10 May 2012: Masterpieces of Japanese architecture, Iidabashi Station
For architecture lovers, Japan offers many "must-see" sights. Besides many well known architectural landmarks, over time I discovered a lot of hidden gems, architectural jewels lost in the ... »
Read more » 71 comments 09 May 2012: Ryogoku Bridge
Probably the most famous bridge over the Sumida River is Ryōgoku: first built in 1659, it even has its own song and was painted multiple times by the ukiyo-e master Hiroshige and by many other ... »
Read more » 31 comments 07 May 2012: Popular Japanese treats, Kakigori
For me, the best way to cool off during a hot summer day in Japan is kakigōri 「かき氷」, a Japanese dessert made of shaved ice flavored with various syrups. If ... »
Read more » 51 comments 06 May 2012: Shinto torii, Buddhist temple
Discussing these days with a group of people preparing to visit Japan, I realized that while everybody knows about the two important religions of Japan, Buddhism and Shinto, few people know how to ... »
Read more » 36 comments 01 May 2012: Japanese Companies, Circle K Sunkus
Traveling through Japan, I frequently buy food from convenience stores (konbini) and I often met konbini branded with a Circle K or Sunkus mark... and since it looked to be the same chain, I became ... »
Read more » 48 comments 30 Apr 2012: Tokyo Architecture, Asakusa Station
The first metro line from Asia was opened in 1927 in Tokyo, connecting Ueno to Asakusa. It was the project of a visionary businessman called Noritsugu Hayakawa, known in Japan as "the father of the ... »
Read more » 44 comments 22 Apr 2012: Traditional Japanese clothing - Fundoshi
Visiting Japan, one thing you'll notice everywhere are people wearing traditional clothing. Ladies in stylish kimono and girls in colorful yukata are common sight on the streets of the city, while ... »
Read more » 39 comments 20 Apr 2012: Tallest Clock Tower in the World, night view
One of the best known skyscrapers in Tokyo is the NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi Building, the building ranked 3rd place in the top of Tokyo's tallest skyscrapers. But this building also holds a world record: ... »
Read more » 71 comments 24 Mar 2012: The story of Yogodo Hall
The story says that in 628, on March 18, two men fishing in the Sumida river caught in their net a statue of Bodhisattva Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy. Realizing the importance of the statue, the head ... »
Read more » 42 comments 04 Mar 2012: Japanese architecture - Shizuoka Press and Broadcasting Center
At the end of the 1950s, a group of young Japanese architects founded the architectural movement called Metabolism. The name of the movement comes from a term used in biology, referring to the ... »
Read more » 57 comments 02 Mar 2012: Beautiful Inari Shrine in Matsumoto
One of the most important shrines from Matsumoto, the Jorinji Shrine, is located just 5 minutes walking distance from the JR Matsumoto train station. But when I visited, right next to it, my ... »
Read more » 62 comments 13 Feb 2012: Japanese architecture, Osaka Broadcasting Station, History Museum and a travel tip
If you like modern architecture, one of the most interesting cities to visit in Japan is Osaka. I already presented a few very interesting skyscrapers like the Gate Tower Building, the Rinku Gate ... »
Read more » 59 comments 06 Feb 2012: Japanese superlatives, Totekiko, the smallest Japanese Zen rock garden
Generally, the Japanese Zen gardens are small, covering just dozens of square meters. The reason is that the viewer must be able to see the entire garden, to understand the symbolic meanings. Some of ... »
Read more » 89 comments 04 Feb 2012: Japanese spiritual architecture, Prince Shotoku Hall
Prince Shōtoku is known in the history of Japan as the father of Japanese Buddhism. He established the Shitennoji Temple from Osaka, which is known as the oldest officially administered temple ... »
Read more » 66 comments 30 Jan 2012: The eucalyptus that survived the atomic bomb
I learned a long time ago about the survivor trees from Hiroshima (called hibaku jumoku in Japanese), the trees that survived the atomic explosion, holly trees, silent witnesses of a horrific event ... »
Read more » 76 comments 25 Jan 2012: Nagoya Castle, birds-eye view and a travel tip
Built at the orders of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Nagoya Castle was located in a strategic place, to stop the attacks coming from Osaka. The castle was finished in 1612 while the adjacent Hommaru ... »
Read more » 46 comments 24 Jan 2012: Yurakucho, a wide-angle street view and a bit of history
Located between Ginza and Hibiya, Yūrakuchō is one of the oldest neighborhoods of Tokyo. A little known fact is that Yūrakuchō developed around the mansion of Oda Nagamasu, the ... »
Read more » 61 comments 25 Dec 2011: Swarovski Crystal Omotesando Christmas Tree
