Shugakuin Imperial Villa: Emperor Gomiziunoo's Villa Life
Shugakuin Imperial Villa is surrounded by a courtly atmosphere, and its beauty is beyond description. This magnificent villa was built by the 108th Emperor Gomizunoo (1596-1680, 後水尾天皇) after his abdication. Emperor Gomizunoo ascended to the throne at a young age as the Tokugawa Shogunate consolidated its solid political system in pursuit of a centralized feudal […]
Kyoto Imperial Palace, Successive Emperor's Residence
The Heian-kyo had been the center of the nation where the successive emperors resided for over 1200 years since the capital relocation from Nara in 794 by the 50th Emperor Kanmu until 1869 when Emperor Meiji moved to Tokyo, one year after the Meiji Restoration. The highlight is the beautiful Shishinden Hall with its cypress […]
Zuihoden Mausoleum of the One-Eyed Dragon, Date Masamune: The Great Samurai's Legacy and Beliefs
The Zuihouden stands as the mausoleum of the renowned warlord of Date Masamune. It embodies the quintessential beauty of the Momoyama decorative style, perfectly reflecting the flamboyant nature of Masamune himself. His final poem encapsulates his life: “I have journeyed through the warring states with unwavering beliefs, like the moon shining in the dark.” In […]
Cherry blossoms and red leaves at Hakodate Goryokaku Fort
Goryokaku Fort (五稜郭) is Japan’s first western-style star fort located in Hakodate. The view from the top of the observatory, situated 90 meters above the ground of Goryokaku Park Tower, offers a truly spectacular sight. The iconic five-star shape, filled with approximately 1,600 cherry blossom trees in spring and adorned with vibrant autumn leaves in […]
Samurai tea ceremony in Japan, Joan is the best teahouse to visit
There are three existing tea rooms in Japan designated as national treasures. They are the Taian at Myokian in Kyoto built by a tea master, Sen-no-Rikyu, the Mittan at Daitokuji Temple by Kobori Enshu, and the Joan at Yurakuen Garden in Aichi prefecture by Oda Nagamasu in his later life. Oda Nagamasu, also known as […]
Daisen Kofun, one of the world's three largest tombs of Emperor Nintoku along with King Khufu's Pyramid and Quing Emperor's Mausoleum
Identified as the mausoleum of the 16th Emperor Nintoku (4th - 5th century, 仁徳天皇), the Nintoku-Tenno-Ryo Tumulus is the largest keyhole-shaped tumulus in Japan, measuring approximately 486 meters in length and 249 meters in diameter for the burial mound, which has a three-tier structure. The tumulus is comparable in size to the Pyramid of Khufu […]