Joachim Ducos

Passionné par le cinéma japonais, j'ai voulu découvrir la vie quotidienne de ce pays que je ne connaissais qu'à travers la fiction. En 2017 je quittais ma France natale pour poser mes valises à Tokyo sans savoir que j'y resterai si longtemps. Après presque deux années à poursuivre mes activités de photographe et de vidéaste en parcourant l'archipel japonais, le Japon exerce toujours sur moi une mystérieuse fascination qui me pousse à vouloir en explorer chaque recoin.

35 articles

Articles by Joachim Ducos

Details of the museum of Osaka Sayamaike prefecture designed by Tadao Ando

3 Unique Osaka Buildings Created by Acclaimed Architect Tadao Ando

July 23, 2025 Architecture, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored

Tadao Ando is one of Japan’s most celebrated architects, known worldwide for his minimalist concrete structures and deep integration of nature and space. His journey into the world of architecture began unexpectedly during a high school trip from Osaka to...

Meet Nara Park’s Bowing Deer and Other Historical Monuments You Shouldn’t Miss

May 2, 2022 Cherry Blossoms, Gardens & Parks, Historic Sites, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Nara, Nara, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Temples & Shrines

Located a few kilometres from Kyoto and Osaka, Nara (奈良市) is one of the historical capitals of Japan. Numerous Buddhist temples and traditional buildings from its glorious past make it one of Japan’s top tourist destinations. But when we are...

The Elegant Japanese Metal Craftwork of Nousaku

February 26, 2021 Culture, Souvenirs, Toyama

Takaoka city, nestled between the mountains of Toyama prefecture alongside the traditional Gokayama village and the Sea of Japan, has been home to the Japanese tradition of metal craftwork since the 17th century. The city soon became the major center...

offerings for the new year in a japanese shrine

Spending the New Year on the Small Island of Taketomi in Okinawa

February 25, 2021 2 Weeks, Beaches & Islands, Cycling, Ferries, Minshuku, Nature, New Year's, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Okinawa, Temples & Shrines, Traditions, Winter

When my mother decided to visit me in Japan at the end of the year, she asked for one thing: that we could go somewhere that would not be too cold. I immediately told her that it was very easy,...

Christmas in Hokkaido: The Holiday Season Under the Snow

December 18, 2020 Airlines, Christmas, Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Onsen & Sento, Rail Passes, Sapporo, Shinkansen, Skiing & Snowboarding, Winter

I have always loved winter and snow even more. Coming from the south of France, where it barely snows once every two years, I hardly ever had the chance to discover a beautiful snowy landscape whenever I'd open my shutters...

How to Make Japanese Curry

November 17, 2020 Culture, First Time in Japan, Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Hokkaido, Language, Ramen, Rice, Soba, Sushi

Curry is one of the most popular foods in Japan. But not just any curry: it's Japanese curry. This mild and slightly sweet curry can be found in numerous Japanese restaurants. How did curry become so popular in Japan and...

professional go player teaching the game in Japan

Go, A Game Rooted in Japanese Culture

July 4, 2020 Culture, Language

Like chess is to the west, the game of Go is an Asian board game in which the players can develop extremely complex strategies. The game of Go played major importance in Japanese culture and history. Find out how Japanese...

Sakai City – A Cycling Paradise Inspired by Shimano

January 10, 2019 Cycling, Historic Sites, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Anyone who has ridden a bike is undoubtedly familiar with Shimano, the world leader in bicycle components. The headquarters for Shimano are in Sakai City, Osaka, the hometown of the company's founder, Shozaburo Shimano....

In the footsteps of Sen no Rikyu, the master of the tea ceremony

January 8, 2019 Culture, Historic Sites, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored, Tea 1 Comment

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Matcha (green tea) in Japan is more than an ice cream flavor or a style of latte at a trendy cafe. It is a component of the tea ceremony, a deeply spiritual ritual that...

