Every year in June, along with the rainy season, pretty clusters of colorful hydrangea flowers bloom across Japan. The beautiful flowers are called ajisai (あじさい、紫陽花) in Japanese. Some places are even famous for the incredible number and variety of hydrangea flowers. Here are 10 popular hydrangea-viewing spots in Japan!
Japan’s Top 10 Wisteria-Viewing Spots
The end of cherry blossom season is certainly not the end of flower festivals in Japan! Every year, following the cherry blossoms, lush purple wisteria flowers arrive in Japan, blooming from April to May. The beautiful purple flowers are called fuji (ふじ, 藤) in Japanese. Here are the Top 10 wisteria-viewing spots in Japan!
Sakura Viewing in Daigoji Temple, Kyoto
Daigoji Temple, established in 874 and designated as a World Heritage Site, is renowned as a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing. It is where Toyotomi Hideyoshi famously hosted his “Daigo no Hanami” cherry blossom viewing party. The temple’s magnificent grounds, adorned with two national treasures; a stunning five-story pagoda (五重塔) and Kondō (金堂 Golden Hall) and other historic buildings, … Read More
Five Japanese customs that you may surprise
Japan is a country rich in culture, traditions, and customs that can sometimes be surprising and even strange to outsiders. From bowing as a sign of respect to otōshi in restaurants, there are many common senses in Japan that may seem unusual or unfamiliar to those unfamiliar with Japanese culture.
My Top 5 Sakura viewing spots
Travel to Japan during the beautiful Sakura season and witness nature’s amazing transformation! Me Kazue visited many cherry blossom spots in Japan, and here are the top 5 Ohanami spots of my selection! No.5 – Philosopher’s Path in Kyoto🚶🌸 Stroll along the canal to experience a serene escape in nature! The two-kilometer path, named after renowned philosopher Nishida Kitaro who … Read More
How to Keep Warm During Winter in JAPAN
Winter in Japan usually lasts from December until February, and can be pretty unforgiving if you’re not used to the cold. Temperatures average around 2ºC~10ºC (35°F~50°F) in city areas, and can get as low as -6°C (21°F) in country side and even colder in Hokkaido! If you’re visiting Japan during the winter months, you’ll definitely want to take care to … Read More
Feel peace of mind at Zentsuji Temple
If you are looking for a calming place in the Japanese countryside, this is the place to be. Located in the western part of Kagawa Prefecture in Shikoku, the head temple of the Zentsuji School of Shingon Buddhism is the birthplace of Kukai (Kōbō Daishi) and is widely known as one of the three great spiritual sites of Kobo Daishi … Read More
Catch Your Own Fish At This Restaurant in Japan
Seafood doesn’t get any more fresh than this! At this uniquely interactive restaurant in Shinsekai, Osaka, you can use a rod to choose a type of fish, catch it, then have it cooked for you to eat! Here was our experience.
All About Japanese MONEY
On October 18, 2022, the Tokyo foreign exchange market was trading at around 149 yen to the dollar as the yen sold off on the view that the U.S. will continue to raise interest rates significantly. The yen also temporarily fell against the euro to the mid-146 yen per euro, the weakest level in about 7 years and 10 months. … Read More
Tomogashima, a beautiful “phantom” island of fortress
On a beautiful Akibare 秋晴れ day – a fine autumn day, we visited Tomogashima Island in Wakayama prefecture on a day trip. It was said to have been an”uninhabited phantom island” dotted with fortress ruins. You may wonder why the title says “phantom”. Let’s find it out in this blog!