You might have heard of one of the Holiest Mountains In Japan, Kōyasan, and thus you might know about its founder, Kōbō Daishi (弘法大師). After returning to Japan from China, he spent around four years in Hakata and founded his first temple, Tōchō-ji (真言宗 東長寺), in 806. Since the late 20th century, what has been […]
Tōchō-ji Temple and Japan’s Largest Wooden Buddha Statue Read More »
Apart from Sumiyoshi Shrine, another fascinating shrine not far away from Hakata Station is the Kushida Shrine (櫛田神社). It is where one of the biggest events in Hakata’s summer, the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival, is held. The best thing is that the Kazari Yamakasa (the large stationary festival float) is permanently stationed in the precinct.
Kushida Shrine and the Interesting Festivals that It Holds Read More »
If we could only visit one shrine in Hakata, it has to be Sumiyoshi Shrine (住吉神社). Although buried in the urban jungle close to Hakata Station, the shrine has a vast precinct filled with greenery and a long history! Sumiyoshi Shrine in Hakata has a history of more than 1,800 years. Together with the Sumiyoshi
Hakata’s Sumiyoshi Shrine – The Oldest Shrine in Japan Read More »
Compared to the neighborhood around Karuizawa Station, the Naka-Karuizawa area is less commercialized, so you might be worried about not being able to find vegetarian/vegan food there. Surprisingly, there are a couple of good options in Naka-Karuizawa. Although getting to them requires a degree of effort as they aren’t located close to the train station, the food
The Best Guide to Naka-Karuizawa’s Vegan-Friendly Restaurants Read More »
Remaining unknown to many, the old post town, Oiwake-Shuku (追分宿), is just two stations away from Karuizawa Station. The area is filled with many historical buildings, so it is a perfect spot to escape from the crowd in Karuizawa‘s town center for a calm and traditional ambiance.
Oiwake-Shuku, the 20th Post Town On the Old Nakasendōndo Read More »
Opposite Bon Okawa Karuizawa Chocolate Factory, on the other side of the bullet train track, there is a cafe you must visit if you are a coffee person. In fact, you might have already visited one of the coffee chain’s stores in Tokyo! Opened in 1991, Maruyama Coffee (丸山珈琲) is infamous for its high-quality coffee,
Maruyama Coffee: The Must-Visit Cafe in Karuizawa Read More »
A scenic spot to visit in Karuizawa is Karuizawa Lake Garden (軽井沢レイクガーデン). The spacious ground of around 33,000㎡ is divided into 8 areas. Each of them is skillfully designed so that while the plants grow freely with minimal human touches, the gardens still appear to be picturesque. So as you stroll around Karuizawa Lake Garden,
Karuizawa’s Best Flower-Adoring Spot: Karuizawa Lake Garden Read More »
As one of Japan’s best highland resorts, Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture has many charms, and one of them is the delicious food and drinks served in the lovely town. The spots with a nice ambiance are the perfect places to stop by after spending a couple of hours exploring. Because cafés and restaurants are almost
The Recommended Cafés and Restaurants in Karuizawa Read More »
Walking around Karuizawa, you might start to imagine a life of owning a villa in this wonderful town. While this isn’t practical for most of us, you can visit Café Susu no Ne (旧軽井沢Cafe涼の音). This national tangible cultural property was a private villa of an American diplomat, Edwin O. Reischauer. Because the furnishings were left
Café Susu no Ne and Murō Saisei Commemorative House Read More »
If you like curry or spices, visit Sajilo Cafe Forest (サジロカフェ・フォレスト), close to Karuizawa’s best gelato shop, L’ibisco! Following the alley from Old Karuizawa Ginza Street, you will soon see a cute white house in the leafy area. Sajilo means cozy in Nepalese. While it doesn’t have a typical curry house look, you will surely
Sajilo Cafe Forest: Karuizawa’s Best Vegan-Friendly Spot Read More »