Even if the Christmas is not a Japanese holiday, Japan managed for several years now to hold a record on the... most expensive Christmas trees. In 2006, the Japanese jeweler Ginza Tanaka created a ... »
Read more » 35 comments 23 Dec 2011: A Night View for Tokyo Tower's Anniversary
After the economic boom during 1950s, Japan needed a symbol of its economic power. So, 53 years ago in December 23 1958, the Tokyo Tower was inaugurated as the tallest freestanding tower in the ... »
Read more » 58 comments 21 Dec 2011: Japanese Lottery (Takarakuji)
The Japanese Lottery appeared long time ago, around the year 1600 and was established in today's form after the WWII, when the Japanese government created the State Lottery (Takarakuji ... »
Read more » 43 comments 18 Dec 2011: Second tallest building in Japan, Rinku Gate Tower Building
Many people know what is the tallest building in Japan (Yokohama Landmark Tower, 295.8 meters) or the tallest building in Tokyo (Midtown Tower, 248 meters) and almost all the other skyscrapers in the ... »
Read more » 37 comments 17 Dec 2011: 5173 Wonderful Sculptures at Toshogu Shrine
There are exactly 5173 sculptures at the Toshogu Shrine from Nikko, a truly impressive number. Half of them are inaccessible inside the sacred area, but there are so many to be seen. I visited ... »
Read more » 38 comments 30 Nov 2011: Japanese superlatives, Osaka Station
Located in the busy Umeda district, Osaka Station, the most important train station in Osaka, holds an interesting record: it is the third busiest train station in the world!Although it serves ... »
Read more » 44 comments 21 Nov 2011: Masterpieces of Japanese architecture, Nakagin Capsule Tower
Inaugurated in 1972, the Nakagin Capsule Tower from Shimbashi, Tokyo, was the world's first example of functional capsule architecture. Created by the Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, part of the ... »
Read more » 67 comments 18 Nov 2011: Japanese superlatives, The giant Buddha from Nara
The Great Buddha Hall (Daibutsuden) from the Todai-ji Temple in Nara, is the largest building in the world made primarily of wood and it hosts one of the most famous Great Buddha statues in Japan, ... »
Read more » 53 comments 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 78 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 77 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 ... »
Read more » 52 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 46 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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. ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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, ... »
Read more » 60 comments 14 Aug 2011: Yamanote
One month ago, I wrote about how Edo was divided in two regions, Yamanote (towards the mountain) and Shitamachi (lower city). Yamanote included the area west of Imperial Palace (part of today's ... »
Read more » 54 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 ... »
Read more » 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, ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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, ... »
Read more » 77 comments 17 Jul 2011: Atakebune
If you like ships and boats, Fune no Kagakukan, the Museum of Maritime Science is a must-visit when you are in Tokyo. The museum not only displays an astonishing array of exhibits, but includes ... »
Read more » 42 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 51 comments
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2200+ FriendFeed subscribers 17 May 2012: Only in Nara 
Rickshaws are definitely a traditional tourist attraction in Japan... but today ... »
Read more » 15 comments 16 May 2012: Kanda Shrine's Fireproof Gate 
The Kanda Shrine, known also as Kanda Myojin, is one of the must-see shrines in ... »
Read more » 36 comments 15 May 2012: Minato Mirai Pukari Pier during golden hour 
I like taking photos during sunset, especially photos with buildings. When the ... »
Read more » 35 comments 14 May 2012: Old Japanese stories, the Goddess from Matsumoto Castle's ceiling 
Many places in Japan have their own fantasy stories and folktales, with ghosts, ... »
Read more » 41 comments 13 May 2012: Travel destinations for kids, Saitama Railway Museum Park Zone 
I was always amazed about the great interest of Japanese people in everything ... »
Read more » 44 comments
"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:
» Travel notes on visiting Japan, travel reviews, sightseeing, tourist attractions, historical and cultural facts, travel photos, travel tips
» A series of daily Japan photos, covering Japan places (Tokyo, Yokohama, Kamakura, Nikko...), traditional and modern Japanese culture, lifestyle, architecture, people, interesting facts
» Japan's most famous customs and traditions with photos, videos, stories, background and historical information plus some travel tips
» Daily selections of Japanese music (J-Pop, J-Rock, traditional music, enka and more...)
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