New Stories
- Kairakuen Garden, Three Thousand Plum Trees is Breathtaking
Kairakuen Garden Park is located in Mito city in Ibaraki Prefecture about one hour train journey from Tokyo to the east. It is one of the finest three parks in… Read more: Kairakuen Garden, Three Thousand Plum Trees is Breathtaking - Kamikura Shrine: The Firefall of Mt.Kamikura Slope, a Down Dragon
Annually, on the 6th day of January, New Year of the lunar calendar (February 6th), for over 1,800 years, the Oto-Matsuri takes place at night as a sacred festival of… Read more: Kamikura Shrine: The Firefall of Mt.Kamikura Slope, a Down Dragon - Siege of Osaka: The Last of Toyotomi & Begining of Tokugawa Era
Toyotomi Hideyori, A Wise Man In 1598, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598, 豊臣秀吉), who had risen from a peasant to become the ruler of Japan as regent, passed away, leaving behind his… Read more: Siege of Osaka: The Last of Toyotomi & Begining of Tokugawa Era
Destinations
Must Visit in 2025
Special Exhibition Commemorating the 1150th Founding Anniversary of Daikakuji
at Tokyo National Museum, Jan. 21 - Mar.16
The exhibition introduces temple treasures, including painted sliding doors by Kano Sanraku, a Kano school painter from the early Edo period, and calligraphy by successive emperors. Daikakuji is an unparalleled temple that offers a glimpse into the refined court culture of ancient times. The temple was originally a beloved detached villa of Emperor Saga, widely regarded as the pioneer of the Imperial Court culture.
Oto Matsuri: Annual Festival at Kamikura Shrine, Feb.6
Around 2,000 men clad in white attire rush down the 538 steps from the summit to the base of Mt. Kamikura while carrying torches. Oto-Matsuri is Kamikura Shrine's sacred ritual festival held on February 6th annually for over 1800 years. The light of the torch is like the figure of a dragon descending a steep mountain.
Kinkakuji Hojo Open to Public First Time in 20 years,
Feb. 8 - Mar. 18
The temple's treasures will be opened to the public, including fusuma-e (sliding door paintings) such as ‘Kozan Kurozu, and ‘Sennin Koshi Zu’, and a dry garden designed by Soami, a renowned painter and landscape designer.
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