Founded in the 7th century, Zenkō-ji Temple is actually one of the most important and popular temples in Japan, and stores the first ever Buddhist statue bought in Japan when Buddhism was first introduced during the 6th century. Zenkō-ji’s fame does not stop here, since the temple itself was founded before Buddhism in Japan split […]
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Located near Nagoya Tower in the Sakae district, Oasis 21 is a multi-level recreational and commercial park equipped with a bus terminal. First opened to the public in 2002, Oasis 21’s major attraction is its oval roof glass structure, also known as “Spaceship Aqua”. The roof just happens to be filled with water, which not […]
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Japanese lacquer is one of the most famous and amazing craftworks that one can enjoy or, better still, own. Most often delivered in a simple form like a bowl or a cup, Japanese lacquer is one of the most complex forms of craft, or shall we say art, that you can imagine. While Japan offers […]
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One of Ishikawa prefecture’s most well known splendors, Kanazawa Castle, has been the pinnacle of power and architecture in the region since 1583. Official headquarters and strong hall of the powerful Maeda Clan, the castle has, however, suffered many disasters and been rebuilt several times including the most recent addition in 2015 of the Gyokuseninmaru […]
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Kenroku-En is, according to many specialists, one of Japan’s “three most beautiful gardens! Located just in front of Kanazawa Castle, Kenroku-En, was constructed by the ruling Maeda family in 1620 and opened to the public in 1871. The name Kenroku-En literally means, “the garden of six sublimities”, or one that combines the six aspects of […]
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Located in Ishikawa Prefecture and a good 2 hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen, Kanazawa is one of those cities where time has somehow stopped, giving us the chance to enjoy Japan like never before! This is especially true in Kanazawa Higashi Chaya District, which is the geisha district of Kanazawa and as such is […]
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Despite being the 4th largest city in Japan with over 2 million inhabitants, Nagoya is often snubbed for its larger neighbor : Osaka. Still, Nagoya as a lot to offer and if you give it a chance, Nagoya will surely surprise you with its vibrancy and its unique atmosphere where modernity and tradition collide for […]
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Our last video on the Togakushi shrine will be dedicated to not a shrine itself but to one of its gates, the famous Zuishinmon Gate (随神門). Zuishinmon Gate is in fact part of the Togakushi-Okusha (奥社) located far off in the Togakushi village forest, and rather difficult to access, especially in winter. In fact, the […]
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The Togakushi-Hōkōsha (宝光社) shrine is the second of the three major Togakushi shrines and is located rather close to the the main shrine the Togakushi-Chūsha (中社). Just slightly smaller than its bigger brother, this shrine is only accessible by a long and difficult set of stairs that will quickly do its best to make your […]
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Today’s video will be a little special since it is actually the first video in a series of three. Indeed the famous shrine (jinja) Togakushi (Togakushi Shrine) in Nagano is spread across three main locations with each place hosting respectively, the main shrine the Togakushi-Chūsha (中社), the Togakushi-Hōkōsha (宝光社) and the Togakushi-Okusha (奥社). There are […]
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The Kami Tokikuni House is the most important residence of the defeated Taira general named Tairo no Tokidata, after he lost the battle of Dannoura. Sent in exile to the isolated region of the Noto peninsula, the general disavowed the clan and stopped using the name Taira, also known as Heike (which literally means “House […]
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Shiroyone Senmaida, or simply Senmaida is Noto Penisula’s most famous sight! Senmaida, which literally mean means “a thousand rice fields” or 1004 according to the Shiroyone Senmaida official website. It offers a breathtaking view from the end of April to July at sunset when the reflection of the sun hits the water-filled rice paddies. But […]
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