Ryoanji Temple, has Japan’s most famous zen rock garden! Originally designed for a rich aristocrat during the Heian Period, the site was later converted in 1450 into the Zen temple we know today which belongs to the Japanese Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. [...]
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Located in the beautiful, narrow streets of Higashiyama district, the Hokan-ji temple and its famous Yasaka No To (or the tower of Yasaka), is one of the most picturesque views in Japan. Founded during the Asuka era (593-710), Hokan-ji is now a famous Buddhist temple [...]
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Located in the heart of Kyoto south of the famous Gion Geiko District, you will find the beautiful Kennin-ji Zen temple (also known as Kenninji). Now before going any further on Kennin-ji, we would like to first explain the difference between Geisha and Geiko. [...]
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The Oto fire festival is held every year on the 6th of February at Kamikura Jinja Shrine in Wakayama prefecture. It has the honor of being among Japan's most famous Matsuri with around 1,500 to 2,000 participants joining every year for over 1,400 years [...]
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One of Japan’s most famous temples, Kinkakuji is one of Kyoto’s most popular attractions and is a world-renowned tourist location. The temple was actually the retirement house of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect after his death in 1408. [...]
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Koibito-misaki Cape, also known as Lover’s Cape, is located in the Nishimuro district of Wakayama prefecture. It has been made famous for its unusual phenomenon where waves approach from opposite directions smashes against each other. Buffeted by winds and tides, this scenic view constantly changes. [...]
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The Dangyokei Gorge of Ochi-gun in Shimane prefecture was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 1935. Later turned into a park, the 4km long and 100m deep ravine has the Gonokawa River at its bottom. While for safety reasons it is prohibited to swim […]
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Located in Karakawa Town in Shimane prefecture, Karakama-jinja Shrine, is an ancient shrine known for being mentioned in both the Engishiki, a Japanese book about laws and customs from 927, as well as Izumo no Kuni Fudoki which are ancient reports on provincial culture, geography, and oral tradition. [...]
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Most famous and accessible spots to enjoy views of Mount Fuji are located in Yamanashi prefecture around its many gorgeous lakes. Shizuoka prefecture also has a lot to offer in that respect such as the many, not often talked about, spots in Numazu. [...]
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Located in the lovely city of Izumo in Shimane prefecture, Izumo Taisha is actually one of Japan’s most important shrines. While we have no clear date when Izumo Taisha was erected, we find some mention of Izumo Taisha in the early 700s in Japan’s oldest chronicles. [...]
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Located in Osio in Kanagawa prefecture, Oiso No Sagicho is a 400-year-old Matsuri (festival) celebrating a guardian deity for travelers called a Dosojin as well as being known as Oiso or ‘Little New Year’. [...]
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The former Ikeda Family Garden is a Japanese style garden located in a rural area of Daisen City in Akita prefecture. The garden was arranged by the Ikeda family who was one of the major landowners in the Tohoku region during the Edo period. [...]
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