Samurai Legacy: The Sakai Handcrafted Knives of Osaka

January 7, 2019 Kansai, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau The reputation of Japanese knives, from their sharpness to their quality of craftsmanship, is world renowned. Iron working has been a skill Japanese blacksmiths have been refining since the 5th century, especially during the...

The Forgotten Feminist: Akiko Yosano’s Influence On Modern Japan

January 5, 2019 Culture, Historic Sites, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines 2 Comments

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau An important figure in 20th century Japanese literature, Akiko Yosano was born in Sakai, Osaka. Known for her poems and novels in which she presented a progressive view of the role of women in...

Osaka’s Mount Mino – Autumn Foliage So Good You Can Taste It!

January 1, 2019 Autumn, Autumn Leaves, Kansai, Mountains, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

Japan in Autumn is so amazing, it dazzles the senses. It's not difficult to think about being overwhelmed by the hue of the brightly colored foliage, the crunching sound of the dry fallen leaves as you walk paths littered with...

Tasting Japanese Whiskey in the Yamazaki Distillery, Osaka

December 31, 2018 Historic Sites, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sake & Alcohol, Sponsored

Sponsored by the Kinki District Transport Bureau While Japan's traditional alcohol is sake, which has been perfected over centuries, in the last century, Japanese whiskey has become internationally renowned and today ranks as one of the best whiskeys in the world. Remarkably,...

Visit the Largest Tombs of Japan in Sakai, Osaka

December 30, 2018 Culture, Historic Sites, Kansai, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Sponsored

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Japanese funeral rites have evolved over the centuries. Between the third and seventh centuries, important people were buried in huge burial sites called kofun. The simplest were round or square and only a few...

Cup Noodle Museum in Osaka: Learn How Osaka Inventor Momofuku Ando Changed Edible History

December 29, 2018 Culture, Kansai, Museums & Galleries, Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Ramen, Sponsored

Sponsored by Kinki District Transport Bureau Though it is not always easy to find real ramen in Western countries, you can usually get instant noodles from supermarkets. A good and cheap meal, ready to eat in a few minutes just...

Discover the mountains of Toyama Prefecture by bicycle

December 16, 2018 Culture, Cycling, Mountains, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines, Toyama

Sponsored by Toyama Prefecture Toyama Prefecture has an unusual geographic feature of having the seashore and the mountains separated by only a few miles. This charm of Toyama Bay, which is one of the 'Most Beautiful Bays in the World...

Cycling Tour along beautiful Toyama Bay

December 15, 2018 Beaches & Islands, Cycling, Mountains, Sashimi, Sponsored, Toyama

Sponsored by Toyama Prefecture Toyama Prefecture is particularly famous for its gigantic bay where it is possible to admire the sea while seeing has an unusual geographic feature of having the seashore and the Tateyama Mountain ranges in the distance. Also, Toyama boasts...

Discover Gokayama Village and Hidden Treasures of Toyama Prefecture

December 14, 2018 Culture, Gifu, Historic Sites, Local Buses, Ryokan, Soba, Sponsored, Taxis, Toyama

Located in the Japanese mountains dividing Toyama and Gifu prefectures, the two villages preserve traditional Japanese architecture, which is very different from what is found in Japan today. Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture is the most visited village by tourists, while...

Take a walk in Otsu, a historic city 10 minutes from Kyoto

November 29, 2018 Culture, Gardens & Parks, Historic Sites, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Museums & Galleries, Rail Passes, Sake & Alcohol, Shiga, Shinkansen, Sponsored

Sponsored by Shiga Prefecture Otsu City in Shiga Prefecture is not well known to tourists although it is only 10 minutes by train from Kyoto. The city has a rich story and is an ideal destination to spend a day as...

Ecotourism in Shiga: Spend an afternoon on a farm minutes from Kyoto

November 28, 2018 Culture, First Time in Japan, Kyoto, Kyoto, Kyoto, Language, Shiga, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

Sponsored by Shiga Prefecture Everyone knows Kyoto and the beautiful temples that can be found there on every street corner. Although it is only a few minutes away from Kyoto, few tourists venture into Shiga Prefecture, which is a must-go place for...

