The Bamboo Temple This Kamakura temple is a must-see for its towering bamboo forest, its exquisite garden-like grounds, and its teahouse, where you can enjoy a delicious bowl of mattcha while contemplating the gently-swaying bamboo. Lovely in every season, it’s a particularly welcome destination in the summer months when the bamboo dials the temperature downContinueContinue reading “Hōkoku-ji Temple”
Category Archives: Traditional Japan
Sankei-en Garden
Worth seeing in any season Sankei-en is a huge garden with many nooks and crannies to explore, including some famous historical buildings and a venerable cedar pagoda. It’s got respectable flower displays in every season, but the best time to be there is July and August, when it opens early for lotus flower viewing. ThisContinueContinue reading “Sankei-en Garden”
Sengaku-ji Temple
You know the story of the 47 samurai who avenged their lord, then were all ordered to commit ritual suicide? You can see the movie anywhere in the world, but visiting the place where the REAL 47 rōnin are buried is something you can only do in Japan! If you want to see a pieceContinueContinue reading “Sengaku-ji Temple”
Nihon Minka-en Thatch-Roofed Farmhouses
The Nihon Minka-en (Japan Open Air Folk Museum) is an excellent only-in-Japan excursion, and one of Tokyo’s best-kept secrets. Why make the big schlep and fight the crowds at Shirakawago when you can stroll through 23 different thatch-roofed houses less than an hour outside central Tokyo? The Nihon Minka-en is a beautiful park set upContinueContinue reading “Nihon Minka-en Thatch-Roofed Farmhouses”
Koshinzuka Street Market
Walking along Koshinzuka Street is like taking a step back in time. This area is sometimes called “the grandma and grandpa’s Harajuku” because it sells goods geared toward the over-60 set and lots of stuff that hasn’t been available in the rest of Tokyo for years. The best time to go is on days thatContinueContinue reading “Koshinzuka Street Market”
Yushukan Museum
The Yasukuni Shrine grounds are home to an extensive WWII museum, with a fascinating collection of artifacts, weapons and memorabilia from the Japanese side. It’s easy to spend a few hours here, especially if it’s hot or rainy outside. The Yushukan is arranged as a timeline that starts long before the war, detailing events inContinueContinue reading “Yushukan Museum”
Ueno Area
Ueno is the heart of “Old Tokyo,” where a vast park hosting venerable museums and thousands of sacred lotus exists side by side with busy artisans and merchants doing what they’ve been doing best for centuries Why do guidebooks send people to Ueno for all the wrong reasons? For example, if you go during cherry blossomContinueContinue reading “Ueno Area”
Ginza
The delights on display in the department store food halls make it nearly impossible to choose Ginza’s fancy shopping reputation is the least interesting thing about this neighborhood that’s also home to an eye-popping goldfish aquarium, a primo kabuki theater, food halls that put Harrod’s to shame, and the prefectural shops that sell best-of-their-kind specialitiesContinueContinue reading “Ginza”
Deal with rainy summer days the only-in-Japan way!
If you’re in Tokyo anytime from mid-June through July, chances are you’ll have the, uh, privilege of experiencing the traditional Japanese season known as tsuyu: the rainy season. (And since Japan is in the Asian monsoon belt, that means hot and rainy.) But the Japanese have been coping with steamy summer days for centuries, soContinueContinue reading “Deal with rainy summer days the only-in-Japan way!”
