15 Nov 2011: The Grave of a Great Shogun
If you visit Nikko, you must visit the Tōshōgū Shrine. And if you visit the Tōshōgū Shrine, you should visit the grave of one of the most important figures from the ... »
56 comments 08 Nov 2011: Old Japanese Post Box and a bit about its symbols
One of the first improvements made by the Japanese government after the Meiji Restoration was the introduction of a modern postal service, because the old system, with post stations and mail couriers ... »
79 comments 05 Nov 2011: Kyoto, the birthplace of Kabuki
It is common knowledge that Kabuki, the classical Japanese dance-drama, is performed only by men playing both feminine and masculine roles. What is less known is the fact that kabuki was actually ... »
59 comments 01 Nov 2011: Happy Birthday, Hello Kitty!
In 1974, the company Sanrio launched a vinyl coin purse on which was printed the character that soon became the most popular Japanese character and one of the most popular in the world: the white ... »
78 comments 26 Oct 2011: A Japanese company with an unlikely name, Andersen
As unlikely as it may sound, the Andersen restaurant and bakery chain is a 100% Japanese company... The story begins in 1959, when Shunsuke Takaki, the owner of a bakery from Hiroshima, took a trip ... »
53 comments 23 Oct 2011: Me and my favorite Japanese mascot, Sorara-chan
The word "mascot" entered the English language in 1880, with the operetta "La Mascotte", composed by the French composer Edmond Audran, and the meaning was "person, animal or object that brings good ... »
47 comments 21 Oct 2011: Foxes and Prayers, a Unique Ema Style
Do you know those small wooden plaques called ema 「絵馬」, displayed at almost any Shinto shrine? The worshipers are writing their prayers or wishes and then they hang them ... »
58 comments 18 Oct 2011: Atsuta, the Second-most Venerable Shrine in Japan
Among the approximately 100,000 Shinto shrines from Japan, the Atsuta Jingū from Nagoya is the second-most venerable shrine, second only to Ise Jingū. Established 1900 years ago, the ... »
64 comments 11 Oct 2011: Nagoya, Ultra-Short History and a Bird's-eye View
The area of today's Nagoya city was inhabited since ancient times. It is known that the construction of the Atsuta Shrine took place during the reign of Emperor Keiko (71-130) and that the ... »
41 comments 10 Oct 2011: Osaka Castle's Mysterious Giant Stones
One of the most interesting discoveries I made during my visit to Osaka Castle is the special interest of the constructors for giant stones. The wall surrounding the castle includes 5 colossal stones ... »
61 comments 08 Oct 2011: Japanese Traditional Architecture, Tahoto Pagoda
The pagoda (塔 - tō) is one of the most important elements of a Japanese Buddhist temple. Originally, tō was the Japanese version of the Chinese pagoda, which in turn was inspired by ... »
48 comments 29 Sep 2011: Zen Garden of the... Christian Cross
Some of the most beautiful things I have seen during my travels in Japan are the karesansui gardens, the Japanese Zen Buddhist gardens. Made of rocks, sand and sometimes moss, the karesansui Zen ... »
76 comments 28 Sep 2011: Senjokaku, the Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats
Very close to the Itsukushima Shrine you can visit another landmark of Miyajima, the Senjokaku. Built in 1587 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Senjokaku was intended to be a Buddhist library and a place for ... »
55 comments 19 Sep 2011: Dai-San Daiba
In 1853, planning to protect Edo against attacks from sea, the Tokugawa shogunate started the construction of 6 fortresses built on artificial islands. The fortresses were armed with cannon batteries ... »
56 comments 16 Sep 2011: Nagoya Castle's Fan Sloping Wall
The castle from Nagoya was built by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1612. Because a large part of the castle was destroyed in 1945, the main donjon (in the photo) was rebuilt in 1959 and the ... »
78 comments 14 Sep 2011: Kobe Aerial view
Like most of the Japanese cities, Kobe looks great from above - I was amazed by this spectacular view from the 90-meters tall observatory of the Kobe Port Tower. The white steel-lace roof is the ... »
46 comments 06 Sep 2011: Kurama-dera Funicular, the Shortest Railway Line in Japan
