Sanno Matsuri is one of the three major festivals of Tokyo, but don’t expect the millions of spectators that festivals like Sanja Matsuri have. What Sanno Matsuri lacks in attendance it makes up for in stature; it is one of the few festivals that is attended by the Emperor…sort of. In truth, the festival comes…
Category: Japanese History
Gion
The Gion district of Kyoto, home to most of the remaining geisha (called geiko here) in Japan, is what most tourists think of when they think of Kyoto. Though the wooden buildings have undoubtably burned down several times since the district’s birth five centuries ago, Gion emanates with history like no other place in Japan….
Hida Takayama
Hidden away in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Hida Takayama is probably most famous for its biannual Takayama Matsuri, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Japan to see one of the most amazing parades of historic floats in the entire country. The next festival takes place in April 2017, giving you some…
Otaru
Otaru is a port city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, about 25 minutes from its capital, Sapporo. Otaru thrived as a trading center until the mid 20th century when coal mines around the city started to run dry. Today, Otaru serves as a bedroom community for the Sapporo workforce as well as a wonderful…
Jizo
The image of Jizo, a jovial bald headed monk, is found throughout Buddhist temples all over Japan, and sometimes seen by themselves on the side of a road or forest path. Jizo is said to be the protector of children, and many parents who have lost a child through abortion, miscarriage or tragedy will appeal to…
Shirakawa-Go
Shirakawa village in the northwest part of Gifu prefecture is literally frozen in time thanks to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The houses of the village are built in a traditional gasshō-zukuri style, resembling an A-frame with a very thick thatched roof. This roof insulates the house from the cold winters and nights…
Hokan-ji (Yasaka Pagoda)
In the early morning and late evening hours around Hokan-ji in eastern Kyoto, the streets are nearly deserted and you can enjoy a magical moment of alone time with this six centuries-old pagoda. Sitting on a sloped narrow stone path, this historic pagoda is mostly surrounded by traditional wooden shops and residences. At one time the pagoda…
Kanazawa
Kanazawa sits on the nearly forgotten west coast of Japan, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture. Kanazawa has a rich history and a strong bond with traditional Japanese culture, so it is no surprise that Kenryokuen, considered one of the three finest Japanese gardens, is in this city. Tsuzumimon, a huge gate built to resemble traditional…
Ameyoko
For those who think Japan is a place of order, descend into the chaos of Ameyoko to see the other side. Something between flea market and farmers market, Ameyoko has the feel of a bustling Southeast Asian night bazaar rather than the sterile, uber-polite shopping experience of most Japanese shops. Born from post-war Japan, Ameyoko…
Kyūdō
Archery is a millenniums-old skill in Japan, mainly as a hunting and warfare skill, but it is still a fairly popular sport in modern Japan. When the rifle arrived in Japan with the Portuguese in the 1600’s, the decline of the bow and arrow as weapons of war came swiftly. It was Zen Buddhism that saved…
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