Hiwatari-Shinji – Fire Walking at Akibasan Entsu-ji
Nov 27, 2014 By Bert Wishart
Winter in Japan can get a touch on the chilly side, can’t it. So, what’s the best way of warming up? Sitting under a kotatsu? Attaching hot kairo heat pads to your body? How about walking through fire? Okay, maybe the latter isn’t the best of ideas, but it doesn’t stop...[ Click to read more ]
Want to take part in a traditional Japanese festival?
Sep 26, 2014 By Bert Wishart
No matter where in Japan you go, there always seems to be some festival or another going on. They vary in size from gatherings of hundreds of thousands of people to the smallest of local events, and not one of them is alike; except that they are all a marvel to...[ Click to read more ]
Know your Shinto: rituals and behaviour at a Shinto shrine
Sep 08, 2014 By Bert Wishart
When sightseeing in Japan, some of the most popular and fascinating places to visit will be the many shrines devoted to Shintoism, Japan’s predominant religion. Shinto or, “way of the divine”, is a polytheistic religion, thereforeeach shrine may have its roots or allegiances to a different god (kami). Like much...[ Click to read more ]
Ise Grand Shrine, Mie – One of the Most Sacred Spots in Japan
Jul 22, 2014 By Bert Wishart
Japanese folklore has it that Yata no kagami, or the "eight hand mirror," was brought to earth by Ninigi-no-Mikoto; legendary ancestor of the Japanese imperial line. The mirror is one of the Three Imperial Regalia or Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, and possession is passed from emperor to emperor to confirm the divine...[ Click to read more ]
Gattan Go!! Rail Mountain Biking in Hida Gifu
Jul 16, 2014 By Ray Proper
Looking for an interesting family day trip and adventure? You may enjoy enjoy Gattan Go!!, an innovative hybrid of bicycle and railroad comprised of two bikes linked to each other and set on an out-of-service railroad line in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. You have a variety of options of...[ Click to read more ]
Sekigahara – Japan’s Defining Samurai Battle
Jun 30, 2014 By Bert Wishart
As you may or may not know, the Chubu area witnessed the scene of perhaps the most important and defining battle in Japan’s history. The Battle of Sekigahara, maybe best considered to western minds as Japan’s Gettysburg, took place in 1600 in the town of Sekigahara, Gifu. It was pitched...[ Click to read more ]
Hiking, Walking and Biking Nagano: Nagano City
Jun 19, 2014 By
Mystical Forests, Ninja Adventures, WWII Tunnels and Mountains Galore Many Japanese associate Nagano City with the iconic Zenkoji Temple, home to the oldest Buddha image in Japan. For non-Japanese, this temple is certainly worth a visit, to appreciate its soaring architecture, and grope around in its pitch-black underground tunnel where...[ Click to read more ]
Pet Boarding and Pet Sitters in Nagoya
May 15, 2014 By Ray Proper
June, If you are heading out on vacation you will need someone to watch over your "other kids;" the dog and cat. There are a few options for boarding your dog or cat, or obtaining the services of a pet sitter in Nagoya. Pooches Doggy Day Care (Boarding) "Pooches offers...[ Click to read more ]
Akazu Pottery Area in Seto City, Gifu – Studio Kasen
Jan 15, 2014 By Ray Proper
Hiorshige Kato is a fourteenth generation pottery master - his family were one of only four families to be protected by the Shogunate from the warring state in order to make tea ceremony goods for Nagoya Castle. Over the years Studio Kasen has gone through several transformations and in its...[ Click to read more ]
Summer Camping in Nagano, Shiga, and Gifu Prefectures
Aug 29, 2013 By First Admin
You might not think it, but there are opportunities for hiking, climbing and camping around Nagoya. In fact, near by Nagano, Shiga, and Gifu Prefectures offer some of the best opportunities in Japan. Camping areas in Japan tend to be a bit more formal than just hiking off the side...[ Click to read more ]
