Follow us as we trot around the quaint little streets of Takayama, chock full of gorgeous old buildings and quirky sights. Takayama gained importance as a source of high quality timber and highly skilled carpenters during the feudal ages. Consequently the city was put under direct control of the shogun and had quite a bitContinue reading “Shrines and sushi”
Category Archives: Japan
Traditional Takayama
We’ve arrived in the exquisite little Japanese town of Takayama. We’re staying at the gorgeous traditional homestay of Guesthouse and cafe SOY This beautiful house is chock a bloc full of beautiful dark wood, sliding doors, futons and other traditional Japanese architecture and decor. We can heartily recommend this lovely little place. It’s about 15 minutesContinue reading “Traditional Takayama”
Glimpses from the train
Bright and early we’ve hopped on the Shinkansen heading out of Tokyo and towards our next destination – Takayama in the Japanese alps! As we leave the dazzling, frantic cityscape the scenery becomes more and more rural. There’s tumbling rivers, rice fields and verdant forests whizzing past us at a rate of knots. The countrysideContinue reading “Glimpses from the train”
So long Shinjuku, toodleloo Tokyo
Before we head onto the glorious Japanese Alps we have one final night in the neon heartland of Shinjuku. The man is both intrigued and then delighted by this vending machine restaurant. Just pop in your money, make your selection, get your ticket and take it to the counter. Seconds later – a meal isContinue reading “So long Shinjuku, toodleloo Tokyo”
Capsule hotels & manic manga
Heading back from Nikko we’re catapulted back into the frenetic modernity of Japan and it’s hectic railway network. Even the usually dry train literature is exciting to me. It helps that it’s super cute and colourful too. The bullet trains have magazines advertising lots of intriguing, and in some cases, unfathomable, things for sale includingContinue reading “Capsule hotels & manic manga”
Into the abyss
After the wonders of Nikko we head to the impressively named Kanmangafuchi abyss. Kanmangafuchi is also known for its row of about 70 stone statues of Jizo, a Bodhisattva who cares for the deceased. This particular group of Jizo statues is alternately called “Bake Jizo” (Ghost Jizo), “Narabi Jizo” (Jizo in a line) or “HyakuContinue reading “Into the abyss”
Final details
A last look now at the sumptuous shrines and temples of the UNESCO World Heritage site at Nikko. Toshogu Shrine, one of the main sites at Nikko, is the final resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate that ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. Ieyasu is enshrined at ToshoguContinue reading “Final details”
Deeper into Nikko
As we wander further into the beautiful world heritage site of Nikko we’re overwhelmed by the decoration and religious details. Below is the Mizuya, a stone building sheltering the water basin used for purification before entering the temple buildings. Below are more details of the Kyōzō, the shrine’s storehouse for sutras or holy scriptures. I loveContinue reading “Deeper into Nikko”
Moss strewn and mysterious
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Shrines and Temples of Nikkō includes 103 buildings and the stunning natural setting around them. The buildings belong to two Shinto shrines (Futarasan Shrine and Tōshō-gū) and one Buddhist temple (Rinnō-ji) Above is Ishidorii, the imposing stone Tori gate at the entrance to the temple complex. Torii literally means BirdContinue reading “Moss strewn and mysterious”
Nearing Nikko
After the excitement of our first ever bullet train ride we arrive in the small town of Nikko. Nikko itself is a fairly average Japanese town, nothing too unusual (EXCEPT IT’S IN JAPAN!) We’re actually heading to Nikko National Park, a scenic place of natural beauty and ornate shrines. We meander through the town untilContinue reading “Nearing Nikko”