This article in Japan Today explores an odd rivalry between two ancient Buddhist temples in the Kansai region. (Archived article in Japan Today.)
Category: Kansai
Otsu Matsuri: the post-Covid return of a traditional matsuri
I don't usually write about an event just after it has occurred. It seems unfair to tell readers about something they've just missed. But I will break my own rule this once. Nearly all matsuri, traditional Japanese festivals usually associated with shrines, have been cancelled since the Corona virus pandemic began in 2020 so it … Continue reading Otsu Matsuri: the post-Covid return of a traditional matsuri
Kyoto by the Sea: An unexpected side of Kyoto
This article features several aspects of the Japan Sea coastal region of Kyoto Prefecture. Most tourists focus on the ancient capital city and completely miss this fascinating area. Learn more in this article. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today.)
Arashiyama in Autumn
Sitting on the west side of Kyoto, the Arashiyama area is renowned for its mountain scenery, Togetsukyo wooden bridge, vast bamboo grove, and the World Heritage-listed Tenryuji temple. It is particularly popular in the autumn, when the turning leaves render the mountains even more beautiful. To really enjoy the season, we recommend starting your day … Continue reading Arashiyama in Autumn
Autumn Enlightenment at Kyoto’s Chion-in temple
Japan has a well-deserved reputation for the colorful splendor of its autumn leaves. The only challenge to enjoying them is figuring out where to go to do so. The mountainsides in many areas become a riot of color that can be enjoyed by hikes on well-groomed trails. There are also the many magnificent gardens. And … Continue reading Autumn Enlightenment at Kyoto’s Chion-in temple
Hikone Castle: a recycled original
Hikone Castle, overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Biwa, is one of only 12 original castles in Japan. But how original is a castle said to be made largely of materials recycled from other, earlier castles? The answer is, pretty darned original. Hikone castle was completed in 1622, after nearly 20 years of construction. It … Continue reading Hikone Castle: a recycled original
A Dyeing Art: Kyoto-style Shibori
My love of kimono is really a love of the amazing fabrics used to create the garments. Traditionally silk (though inexpensive polyester versions are also available these days), the patterns on the cloth are sometimes woven in, sometimes stamped or hand painted on, sometimes embroidered, and sometimes dyed. Some very complex designs are a combination … Continue reading A Dyeing Art: Kyoto-style Shibori
Avast! There be pirates in these waters!
Pirates! These days the word evokes various images from Captain Hook and Long John Silver to Johnny Depp and Captain Phillips. Asia, too, has its pirates, both ancient and modern. Since September 19 is "International Talk Like A Pirate Day", this seems a good time to talk about pirates in Japan. Oh yes! Japan has … Continue reading Avast! There be pirates in these waters!
Hashigui-iwa: rocks that are the stuff of legend
It's easy to see where this rock formation near the southernmost tip of the Kii Peninsula gets its name: the Bridge Pier Rocks. The straight line of craggy points of rock heading offshore toward Kii Oshima island looks like the remnant piers of a long-lost bridge to the island. So much so that it's hardly … Continue reading Hashigui-iwa: rocks that are the stuff of legend
Gion Matsuri – centuries-old purification rites (and a great summertime party)
It all started in the middle of the 9th century. Summer was always the season for increased disasters: illness, floods, and devastating fires. So the emperor ordered people to offer prayers for relief at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto's Gion district. Before long, the prayers were being offered with such regularity that the people made an … Continue reading Gion Matsuri – centuries-old purification rites (and a great summertime party)
Murin-an: a glimpse of fin de siècle Kyoto
Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years (although there are locals who say Kyoto is still the capital and the emperor is just on a business trip to Tokyo). It is this long history, and in particular, the religious and cultural sophistication that developed over the centuries, that still attracts … Continue reading Murin-an: a glimpse of fin de siècle Kyoto
Amazing Scenery in Dorokyo Gorge
Dorokyo Gorge is a deep valley carved by the waters of the Kitayama River. The gorge sits in the Yoshino-Kumano National Park at the point where Wakayama, Nara and Mie prefectures meet on the Kii Peninsula. The vertical cliffs at the deepest part of the gorge make it difficult to access...unless you go in by … Continue reading Amazing Scenery in Dorokyo Gorge
Jigsaw Japan 