Go’o Shrine Naoshima

Go’o Shrine The Go’o Shrine 『護王神社』is an Art Project designed by photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto, erected circa 1998 on the island of Naoshima.  It is a re-interpretation of a style of Shinto Shrine architecture. The name Go’o means something...

Nara – home of deer and Buddha

Nara, a former capital city of Japan is home to free-ranging deer, and one of Japan’s largest statues of the Buddha.  The Buddha’s statue is housed in the world’s largest wooden building.  Yet this building, the temple Todaiji, is a reconstruction...

Firefly wall

This unique patterned wall was found  at the preserved home of 17th century Haiku poet Kyorai Mukai. Located in a quiet area of Arashiyama, Kyoto, with rice paddies nearby, the home and its garden is well worth a visit for an introduction to...

Gion backstreet Okonomiyaki

Wander the back streets of Gion at night, beside shallow rippling canals in neat stone borders, to find an un-assuming restaurant just near a small shrine at the intersection of Shirakawa Minami Dori and Shinbashi Dori. Shrine at intersection of...

Be careful of Tsunamis

This helpful sign was seen at Enoshima, a popular seaside resort not too far from Tokyo.  There is even a “Billabong” surf shop there, presumably not catering to the Tsunami surfer market.  But seriously, this sign indicates that a Tsunami would...