At the south of Japan’s largest lake, Lake Biwa, three temples were erected in the early 8th century. Each has a worship hall designated as a National Treasure in its precinct. Together, the three Tendai sect temples have been known as the ‘Konan Sanzan (湖南三山)’ since 2005. But nowadays, instead of the national treasures, what …
Konan Sanzan – The Three Most Scenic Temples South of Lake Biwa Read More »
While Zensui-ji (善水寺) isn’t close to the other two temples of Konan City (known as Konan Sanzan), it is still a temple that is worth the travel. Like Chōju-ji and Jōraku-ji, Zensui-ji has a beautiful precinct and houses a national treasure. In addition, the temple with a Healing Buddha as the main image has sacred water for …
Zensui-ji: A Stunning Temple to Source Sacred Water Read More »
If you want to avoid the crowds at Kyoto‘s famous autumn foliage spots, consider visiting Jōraku-ji (常楽寺), the best place in southern Shiga Prefecture to adore the vivid fall colors from mid-November to early December. While there aren’t many bus services that stop close to the temple, the scenery here will amaze you! Among the …
Jōraku-ji: Konan City’s Best Fall Foliage Hunting Spot Read More »
In the Ishibe area of Konan City (湖南市), Chōju-ji (長寿寺) is a temple with breathtaking scenery. Adding to the temple’s charm, cute decorations and paper cutting art can be found throughout the precinct. Because it is located the eastmost among the city’s three temples that house a national treasure, Chōju-ji is also referred to as …
Chōju-ji: The Stunning Fall Foliage and Amazing Papercutting Read More »
Besides Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, Takayama is one of the most-visited cities by overseas tourists. Because the region’s typical must-eat food is Hida Beef, you might think it would be hard to find vegan or vegetarian-friendly diners. But that isn’t the case! The city is rather vegan-friendly compared to many other regional destinations in Japan. …
The Best Guide to the Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Takayama 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 »
Arima Onsen is surely the best hot spring town closest to Kyoto and Osaka. While the onsen town is full of characters and worthwhile to visit, vegan/vegetarian meals are hard to come by. Fortunately, Onsenji Temple (温泉禅寺) offers monk cuisine and runs a cafe that serves vegan keema curry rice!
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is a must-visit destination in Okayama. The traditional townscape is perfect for photo taking, the Japanese cultural experience and activities, and adoring the artworks in galleries and museums. But where to dine? Read on for the vegan or vegetarian-friendly restaurants you can enjoy with your non-vegetarian friends and families!
Did you know that Tokyo has two major international airports? If you have a layover in Japan, you may arrive at one airport and depart from another. The Tokyo Narita Airport and the Tokyo Haneda Airport are located approximately 80 km apart. This means you will want to allow at least 2 hours to travel …
How to Travel Between Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda Airport Read More »
Unazuki Onsen (宇奈月温泉) in Kurobe City is a popular hot spring resort where you can enjoy the natural scenery of Kurobe Gorge. The hot spring town is the best place to base yourself to take in what the picturesque gorge has to offer. Once you get there, it won’t be hard to understand why Kurobe Gorge …
Unazuki Onsen: The Best Hot Spring Town at Kurobe Gorge Read More »