21 Mar 2012: Rainy day at Kan'ei-ji
The Kan'ei-ji Temple from Ueno, Tokyo, was established in 1625, during the Kan-ei Era, hence its name. At its peak, with more than 30 buildings, the temple was covering a vast area, the entire zone ... »
Read more » 52 comments 11 Mar 2012: Tokyo Memorial Hall, memorial to the earthquake victims
Today we commemorate one year since the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the most powerful earthquake in the history of Japan. Today, I think that the most appropriate photo from Japan would be a ... »
Read more » 82 comments 08 Feb 2012: Osaka Castle glamorous gold decorations and a travel tip
The Osaka Castle is one of the most glamorous Japanese castles, built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a symbol of its power and richness. It is known that Hideyoshi liked gold so much that he was using it ... »
Read more » 74 comments 07 Feb 2012: Traditional Japanese fire lookout tower
Throughout the history of Japan, the fires were among the main threats: not only because the traditional Japanese houses were built from flammable materials (wood, bamboo, straw and paper), but since ... »
Read more » 51 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 07 Jan 2012: Immersion in Japan's history, Boso no Mura Open Air Museum
I believe that if you want to understand the people of a country, first you need to know their history and then you need to see how they lived. Obviously, you can learn from history books about the ... »
Read more » 67 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 17 Oct 2011: Hiroshima Ground Zero
On my visit to Hiroshima I felt compelled to visit as many places related to the atomic bombing as I could. And I soon noticed that all of them are marked with the distance from the "ground ... »
Read more » 71 comments 01 Oct 2011: Taiyuin Mausoleum, a Story with many Shoguns
Following the example of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who asked his descendants to build a shrine for him (Toshougu Shrine from Nikko), Tokugawa Iemitsu, the grandson of Ieyasu, left instructions for a ... »
Read more » 64 comments 25 Sep 2011: Sakamoto Ryoma in Osaka
Strolling through Osaka, in front of a restaurant, I found myself face to face with... Sakamoto Ryoma, one of the most beloved characters from the history of Japan, samurai and politician, leader of ... »
Read more » 57 comments 20 Sep 2011: Lady Shizuka's Sad Story
Lady Shizuka (Shizuka Gozen) is one of the most famous women from the history of Japan, known as one of the most talented shirabyōshi (female dancers performing dances for the gods, dressed as ... »
Read more » 45 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 02 Sep 2011: Sightseeing Hiroshima, Genbaku Dome
Ever since my first visit to Japan, I wanted to see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. I visited it yesterday... there are so many impressive and unforgettable monuments... Among them, the one that ... »
Read more » 61 comments 27 Aug 2011: Hikone Castle
The area of today's Hikone City was inhabited ever since ancient times (Jomon Period, 8000 years ago) and it was famous because it was producing the rice for the Imperial House. The first castle ... »
Read more » 81 comments 11 Aug 2011: Nezumi Kozo, a Japanese Robin Hood
Strolling on Denbouin dori in Asakusa, I suddenly noticed on a roof a man with the face half-hidden, dressed in the old Edo style, with a box in his hands... "A thief!" I thought, and I immediately ... »
Read more » 72 comments 06 Aug 2011: Hiroshima Day, 66 years - the Flame of the Atomic Bomb
Today (at 08:15 Japan time) marks 66 years since one of the darkest days in the history of humanity, the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Approximately 80000 people, about 30% of the city's population, ... »
Read more » 103 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 16 Jul 2011: Shinto Shrines, Hachiman
When visiting Japan, one of the must-see sights is (or it should be), a Shinto shrine. Among the shrines are many important cultural landmarks and architectural jewels of Japan and, on a usual trip, ... »
Read more » 48 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 01 Jul 2011: Japanese Companies, 7-Eleven
7-Eleven was established in 1927 in Dallas, Texas, by Joe C. Thompson, an employee of an ice company. He started by selling bread and milk, which were kept fresh in the ice. The 7-Eleven name was ... »
Read more » 52 comments 29 Jun 2011: Asakusa Bell of Time
During the Edo period, the time in Japan was announced with bell chimes. Obviously, there was a need for some "official" time bells - these were the toki no kane ... »
Read more » 57 comments 14 Jun 2011: Japanese Companies, Mitsubishi UFJ
In 1870, a former samurai named Yatarō Iwasaki established a shipping firm called Mitsubishi (meaning "three diamonds" - a description of the well known logo, from mitsu "three" and hishi "water ... »
Read more » 35 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 - ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 55 comments 04 Jun 2011: The Temple of the Chiba Clan
The Myoryuji Temple from Kamakura was established in 1385 by Tanesada Chibade, a member of the Chiba clan - Chiba-shi 「千葉氏」. Descendants of the powerful Taira ... »
Read more » 42 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, ... »
Read more » 49 comments 22 May 2011: Old Japanese Streetcar Diorama
I love dioramas and every time I have the opportunity to visit a museum or an exposition featuring dioramas, I don't hesitate. I saw a lot of great Japanese dioramas in the large museums, but I also ... »
Read more » 48 comments 20 May 2011: Japanese superlatives, Shinkyo Bridge
About Shinkyo 「神橋」, the sacred bridge from Futarasan, there is a beautiful old Japanese legend telling the story of its origins. The first bridge was built here in 766 and ... »
Read more » 64 comments 18 May 2011: Traditional Japan, Fukagawa Row House Interior
For someone interested in the history of Japan (like me...), the Fukagawa Edo Museum is a must visit place in Tokyo. Here, inside the museum's building, you will find an accurate reproduction of a ... »
