HOW about
Temples are one of the most recognizable and ubiquitous sites in Japan, but did you know that big temple complexes have smaller sub-temples? Just as you’d guess, a sub-temple is a smaller temple on a larger temple ground. In fact,…
February brings some of the most fun holidays to celebrate to the world: Setsubun in Japan, the Lunar New Year in China, Presidents Day, and of course Valentine’s Day. What better way to celebrate your love for Japan than to…
The Meiji Restoration Period of Japan (1868 – 1912) was the first major step away from the tradition and culture of Old World Japan. Japan had achieved tremendous accomplishments at the price of several crippling drawbacks. Embracing their Western contemporaries,…
Kanazawa is easier to get to than ever with the new bullet train line. Seisonkaku is more than just an important national cultural asset, it’s a must see site, distinguished with a rich history of the Maeda clan, rulers of…
When you set foot in the Land of the Rising Sun, you’ll notice the ubiquity of temples. Temples, temples, temples everywhere; from the heart of Urban Tokyo to the depths of Kyushu’s jungles, from the rustic country side to the…
You’re probably wondering what could be so controversial about a Zen temple, just like I was. The UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ryoan-ji Temple (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is home to one of the most famous “Karesansui,” or Zen rock…
Hiraizumi Chusonji 2016 is a commemorative year for Chusonji Temple and Hiraizumi; it has been nearly 5 years since this location was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Established by the Fujiwara clan, rulers of northern Japan during the Heian…
