The Town That Inspired ‘Ponyo’
Studio Ghibli’s hand-drawn films are some of Japan’s greatest treasures. Co-founder Miyazaki Hayao has directed more than half of the animation studio’s works, including the highly acclaimed My Neighbor Totoro…
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A Quick Guide to Arita Porcelain Town
In the forested mountains of western Saga is a small town called Arita, which is known for its porcelain. Every Golden Week, it hosts one of Japan’s largest ceramics fairs,…
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A Walking Tour of Saga City
Even though I lived in Kyushu for four years, I only ever spent time in Saga once. It was for the International Balloon Fiesta, which I decided to attend with…
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Hinamatsuri in Shimonoseki’s Samurai Town
Hinamatsuri, also called Girls’ Day, is a doll festival held every year in Japan on March 3. Traditionally known as Momo-no-sekku, or the Peach Festival, it began as a cleansing…
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Katsuoji: The Temple of Winning Luck
In the mountains of Minoh, Osaka, is a centuries-old Buddhist temple decorated with thousands of red daruma dolls. Known as “the temple of winning luck,” visitors from around the world…
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Mimurotoji: The Hydrangea Temple
Japan’s rainy season, known as tsuyu, isn’t my favorite time of year. Starting in mid-June, it’s a long period of rainfall and humidity that lasts until mid-July (followed by the…
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Autumn on Miyajima
For someone who grew up with only two seasons (kak hot and a little chilly, respectively), autumn and spring are still a novelty for me. If I had to choose…
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The Temple on the 10-Yen Coin
Less than an hour outside of Kyoto is one of Japan’s most famous temples. So famous, in fact, that it appears on the 10-yen coin. Byodoin was originally built in…
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Inside the Enchanting Sanzenin
Just an hour north of central Kyoto is a small village nestled in the mountains. Ohara is known for its gorgeous scenery, pickled cucumbers, and beautiful Buddhist temple.
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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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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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