53 years ago, a funicular line was built on Mount Kurama (north-west of Kyoto), to connect the Kurama station with the Kurama-dera Temple, located on the mountain 96 meters above the station. ... »
51 comments 01 Sep 2011: Osaka Time Capsule
Being based in Osaka, these days I visited the Osaka Castle, a very beautiful place which I will write about soon. But today I want to share with you a small discovery I made strolling inside the ... »
46 comments 24 Aug 2011: Visiting Osaka, Climbing in Shitennoji Pagoda
The Shitennoji Temple was established by Prince Shotoku, son of Emperor Yomei, the 31st emperor of Japan, in the year 593. An amazing fact is that although during its history the building was ... »
76 comments 21 Aug 2011: Kansai Airport Arrival
Yesterday I landed in Japan, at the Kansai Airport in Osaka. It feels so good to return to Japan! The next month's posts will probably closely follow my journeys, as I know from experience that I'll ... »
80 comments 15 Aug 2011: Hundreds of Jizo
I have seen many places in Japan decorated with dozens or even hundreds of Jizo statues. As I wrote before, Jizo is one of the most loved deities in Japan, protector of children, expectant mothers, ... »
62 comments 08 Aug 2011: Odaiba Tokyo Drift venue
Started in Japan during the 1970s, the professional drifting competitions have become, in recent years, increasingly popular in the western world. And because of several video games and a Hollywood ... »
48 comments 27 Jul 2011: A line more expensive than Shinkansen
One of the attractions from Mount Takao, Tokyo, is the funicular (cable car). The line was opened 82 years ago and holds the record of the steepest line in Japan. And you will feel that steepness, ... »
63 comments 21 Jul 2011: Chindon'ya, Japanese marching band
Japan is known as a traditionalist country, but even here, in time some traditional occupations disappear. One of them is the Japanese marching band, chindon'ya, street performers advertising shops ... »
75 comments 20 Jul 2011: Himawari, the Symbol of Hope and Recovery
The Sunflower (ヒマワリ - himawari in Japanese) is a popular plant in Japan, where it has been cultivated since the 17th century. I've seen sunflowers growing wild in Japan, ... »
77 comments 14 Jul 2011: Japanese sports drink, Pocari Sweat
I'm used to summer heat, I can handle high temperatures, but I'm from a zone with a lower humidity and the very humid summer from Japan makes me sweat more than usual. The last year, photographing ... »
69 comments 13 Jul 2011: Shinyosha, the oldest building in Nikko
To the left of the main hall of the Futarasan Shrine in Nikko, there is a building that stands out from the surrounding architectural style. With simpler ornaments, without the typical vermilion ... »
62 comments 12 Jul 2011: Ueno Shitamachi today
Even from the beginning, the old Edo was roughly divided in two areas, the Yamanote 「山の手」 and the Shitamachi 「下町」. Yamanote was the land ... »
51 comments 09 Jul 2011: Japanese Companies, Takashimaya Shinjuku Night View
Almost 200 years ago, Iida Shinkichi was opening in Kyoto a small store named Takashimaya, specialized in Japanese kimono, formal wear and accessories. At the time, Japan was going through a rough ... »
46 comments 08 Jul 2011: Hojo Clan's Temple
Less than 1 kilometer north of Kamakura Station there's a temple related to a very sad chapter of Japan's history, a story which impressed me deeply... In 1333, the forces of the Emperor Go-Daigo ... »
51 comments 22 Jun 2011: Shiba Aerial view
At the beginning of the Edo period, Zojo-ji was the temple of the Tokugawa family. Occupying a much larger area than today, Zojo-ji was also including 48 smaller temples and an astonishing number of ... »
42 comments 21 Jun 2011: The beauty of the Tokyo Station
Inaugurated in 1914, the Tokyo Station was designed by the famous architect Tatsuno Kingo and at the time was servicing only two train lines. Unfortunately, most of the building was destroyed by the ... »
45 comments 20 Jun 2011: The story of the Sleeping Neko
In Nikko, at the entrance to the Okusha Inner Shrine, the tomb of Ieyasu Tokugawa from the Toshougu Shrine, you'll find a small sculpture designated as national treasure. Named in Japanese Nemuri ... »
51 comments 17 Jun 2011: Old Temple, Titanium Roof
I was writing some time ago that one of the best traits of Japan is the combination of old and new... in many areas. Here's an example of architecture and materials.Established in 628, the ... »
