Seriously. I have been to Tokyo enough times to feel comfortable finding my way on the JR and the local subway lines. I know which spots in Shinjuku to avoid and where to go to get an amazing bowl of ramen. This city, though, always finds a way to leave me stunned and gawking; with my mouth hanging open like a fresh off the plane gaijin.

Senso-Ji temple is a perfect example. Tucked away in a sedate corner of Taito, the temple perfectly encapsulates all that is modern day Japan. The temple is nestled in the neighborhood of Asakusa, and it is sometimes erroneously referred to as Asakusa temple, as opposed to Senso-ji. The temple is the oldest in all of Tokyo and one of it's most significant.

The temple is devoted to the bodhisattva Kannon, as well a... Read More

On this day we visited Waseda University, Marina's school. It was a pretty nice place, we went to the international student's building where Marina will spend a lot of her time because she's an International Business major. It pretty much just seemed like a college campus. There were enough Americans on exchange there that Marina won't feel like her life is totally lacking an American feel when she's there, but also a lot of nice college type Japanese people that seem like they're looking to have a good time too. I'm sure she'll have no trouble partying or raising hell around here... there's so much to do so safely in this city that it'd be hard not to go out and rustle up a little bit of trouble for yourself. Anyway, that was Marina's school... nice place.

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The first sightseeing spot I have visited in Japan is Enoshima Island. I had just arrived a few weeks earlier, when we got out of the house one morning to go to Enoshima Island, we noticed the weather was not cooperating with us. It was cloudy and it seemed it would rain soon. However, we decided to continue our plan. My husband bought two one-day free passes from the Sagamihara Onno Station information office near the entrance.

Enoshima is a small holy island located to the south of Kanagawa Prefecture in Fujisawa at the end of the Odakyuu line that runs from Shinjuku to the centre of Kanagawa Prefecture.

When we arrived at Enoshima, a big sculpture of a female Goddess welcomed us. The goddess of Enoshima, Benten (or Benzaiten), is the only female... Read More

Seriously, it's one of the most amazing places I've been thus far. I had originally written Nara off as being a sort of post script to the whole Kyoto/Kansai experience. When speaking to other travelers about Kansai, conversation and tips usually hover around the big draws. Kinkakuji, Ginkakuji, and Kiyomizu temple. Nara is almost an afterthought.

"Oh and you should really go to Nara..."

We made it to Nara with about forty minutes to get into the cities main attraction, the Daibutsu. The temple closes at five thirty and costs around 500 yen. It’s easy to get there by way of Kyoto station. The temple is bordered by Nara's second largest tourist draw, the deer. More on those randy bastards later.

The Daibutsu, housed in the Daibutsuden Hall, is over fifteen meters high ... Read More

Miyajima is a famous island next to Hiroshima. Its real name is “Itsukushima” but most people call it Miyajima. You can take a train or streetcar from Hiroshima to a ferry (Miyajima-guchi) that will take you over to the island. Any trip to Hiroshima is incomplete without visiting Miyajima.

Upon arrival on Miyajima, you will be accosted by wild deer! Don’t be afraid; these deer are very friendly and want to be fed. Most of them have had their antlers shaved off, so they are less dangerous. However, there are some male deer with magnificent antlers.

As you walk along the shore, you will see many souvenir shops. I recommend that you buy momiji manju for omiyage. Omiyage is Japanese for “souvernir”, specifically a souvenir you give to ... Read More

After heading to Takaoka from our place in Tonami City my father in-law Ken, took me to a market and then he said it is time to cross the road. After crossing the road and a walk along a wide loose stone path loomed Zuiryuji Temple’s entrance, so we grabbed two tickets at the booth and headed onwards. The first thing you notice at the entrance is the width of the front wall compared to the gate that looks minuscule in comparison.
The lead up to the gate is a central stone tile path with small stones on either side of the path extending to the boundaries of the property.

