Tokugawa Garden and Art Museum in Nagoya
Jan 23, 2018 By Bert Wishart
In the eastern suburbs of Nagoya, not far from the transport hub station of Ozone, lies Tokugawa Park, an oasis of serenity that is often overlooked by tourists and locals alike. That it is so overlooked is a shame, yet it can be very much a blessing, meaning as it...[ Click to read more ]
8 Popular Historic Sites in Kobe
By Justin Hanus
Places brimming with history exude that magical charm tourists cannot resist. It’s always on our list of must do’s when traveling to visit castles, temples, shrines, museums, churches and every single historical site that transports us back to the past. We marvel at the architectural craftsmanship and ingenuity of the...[ Click to read more ]
Samurai Beauty at Inuyama’s Urakuen Garden Near Nagoya
Jan 22, 2018 By Bert Wishart
One of the most interesting aspects of the samurai era is how they managed to marry a continual warlike state, enforced by a barbarous ruthlessness with an appreciative joy for the beauty in simplicity of their art forms. Today the city of Inuyama near Nagoya still manages to perfectly illustrate...[ Click to read more ]
Tondo Festivals in Hiroshima 2017
Dec 22, 2017 By Matt Mangham
Across Hiroshima Prefecture, early to mid-January involves one final, festive bit of housekeeping with regard to the year just passed. Part of ‘Koshagatsu,’ which marks the traditional lunar new year, it’s called the Tondo festival. In public parks, school grounds and shrine courtyards, people gather around towering bonfires of bamboo,...[ Click to read more ]
Miyajima’s Daisho-in Temple near Hiroshima
By Matt Mangham
January is a wonderful month to make a trip to Miyajima. Whether you’re heading out early in the month for the year’s first ‘hatsumoude’ visit to the island’s World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, or stopping by mid-month for the shrine’s Tondo festival, make sure not to miss out on another of...[ Click to read more ]
Places of Worship in Nagoya
Nov 21, 2017 By Bert Wishart
While religion in Japan predominantly based around the various sects of Shintoism and Buddhism, it is a country that is highly tolerant of other religions. Outside of the classic Japanese beliefs the most are followers of the various Christianity orders, with about 3 million Christians in the country. Studies put...[ Click to read more ]
Kansai’s Pivotal Role in Japanese Folk Rock
By Justin Hanus
The 1960s have been immortalized as a time of cultural revolution in places like the United States and Europe. If anything the disruption was even greater in Japanese society. The country was awash in American culture after a generation of United States military influence in the years after World War...[ Click to read more ]
Gujo Hachiman, an Edo Era Town That’s Much More Than a Song and a Dance
Nov 01, 2017 By Bert Wishart
You may recall that, back in July, we posted about the Gujo Hachiman Bon Odori festival, a four day extravaganza of all night dancing, perhaps the most famous event of its type in all of Japan. While it is quite an extraordinary sight, there is a good chance that you...[ Click to read more ]
Fly away with me… to Hiroshima Airport
Oct 23, 2017 By Admin
Like most airports in Japan, Hiroshima Airport is no different in that it’s located in the middle of nowhere. Unlike other airports, however, it’s not in any way conveniently connected to any major train stations. In fact, there IS no rail line in existence to service the area so you...[ Click to read more ]
Koyo, or Fall Colors in Japan
Oct 15, 2017 By Ray Proper
[caption id="attachment_851" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Korankei Gorge near Toyota City, Aichi[/caption] Viewing the changing colors of fall leaves or foliage, called koyo in Japanese, is autumn's answer to spring's more famous cherry blossom viewing; a traditional opportunity to get outdoors to live in the moment of the season and reflect on the impermanence of it all....[ Click to read more ]
