Byodo-in, a temple in Uji, Kyoto, is one of the World Heritage Sites. It's a little bit far from the city center of Kyoto, but it is still one of the indispensable spots for Kyoto sightseeing. A representative spot in the precincts is the "Phoenix Hall(鳳凰堂)" which is well known as a national t
Nanzen-ji located in the east of Kyoto city is one of the most prestigious temples in Japan. As you go through the middle gate, you will see an outstandingly big building. The closer you approach it, the more you will be overwhelmed by its power. The building is called Sanmon(三門), the m
This series is our collection of selected locations (machi) from all around Japan – places with various different cultures and local specialties, and those with novel customs of some sort. In the last volume we went to Oita, in volume 4 we feature Ehime of the Shikoku region! Ehime prefecture
Recently Japanese traditions and culture have gained notice and products that are “made in Japan” have become popular. Shops selling Edo period items continue to pop up. Do you own any “Japanese things”? I think there are many people who don’t actually own anything that they can stand up and shou
This is a continuation of the previous part one “thing” edition, this time I present the “food” edition. There are still depths we don’t know about the Japanese food we eat as part of our daily lives. Here I will introduce shops specializing in Japanese style snacks and items for side dishes.
Koedo is a place where you still have the look and feel of the Edo area. With buildings that hold a history of prosperity and liveliness, a townscape from the good old days, these areas are still enlivened with sightseers and visited as a date spot. When the weather becomes warmer people have the
This series is our collection of selected locations (machi) from all around Japan – places with various different cultures and local specialties, and those with novel customs of some sort. In the last volume we went to Gifu, in volume 3 we feature Oita! Oita is home to 4,538 hot springs and has a
Mashiko Town is located in the South-East of Tochigi Prefecture and is proud to be the home of the traditional craft, “Mashiko ware”. Since the end of the Edo period, this town has been known as a ceramic arts town and they hold the “Mashiko Pottery Fair” every year. From works of veteran ceramic ar
I’m going to introduce three well-known restaurants that exhibit a Japanese taste among the many theme restaurants that continue to pop up. There’s no question you will be surprised by the unique culture of the Heian era and the Sengoku period exhibited within these interiors. These businesses boast
Let’s get straight into it; have you found the Japanese sake to suit your tastes? Japanese sake (nihonshu). It’s a reality that although Japanese people are familiar with sake, many don’t know the history or about the different types. Japanese sake is said to be a drink with a long history th
