Shibuya crossing is one of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world and is a vibrant place where just standing on the corner and watching the people will give you a sense of modern Japan. Video screens on each corner vie noisily for your attention along with bright blinking neon billboards and vibrant advertisements that […]
Konishiki Yasokichi, better know simply as Konishiki, is one of the most successful wrestlers in sumo history and was first non-Japanese sumo wrestler to attain the prestigious title of ozeki, sumo’s second highest rank. Konishiki was born in Hawaii in 1963 with the name of Saleva’a Fuauli Atisano’e and moved to Japan to pursue a […]
Matsushima, one of the Three Most Scenic Spots in Japan, is famous for more than just its small islands that dot the bay, its lovely views, ancient temples and shrines. Matsushima oysters are a regional delicacy that are served raw, deep fried, in burgers, battered tempura style or as part of a nabe (soup or […]
A trip to the Kameido Wisteria Festival found all of the usual attractions of a matsuri (festival) in Japan; abundant food stalls, good weather and plenty of people but Mother Nature had other ideas when it came to cooperating with the wisteria blooms. Only a few of the wisteria vines were blooming and I would […]
Tengu, the Japanese god of mischief and patron saint of the martial arts, is ever present on Mt. Takao. On a beautiful sunny day this past weekend I made the trip to Takao Quasi-National Park. After taking the cable car up Mt. Takao I took the 30 minute walk up stairs, down valleys, and up […]
At Benzaiten, a temple surrounded by the waters of Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, the flames licked the incense burning in the large bronze koro (incense burner) sitting at the base of the steps to the temple. The lovely island temple in the heart of Tokyo is dedicated to the only goddess among the Seven […]
The maneki-neko comes in many forms with the most common being a red and white ceramic cat with a lucky medallion around its neck. These two neko, spotted along Yanaka Ginza, are decidedly more realistic and very kawaii (cute) when compared to their traditional counterparts. Maneki-neko with raised paws are displayed to ensure a prosperous […]
Wandering through a cemetery on a chilly Saturday afternoon might not be at the top of most people’s lists of things to do when visiting Japan but that’s just what I did this past Saturday. The cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom along the windy paths through Yanaka Cemetery as I headed for Tennoji […]
Kids playing along a meandering stream under the cherry blossoms with families picnicking nearby. It’s a common pastime during spring in Japan and TokyoDan, today’s guest photographer, captured the feeling beautifully in this shot of Negawa Stream in Tachikawa. In his own words: “One afternoon during Hana-mi (Cherry Blossom Viewing season) My wife took me […]
A young women in a lovely spring kimono decorated with cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen. Just last Saturday, I made my first visit to Shinjuku Gyoen and found the spring flowers of Japan starting to bloom. The grass hadn’t even turned green but photographers surrounded the few cherry blossom trees that had overcome the cool […]