Read more » 38 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 ... »
Read more » 53 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 ... »
Read more » 73 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 ... »
Read more » 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 ... »
Read more » 60 comments 15 Apr 2011: Reflections nr.22, Odawara Castle Akagane Gate
The reconstruction of the Odawara Castle started in 1960, with the works on the five-storied donjon. The first defense wall followed in 1971, with the Tokiwagi Gate and the Tokiwa Wooden Bridge ... »
Read more » 54 comments 14 Mar 2011: Japanese Earthquake Resistant History at Nikko
The first recorded earthquake in the history of Japan was the Hakuko Nankai earthquake, in the year 684, with an estimated magnitude of 8.0–8.4. Having to face frequent powerful earthquakes, the ... »
Read more » 52 comments 12 Mar 2011: Memorial for the Victims of the Earthquake
After watching the news of the terrible earthquake that hit Japan yesterday, which was the strongest earthquake in the recorded history of Japan, I felt a strong desire to share with you this somber ... »
Read more » 75 comments 27 Feb 2011: Hojo Clan Kamon
Hōjō Tokimune, the 8th Hojo Regent of the Kamakura Shogunate, remained known in the Japanese history as the commander who led the Japanese forces against the invasion of the Mongols, but he ... »
Read more » 50 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 ... »
Read more » 43 comments 08 Feb 2011: The Red Bridge of Tokiwagi Gate
The five-storied donjon of the Odawara Castle (Odawara-jo) was rebuilt in 1960, at the anniversary of 20 years since Odawara was proclaimed city. The castle was originally built by Hojo Soun in ... »
Read more » 45 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 ... »
Read more » 39 comments 06 Dec 2010: Daibutsu Face
In the Ueno Park from Tokyo, on the Daibutsu Yama (the Great Buddha Hill), it stands displayed the face of a Daibutsu, the only remnant of a Great Buddha statue built during the Edo period. The ... »
Read more » 40 comments 17 Nov 2010: Hikawa Maru
In Yokohama, near Yamashita Park, you can visit one of the most famous Japanese passenger ships, the Hikawa Maru. Named after the Hikawa Shrine from Omiya (Saitama), Hikawa Maru was built in 1929 ... »
Read more » 32 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 ... »
Read more » 36 comments 29 Sep 2010: Kidai Shoran - A Glimpse of Life in Japan 200 years ago
Passing through the Tokyo Metro Mitsukoshimae Station, you may notice a huge paper scroll, over 17 meters long, displayed on the wall of the corridor connecting the station with the Mitsukoshi ... »
Read more » 46 comments 18 Aug 2010: From Genghis Khan to Kamikaze
In the year 1227, on this day of August 18, Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, died at 65 years old. His grandson, Kublai Khan, tried two times to invade Japan, in 1274 and in 1281. ... »
Read more » 29 comments 06 Aug 2010: Hiroshima and Nagasaki Flame
65 years ago, at 8:15, the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. Several days later, Tatsuo Yamamoto went to Hiroshima searching for a relative, but he found only a flame from the bombing, ... »
Read more » 62 comments 22 Jun 2010: Dogu figurines
I wrote some time ago about the ancient Jomon ceramic vases, with their surface decorations made with a twisted rope. However, the Dogū figurines, from the same period are a lot more ... »
Read more » 27 comments 01 Jun 2010: Samurai Sword - 20 Tsuba Photos
Ever since I was a kid, I always liked the Samurai swords, I was fascinated by the perfection of the blade... However, besides the blade there are a lot more elements that make the Japanese ... »
Read more » 58 comments 17 May 2010: Then and Now - Another Five Famous Views of Edo
In a previous article, I followed Hiroshige's steps in 5 of its "100 famous places of Edo", trying to discover if there are in Tokyo places that still look like they did in the old Edo. Today ... »
Read more » 33 comments 06 May 2010: Then and Now - Five of the 'One Hundred Famous Views of Edo'
Tokyo is a continuously changing city, with a rate of demolitions and rebuilds higher than in most cities and I noticed many places changing from one year to another.This made me wonder... are ... »
Read more » 46 comments 29 Apr 2010: Sayonara Kabuki-za
The first Kabuki-za, the main theater in Tokyo for kabuki drama, was built in Ginza in 1889 and lasted until 1921 when, being a wooden construction, was destroyed in a fire. Kabuki-za in 1907, ... »
Read more » 30 comments 27 Apr 2010: The Japanese Torii, 20 Amazing Vintage Photos
Even from the first visit to Japan, I was fascinated with torii, the gates marking the entrance to the Shinto shrines.Torii at Futarasan Shrine, NikkoAlthough an usual part of the Japanese ... »
Read more » 99 comments 20 Apr 2010: Junkyo Ohishi, the Handless Geisha
This month on April 21st marks 42 years since the death of Junkyo Ohishi, a woman with an impressive and incredible spiritual strength.Junkyo Ohishi, on her real name Yone Ohishi, was born in ... »
Read more » 38 comments 07 Apr 2010: Komuso, the Basket-Head Monks
From the beginning of the 13th century until the Meiji Restoration, an interesting order of Zen Buddhist pilgrim monks roamed in Japan: komusō 「虚無僧」, the ... »
Read more » 36 comments 01 Apr 2010: 5 Old Japanese Lullaby Songs
Every culture has its own cradle songs (lullabies), simple yet beautiful songs, sung by parents since ancient times.Some lullaby songs were featured in movies or were interpreted by famous ... »
Read more » 45 comments 11 Mar 2010: The Sad Story of the Hidden Ginkgo from Tsurugaoka Hachimangu
In order to reach the main building of the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, you have to climb 61 steps.On the left side, it was impossible not to notice an impressive 1000-year old ginkgo tree, ... »
Read more » 37 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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