Seeking variations on the views of Mt. Fuji can fill a lifetime, but there is certainly one view which should not be missed. Oshino Hakkai in Yamanashi Prefecture offers views of Fuji-san against the foreground of its eight crystal clear ponds which are fed from the water of Fuji’s melted snow. Travelling miles underground…
Tag: beauty
Tohoku Week – Yamadera
Editors Note: We’re back from vacation and celebrating with a week of posts about our vacation destination: Tohoku! Beat the summer heat of Tokyo and the wall-to-wall crowds of Kyoto and visit Tohoku in northern Japan instead! Located just a half hour outside of Yamagata city in the Prefecture of the same name, Yamadera literally means…
Ajisai
Ajisai, or what is known in the West as Hydrangea, are a traditional symbol of Summer in Japan. Many species of ajisai are native to Japan and they come in many shapes and colors, from pure white to vibrant pinks and purples. Though hydrangea are known to blossom from early Spring to late Autumn in…
Kiyosumi Garden
Perhaps one of the most under-rated Japanese traditional gardens in Tokyo, Kiyosumi Garden is a beauty of a park in Eastern Tokyo. Originally the property of an Edo period merchant family, it became a public park in 1932. Kiyosumi gardens best feature are its plentiful landscape rocks, highly valued in Japanese landscaping. Many of these…
Higashi
Higashi 干菓子 are a type of wagashi, a Japanese sweet made specifically for tea ceremony. Though you could eat wagashi without tea, they tend to be very sweet to balance the bitterness of the strong Japanese green tea served at tea ceremony. Higashi are “dry” versions of wagashi, usually made with sugar and rice flour, though…
Tokyo Station Renovation
The grand old train station has been undergoing a lot of changes recently and for good reason: it celebrated its 100-year-anniversary in December 2014 and had to get dressed up nicely. The area around Tokyo Station has also seen renovation recently, the huge ultra-modern structures now standing guard over the classic beauty. The beautiful domes atop the…
桃の花 Peach Blossoms
The poor peach tree is often overshadowed by its more famous cousin, the cherry tree, but observing the peach blossoms in season is probably more delightful and less crowded. However, you may have to take a train to the city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi prefecture, about 2 hours west of Tokyo. We recommend Marukita Hanamomoen (Japanese…
Tower of Hermes
Ginza is known for being the home of Japan’s flagship department stores Mitsukoshi and Matsuya as well as dozens of boutique shops and high end restaurants and is a major tourist destination. When it was first built in the late 1800’s, it wasn’t well received by foreigners who saw it as too western for their…
南禅寺 Nanzenji (Kyoto)
Nanzenji is one of Kyoto’s most beautiful temples, in the foothills on the eastern side of the city. However, one can’t help but notice the large brick structure that cuts through the temple grounds. The structure is an aqueduct built to carry water and goods to the people of the neighboring Shiga prefecture. Though the…
鯉 Koi
These ornamental colored fish are a staple in Japanese gardens. A symbol of love and friendship (koi is a homophone for “love” in Japanese), these beloved fish are oooh’d and aaah’d over as they swim through serene garden ponds. They are also a symbol used on Children’s Day (May 5th). This photo, taken at Heirinji,…
365 JAPAN 