Sanja Matsuri, Tokyo’s Wildest Festival
Apr 20, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Tokyo has many festivals, and particularly as we head towards the summer months they will be coming thick and fast. But none are quite so wild as Sanja Matsuri in Asakusa. The History of Sanja Matsuri On the morning of March 18, 628 CE, so the story goes, two fisherman brothers, Hinokuma...[ Click to read more ]
Must See Shrines and Temples of Tokyo
Mar 27, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Many of Japan's most famous shrines and temples are in the old capital of Kyoto. Tokyo, while not as historic as the city it replaced as the nation's social and economic base, still has plenty of beautiful and important shrines and temples - hundreds even. Below is a selection of our top...[ Click to read more ]
Island Hopping on the Seto Inland Sea near Hiroshima
Mar 26, 2018 By Matt Mangham
If you find yourself in Hiroshima or the surrounding area for any length of time, you really should set aside a day or two to explore the Seto Inland Sea. It’s not uncommon for people to live in the city for years, within sight of the Inland Sea and its...[ Click to read more ]
8 Most Popular Hiking Tours in the Kansai Region
Mar 23, 2018 By Justin Hanus
One of the best ways to enjoy a new place is to walk around and visit the attractions. But if you’re up for adventures that take hours of marveling beautiful landscapes and historical sites, it calls for leisurely hikes along popular trails and pilgrimage routes. Many countries boast of the...[ Click to read more ]
The Five Best Buddhist Temples in Kansai
Jan 24, 2018 By Justin Hanus
If you fancy spending a day or two checking out the beauty and serenity of some of Japan's finest Buddhist temples, it's worth heading to the Kansai region. There are over 2000 temples in Kansai, many of them UNESCO listed heritage sites attracting yearly visitors from across the globe. The...[ Click to read more ]
8 Popular Historic Sites in Kobe
Jan 23, 2018 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 ]
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 ]
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 ]