Once you enter the gate the path continues straight ahead but there is grass in the inner courtyard in place of the stones in the outer courtyard. The path inside is li... Read More

Shikoku’s Sacred 88 Temple Pilgrimage is Japan’s most famous pilgrimage. In Japanese it is called “hachijuhakkasho-meguri”. It covers the circumference of Shikoku Islands, approximately 1,647km! Today, many pilgrims complete the circuit by car or by tour bus. However, there are still some that complete the route on foot. A pilgrim, or “Ohenro san” in Japanese, usually wears a white jacket and a traditional straw hat. On foot, the pilgrimage can take 60 days! While traveling, the pilgrims can often stay at the various temples or special inns for Ohenro san.

The pilgrimage was found by a famous 8th century Buddhist called Kukai (posthumously called “Kobo Daishi”). He is the founder of the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism. The pil... Read More

On Monday of the Golden week holiday we ventured to visit Kamakura. It turned out to be a hot day of 28 degrees yet not accompanied with the humidity that middle summer brings. The old streets were a bustle with people both young and old, Japanese as well as foreigner, all toting a camera. We were armed with the latest ‘Kamakura walker’ (a magazine that you can buy at any big bookstore like Tsutaya), and all the anticipation that a first visitor has to a place.

After meandering down the tiny lanes which very much remind me of the older streets of Europe we took advantage of a lazy lunch at one of the not too busy side street restaurants. Our baby girl Sofia was at this point becoming quite sleepy so we hailed a cab to go to our desired location, a much quiete... Read More

After spending hours wandering through Kyoto’s CBD we made the decision close to sundown to head for the hills of Kyoto to see Kodaiji Temple and the big Buddha in Kyoto. We arrived in the hills via taxi and starting exploring the area heading towards the multi story pagoda that was increasing in size with every step. Arriving next to the pagoda we were disappointed to find it close and so was the big statue of Buddha. Asking a local what to do they suggesting not missing Kodaiji Temple before it closed so we were suddenly heading fast back down the steep hill and then down a side street, coming to an immense stair case. Arriving at the entrance the place looked amazing with soft spotlights lighting up the main entrance, on paying we were inside and deiced to head to th... Read More

Tomamu is a small JR station harbored in the mountains of Hokkaido, somewhere halfway between Furano and Asahikawa. As we saw the train off, I got an odd feeling that we were left alone in the green mountains. We crossed a whimsical caterpillar-shaped stuffy walkway over the railroad.(Actually the walkway crossing was my first and the only time to experience hot and humid summer in Hokkaido, so far). After leaving the station behind, we were happy to acknowledge that this was not a completely uninhabited land after all. A kind-looking bus-driver in a smart uniform was welcoming us with a fatherly smile into the fare-free bus. "We would like to visit Mizu no Kyokai (The Water Church). Is this the right bus?". Sure, he confirmed.

15 minutes later, we were again le... Read More

I decide I have to go see Asakusa Temple aka Sensoji and set out from the business hotel in Asakusa-bashi. A short ride on the train and I am off the train and trying to decode the map I have. After about a three minute walk I am at the top end of Asakusa Temple precinct, so I enter and begin to wander around blending in to the stream of visitors. After coming to a an area that spreads out containing several buildings I decide to hang a sharp left and am rewarded with a something I have never seen.

A traditional wedding is in progress and even though uninvited I am allowed to watch without and objections. The next building houses some type of ornate Matsuri float, a small window in what looks like a ticket box is actually selling Omomori and white arrows. I find out this is run ... Read More

I can’t really put into words the feeling I had when I walked into the grounds of the Meiji Jingu shrine. Admittedly, I went with a purpose in mind, to help find some clarity and direction in my life. But what I felt once inside was a true spiritual connection.

I have visited numerous places of worship across the world ? some as famous as St Peters Cathedral in The Vatican, others less celebrated, like the small Buddist shrine I visited when high in the mountains of Sapa, Vietnam. But I can honestly say, although these places are incredibly beautiful, none has touched me the way being at Meiji Jingu did.

Meiji Jingu is the largest Shinto worship place in Japan. It is located in the grounds of Yoyogi Park in Harajuku as a dedicatio... Read More