Located in the neighborhood of Arashiyama in Kyoto, Otagi Nenbutsu-Ji is a Buddhist temple famous for its 1200 rakan, or stone statues, representing the disciples of Buddha. Founded in the middle of the eighth century by Empress Shōtoku, the Otagi Nenbutsu-ji had been destroyed many times until it was moved to its current location in […]
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Located not so far from Ise Grand Shrine alongside the Miya River and between the small hills you will find the city of Watari, its rice fields and its many green tea fields. Japanese green tea fields around Mt Fuji are indeed very popular, but tea grows pretty much everywhere in Japan and each region, […]
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Oharai Machi (Oharaimachi) is the old 1 km long approach to the Ise Grand Shrine Naiku. With restaurants, shops and many old traditional buildings, Oharai Machi businesses have been serving customers, tourists and pilgrims for several centuries and as long as Ise Grand Shrine Naiku has existed. While Oharai Machi is full of history and […]
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Alongside Naiku, Geku is the second largest shrine in Ise and part of the Ise Grand Shrine. Located 6 km away from Naiku and near the center of Ise, Geku is is dedicated to Toyouke No Omikami, or the god of agriculture and industry. Despite being a large shrine, Geku is connected to 32 other […]
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Located near Lake Yamanaka and just in front of Mt Fuji, Oshino Hakkai is a little village blessed by several crystal clear ponds fed by melting snow from the slopes of Mt. Fuji. Oshino Hakkai, with its location and amazing set of ponds, is the ideal spot for a stunning discovery but only for a […]
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Located in Mie prefecture and in the city of Ise, Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Amaterasu-Omikami goddess . Spread across a vast part of Ise, Ise Grand Shrine is mainly composed of two major complexes known as Naiku and Geku. Being the principal temple of Ise Grand Shrine, Naiku, is […]
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Located in the sprawling area that is Minato Mirai, Akarenga or more exactly Yokohama Akarenga Sōko, is an historical point of interest made of red bricks. It is a warehouse complex built around 1911 to 1913 but despite being over a hundred year old, these buildings were still used as warehouses until 1989. It was […]
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Often ignored by people visiting Tokyo, mainly due to a lack of time, Yokohama is nonetheless a great city that everybody who has time and the will should visit. Among the many wonders this city has to offer, Minato Mirai 21 or みなとみらい21 is where you should start! Developed in the 80s, Minato Mirai 21 […]
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Autumn is finally upon us and like pretty much everywhere in the world, autumn colors in Japan are something pretty amazing to see and enjoy. Better known as ‘koyo’ in Japanese, this phenomenon attract millions of visitors to parks and temples all across the country for this yearly natural celebration. While we will cover autumn […]
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The Art Tower Mito or ATM, is an arts complex located in the center of Mito City in Ibaraki, opened in 1990 as part of the 100th anniversary of Mito’s designation as an official city. With a size of 100m high and an observatory located on its top, the ATM also features a concert hall […]
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Erected in 856, the Oaraiisosaki Shrine, also known as Orai Isosaki-Jinja, houses a deity of medicine who’s known for granting happiness and matchmaking couples. Destroyed during a war lasting from 1558 to 1570, the shrine was then rebuilt in 1690. The project was overseen by the legendary samurai Tokugawa Mitsukuni, who also become very popular […]
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Officially named Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja, the Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine or Fuji Sengen Shrine is dedicated to the Princess Konohanasakuya. It is a Shinto shrine mainly associated with Mount Fuji and, according to the Shrine officials, has over 1,000 “sister” shrines all across Japan. Located in a dense forest at the foot of Mt […]
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