heart of Uchiko in Ehime, Izumiya is one of those very few places where you can still enjoy the wonder of Japanese old rice terraces. Lost in the mountains, with roads barely larger than your average compact Japanese car, Izumiya is well known all over Japan […]
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Back in early 2000, Akihabara was really the world´s best place to purchase electronics, computer parts, cameras and so on, but almost two decades later, Akihabara is just the ghost of what it used to be. Sure you can still find some interesting stuff there, but the choice […]
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Ozu Castle, also known as Jizogatake Castle, was originally constructed in 1331 by Utsunomiya Toyofusa. However, the structure as represented now was built sometime between 1585 ~ 1617. During this period, the castle was controlled by a number of lords. In 1888 the keep was destroyed by a fire, […]
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Simply meaning “New World” Shinsekai was a district developed before the second world war which unfortunately was left neglected for decades afterward and only became popular years later. Built in 1912 just after the Eiffel Tower, the Tsutenkaku now features an open-air deck on top of the main […]
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While the difference may be subtle for us foreigners, sento and onsen are two different ways to enjoy Japanese bath culture. Simply put onsen means hot spring with hot natural water, while a sento is a paid public bath with heating boilers and dates back to as early as […]
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What could be described as the hidden pearl of Ozu, Garyu Sanso is a subtle yet superb villa located by Ozu’s river and the city’s old town. Built in 1907, and despite its small size, Garyu Sanso is a true masterpiece of both Japanese traditional architecture and design. [...]
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Known by many as the Japanese version of the Champs-Élysées, Omotesando Avenue was in fact originally created in the Taisho Era (1912 – 1926) as the formal pathway to Emperor Meiji and his wife Empress Shoken temple also known as the Meiji Shrine. [...]
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One of Tokyo’s most unconventional green spaces, Todoroki Valley is located just 20 minutes away from Shibuya Station and in the center of the densely populated Setagaya Ward. Unlike many other places in Japan, Todoroki Valley is a simple walking trail adjacent to the Yazawa River and surrounded by a […]
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Today’s “Walking Around” video will be all about the famous open-air market, Ameyoko. Located just a station away from Akihabara and Ueno, Ameyoko Market, or more officially Ameya Yokocho, is home to almost 200 stores. These stores sell pretty much everything, ranging from fresh vegetables and seafood, to […]
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Hashirimizu is a small fishing town located in Kanagawa prefecture. Close to Yokosuka city or if you prefer, a good hour south of Tokyo and around 30 minutes south of Yokohama by car. Now we will be straight with you, there is actually nothing special about this little fishing […]
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Mitsumine Shrine, located on top of Mount Mitsumine, is one of 3 major shrines in Chichibu, Saitama and by far the oldest! According to the legends, Mitsumine Shrine was apparently founded around the first century during the reign of the 12th Emperor of Japan: Keiko […]
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Covering a major portion of the west slope of Mt Hakone, the beautiful field of Sengokuhara, are covered in some of the most beautiful Japanese “Susuki”, also known as pampas grass. [...]
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