If you are already bored with ordinary temples and shrines in Kyoto, you might still want to check out Anao-ji Temple (穴太寺) when you visit Kameoka. The Buddha is covered in a Japanese futon! Known as the 21st temple in The 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage, Anao-ji, boasting a history of more than 1,300 years, is […]
Anao-ji: The Temple Where a Buddha Is Lying In Bed Read More »
Okususobana Valley (奥裾花渓谷) is one of the most scenic spots in Nagano. Located in Kinasa Village‘s north, the picturesque valley was chosen to be one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. Especially in October, when the 5 km valley is decorated with vivid fall color, it receives numerous visitors for the masterpiece created by mother
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For a shrine near Hiroshima Station, visit Hiroshima Tōshōgū (広島東照宮). It is less than a 10-minute walk away from the bullet train exit! It is one of the only places in Hiroshima City center with architecture built in the Edo period (1603 – 1867). Furthermore, it is the shrine that enshrined the great samurai, Tokugawa
Hiroshima Tōshōgū: Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Shrine in Hiroshima Read More »
Mitaki-dera (三瀧寺 or 三滝寺) is a temple standing in the middle of Mt. Mitaki (三滝山). Throughout the precinct of the temple, there are a couple of mountain streams flowing from the three majestic waterfalls. It might sound like the temple is hard to get to when we say it is in a mountain, but that
Mitaki-dera: The Stunning Temple in Hiroshima’s City Center Read More »
Speaking of Hiroshima, many associates it with the place of the world that suffered from an atomic bomb attack. In the turbulent world that we live in today, the Atomic Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム), together with the Peace Memorial Park Hiroshima (広島平和記念公園), are the ideal places for us to rethink what we can do to bring
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Kyotamba is a quiet town in the central part of Kyoto Prefecture with abundant nature. With large temperature differences between daytime and nighttime, the town is renowned for its black beans and chestnut production. When the part of Kyoto Jūkan Expressway (京都縦貫自動車道) was finally completed for the Kyotamba section, the town became one of the
Kyotamba – The Black Beans, the Chestnuts and the Sceneries Read More »
The Fantasy Springs (ファンタジースプリングス) area at Tokyo DisneySea was newly opened in June 2024. So, as you can imagine, many are attracted to Tokyo DisneySea because of this new area and would want to try all the rides there! From April 2025, you can either queue to board one of the rides in Fantasy Springs
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Takashima City (高島市), northwest of Shiga Prefecture, is a trove of photogenic spots. There is a torii gate standing in the ocean-like Lake Biwa, a 4 km long cherry blossom road, a garden full of lilies covering a part of a mountain, and much more! The city is less than a 45-minute train ride from
Takashima City – Shiga’s Trove of Photogenic Spots Read More »
Biwako Hakodateyama (びわこ箱館山) has long been a popular ski resort in Shiga Prefecture. But more recently, it has come to be known as one of the biggest resort parks in the Kansai region. The scenery up in the mountain will definitely woo you that you will want to keep going back!
Biwako Hakodateyama – The Best Place to Adore Lake Biwa Read More »
Ōsaki-ji (大崎寺) is a temple standing at the cliff in the middle of the 4 km Kaizu Ōsaki‘s cherry blossom road. It was erected by the revered monk Taichō (泰澄) in 702. At the time, it was a branch temple of Nara’s Kōfuku-ji (興福寺) and had as many as 39 monks’ temple quarters around the
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