The Great Buddha Statue (Daibutsu in Japanese) is a 13m high bronze statue, which belongs to the Buddhist Kōtoku-in temple in Kamakura – just 1 hours by train from Tokyo. It is one of the most famous Buddha statues in Japan and dates back to 1252. The current Daibutsu statue in Bronze is said to …
In the scenic town of Arashiyama, on the outskirts of Kyoto, is one of Kyotos most famous attractions: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. BOOK Tour of Arashiyama Bamboo Grove and Tenryu-ji The bamboo Forest, which is also known under the name Sagano Bamboo Forest, is probably among the top 3 attractions in Kyoto, in close competition with …
Japan is known to have a large number of sub cultures, many of which are oddly specific to Japan. While some of the Japanese pop culture has spread to the rest of the world over the past couple of decades, none of it has reached the extreme levels it has in Japan. Often born out …
Sumiyoshi Shrine is a seafarers shinto shrine in central Fukuoka, and is presumably the oldest shinto shrine in Kyushu. The current buildings date back to 1623, but the shrine existed long before that. In a charming, wooded park, near the Naka river in Hakata-ku, Fukuoka one finds the historic Sumiyoshi shrine. Sumiyoshi shrines are shinto …
Nishiki Ichiba (Nishiki Market) is a long, covered shopping arcade in central Kyoto. The more than 100 shops located here are a mix of food vendors, restaurants and specialty shops. This 400m long street is sometimes referred to as “The kitchen of Kyoto” and is the place to go if you want to hunt down …
Rakusuien is a small but beautiful Japanese garden located in central Fukuoka, near Sumiyoshi Shrine. The garden also has traditional tea rooms which can be booked for private events. It’s a relaxed and peaceful place to look at blossoming trees in the spring and fall leaves in autumn. The park features a loop path, crossing …
Sumida Park is a recreational park, located along the river bank of Sumida river (both sides). The park is in walking distance from the busy streets of Asakusa, but is nevertheless very overlooked by tourists. When you need a break after visiting the ever-busy Senso-ji temple, Sumida park is the ideal place to go. Take …
The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture is one of the most remote areas of Japans main island, Honshu. Located on the central western coast of Japan, the Noto peninsula is somewhat isolated on the opposite side of the “Japanese Alps” from the big metropoles like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. The nearest larger city is Kanazawa …
In the Setagaya district of Tokyo, in a quiet residential area, there is a real hidden gem of a temple. The Gotoku-ji buddhist temple is not amongst Tokyo’s biggest tourist magnets – probably because it’s located a bit away from everything else. However it has something really unique to offer: thousands of Maneki-neko figures (beckoning …
Okunoto is the northern, and most remote half of the rural Noto Peninsula. The Okunoto Coast is the coastline that hugs this area. The area is known for its remoteness and beautiful nature, and is best explored by car. Oku means “inner”, “deep” or “bottom”, and so Okunoto translates to something like “inner Noto” or …