50 comments 10 Jun 2011: Japan Energy Champions, Roppongi Hills
I think that you all know that Japan faces the worst energy crisis in history... I was reading a few days ago about the big companies starting to use their own electricity generators, hoping to ... »
50 comments 09 Jun 2011: Little Taiko Drummers
The first historical evidence of taiko drums in Japan is a clay figure from the 7th century, but it is believed that the first drums were brought to Japan from China during the Yayoi period (500 BC - ... »
74 comments 08 Jun 2011: Shinjuku Shopping District
In 1698, the place surrounding the today's Shinjuku Station (including the Shinjuku Gyoen park) was owned by a daimyo named Naitō. One of the 5 major roads from Nihonbashi, connecting Edo to ... »
56 comments 03 Jun 2011: Kaminarimon Gate Night View
The Kaminarimon Gate (officially known as Furaijinmon Gate) from the Senso-ji Temple is one of the symbols of the Asakusa district, one of the most visited places in Japan. But even if the gate is so ... »
53 comments 26 May 2011: The Shrine of the Edo Clan
Inside the Kanda Myojin complex there are several small shrines, real architectonic jewels, from which I already presented the Suehiro Inari Shrine. This time I would like to show you the Edo Jinja, ... »
49 comments 15 May 2011: Iliad Japan
Alexander Semeonovitch Liberman was a complete artist. He was a painter, a sculptor, a photographer and an editor. His abstract sculptures are featured in many museums in the world. Made from ... »
51 comments 14 May 2011: Nogakudo from Yasukuni Shrine
Noh 「能」 - also called Nogaku 「能楽」 - is the oldest form of classical Japanese musical drama. Noh was traditionally played only on special stages, made ... »
43 comments 13 May 2011: On Friday 13, an old Japanese horror story: The Masakado-zuka
It's Friday 13... a good day for an old Japanese horror story... and what can be better than a beheaded samurai heads flying all across Japan. Here's the story:Taira no Masakado was a ... »
54 comments 08 May 2011: O-Tanuki Sama Jinja
Strolling through the backstreets of Akihabara, passing by the Mansei-bashi Police Station and then crossing the Kanda Fureai-bashi pedestrian bridge, I noticed a small shrine. It is called ... »
42 comments 05 May 2011: Tango no Sekku Koinobori
The carp is an old Chinese symbol of courage, perseverance and self-control, and the fact that it can swim against the stream symbolizes determination to overcome obstacles. There is also an old ... »
47 comments 02 May 2011: Japanese superlatives, Kencho-ji Dharma Hall
One of the most famous wooden buildings I visited in Kamakura is the Hatto (Dharma Hall) from Kencho-ji Temple. Belonging to the Rinzai (Zen) Buddhism sect, the hall was built in 1814 and it is the ... »
45 comments 29 Apr 2011: Hello Kitty Daruma Doll
The Daruma doll is one of the best known lucky charms from Japan. Usually made of papier-mâché, the Daruma doll is a round doll, a type known in English as "tumbler doll" and in Japanese okiagari, ... »
40 comments 23 Apr 2011: Kamakura Ni no Torii
The way from the Kamakura Station to the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is marked by three torii gates: Ichi no Torii (first gate), Ni no Torii (second gate, the one from this picture) and San no Torii ... »
41 comments 22 Apr 2011: Origami Museum, Travel Tip
The first book in the world about origami appeared in Japan in 1797: Hidden Senbazuru Orikata (The secret of one thousand paper crane origami). The art of paper folding is however much older, having ... »
73 comments 21 Apr 2011: Fear of exams? Go to Tenjin, God of Learning
Unlike many other countries, in Japan the school year starts in April. And with the start of the new school year, the pilgrimages to the shrines dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane are starting too. ... »
44 comments 20 Apr 2011: Asakusabashi Station Ginkgo tree
The Ginkgo tree was brought to Japan from China, at the same time with Buddhism and the trees were planted near the Buddhist temples. The Japanese people were impressed by the tree's beauty and by ... »
40 comments 19 Apr 2011: Horagai, the dragon god conch shell
Since the oldest times, a strange instrument was used in Japan, made from a large conch shell, with bronze (or wooden) mouthpiece at the apex of the shell's spire. The Buddhist monks used this ... »
60 comments 15 Apr 2011: It's Sakura time!
