Hello Kitty may not actually be the most famous Japanese cat after all! It all started in 1697 according to the legend. At that time, before the Gotokuji Temple was what it is now, a poor and lonely priest was living alone with his cat. One day, during a […]
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Located in the city of Nakatsu, this castle, also known in Japanese as Nakatsu-Jo, was founded in 1587 under the rule of the Daimyo Kuroda Yoshitaka. Completely destroyed by the Satsuma Rebellion in 1877, which opposed disaffected samurai against the new imperial government, Nakatsu castle was rebuilt […]
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Located in the heart of the amazingly beautiful Kinusaki peninsula in Oita, Fuki-ji temple is the oldest wooden structure existing in all of Kyushu. National Treasure Fuki-ji Temple is one of the nation's three major Amida-do sanctums along with Byodo-in in Uji and Chuson-ji […]
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Located along the east side of the Izu peninsula, Jogasaki is a small yet beautiful coast. Famous for its lighthouse and suspension bridge, Jogasaki also offers a nice 1-hour long hiking trail that gives you a beautiful view of the area, including the huge Oshima Island. [...]
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Located in the heart of Miyagi in the city of Shiroshi, the Shiroishi Castle, a flatland castle, was the home of the Katakura clan, a family in the Date clan. During the Boshin War, it was temporarily the headquarters of the Ōuetsu Reppan Dōmei. […]
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Yubikan, located in Miyagi, consists of a small, yet gorgeous house surrounded by a pleasant garden and pond. Unfortunately, Yubikan was totally destroyed by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Originally built in 1677 as a retreat for Munetoshi the second-generation head of the Iwadeyama Date Family. [...]
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Located in Sendai city in Miyagi, Osaki Hachimangu Shrine was built in 1607 by Date Masamune himself, and yes, the same Date Masamune buried in Zuihoden Mausoleum! The shrine of the Hachiman deity, or the Shinto god of war, Hachiman is also considered as both the guardian and protector [...]
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Joginyorai (also known as Jogi Nyorai) Saiho is a complex of Buddhist temples located about an hour drive from Sendai city in Miyagi Prefecture. The first temple was built just after the Genpei War (1180-1185) opposing the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. [...]
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Sakunami Onsen is a village onsen outside of Sendai city in Miyagi. Discovered in 1300, Sakunami onsen quickly became quite popular and it still is to this day today. The village is nothing more than a huge resort now with a huge five luxury hotel complex tailored around enjoying the […]
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