Hasedera Temple
This temple is known for its gigantic golden Kannon figure, but it’s also got a winding path guarded by a thousand stone Jizo figures, an underground grotto, a magnificent prayer wheel, and is a must-see in June for its hydrangea garden. Kamakura is stuffed with entertaining shrines and temples, but Hasedera is the only oneContinueContinue reading “Hasedera Temple”
Nishiarai Daishi Temple
Nishiarai Daishi is a grand Buddhist temple with all the trimmings—a great place to see all the holiday celebrations, but especially fabulous in February when the plum blossoms burst forth, in April when its renowned peony garden comes into bloom, and in late April to early May when its giant wisteria unfurls its meter-long purpleness.ContinueContinue reading “Nishiarai Daishi Temple”
Ni-no-Maru Imperial Gardens
Amazing flower displays…without the crowds! Ni-no-Maru is part of the Imperial Palace East Gardens, and although there are finer and larger gardens to visit most of the year, you will never forget it your whole life long if you see it in April, which the azaleas are in bloom! I didn’t discover this hidden gemContinueContinue reading “Ni-no-Maru Imperial Gardens”
Kameido Tenjin Shrine
For centuries, this shrine has been so famous for its wisteria that Hiroshige featured it in his “One Hundred Famous Views of Edo” woodblock prints. Best times to visit are January for the Bullfinch Festival, mid-February to early March for plum blossoms, late April to early May for the grand wisteria, and November to seeContinueContinue reading “Kameido Tenjin Shrine”
Where to see the best cherry blossoms in Tokyo
Cherry blossoms at the Imperial Palace Chidorigafuchi Moat Map to all Cherry Blossom Spots First of all, what kind of cherry blossoms do you want to see? They bloom in four waves of different varieties, starting in mid-March with the dark pink kanzakura… Early-blooming cherries at Shinjuku Gyō-en then the weeping varieties bloom from mid-MarchContinueContinue reading “Where to see the best cherry blossoms in Tokyo”
Great things to do in March
More Plum Blossoms Eyepopping displays of plum blossoms continue to delight through mid-March. Here’s where to see the best plum blossom groves in Tokyo • Girls’ Day (Hina Matsuri) From mid-February through Mar 3 (the actual holiday), sacred doll sets are displayed in households with daughters. The town of Katsuura (an overnight trip from Tokyo)ContinueContinue reading “Great things to do in March”
Yamatane Museum
“Autumn Colors” by Kaii Higashiyama, photo courtesy of Google Art & Culture This is the place to see masterpieces of Japanese nihonga painting, from venerable to contemporary. Their collection of works painted with powdered gemstones is first-rate, and they curate shows that are both enlightening and enjoyable. Visit in March and April for their annualContinueContinue reading “Yamatane Museum”
Sato Sakura Museum
“Sakura River” by Ryo Date This museum doesn’t just collect works painted with powdered gemstones in traditional Japanese nihonga style, they commission new works too! It’s an especially excellent stop in late March to early April, when the cherry blossoms are blooming along the Meguro River outside the door. Situated just a block from theContinueContinue reading “Sato Sakura Museum”
Monzen-Nakachō Area
(Photo courtesy of Narita-san Fukakgawa Fudo temple website) The Monzen-Nakacho area isn’t mentioned on many must-go lists because most visitors don’t know about the neighborhood’s highly entertaining temple, the shrine that’s the birthplace of sumo wrestling, and (in late March to early April) one of the best hidden cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. This isContinueContinue reading “Monzen-Nakachō Area”
Rikugi-en Garden
Serene in every season If you’re looking for the most Japanese garden of all time, that garden would be Rikugi-en. It not only has gorgeous views around every turn, it’s huge. Especially good times to visit are March for the weeping cherry tree, April for the azalea mountain, and November for the leaves. Rikugi-en isContinueContinue reading “Rikugi-en Garden”
Mt. Takao
Mt. Takao is still within Tokyo city limits, but it feels like a world away! You can ogle plum blossoms in February, walk across hot coals in March, hoist a cold one with a great view all summer, or hike and enjoy the monkey park any time of year. Climbing this mountain has its rewards!ContinueContinue reading “Mt. Takao”
