Mikoshi Parades are the gathering and demonstration of divine palanquins carried by Shinto followers. Extremely popular in Japan, every single little parish or ward hosts their own little matsuri (festival) each year, including these Mikoshi Parades. Like the rest of Japan, Shibuya is no exception and every third Saturday and Sunday of September, since 1092, […]
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Located at the foot of Fujisan (Mt. Fuji) the Aokigahara Jukai is a magnificent forest with an unfortunate dark side. Because of its imposing size (35 square kilometers) and its many rocky and icy caverns, many people come here to commit suicide every year. Despite this downside, Aokigahara Jukai, when you follow one of its […]
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We have covered Shibuya’s famous crossing a few times already, but today we decided to step things up a little and guide you around Shibuya with one of our first “Walking Tours”. So, as usual, kick off your shoes, sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
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English The Tama River of Tama-gawa, is a 138 km-long river that spreads across three prefectures: Yamanashi, Kanagawa and Tokyo. With its source located at Mt. Kasadori in Koshu Yamanashi, the Tama River has been a major supplier of fresh water to Edo (now known as Tokyo) via a well-engineered aqueduct system, the Tamagawa Josui, […]
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English Located on the mountain top of Fujiyoshida City in the Yamanashi prefecture, the Chureito Pagoda is part of the Arakusa Sengen Shrine and was built as a peace memorial in 1963. This gorgeous five-storey pagoda can be reached after climbing around 400 steps and, once there, will give you one of the most breathtaking […]
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English Along with Hitachi Seaside Park’s Nemophila Harmony Festival, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival is yet another extremely popular flower festival located near Lake Motsu at the base of Mt. Fuji. Each year for one month, mid-April to mid-May, people across Japan and from all over the world come in their thousands to enjoy a beautiful […]
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Located in the heart of Chiba and 15 kilometers away from Narita Airport, Sawara street and the Ono River in Katori City look like they have been frozen in time with multiple buildings from the Edo period. Like many other well preserved Edo Period streets, you will find in Sawara many houses of former merchants […]
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Here is another stunning park near Tokyo and located in Ibaraki Prefecture, the Hitachi Seaside Park. Once a year it offers visitors an incredibly gorgeous view with its nemophila* Harmony festival (*Also called ‘baby blue eye’). Thanks to its unique configuration and small hills, the Hitachi Seaside Park, covered with millions of nemophila, gives visitors […]
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Japanese people are very fond of flowers and nature in general, explaining why parks and flower parks are something pretty (no pun intended) common here. While the park is a delight all year long, it is around the beginning of May, and during the Wisteria Festival, that the place becomes incredibly popular, with the hours […]
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Katori Shrine was founded in 643 B.C., and located in Chiba near Narita. It is a Shinto shrine, and the head shrine of approximately 400 other Katori shrines across Japan, mainly located in the Kanto region. Dedicated to the Futsumushi no Mikoto god (the protector or military/army men), the Katori Shrine has been an important […]
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Located just outside the Ikegami Honmon-Ji temple, Ikegami Baien is a gorgeous little plum tree garden that also features a few small traditional houses built for the unique purpose of the ancient art of the Tea Ceremony. Small yet elegant, Ikegami Baien is a little oasis of peace that is worth checking when visiting Ikegami […]
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Located in Kamogawa City in Chiba prefecture, and barely one and a half hours away from the center of Tokyo by car, Hitratsuka is the closest terraced rice field to Tokyo, and also the only one of its kind in Japan! Unlike other rice fields, the Hiratsuka Tanada (terraced rice field) grows rice with only […]
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