Artchitecture in Japan, has traditionally been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs, seen as Shrine, Temple, and Castle. There, you can see the unique carpet (tatami), and sliding door (fusuma), chairs and high tables were not widely used until the 20th century.
Tag: Architecture
History and Architecture at Maizuru Red Brick Park
In the beautiful stretch of coastal scenery in northern Kyoto prefecture (京都府), lies a port town of lovely red brick buildings at Maizuru (舞鶴) Brick Park. Facing the Sea of Japan (日本海), Maizuru was originally a fishing village before turning into one of the most important…
Soba Noodles Eating Tour in Izushi Castle Town, Hyogo
“Itadakimasu!“ With my stomach already dangerously at capacity, I dove into my last order of soba (buckwheat) noodles in the Japanese castle town of Izushi (出石). As my favourite go-to cold noodle dish during the summer months in Japan, I’m normally a bottomless pit when…
Tea Ceremony in the Izumi Samurai Town
Izumi (Kagoshima prefecture) is a city with many surprises. After my experience staying in a traditional rural house and seeing the Izumi’s cranes, it was time to explore the samurai town. It was a complete immersion in Japanese culture: I took part in a Japanese…
Culinary and Artistic Traditions in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture
Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture is a link between cities and times. It connects to its neighbors Noda, Kashiwa, and Nagareyama, and along with them, forms a network of history and traditions that include all manner of Japanese craftwork, arts, architecture, religious customs, and the richness…
Pilgrimage to Ibaraki’s Giant Buddha: Ushiku Daibutsu
Ibaraki is a lush, green prefecture north of Tokyo full of natural beauty, peaceful towns, and plenty of tradition. It’s a mere train ride from Tokyo and full of enough activities for a day trip, if not an overnight trip. One of Ibaraki’s prime sightseeing…
Trekking Nozakijima: Discover an Abandoned Island in Japan!
Mysterious, quiet, impressive, even confusing. Landing on Nozaki, an abandoned island with but a single resident, all these adjectives come to mind. And we are surely going from surprise to surprise by going to discover this nearly uninhabited island. Let’s go! Discover this amazing island…
Staying in a Kominka, a Traditional Japanese House on Ojika Island
After trekking on abandoned Nozaki Island, we return to Ojika island for a stay in a traditional Japanese house. This island in Nagasaki Prefecture which is 5 hours by boat from Fukuoka has an incredible charm. Special mention to the locals who are very welcoming.…
Western Japan on a Budget: Explore Matsue Castle and a Yokai Manga Town Near Hiroshima
Sponsored by Chugoku Region Tourism Promotion Association / Chugoku District Transport Bureau We’ve already discussed in a previous article how easy and inexpensive it is to reach Matsue by bus from Hiroshima; now let’s talk about how easy it is to get around Matsue. With…
Exploring the Cuisine and Urban Nightlife of Fukuoka
Day or night, Fukuoka city offers a dizzying array of food, from roadside yatai serving late night meals to exclusive 3 Michelin starred sushi restaurants.
From Sake to Whisky: How Historic Takehara City near Hiroshima Gave Birth to one of Japan’s Finest Spirits
Takehara is a perfectly preserved Edo era merchant town with a long history of sake brewing and the birthplace of the father of Japanese whiskey.