Have you ever been to Nagasaki? Nagasaki is famous for its historical background of their open foreign policy even during Edo’s seclusion period and the Peace Memorial Park. Nagasaki is one of the seven prefectures in Kyushu island along with Oita, Fukuoka, Saga, Kumamoto, Miyazaki and Kagoshima. This time, I would like to introduce you …
On 19th April 2021, we visited the Sasuke workshop, owned by Yasuhiro Hirakawa, a small family blacksmith’s forge located in Sakai City in southern Osaka. His garden scissors and kitchen knives are known all over the world. The Sasuke family business has been around for 150 years and it is the only officially recognized forge …
Discovering Japanese Quality Scissors and Knives Tour Read More »
Welcome to Kamitowa Paper Store in Kyoto! On 12 March, we did an online live “Craft Sakura Postcard in a Japanese Paper Shop Tour” Washi 和紙 is a traditional Japanese paper, registered in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO . It is more durable than ordinary paper, which is why it is used in many different …
Welcome to Mt. Yoshino. Look at gorgeous pink mountains!It is said that the first cherry trees were planted along its slopes more than 1300 years ago, and today the Yoshino mountain is covered by approximately 30,000 cherry trees of 200 different varieties. The tourists from all over the world come here to follow the cherry …
Welcome to Ishikiri Shrine approach shopping street! On 7 March, we did an online live “Retro but Lively ~Ishikiri Shopping Street Walking Tour” We started from Ema-den, the shrine gate with a sword on top of the gate, and walked in front of the shrine and walked through the shopping street. (Well, the building looks …
Tōka Ebisu – the largest festival for people wishing for business prosperity! Minasan, Ohayōgozaimasu!On 10 Jan 2021, I visited Nishinomiya Shrine to attend the Tōka Ebisu festival. The festival is held from 9 to 11 January every year at each Ebisu shrine, and the Nishinomiya shrine is the headquarter of about 3,500 Ebisu shrines all …
Shimabara ~Water City of Nagasaki Many people are familiar with Nagasaki because of the atomic bombing during World War II. But there is so much more about Nagasaki that shaped Japan’s history for many centuries. It was actually one of the few sites in Japan where Christianity briefly flourished in the mid-16th century. Nagasaki is one …
Kifune Shrine illumination Night Tour If you ask a Japanese person what his/her religion is, you might be surprised that many will answer that they don‘t know. This may strike you as odd, but the reason is that many Japanese practice Shinto or “the way of the gods.” It is technically not considered a religion, …
Welcome to Marugame City! This is the second biggest city in Kagawa Prefecture after Takamatsu City, which is the capital. Its strategic location along the Seto Inland Sea made it a vital player in maritime trade. Today we are visiting Marugame Castle, built by Ikoma Chikamasa, the Lord of Sanuki, in 1587 (about 400 years …
Have you ever tried Japanese sake? Sake is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, water, and yeast. This traditional Japanese drink is gaining popularity in many parts of the globe. On 23 Nov. 2020, I visited Hakutsuru Sake brewery museum for this Japan Online Tour! Kobe is one of Japan’s largest sake producing regions. …