The shining white Himeji-jō is the gold standard when it comes to Japanese Castles. Towering over the surrounding cityscape and set in beautifully manicured gardens, it’s widely regarded as the finest remaining example of that particular type of Japanese Architecture. Originally built in 1333, the current appearance of the castle dates back over 400 years…
Month: August 2022
A Guide to Naoshima – 9 Amazing Things to See on Japan’s Quirky Art Island
The Sento Inland Sea, which lies between southern Honshu and Shikoku is home to countless islands worth visiting but you’ll be hard pressed to find one as unique and off-beat as Naoshima, rightfully dubbed the “Art Island”. Starting in the late 1980s, Naoshima has slowly but steadily been transformed from a sleepy fishing island to…
Exploring the Unique Honmura Art House Project on Naoshima, Japan
Honmura Town on the southeastern coast of Naoshima Island has had quite an interesting history, having been transformed from a sleepy fishing village to one of Japan’s premier destinations for art lovers. Ever since the late 1990’s the empty shells of abandoned buildings have been remodeled as cutting-edge art spaces. The houses are scattered through…
Cycling the Kibi Plain in Japan – Traversing Rural Okayama by Bicycle
Exploring Japan’s impressive metropolises can be a lot of fun and will certainly provide some eclectic experiences. Still, after a while you might feel the desire to get out of the city and to reconnect to the nature you’ll otherwise only glimpse from Shinkansen-Windows while zipping by at 300 kilometers an hour. Whether it’s Mount…
Kōraku-en Garden and Other Great Things to do in Okayama, Japan
Okayama Province in southern Honshu is commonly referred to as the “Land of Sunshine“, due to its usually pleasant weather. Its capital city, which goes by the same name, is a cool destination that doesn’t see too many foreign visitors. The reason can’t be for a lack of sights, because Oyakama’s utterly beautiful Kōraku-en Garden and…