A few years back we walked you through the small streets of a very popular area of Tokyo with its picturesque river: Nakameguro (Naka-Meguro) [...]

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Located deep in the Arashiyama district northwest of Kyoto, Giou-ji Temple (Giouji / Gioji) is a quiet temple surrounded by trees and a luxuriant moss garden. [...]

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As one of Japan's mythical three holy mountains of Dewa, Mt Haguro is surrounded by a lush forest and has been welcoming visitors to its peak since the 6th Century A.D. [...]

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Located on the side of Mt Ogura in Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama district, lies Jojakko-ji Temple. [...]

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Located in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward near the entrance of Chion-in Temple, the Yuzen-en Garden is dedicated to Miyazaki Yuzen. [...]

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Shisen-do is a Buddhist temple of the Soto Zen. Located in Kyoto’s less traveled Higashiyama district, Shisen-do is famous for its quiet atmosphere and gorgeous autumn leaves. [...]

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Chion-in Temple is the head temple of the Jodo Buddhism sect in Kyoto. The temple has over one million followers and is famous for its Sanmon Gate. [...]

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One of Kyoto's most beautiful gardens during autumn is Enkoji. It was founded in 1601 by the famous Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who brought about the Edo period (1603-1867). Enkoji is a temple of the Rinzai Zen. [...]

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Located in the heart of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-dera is one of Japan's most famous and celebrated temples thanks to its iconic 13-meter high wooden stage with a unique view. Founded in 780 on the site of the Otowa waterfall, Kiyomizu-dera literally means, “Pure Water Temple.” It was originally associated with [...]

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Hamarikyu Gardens, (also spelled Hama-rikyū Gardens) is a quiet public park located in Chuo ward in the heart of Tokyo. The park is close to the former Tsukiji fish market. [...]

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As of 2021, Adam Jones is the only foreign Bonsai Master that owns and operates a Bonsai Garden in Japan. Becoming a Bonsai Master in Japan is not an easy task even for the most skillful Japanese culture enthusiasts. Being a foreigner makes it even more challenging yet […]

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Kominka are Japanese traditional folk houses. Usually made of wood, clay, straw, and bamboo, Kominka were as spartan as you can imagine yet many survive in the Japanese countryside. While they have always been the center of interest of those Japanese people keen on reliving the past [...]

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