I won't have time this year to properly enjoy Sakura, but I cannot let the sakura time pass without marking it in some way. So I went through my photo archives and prepared a little collection of ... »
98 comments 03 Apr 2011: Sakura Tea
These days, sakura started to blossom in Japan... In the old days, the Japanese women use to gather sakura flowers (especially the sakura kanzan type), preserving them in salt. From these flowers, ... »
49 comments 30 Mar 2011: One Thousand Origami Cranes
In the Japanese tradition, the crane is a mythological being living one thousand years. That's why there is a Japanese custom of giving Senbazuru 「千羽鶴」, a group of ... »
56 comments 29 Mar 2011: Old Japanese stories, Futarasan Ghost Lantern
A copper lantern from the Futarasan Shrine in Nikko has the odd name of Bake-doro, the Ghost Lantern. And of course, there's an interesting story about it...It is said that in the old times, the ... »
42 comments 28 Mar 2011: Imperial Palace, aerial glimpse and travel tips
The Tokyo Imperial Palace is the official residence of the Emperor of Japan since 1868. Located inside a beautiful tree covered park, surrounded by moats and traditional walls, it includes the ... »
34 comments 24 Mar 2011: Old Japanese stories, the Ghost from Kencho-ji
During Obon, all Buddhist temples in Japan perform segaki ("feeding the hungry ghosts"), a ritual for helping gaki, the ghosts suffering by "insatiable hunger". But at the Kencho-ji Temple in ... »
56 comments 21 Mar 2011: The oldest Koban in Tokyo
Tsukishima is an artificial island built in 1892 by using the earth removed during the dredging works for the Tokyo Bay's navigational channel. The Monja Street from Tsukishima is famous for its ... »
66 comments 16 Mar 2011: Miso, a Radiation Treatment?
Because of the recent unfortunate events, the radiation becomes more and more a concern for everybody. In the wake of these events, Anne, a friend from Canada, sent me a very, very interesting piece ... »
84 comments 15 Mar 2011: Old Japanese stories, Jizo and Prayer Stones
O-Jizo-Sama or Jizo-san is one of the the most loved and respected deities in Japan, a protector of children, expectant mothers, firemen, travelers, pilgrims and also a guardian of children who died ... »
55 comments 05 Mar 2011: Otome Road Shops
If Akihabara is the definitive destination for otaku boys, the Otome Road, a street in Ikebukuro located nearby Sunshine City, is the definitive otaku destination for girls.Obviously, it is also ... »
33 comments 26 Feb 2011: Shinto Ema and Sacred Camphor Tree
In the old times, people used to donate horses to Shinto shrines, as part of their prayers to the gods (kami). In time, the horses were replaced by statues of horses and then by ema ... »
41 comments 23 Feb 2011: Sunshine 60, Haunted Skyscraper?
It is said about the Sunshine 60 skyscraper from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, that it is haunted, because it was built over the site of the old Sugamo Prison, where numerous executions took place. Also, this ... »
43 comments 21 Feb 2011: Kamakura Buddha
In 1616, Richard Cocks, the head of the British East India Company trading post, said about the Kamakura Buddha that "it must be larger than the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the ... »
50 comments 19 Feb 2011: Himiko, the Ship designed by an Artist
Leiji Matsumoto is a known mangaka (comic book artist), author of several famous stories, like Space Battleship Yamato, Galaxy Express 999 and Captain Harlock. When he was asked to draw the design ... »
42 comments 14 Feb 2011: Saint Valentine's Day Heart-shaped Photo
The Saint Valentine's Day has been celebrated in Europa since the year 500, when it was established by Pope Gelasius I. In Japan, the celebration was introduced in 1936, when the company Morozoff ... »
52 comments 12 Feb 2011: The Legend of the Yushima Tenjin Bull
There are many shrines in Japan dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, a famous poet, scholar and politician from the Heian Period, who after death was deified, becoming Tenjin, the kami of scholarship, ... »
46 comments 11 Feb 2011: Rokkakudo, the oldest building in Senso-ji
Established in the year 645, Senso-ji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo. Since then the temple and its buildings were rebuilt countless times, last time after the World War II, when the temple was ... »
51 comments 09 Feb 2011: Maneki Neko, Imado Shrine version
There are more legends about the Maneki Neko. The best known is the one from the Gotokuji Temple. Another legend, from the Imado Shrine, Asakusa, tells the story of an old woman who, being very ... »
59 comments 13 Jan 2011: Sanmon Gate
The most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist temple is the Sanmon Gate - Sangedatsumon, the "gate of the three liberations". When you visit a Zen temple, you can find the Sanmon Gate located ... »
40 comments 11 Jan 2011: Kamijinko Imaginary Elephants