Rafting on the Kuma River, Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan

Rafting on the Kuma River in Hitoyoshi

November 6, 2018 Kumamoto, Kyushu, Mountains, Onsen & Sento, Safety, Sponsored

Sponsored by Hitoyoshi city. Hitoyoshi, in Kyushu's Kumamoto Prefecture, is a great destination for travelers looking for an authentic-Japan feel. Nicknamed the Little Kyoto of Kyushu, Hitoyoshi, nestled in the heart of the mountains, has a rich history, perennial traditions, and many temples...

Discover the Historical Castle Town Hitoyoshi by Rent-a-Cycle

November 4, 2018 Castles, Cycling, Historic Sites, Kumamoto, Kyushu, Sponsored, Temples & Shrines

Sponsored by Hitoyoshi city Hitoyoshi is a small town nestled in the mountains of Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu. Hitoyoshi holds the nickname of the Little Kyoto of Kyushu: it's a city full of temples and historic buildings on every corner. Hitoyoshi...

Take a Journey with Limited Express Kawasemi Yamasemi

November 2, 2018 Kumamoto, Kyushu, Rail Passes, Shinkansen, Sponsored

Sponsored by Hitoyoshi city Everyone knows that Japanese railway services are well developed. The trains are clean, always on time, and the entire network is extremely efficient. It is not surprising that many Japanese are train fans, for example, all Shinkansen...

Es Koyama: A Japanese Chocolatier with Childlike Imagination

October 31, 2018 Hyogo, Kansai, Sponsored, Sweets

Sponsored by Sanda City In the small town of Sanda, which lies north of Kobe, as the city stretches into the mountains of Hyogo Prefecture, there is a complex of small, cozy and comforting boutique shops. An enchanting perfume of melted chocolate and baking cakes...

Hiking around hot springs at Yuzawa, Tohoku region

Older posts

Joachim Ducos

Articles by Joachim Ducos

3 Unique Osaka Buildings Created by Acclaimed Architect Tadao Ando

Meet Nara Park’s Bowing Deer and Other Historical Monuments You Shouldn’t Miss

The Elegant Japanese Metal Craftwork of Nousaku

Spending the New Year on the Small Island of Taketomi in Okinawa

Christmas in Hokkaido: The Holiday Season Under the Snow

How to Make Japanese Curry

Go, A Game Rooted in Japanese Culture

Sakai City – A Cycling Paradise Inspired by Shimano

In the footsteps of Sen no Rikyu, the master of the tea ceremony

Samurai Legacy: The Sakai Handcrafted Knives of Osaka

The Forgotten Feminist: Akiko Yosano’s Influence On Modern Japan

Osaka’s Mount Mino – Autumn Foliage So Good You Can Taste It!

Tasting Japanese Whiskey in the Yamazaki Distillery, Osaka

Visit the Largest Tombs of Japan in Sakai, Osaka

Cup Noodle Museum in Osaka: Learn How Osaka Inventor Momofuku Ando Changed Edible History

Discover the mountains of Toyama Prefecture by bicycle

Cycling Tour along beautiful Toyama Bay

Discover Gokayama Village and Hidden Treasures of Toyama Prefecture

Take a walk in Otsu, a historic city 10 minutes from Kyoto

Ecotourism in Shiga: Spend an afternoon on a farm minutes from Kyoto

Rafting on the Kuma River in Hitoyoshi

Discover the Historical Castle Town Hitoyoshi by Rent-a-Cycle

Take a Journey with Limited Express Kawasemi Yamasemi

Es Koyama: A Japanese Chocolatier with Childlike Imagination

Hiking Around the Hot Springs of Yuzawa, in the Tohoku Region

Celebrating the Local Tanabata Festival in Yuzawa

Discover Inaniwa Udon, a Local Speciality in Yuzawa

Discovering Yamagata Crafts: Otaka Poppo

Articles by Joachim Ducos

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