It isn’t always necessary to travel far to have an outdoor adventure, even in the world’s most populated metropolis. For Tokyo area fisherman a unique angling opportunity can be just a couple of train stops or a short bicycle ride away. Tokyo’s Tama River spring run of Far Eastern dace is one of those opportunities. [...]

Once you have familiarized yourself with with the variety of options for getting around in Japan the next issue that you will need to tackle is how to find everything.  While finding English maps online is not impossible, it can be a challenge especially if you are nowt following a predetermined route from a guidebook [...]

No arms, no legs, but a well know symbol of good luck in Japan, Daruma dolls were first made over 300 years ago at a temple in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture in the likeness of Daruma, the Japanese name for Bodhidharma and the founder of Zen Buddhism who achieved enlightenment by staring at a blank [...]

Planning a trip to Japan or even travel within Japan is an exciting proposition that can easily get thrown into disarray once you are on the ground.  One of the most common questions that we are asked in the Japan Discovered! weekly tweetchat goes something like this:  “I have X days in Japan, can I [...]

The bright red Togetsu Bridge connects Oshima Island (sometimes referred to as Ojima Island) to the town of Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture.  After crossing the short but stunning red bridge take some time explore the small island’s rocky terrain along winding paths that take you past more than fifty caves carved into the rock containing [...]

The decision on whether Tokyo will once again be honored as the host city of the Olympics is just a few months away.  On October 2nd, the Olympic bid committee will decide whether Tokyo will be chosen to host the Summer Olympics in 2016. The Summer Olympics were hosted by Tokyo in 1964 and is [...]

You may have though it was all bad news when you heard that Japan’s rainy season officially started this week but it’s doesn’t rain everyday and the weather is still relatively cool and pleasant – in fact it’s great sightseeing weather!    One of the best things to do this time of year is to take [...]

June is for brides – it’s a common saying in the west that is also applicable in Japan but not in the way you might think.  Every June with the blooming of the irises the tradition of Yomeiri-Fune, also know as marriage boats or wedding ships, take to the waters in Japan. It is a [...]

Kobo Daishi is the posthumous name of a Buddhist monk known as Kukai who established the Shignon sect of Buddhism with the creation of a seminary community and an Esoteric Buddhism School over 1,200 years ago on Mt. Koya in Wakayama Prefecture. Today, statues and images of Kobo Daishi abound in Japan and many believe [...]

The beauty and tranquility of a well designed karesansui or dry garden is often spoken of but seldom experienced.  Take some time to visit one in person or simply meditate for a moment upon the images below from some of Japan’s most famous Zen gardens. Banryutei Rock Garden Image Credit: Flickr, Zen garden / Koya [...]