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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Located between Yamagata and Miyagi Prefecture, Mount Zao is the tallest mountain in the area with a height of 1841m. Popular all year long where people go either to ski in the winter or go trekking in summer, Mount Zao is also famous for its stunning Okama crater filled with […]
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Alongside Koyansan and Heizan, Osorezan or the Mount Osore, is one of the three most sacred places in Japan. Over 1,000 years ago, a Buddhist priest in search of a mountain resembling the world of Buddha, stumbled upon Mount Osore and its unique landscape, which, according to the legend […]
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The Togoshi Ginza Shotengai is a large 1.3 km long shopping street that crosses through Hiratsuka, Togoshi, Yutaka-cho and Nishi-shinagawa in Tokyo’s Shinagawa Ward. Togoshi Ginza is actually made of three distinct shotengai running end to end with the Shoeikai, Chuogai and Ginrokukai and promoted under the […]
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Boshu uchiwa, hand-made rigid fans originating from Chiba, take various forms. The standard round-shaped type; the “egg type,” which features a unique, smooth curve; and a long-shafted type, which allows the wielder to see the design move when it’s spun with the palms of the hands.
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