Japan Travel Tips & Hidden Gems
It’s been a while since I featured a truly off of the beaten path location so this week, we are going to do just that. The topic of this piece will be the Buddhist temple complex of Kongosho-ji. As you…
Welcome back to yet another one of my Japan area guides. Like with all other installments, we’ll be taking a look at an oft-neglected part of the country. This time, the topic at hand will be Wakayama’s hot spring town…
“I’m pretty sure that by now, I can hit the age verification button at every convenience store chain with my eyes closed…” — Donny Kimball Greetings dear readers! In a second, I’ll get to how Kumano Nachi Taisha and the gods of…
Despite being one of the most popular places in all of Japan, few international visitors realize that Kyoto City itself is but one part of a much, much larger prefecture. Confusingly called Kyoto Prefecture, this slot of land is simply…
Today, I’d like to introduce you to the former merchant town of Omihachiman. Found on the shores of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, this picturesque hamlet looks just as it would have 400 years ago. Back during the Warring States…
In comparison to some of my more in-depth area guides on the blog, today’s article is going to be quite condensed. This week, we’ll be taking a look at Kyoto’s lovely Yodo Suiro Waterway. Lacking the normal historical pedigree that…
Hail and well met travelers! Today, we’ll be taking a look at the mysterious Muro-ji. Found in the eastern sections of Nara Prefecture, far away from the ever-adorable deer, this Buddhist temple is a spot that often pops up on…
Every single time that I think I’ve completed a prefecture, Japan turns around and hits me in the face with evidence that I’ll never be able to fully write somewhere off. Just recently, this reminder happened while I was down…
In my many travels across Japan, I’ve visited A LOT of shrines. Though I’ve certainly been moved by many of these Shinto sanctuaries over the years, none ever managed to bring me to tears. That all changed recently when I…
These days, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard about Kyoto yet. That said, there’s so much more to the prefecture than just what most people envision when they think of the ancient capital. Today we’ll be…
The other week, I found myself in Kyoto for client-related work reasons. While I’d of course not pass up the chance to enjoy the city’s cherry blossoms, the primary purpose of my trip was professional. Still, I am a travel…
Unfortunately, most overseas visitors to Japan only ever experience Nara as a day-long excursion from Osaka or Kyoto. As soon as these travelers arrive in the city, they make a beeline for attractions like Todai-ji’s Daibutsu and the venerable Kasuga…
Today, I’d like to introduce you to Omiwa Shrine, a spiritual sanctuary that has long been on my bucket list. Found in the southern portions of Nara Prefecture, this ancient sepulcher is regularly considered to be Japan’s oldest shrine. The…
Just recently, I had a harrowing realization while reviewing the locations that I’ve covered here on this blog thus far. Somehow, I had managed to skip featuring Shiga Prefecture’s charming town of Nagahama. Despite spending my most formative years nearby…
For someone like myself claiming a serious addiction to Japan, there are countless areas in this amazing country that I treasure. For example, the northern Tohoku region will always hold a special place in my heart. Home to sacred sites…