There are hundreds of sculptures at the Toshougu Shrine from Nikko (Yomeimon Gate only has over 500), and there are some interesting facts about some of them. A good example is the sculpture from ... »
33 comments 02 Jan 2011: Hatsumode Crowd
Starting in the very first minutes of the New Year and continuing through the first days of the year, the Japanese tradition of Hatsumōde draws a huge number of people to the famous Shinto ... »
32 comments 01 Jan 2011: Japanese New Year Postcards
In Japan, starting from mid-December, everybody starts sending nengajo 「年賀状」, New Year postcards for friends, relatives and colleagues. According to the ... »
25 comments 29 Dec 2010: Soga Brothers Shrine and Story
Besides the traditions related to the New Year, in Japan there are also several Kabuki plays which are traditionally played on New Year, adaptations after the Tale of the Soga Brothers (Soga ... »
40 comments 26 Dec 2010: Tokyo Architecture, Fuji TV
The landmark of Odaiba island, and at the same time one of my favorite Tokyo buildings, is the headquarter of Fuji Television, a building designed by the famous architect Kenzo Tange. The building ... »
31 comments 23 Dec 2010: Inari Oasis
Inari Okami, the Japanese God of fertility, rice, agriculture, foxes, industry and success, is one of the main gods (kami) of the Shinto religion. According to a statistic, in Japan there are over ... »
37 comments 21 Dec 2010: Nihonbashi Bridge (and Tokugawa Shoguns)
The first bridge over the Nihonbashi River was a wooden bridge, built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun. The present day's bridge, built during the Meiji Era, is made of stone ... »
34 comments 20 Dec 2010: Lake Ashi Floating Torii
One of the symbols of the Hakone town is the huge vermilion torii from the lake Ashi. This is a Ryōbu type torii (a gate with four legs) and it was built in 1951, in commemoration of the Peace ... »
41 comments 16 Dec 2010: Nishi-Shinjuku in Twilight
In 1923, when the last big earthquake hit Tokyo, the Nishi-Shinjuku area suffered less damage than the surrounding zones, proving to be more stable, so in the 1970s this area was chosen for ... »
55 comments 13 Dec 2010: Futarasan Shinmon Gate
The Futarasan Shrine 「二荒山神社」 from Nikko was established in 767, by the Buddhist monk Shōdō Shōnin. He also founded in 782 another ... »
39 comments 04 Dec 2010: Tengu-geta
Visiting Takao, my attention was drawn by a pair of huge geta, displayed in front of an auxiliary shrine at Yakuoin Yuki-ji Temple. These are a special form of geta, with a single, centered ... »
39 comments 21 Nov 2010: Cute Firefighters Manhole Cover
In Japan, the first Fire brigade service (Hikeshi) was established during the Edo period, in 1629. Because of the constant threat of fire (the frequent Edo fires were called Edo no hana - flowers of ... »
29 comments 13 Nov 2010: Date Masamune's Gate, Otemon
The entrance to the Imperial Palace East Gardens is made through the Ōtemon (meaning the "Great hand gate"), near the Otemachi Subway Station.The original gate was destroyed in 1657 by the ... »
41 comments 10 Nov 2010: Hello Kitty, Your Friend, Forever!
Designed by Yuko Shimizu, Hello Kitty is probably one of the most beloved characters in the world. Hello Kitty is a white Japanese bobtail cat, it was born on November 1st 1974, her height is of ... »
41 comments 05 Nov 2010: Japanese house on Shitamachi-naka street
If you enjoyed Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi), then you may also enjoy a visit to the Edo Tokyo Open Air Museum, located in Tokyo's Koganei Park.On the museum's Shitamachi-Naka ... »
32 comments 01 Nov 2010: Sudare and Nankin Tamasudare
Street performances are a regular sight in Japan ever since the Edo period. Performances of taiko, shamisen, circus or illusionist spectacles are still a common place, but some traditional types of ... »
28 comments 25 Oct 2010: Mitsubishi Type 0 Carrier Fighter
Mitsubishi Navy Type 0 Carrier Fighter - Rei Shiki Kanjo Sentoki 「零式艦上戦闘機」, also known as Mitsubishi A6M Zero, is one of the most famous ... »
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"A friend calculated that since I started working on this website, I lived in Japan approx. 8% of my life. Is this much or little? If you ask my family and friends, it’s a lot. I agree that it’s a lot more than a normal traveler spends in a foreign country… but if you ask me, this is just the beginning.
I want to share with you my travels through Japan and my readings about this wonderful culture, to see Japan through my eyes, from the temples and shrines to the cities and people of Japan, from places filled with history and spirituality, to the the modern Japan with skyscrapers and pop culture."
Muza-chan's Gate to Japan includes:
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» Japan's most famous customs and traditions with photos, videos, stories, background and historical information plus some travel tips
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