A good hour away by car from Ise, Kongosho-Ji is a secluded temple hidden on top of Mount Asama, Mie’s highest mountain. Founded in 825 by Kobo Daishi (774~835), a buddhist saint founder of the Shingon or “True Word” school of Buddhism, Kongosho-Ji is in fact a rampart designed to protect Ise Jingu from any […]
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Located not so far from Ise Grand Shrine alongside the Miya River and between the small hills you will find the city of Watari, its rice fields and its many green tea fields. Japanese green tea fields around Mt Fuji are indeed very popular, but tea grows pretty much everywhere in Japan and each region, […]
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Oharai Machi (Oharaimachi) is the old 1 km long approach to the Ise Grand Shrine Naiku. With restaurants, shops and many old traditional buildings, Oharai Machi businesses have been serving customers, tourists and pilgrims for several centuries and as long as Ise Grand Shrine Naiku has existed. While Oharai Machi is full of history and […]
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Alongside Naiku, Geku is the second largest shrine in Ise and part of the Ise Grand Shrine. Located 6 km away from Naiku and near the center of Ise, Geku is is dedicated to Toyouke No Omikami, or the god of agriculture and industry. Despite being a large shrine, Geku is connected to 32 other […]
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Located in Mie prefecture and in the city of Ise, Ise Grand Shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the Amaterasu-Omikami goddess . Spread across a vast part of Ise, Ise Grand Shrine is mainly composed of two major complexes known as Naiku and Geku. Being the principal temple of Ise Grand Shrine, Naiku, is […]
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The Art Tower Mito or ATM, is an arts complex located in the center of Mito City in Ibaraki, opened in 1990 as part of the 100th anniversary of Mito’s designation as an official city. With a size of 100m high and an observatory located on its top, the ATM also features a concert hall […]
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Erected in 856, the Oaraiisosaki Shrine, also known as Orai Isosaki-Jinja, houses a deity of medicine who’s known for granting happiness and matchmaking couples. Destroyed during a war lasting from 1558 to 1570, the shrine was then rebuilt in 1690. The project was overseen by the legendary samurai Tokugawa Mitsukuni, who also become very popular […]
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Officially named Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Jinja, the Fujiyoshida Sengen Shrine or Fuji Sengen Shrine is dedicated to the Princess Konohanasakuya. It is a Shinto shrine mainly associated with Mount Fuji and, according to the Shrine officials, has over 1,000 “sister” shrines all across Japan. Located in a dense forest at the foot of Mt […]
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Koyo-dai, also known as Koyodai, is according to some people the best place to to enjoy Mt. Fuji in all its glory, and to be honest it would be very difficult to argue with this statement. Located on a small mountain north of Mt. Fuji, Koyo-dai offers a nice 360 degree panoramic viewing tower. This […]
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English Along with Hitachi Seaside Park’s Nemophila Harmony Festival, the Fuji Shibazakura Festival is yet another extremely popular flower festival located near Lake Motsu at the base of Mt. Fuji. Each year for one month, mid-April to mid-May, people across Japan and from all over the world come in their thousands to enjoy a beautiful […]
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Located in the heart of Chiba and 15 kilometers away from Narita Airport, Sawara street and the Ono River in Katori City look like they have been frozen in time with multiple buildings from the Edo period. Like many other well preserved Edo Period streets, you will find in Sawara many houses of former merchants […]
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Here is another stunning park near Tokyo and located in Ibaraki Prefecture, the Hitachi Seaside Park. Once a year it offers visitors an incredibly gorgeous view with its nemophila* Harmony festival (*Also called ‘baby blue eye’). Thanks to its unique configuration and small hills, the Hitachi Seaside Park, covered with millions of nemophila, gives visitors […]
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