Great things to do in February
Setsubun On Feb 2-3, everyone celebrates Setsubun to usher in good luck for the new year. People dressed as demons are chased around and pelted with dried soybeans by everyone else, who are busy shouting things like, “Out with the bad luck, in with the good!” It’s also the holiday on which they sell bigContinueContinue reading “Great things to do in February”
Zojō-ji Temple
This temple is the subject of many woodblock prints and the burial place of seven shōguns. It’s a lovely place to see hundreds of Jizo figures with their colorful pinwheels and take a classic “ancient & modern” photo with Tokyo Tower, especially excellent at the major Buddhist holidays like New Year’s in January, Setsubun inContinueContinue reading “Zojō-ji Temple”
Yushima Shrine
I think the Yushima Shrine is the most beautiful shrine in Tokyo, and it’s especially worth seeing in February during plum blossom season and in November to celebrate the can’t-believe-your-eyes bonsai chrysanthemums. I love the Yushima shrine because it’s a fabulous example of Imperial shrines, which are built of unlacquered cedar with gold leaf detailing,ContinueContinue reading “Yushima Shrine”
Kyū Shiba-Rikyu Garden
This garden isn’t huge, but it’s choice. In any season, it’s one of the best places to take photos showing ancient and modern side by side in Japan, but it’s especially known for its plum blossoms in late February to early March, and its wisteria in late April to early May. Kyū Shiba-Rikyu Garden isContinueContinue reading “Kyū Shiba-Rikyu Garden”
Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple
Ikegami Honmon-ji is the major Nichren sect temple in Tokyo, and a great place to see all the big Buddhist festivals. It’s especially worth a visit in late February to mid-March, when its extensive plum garden is in bloom, and for the Oeshiki Ikegami Festival of 10,000 Lanterns in mid-October. This magnificent temple sacred toContinueContinue reading “Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple”
Asakusa Area
The Kaminari-mon (Thunder Gate) – gateway to Senso-ji temple and the Nakamise-dori shopping street This is where I take people on their first day in Tokyo. It’s everything you think Japan should be – traditional festivals, a secret garden, temples & more. It’s also a great place to see the big festivals during pretty muchContinueContinue reading “Asakusa Area”
Great things to do in January
Tell me more! Best shrines for enjoying the new year’s festivities: • Winter Illuminations Many of Tokyo’s fabulous free winter illuminations continue in the month of January, as well as the eye-popping paid illuminations at Tokyo Mega-Illumi, Yomiuriland, and Sagamiko. Tell me more! • Winter Sumo Tournament The Tokyo winter sumo tournament runs for 14ContinueContinue reading “Great things to do in January”
Nezu Shrine
The Nezu Shrine is a great place to see a pristine red and gold Shintō shrine and experience a lively celebration of New Year’s in January, as well as brilliant autumn leaves in November. What it’s most famous for, though, is its can’t-believe-your-eyes azalea display in April. Come for the beautiful red and gold shrine,ContinueContinue reading “Nezu Shrine”
Yasukuni Shrine
The shrine with a sumo ring! The most controversial shrine in Tokyo, the Yasukuni Shrine hosts festivals with all the trimmings in January, April, July and October. It’s also got a fascinating WWII museum, a lovely garden and an outdoor sumo amphitheater. This is a gorgeous, lively, maddeningly nationalistic, must-see Imperial shrine. Like the MeijiContinueContinue reading “Yasukuni Shrine”
Kanda Myōjin Shrine
How could the gods resist granting THESE prayers? The Kanda Myōjin shrine is in the heart of Akihabara—the cosplay, anime and video game heaven—so it’s no surprise that this is where manga artists pray for success! It’s also an excellent place to do some kimono-spotting in January and November on the traditional coming-of-age days. Sure,ContinueContinue reading “Kanda Myōjin Shrine”
Ryōgoku Area
Ryōgoku is home to two of the first things people think of when they hear the word “Japan”: sumo wrestling and woodblock prints. The Tokyo sumo tournaments happen for ten days every January, May and September. The sumo stadium is right next to Ryōgoku Station, and watching a sumo match is like nothing you’ve everContinueContinue reading “Ryōgoku Area”
When is the best time to come to Japan?
