Kansai

1,400 years of history hidden in the outskirts of modern Kobe After introducing two of Japan's three oldest hot springs (Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Nanki Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture) it is now...

The home of pearls and Ama-zing female divers Most of our readers have probably never heard of Toba, a small fishing village in Mie Prefecture, not too far from Ise Town. The name Mikimoto however, might...

If you are in Osaka tomorrow, you can catch this rare scene of a women-only contingent carrying a 200kg mikoshi (portable shrine) at the Tenjinbashisuji Shopping Street. This is the lead up to Osaka's...

In 1998, eight locations were immortalized as cultural heritage sites: Gangoji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple, Toshodaiji Temple, Yakushiji Temple, Kasugaya Taisha Shrine, Kasuga-yama Forest, and Heijo-kyo Palace ruins. This cluster of Buddhist and Shinto...

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto: A treasury of temples and shrines With so many gems gathered here, the sightseer's dilemma is knowing where to start! So for the time-strapped tourist, here are the top three "must see" spots. 1....

See the Eternal City tinted in the delicate pink of Spring and sigh at the fleeting beauty of the sakura. Here are the top spots to for ohanami (cherry blossom viewing). 1)  Tenryu-ji Temple This is...

See the Eternal City tinted in the delicate pink of Spring and sigh at the fleeting beauty of the sakura. Here are the top spots to for ohanami (cherry blossom viewing). 5) Maruyama Park The  12m ...

Divine Dining At The Spiritual Center Of Japan Ise Grand Shrine's outer shrine (Geku), enshrines Toyouke no Omikami, the goddess of agriculture and industry. She is enshrined here to offer sacred food to Amaterasu, the sun...

To enjoy Japan’s culture, cuisine and scenery, try a Ukai river cruise. “Ukai” literally means the rearing of cormorants and refers to a traditional fishing method deploying these long-necked aquatic birds to hunt for river...

Feel spiritually recharged at these spots believed to impart its visitors with a special energy, and bring home some luck in the form of an omamori (charm)! Kifune Jinja Shrine For: Rain, protection from floods, ship traveling This...