A Shinto shrine is a structure whose main purpose is to house one or more Shinto gods. The Torii Gate, found at the entrance or within a shrine, is the easiest way to recognise one. The portable shrines (Mikoshi) seen at Festivals (Matsuri) are considered shrines too. Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto.
Tag: Shrine
Omiya Park – Saitama’s Secret Cherry Blossom Spot
The beauty and elegance of the cherry blossoms (Sakura さくら•桜） in Japan are well known across the globe, drawing crowds of tourists and locals alike every year. Most people will view the soft pink and white petals in the well-known spots such as Ueno park…
Power spots in Japan: Temples and Shrines of Osaka That Will Surprise You
Osaka is famous across Japan for its delicious cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and friendly people. It’s a crazy city full of neon lights, posters and facades with singular decorations and street food stalls. But, unlike the neighboring Kyoto, Osaka is not particularly known for its temples…
The Tokyo Nightlife Travel Guide
There’s certainly no shortage of interesting things to do during the day in Tokyo, but as night falls on Japan’s capital, what kind of activities are available to travelers who still have energy to burn? As it turns out, plenty! We check out a few…
Dining Around A Hotpot in Iiyama’s Igloo Village
Our bellies warm and sated, we gazed up at the heavens full of stars through the crisp Nagano night air, a fitting end to our first day in Iiyama city. Having enjoyed a day exploring an ancient village, sledding in a mini snowpark, and most…
Amanohashidate: A Bridge to Heaven at One of the Three Views of Japan
Japan is a country of lists. Top five cities. Top ten shrines. Top 100 ramen joints… you get the picture. So it didn’t surprise me when I started researching the famous sight of Amanohashidate (天橋立) in northern Kyoto, that I learned about the Three Views…
In the Foothills of Lovers: A Journey to Mt. Tsukuba
“Fuji in the West, Tsukuba in the East.” This is the phrase used to describe the importance of Mt. Tsukuba to Japan. Located in Ibaraki prefecture north of Tokyo, a beautiful, natural region, Mt. Tsukuba and its two peaks are said to be composed of…
Natural Beauty and Tradition in Sakuragawa, Ibaraki
Makabe is a quaint and quiet town in Sakuragawa, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is located in a beautiful countryside surrounded by mountains. Accurately described as “little Kyoto” for its richness of tradition and walkable downtown area, Sakuragawa is a day’s trip away from Tokyo and more…
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…
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.
How To Get to Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine from Hiroshima On a Budget
I woke early in my 18th-floor room at Hiroshima’s RIHGA Royal Hotel and peered sleepily through the curtains. I was greeted with the loveliest “great morning” view of Hiroshima I could hope for. After the cold temperatures and the on-and-off rain of the past few days, this…