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Buddhist temples in Japan, including many popular ones in Kamakura or Kyoto, do not always display their treasured Buddhist sculptures or sacred murals to the public. However, temples in rural area are often visitor friendly, ready to display their source of pride to the visitors. Takisanji, in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, is one of such […]

While the landmark temples in Kyoto may be magnificent, they are always flooded with fellow tourists and it’s often difficult to appreciate their true serene beauty. As authentic as the ones in Kyoto, many temples in the Central Japan area* are noticeably less crowded, offering visitors a better chance to observe the details in their

Fermented foods are time-tested aliments full of Umami. The Central Japan area, being the center of action in Medieval Japan, offers two fine examples of such traditional food; Hatcho Miso and Heshiko. In Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, there still exist two traditional brewers of Hatcho Miso; Kakukyu and Maruya, each boasting several hundred years of

Being the centre stage of battle during the medieval Warring Nation Period, the Central Japan area is home to two major groups of Ninja; the Iga Ninja from Mie Prefecture and the Koka Ninja from Shiga Prefecture. The Iga Ninja are famous for their loyal service to Iyeyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate

The Central Japan area, lying right between the Eastern and the Western regions of Japan, is studded with picturesque old towns well preserved since their heyday in the19th century. Some of them are the post towns on important highways that connected Kyoto in the west and Edo, present day Tokyo in the east, and others

Tohoku is a breath of fresh mountain air; its deep and light powder offers a wonderful retrieve for crowd-weary skiers and snowboarders looking for all levels of challenge. And all this is just a few short bullet-train hours northeast of Tokyo in 7 Prefectures. Tohoku not only scores #3 in Lonely Planet’s 2020 Top Regions

The Shinkansen is a simpler and smarter way to travel between Tokyo and the Central Japan area. It only takes one hour and half to reach Nagoya from Tokyo by the bullet train, without the hassle of a security check, while enjoying a magnificent view of Mt. Fuji from a seat on the right-hand side

Another example of the craftsmanship in Central Japan is Washi, or Japanese hand milled paper, known for its unique texture and durability. Of the three major production centre of Washi, two can be found within the region; Mino in Gifu Prefecture and Echizen in Fukui Prefecture. Made from fibers extracted from plants, its virtue has

The Kumano-kodo Iseji is an ancient pilgrimage road that connects Ise Jingu, the most sacred Shinto shrine in Japan, to the Three Grand Shrines of Kumano, now constituting an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range”. It is the longest stretch of the pilgrimage

Visiting Japan during Spring, the cherry blossom season, is always a special experience.  Cloud-like trees resplendent with a myriad of blossoms adorn the streets, parks, river banks and mountains all over Japan. With the dominance of pastel pink flowers, the nation moves into a festive mood to celebrate a start of the new school and