In 1643 during the Edo perdiod, a neo-confusian scholar named Hayashi Gahō wrote a book called Nihonkokujisekikō (日本国事跡考) where he mentioned about three beautiful sceneries in Japan. Gahō travelled the whole country and admired Matsushima (in Miyagi), Amanohashidate (in Kyoto) and Miyajima (in Hiroshima) the most. Later, these three places together came to be known as nihonsankei (日本三景). Nihonsankei is also linked to […]
Travels
10 best castles you should visit in Japan
During my stay in Japan, I had the privilege of travelling to all the 47 prefectures. I explored many popular, as well as less travelled destinations. Among the many places of interest in Japan, castles hold a special place. Be it the huge white castle of Himeji or the small castle tower at Hirosaki castle […]
Top 5 Winter Activities in Japan
Is winter a good time to visit Japan? The answer is definitely ‘yes’. When I talk about winter in Japan, things that come to my mind are illuminations and snow festivals. Japan has made it a point to devote festivals for each season. There is a theme for every season in Japan. Spring welcomes the […]
How I travelled the 47 prefectures of Japan in less than a year
Call it a spree or a frenzy, I had to see all of Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Ever since I stepped into the enchanting world of Japanese animation, all I wanted was to see Japan with my own eyes. To me, Japan is and has always been the fantasy land where all my favourite […]
Five cherry blossom viewing destinations in Nara
If you are visiting Nara in spring, you would probably like to visit some spots with many cherry trees. In Nara, cherry blossoms start blooming by the end of March and are best viewed during the first week of April. Make sure to check the weather forecast, as petals might fall off too soon due […]
Flowers of Spring in Japan
Plum blossom in Japan
Spring has arrived. One thing that is deeply associated with spring in Japan is the cherry blossom festival or ‘hanami’ (the flower viewing festival). Cherry blossom or ‘sakura’ usually start blooming by the end of March and get to peak blooming by mid of April. In Touhoku region and Hokkaido sakura appear much later. Check […]
In the spooky yōkai town
It was a grey and chilly afternoon. The mountains were shrouded in fog. Despite the drizzle I took a walk down the Mizuki Shigeru road. There he was, just around the corner. Kitaro agreed to take a picture with me.
Going back in time | Totsukawa and Kumano
Little did I know that Japan could be infused with deep spirituality and devotion. The land of manga, robots and bullet trains also has a religious side to it, with hundreds of temples and shrines all across the nation. Amid political and civil tensions in medieval Japan, the introduction and spread of esoteric Buddhism, Taoism and […]
A walk among the tombstones in Koyasan
A week back we were taken on an excursion to Koyasan to study its historical importance and witness the roots of Shingon Buddhism. Walking down the thick forest surrounded by tombstones and that too on Halloween day was eerie. However, it was pretty interesting to find tombstones of some very important personalities including the founders […]