While travellers often complain loudly about the inconvenient location of Narita Airport, Buddhist faithful who make a pilgrimage to nearby Naritasan Shinshoji, are rarely heard to do the same. The expansive and historical temple complex is one of the oldest and largest in this part of Japan. It is, of course, primarily a religious destination, … Continue reading Naritasan Shinshoji: an ancient center of worship
This article describes the geologically and historically fascinating destination of Shimonita, an easy overnight excursion from Tokyo. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today)
Tokyo's Setagaya Ward is best known as Tokyo's bedroom, the most populous ward of the metropolis, principally a residential area. It also has a number of sights to enjoy and even history to experience. Here's an uncrowded suburban walk of around four kilometers, mostly through greenery, culminating in some of those sights and history. There's … Continue reading Castles, Cats and Sumo in Setagaya
A day walk in a pretty urban area is always fun. A walk with a mission, like collecting the stamps of seven lucky gods, is even more fun. I've written on several lucky gods walks to do at New Year's but here's one that can be done any time of year, takes about 3 hours, … Continue reading Chasing an unusual seven lucky gods in Zoshigaya
Gunma Prefecture, some 100 kilometers north of Tokyo, has centuries of history as a silk producing area in Japan. One particular sign that you're in an area where silkworms were once raised are the rooftops of old farm houses, that have one or more raised sections along the ridgepole of the roof, a structure that … Continue reading Takayama-sha: developing the art and science of sericulture
With virus cases continuing to rise in both Japan and elsewhere, clearly it's still not a good idea to travel. So I've headed back to my collection of travelogues to see what I might find to fire my imagination and evoke my own memories. My eye fell upon Dorothy Britton's 1974 translation of "Narrow Road … Continue reading More Armchair Travel: Heading Toward Tohoku
I've written a brief commentary on the Japanese signature seal and some difficulties it has caused during the COVID-19 pandemic. I think it is inevitable that hanko use will continue to decline, it's just a question of how quick. Yet another piece of the puzzle that is Japan. (Archived article originally published by Tokyo Weekender)
This article describes an afternoon of tea tasting in Fukuoka's Hoshino-mura, not far from the place were tea was first cultivated in Japan some 800 years ago. (Archived article originally published by Japan Today)
This morning my doorbell rang just as I was finishing my hausfrau duties (dishes, laundry, etc.). It was my friendly, neighborhood Sagawa Kyubin delivery man with a small box, a care package from my friend Kana. Kana lives in her family home in Nagano Prefecture and, like many "country folk", has a big fruit and … Continue reading Making Umeshu: a sign of early summer
Although it is often said that Japanese people are change averse, if one looks closely, signs of change, both past and present, are everywhere. Sometimes the changes are extreme and other times the changes are incremental. This 5-6 km. walk through hills above Gotanda and Meguro stations into the Meguro River valley explores various changes … Continue reading Gotanda and Meguro: a walk exploring changing times
In this time when safety restrictions are slowly being relaxed and summer weather is upon us, many people want to get out a bit, while minimizing any health risks of doing so. How about a nice urban walk with plenty of history and greenery and not too many crowded places? This easy walk of about … Continue reading Walking history on the outskirts of old Edo
Nakatsu Castle, with its moats fed by tidal sea water from the Seto Inland Sea, is one of Japan's three so-called "seaside castles". The others are Takamatsu Castle in Kagawa and Imabari Castle in Ehime. Nakatsu Castle sits on the Yamakuni River delta, about half a kilometer south of the river's mouth, the tidal river … Continue reading Nakatsu Castle: provincial river guardian
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