Dosgashima, over time, has become hugely popular among both Japanese and foreign tourists.It is most famous for its dramatic stone formations and gorgeous landscape shaped by the lava flow from nearby volcanoes that erupted many centuries ago. While most people tend to limit their visit to Dogahima itself, with its many restaurants and onsens, the […]
Read more
Like Hokokuji, Engaku-ji is not your average temple, and it is actually ranked as the second most important Zen Buddhist temple in Japan. Founded in 1282 by a Chinese Zen monk at the request of Hojo Tokimune (then ruler of Japan), Engaku-ji is in fact more like a closed village temple than an actual temple. […]
Read more
Number 10 on the Kamakura 33 Kannon pilgrimage, Hokokuji is one of Kamakura’s most peculiar temples. Secluded and located in the eastern hills of Kamakura, Hokokuji was founded in 1334 and, like many other temples in the region, it suffered badly as a result of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake. What’s so special about this […]
Read more
Alongside Shimoda and its many gorgeous beaches, Shirahama Beach comes in a close second. Famous among surfers this 800m long beach is EXTREMELY popular in summer, and we can’t stress the word popular enough here! During July and August you may have a hard time finding a decent spot to lay down your summer gear, […]
Read more
Located along the east coast of Izu towards Shimoda on route 135, Shimoda hides a gorgeous little shrine sitting right by the beach. Although it is rather small in size, the Shirahama Shrine is none the less full of surprises. Accessible by a small bridge, the shrine’s entrance will welcome you with a large red […]
Read more
If it were not for the Yebisu Beer museum and the Taillvent-Robuchon “maison bourgeoise” (sorry folks for breaking your dream but this is not a “chateau” or a castle since the structure was not built by any lords from the French royal family) Yebisu Garden Palace would have been one of Tokyo’s most boring places […]
Read more
Sitting proudly within the confines of the the Kotoku-In temple, the Great Buddha statue, or Daibutsu is another very popular religious attraction of Kamakura. Despite its overall sense of serenity, the Daibutsu had a rather tumultuous history! It all started in 1233 when the good people of Kotoku-In decided to erect a giant wooden representation […]
Read more
Originally erected and founded by Minamoto Yoritomo in 1063, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is the most important Shinto Shrine in the famous resort city of Kamakura, near Yokohama. Its popularity among Japanese tourists of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu is almost without limit and its 1.8km long approach gives the shrine its unique sense of grandeur that unfortunately quickly vanishes […]
Read more
Enoshima’s hidden little village, with its small shrines, is by far the best part of this Island. WIth a unique view of Mt.Fuji, the place looks like it was frozen in time with villagers living almost completely cut from the rest of the world. If you continue further down to the shore you will stumble […]
Read more
Very popular among both Japanese and foreign tourists, Enoshima is a gorgeous little island just off the coast of the city of Fujisawa but still connected to it by a long bridge. With a circumference of about 4km, Enoshima offers many different attractions ranging from a marina, to different shrines, parks and caves hidden on […]
Read more
English Depending on where you are getting your information from, Matsumoto Castle in Nagano is either the second or third most beautiful castle in Japan, and to be fair, we cannot disagree here! Located about 220km away from Tokyo it is considered to be one of Japan’s most important national treasures. Built in the 16th […]
Read more
English Located in Hachioji, an hour away by car from Tokyo, the Kogesawa Bairin is an incredible garden featuring no less than 1,400 plum trees that, like cherry trees, offer a few days per year when you can enjoy the unique scenery of white and pink blooming flowers. Next time you are visiting Mt. Takao […]
Read more
