A Walk Around Kobe Harborland
A friend once told me that Kobe Harborland reminds him of Cape Town. Now, I grew up in Jo’burg, so I have no attachment to the V&A Waterfront, but anyone…
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Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Just ten minutes away from Kobe by ropeway, Nunobiki Herb Gardens offers a spectacular view of the city. Comprising of 12 spacious gardens, visitors can enjoy 75,000 herbs and 200…
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Meet the Deer of Nara Park
At the foot of Mount Wakakusa sits one of the oldest parks in Japan. Sprawling across 660 ha (1631 ac), Nara Park is home to temples, shrines, and a national…
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Inside Nara’s Mall Museums
Nara is best known for the four-legged locals that roam freely around its 660-hectare park. But friendly deer aren’t the city’s only animal attraction. Visitors can also get up close…
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Exploring Kyoto’s Higashiyama District
If you’ve ever looked up Kyoto on social media, chances are you’ve scrolled through a dozen pictures of people posing in a traditional-looking street with a tall pagoda in the…
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A Quick Guide to Kyoto’s Sake District
The Fushimi area in southern Kyoto is one of Japan’s major sake production sites. Located at the junction of the Uji, Katsura, and Kamo Rivers, it’s blessed with high-quality springs…
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Kinkakuji: The Golden Pavilion
One of the most famous images associated with Kyoto is that of a golden temple. Kinkaku-ji, as it’s known, is indeed completely covered in gold leaf—the top two floors, at…
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Heian Shrine and Gardens
On the 1,110th anniversary of the founding of Kyoto, which was once known as Heian, a shrine was built to mark the occasion. Heian Shrine is dedicated to the spirits…
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Inside MUCA: ICONS of Urban Art
Kyoto’s KYOCERA Museum of Art recently hosted the Kansai leg of the MUCA: ICONS of Urban Art—From Banksy to KAWS exhibition, which is currently on tour in Japan. As a…
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Insho Domoto: The Art Museum Designed by an Artist
In the northwestern part of Kyoto city, near Kinugasa Hill, lies a unique art museum dedicated to the works of Insho Domoto. It was founded in 1966 by the artist…
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Hatsumode at Fushimi Inari Shrine
While most of the world rings in the New Year with partying and fireworks, celebrations in Japan are a little more subdued. That’s because shōgatsu, as it’s known here, is…
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