How to see Japanese festivals and events that most people missFrom today, I’ll be publishing a series of posts about destinations that are especially great to see in each month, with shout-outs to festivals, events, and places to see flower extravaganzas that are just as amazing as The Crowded Pink Season. Everyone thinks the bestContinueContinue reading “When is the best time to come to Japan?”
Where to see the strangest shrines in Tokyo
Some of the gods in residence at Tokyo’s shrines have hilarious and entertaining specialties! Oddly enough, many of these shrines sit on the grounds of venerable Buddhist temples. Japan’s indigenous Shintoism predates the arrival of Buddhism, and because Buddhist belief doesn’t require renouncing allegiance to other gods, they preserved the sites honoring the old godsContinueContinue reading “Where to see the strangest shrines in Tokyo”
Fun stuff to do in Tokyo when it’s HOT outside
Don’t let a little steamy weather keep you from having all the summer fun and seeing all the good stuff! There are plenty of only-in-Japan delights you can 100% enjoy and still keep your cool. Instead of groaning at the soaring temperatures, think yourself lucky you’re here for experiences and food that are only offeredContinueContinue reading “Fun stuff to do in Tokyo when it’s HOT outside”
Where to see the best koi nobori in Tokyo
The charming fish flags that celebrate the carp that climbed a waterfall to become a dragon used to only hang outside houses with sons from the middle of April until May 5th (now known as Childrens’ Day), but recently, thrillingly huge schools of them have begun to appear in the skies of Tokyo. When theContinueContinue reading “Where to see the best koi nobori in Tokyo”
Pink River Season: The cherry blossoms just keep on giving
This especially fine one is at a park in Kanazawa, but pink rivers are everywhere, once you start to look! Real cherry blossom hunters don’t just sigh and write a wistful haiku about the fleetingness of life when the petals begin to fall. Now it’s time to gear up for Pink River Season! Because asContinueContinue reading “Pink River Season: The cherry blossoms just keep on giving”
Beyond Tokyo: Great only-in-Japan stuff to do in the rest of the country
I’m always telling people they should spend more time in Tokyo because HELLO UNKNOWN GOODNESS, but there are plenty of other places in Japan worth visiting too! You already know the obvious ones, so I’m going to show you some only-in-Japan spots where you’ll be astonished by the experience, not the crowds. MAP TO ALLContinueContinue reading “Beyond Tokyo: Great only-in-Japan stuff to do in the rest of the country”
Where to get a healing souvenir for your ailing loved one
If you have dear ones whose health you can’t stop thinking about—even while on your dream trip to Japan—why not bring back a healing gift to show how much you care? Japan has many healing shrines and temples—some specific, some general—and you need not be a practicing Buddhist or a Shinto believer to enjoy theContinueContinue reading “Where to get a healing souvenir for your ailing loved one”
How to find a traditional Japanese inn and book it yourself online
This is one of the the most luxurious inns I’ve ever stayed at—it’s Miyamasu Onsen in the town of Zao Onsen, in Yamagata So, you’ve asked yourself the question, “Is staying at a traditional Japanese inn heaven or hell?” and decided it’s an experience you can’t afford to miss. But how do you find the bestContinueContinue reading “How to find a traditional Japanese inn and book it yourself online”
What to do in Tokyo on a rainy day
You’ve got every precious day in Japan all planned out…then you wake up one morning and it’s raining. Here are some only-in-Japan things you can do on a rainy day that might deliver even more fun than what you thought you’d be doing today! MAP TO ALL DESTINATIONS • Only-in-Japan Aquariums If the word “aquarium”ContinueContinue reading “What to do in Tokyo on a rainy day”
The OTHER cherry blossom seasons
These kanzakura cherries bloom a week to ten days before The Season cracks a bud Even the official cherry blossom forecasters have a hard time predicting the peak of the somei yoshino bloom, so you’re not alone if you guessed wrong. But failing to hit the precise moment for the fluffy pink variety has aContinueContinue reading “The OTHER cherry blossom seasons”
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 