Kijin shrine: one of a few shrines nationwide dedicated to demon. Hot on the heels of the New Year celebrations, is Setsubun. Setsubun is a festival marking the end of winter and coming of spring. It is celebrated annually on the 3rd of February. However, for the first time inRead More →
Hodosan shrine, one of my top ten favorite shrines of all time, is one of those rare shrines that is well worth going out of your way to visit. Apart from its intriguing 1900 year history, the beauty and detail of the shrine and the grounds will captivate you inRead More →
Kanasana Shrine is a rare type of shrine that preserves koshinto, the old form of shinto worship. At Kanasana they venerate the entire mountain, Mt Mitake, as a God in the back of the worship hall. Supposedly there are only three shrines of this kind in all of Japan. Also,Read More →
The latest information in English on the web for LGBTQ+ friendly, discrimination free 800 year old Saimyouji, Kawagoe. Includes information for seasonally themed floral water fonts, temple illumination and new in 2021 – wind chimes. New in 2021 The latest addition to the temple, May 2021, are wind chimes. ItsRead More →
Toryu bridge (also called Toryumon) is over the Ara River (Arakawa) in the Mitsumine area of the former Otaki Village in Chichibu, Saitama. Toryu Bridge Toryu Bridge is a footbridge at the start of the “omotesando”, the sacred trail, to the famous Mitsumine Shrine. The hike from the bridge toRead More →
Kotoku Temple (Kotoku-ji Temple) is a temple belonging to the Shingon sect Toyozan school. According to official records the temple den, the main hall and the monastery were destroyed by fire in both Shoho (1644 – 48) and Kyoho (1716 – 1736) eras. However, incredibly and luckily for us exceptRead More →
Things to see in Kawagoe – stunning weeping cherry blossom tree and sakura at Nakain Temple in Kawagoe. Nakain is also renowned for its autumn leaves. Read More →
Sakura Town Shin Tokorozawa is part of the Cool Japan Forest Project, an initiative between Kadokawa Corporation and Tokorozawa city. It is being built in Saitama Prefecture, very close to Tokyo. The development includes a library museum (with bookshelf theater), an atypical shrine and anime hotel to name but threeRead More →
Anrakuji Yoshimi Kannon is one of a few temples where I personally have felt a strong presence upon entering the grounds. Whether you believe in power spots or not, Yoshimi Kannon is set in such a magnificent setting that it will awe you with its beauty, if not its mysticRead More →
Azalea Ogose – beautiful azalea sightseeing spot in Ogose town, Saitama. It is a little sad when the prunus (plum, cherry, peach blossoms) finish in Japan. But only a wee bit, because right behind them comes a multitude of equally stunning flora. Straight after the yaezakura, a late blooming cherryRead More →