Hidden Tokyo · 11. February 2018

Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum or "NIHON MINKAEN" is a very unique and interesting place. You experience as if you are walking in the 17th-century countryside of Japan. There are 23 old Japanese folk houses. Those are really old houses built in the 17th - 19th century. They moved houses from many regions in Japan and re-built in the museum. You can not only observe from the outside but also walk in the building. You will understand the detail of the old construction and Old lifestyle. Many of...

Recommended · 17. December 2017

Would you like to visit Japanese castles? The imperial palace of Tokyo is the former Edo castle which was constructed in the 17th century. Unfortunately, the main tower was lost in the history. Odawara city is located 80 km southwest of Tokyo. It’s a good place for a one day tour from Tokyo. There is the Odawara castle, which includes the main castle tower. The main tower was rebuilt in the 20th century with a modern technology, but the appearance is same as the traditional one. It’s big,...

Walking Tour · 16. September 2017

The city of Kamakura is 1hour from Tokyo by train. Kamakura was the Japanese capital during the 12th-14th century. The first Shogunate government of Samurai clan was placed there. You can find many historical monuments in Kamakura. I had a Kamakura one-day tour with a nice couple from India. First, we visited the Engakuji Temple. The temple was established in the 13th century. It is one of the biggest headquarters of Zen Buddhism sects. Zen is based on the meditation, Zen temple is simple,...

Recommended · 06. August 2017

Kamakura is located 50 km south of Tokyo. The city was a capital of Japan in the 13th-14th century. I participated in a volunteer guide activity in Kamakura. Recently, I joined such kind of activity at Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo. However, I was eager to have a volunteer guide experience in Kamakura. Kamakura is a good place as a destination for one day trip from Tokyo. Many people visit the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine, Hokokuji known as a "Bamboo Temple" or the famous Great Buddha temple.

Hidden Tokyo · 17. July 2017

A mikoshi is a small portable shrine of Japanese Shinto religion. It is believed that a deity is in it. Each city or town in Japan has its own mikoshi festival. On the festival day, people carry the mikoshi on their shoulders and go around the town streets. On the 17th of July, Hamaori festival of Chigasaki city in Kanagawa prefecture was held. Chigasaki is a seaside city located about 60 km south of Tokyo. On the festival, many mikoshis go into the sea to clean-up their spirits ritually. It's...

Recommended · 29. April 2017

Enoshima is a small island located at 60 km south of Tokyo. There are shrines, shops, restaurants, beach, and caves. Very interesting! You can enjoy all day there.