Nishi Chaya District in Kanazawa, is one of the city’s three traditional entertainment districts. In this small area (just 1 street), one finds beautiful, old-style 2-story buildings, housing tea houses, shops with traditional crafts and a museum displaying a complete replica of an original Chaya tea house. Kanazawa is rich on traditional Japanese culture. This …
Gokoku Shrine in Fukuoka is a modern shrine, dedicated to the Japanese people who died in the wars, beginning from the start of the Meiji era (1868) and forward. The shrine is also a place to pray for family and safety. Apart from the unique golden color of the shrine buildings, Gokoku is also known …
Myōryū-ji, better known as Ninja-dera (ninja temple), is a buddhist temple located in the Teramachi temple district in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. Ninja-dera is known for it’s large amount of embedded traps, secret doors and rooms, fake ceilings, optical illusions and it’s 23 rooms being interconnected almost like a maze making it near impossible to navigate …
Ohori Park Japanese Garden is a classic Japanese strolling garden, located on the southern edge of Ohori Park in Fukuoka. The garden centers around a large pond and features a meandering stream, artificial hills and small forests creating a feeling of a natural environment in the middle of the city. On the southern edge of …
Nomura-ke Samurai Residence is a beautiful, old villa which belonged to the Nomura samurai family. The property, which is located in the historic Nagamachi samurai district in Kanazawa, has a stunning viewing garden, a tea house with a garden view, and a museum displaying artifacts from the Nomura family. It is a unique opportunity to …
Miyajidake is a large shinto shrine located in Fukutsu, about 25 minutes north of Fukuoka City. The shrine is especially known for having Japans largest Shimenawa rope, copper bell and Taiko drum. Additionally, due to it’s high location, there is a magnificent sunset view through the shrines torii gates. The approach to Miyajidake shrine is a …
Oyama Shrine (Oyama-jinja) is a unique shinto shrine, located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The shrine, which is dedicated to Maeda Toshiie, is especially known for it’s unusual, Dutch architecture which was added in the late 1800’s. In 1599, the shrine was established on Mt. Utatsu under the name “Utatsu Hachiman-gu“. It enshrines lord Maeda Toshiie …
Hakata Old Town is a historic area located in walking distance from the busy Hakata Station. The Old Town area contrasts the busy and modern area around Hakata Station by being very quiet and full of ancient temples and old buildings. It’s a great place to enjoy a peaceful stroll in the otherwise busy city …
Omicho Market ( 近江町市場 ) is a large food market in central Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. The market is home to more than 170 shops and restaurants, of which a lot sell seafood, fruits and vegetables. If you want to experience Kanazawa’s amazing, fresh seafood then the highly atmospheric Omicho Market is definitely the place to …
Umi no Nakamichi Seaside Park (海の中道海浜公園) is a huge, all-season family park and day-trip destination located on the Uminonakamichi Peninsula in Hakata Bay, Fukuoka. The park features a large number of attractions aimed primarily at families with children. The attractions of Umi no Nakamichi include numerous flower gardens, a zoo, playgrounds, a water park, sports …
