Just a few miles from Aomori’s capital lies Hirosaki, a historic city steeped in tradition and known for its iconic castle. I first visited Hirosaki in the summer of 2016. It is one of the twelve remaining original castles in Japan, a rare treasure where the keep (Tenshu 天守) has survived since its reconstruction in […]
Travels
Uguiso No Taki 鶯の滝 – Nara’s hidden gem
Uguisunotaki 鶯の滝, is located in the Kasugayama 春日山 Primeval Forest in Nara. It is named for its association with the uguisu 鶯, or Japanese bush warbler, whose songs are often heard in the area. This beautiful waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery, is a serene spot that offers a cool respite during the summer and stunning autumn foliage.
Tanabata in Osaka: Floating Wishes on the Ogawa River
The heart of Osaka’s Tanabata celebrations was the Ogawa River (大川). That year, 50,000 blue LED lights were floated along the river, creating a mesmerizing scene. Each light represented a wish or a prayer, a beautiful tradition allowing participants to float their hopes and dreams on the water, hoping they will be granted by the stars above.
A solo hike to Mount Yoshino
Mount Yoshino offers splendid views of cherry blossoms during spring. It is one of the most popular hanami 花見 (flower viewing) spots in Japan. In April 2016, on a lovely sunny day I went on a solo hike to mount Yoshino to experience senbonzakura 千本桜 (thousands of cherry trees). Although I kept a regular track […]
Manga Museums in Japan
The collection of manga books and materials available here is unparalleled. There are research reference rooms where you can get access to over 2,50,000 manga materials inclusive of international publications. There are also exhibition corners, featured sections and workshop areas.
Quiz on Japanese Prefectures
Let’s see how well you know Japan! As you know Japan is a archipelagic country which is made of four main islands namely Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, and it is further divided into 47 prefectures 都道府県 (todoufuken). So I decided to create this quiz and test your knowledge on Japan. No doubt you love Japan […]
Torii – the gateway to a divine realm
Torii 鳥居 gates are mostly found in front of shrines in Japan. It is an important cultural symbol as it marks the entrance to a sacred ground or a divine territory. Although the origin of torii 鳥居 is unclear there exists a few theories. It is often believed that construction of torii 鳥居 was passed down to Japan from […]
The Cherry Blossoms of Hikone and Nagahama
Almost 13 kilometres away from the overflowing cherry blossom parks of Kyoto stands an elegant white castle on top of a small hill in Shiga prefecture. Surrounded by a wide moat and a thick stone wall, Hikone castle is one of the 12 original castles still remaining in Japan. I set out for Hikone from Nara to view […]
The Four Seasons of Wakakusayama
Nara, the ancient capital of Japan is best known for its temples more than anything else. Most visitors come here to pay homage to the great 大仏 daibutsu (Buddha) of Todai-ji and have fun at Nara deer park. If you wish to move away from the crowd and experience Nara’s wild beauty, you should hike […]
Seven Great Temples of Nara
南都七大寺 Nantoshichidaiji is the name given to a group of seven temples in Nara. 南都 Nanto means the southern capital. Nara was Japan’s ancient capital from 710 t0 794 CE. During this period, Buddhism flourished in Japan and gradually gained devotees. During the Nara period, many Buddhist temples were built in the capital which received imperial patronage. Among these, […]