Category: Japan
Matsushima, Japan – One of Japan’s most beautiful areas
Matsushima is a small town located in the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan. The town is renowned for its beautiful natural scenery – over 260 small islands scattered around Matsushima Bay. The islands feature pine trees/forests, hence the name Matsushima (Pine Islands). Matsushima’s history dates back to the 8th century. This is when it was first […]
Geibikei Gorge – Japanese natural beauty
Geibikei Gorge is a stunning natural wonder located in the Iwate prefecture of Japan. The Gonokawa River flows through the gorge and the rugged terrain of the Kitakami Mountains. The area is renowned for its picturesque beauty and is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts alike. You may have seen images from autumn, […]
Chuson-ji – One of the Tohoku region’s premiere temples
Hiraizumi’s Chuson-ji is a Buddhist temple located in Hiraizumi in the Iwate Prefecture of Japan. A quick ride on the bus or train from Ichinoseki and you are ready to explore one of Tohoku’s most elaborate and impressive temple complexes. History of Chuson-ji The temple was founded in the late 11th century by the local […]
Hatsumode (初詣) – Visiting a Shinto Shrine for New Year
Have you ever heard of Hatsumode? It’s a traditional Japanese practice that happens during the New Year. During this time, people visit shrines and temples to pray for good luck and fortune in the coming year. It’s similar to making New Year’s resolutions but in a more spiritual way. During Hatsumode, people generally offer prayers, […]
Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu, Japan
Nestled in the middle of Kitakyushu, a small city on the northern coast of Kyushu sits Kokura Castle. Kokura Castle, which dates back to the start of the Edo period (finished in 1608), was the seat of the Kokura domain in Kyushu. At the time, it was separate from Fukuoka (which didn’t exist yet as […]
Karatsu Kunchi Festival, Japan
Just across the border of Fukuoka in Saga Prefecture on the coast lies Karatsu, a large coastal town. In addition to having a well-known castle, Karatsu is also one of three places in Japan that host a Kunchi festival. A Kunchi festival? What is that? It is one of Japan’s intangible folk cultural properties. In […]
The Hells of Beppu (別府の地獄), Japan
On the northeastern coast of the island of Kyushu lies Beppu, one of Japan’s best-known resort towns. For centuries, Japanese people have been flocking to this hot spring paradise to relax and cure their ailments. In addition to all the onsen (Japanese hot spring baths), Beppu also hosts 7 “Hells” – amazing hot springs near […]
Climbing Mt Tsurumi in Beppu, Japan
Located in the northeastern portion of Kyushu (one of Japan’s largest 4 islands – the southwestern one), Mt Tsurumi overlooks the onsen town of Beppu. While Beppu is primarily known for its abundance of hot springs, especially the Beppu Hells, it is also well-placed to explore some of Kyushu’s natural areas. Mt Tsurumi is one […]
Sansa Odori – The World’s Biggest Taiko Drumming Festival in Morioka, Japan
If you are in Japan in August, one of those places you must go to is Morioka. “What is so special about this place”, I hear you ask. “What can this small-to-medium-sized city a couple of hours north of Tokyo offer that other places in Japan can’t”? The answer to that is simple: Sansa Odori […]
Motsuji Temple and Kanjiziao-in, Hiraizumi – a Pure Land temple and noble pleasure garden
Located slightly north of Ichinoseki （一関), Hiraizumi is a small, unassuming town. Mostly consisting of houses and small businesses, you might easily overlook this town in the Tohoku region of Japan. However, if you did, you would be missing out on a lot. That is because it is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Historic […]
Matsumoto Castle Grand Taiko Festival – Japanese Drumming
Picture this: you are studying Japanese intensively at a language school in Japan. It is the end of July and you have a couple of weeks off. What do you do? Where do you go? Well one possibility is the Matsumoto Castle Grand Taiko Festival. The best part (apart from the drumming) – it is […]
Visiting Matsumoto Castle (松本城), Japan
Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto, Japan, is one of the most impressive castles in Japan. If you search for Japanese castles, it is likely that you will find images of Matsumoto Castle (along with places like Osaka Castle) and you can find it in many lists of the top castles to visit in Japan. It is […]
Garlic Onion Chicken – another amazing Just One Cookbook recipe
Has anyone moved house recently? I did (and why there haven’t been many posts recently)! If you have moved, you know how it goes. Packing boxes, hiring a moving company, moving everything to your new place, unpacking, realising some things don’t fit in your new place, etc. There are a thousand things to do and […]
Tofuku-Ji Temple and Tsuten-Kyo Bridge, Kyoto, Japan
After visiting Fushimi Inari and Mt. Inari, the next stop on my trip to Kyoto was Tofuku-ji Temple (東福寺) and Tsuten-Kyo Bridge. Tofuku-Ji is one of the “Five Great Zen Temples in Kyoto” and it is easy to see why. Combined with its garden, which contains the Tsuten-Kyo (covered) bridge, it is easy to see […]
Otter Café in Fukuoka – Kotsumate Fukuoka Daimyo
After my first experience at an animal café (Owl Café Tenjin), I was interested in visiting another animal café. After having a look around, I was able to find Kotsumate Fukuoka Daimyo, an otter café in Fukuoka’s Daimyo area (next to Tenjin). Not only do they have otters, but they also have sugar gliders, snakes […]
