Shirakawago & Beyond: Farm Villages of the Japanese Alps

21.10.2022

From the convenient and historic castle town of Kanazawa, visiting Shirakawago and other Japanese mountain farm villages is any easy trek and a winter must.

Doburoku Festival: Sake Celebrations in Shirakawago!

18.10.2022

Japan has very strict provisions on sake brewing. If yo […]

The Essentials of Sake, Japan’s National Drink

14.10.2022

Japan's oldest and most treasured drink takes a lot of its quality from water sources, and Ishikawa's sake draws its taste from the nearby holy mountain.

Interview with Kimono Artist Ikkou Teranishi & the Grace of Kanazawa’s Kaga-Yuzen Silk

24.06.2021

A real kimono is a wearable work of art, but not all kimono are the same! The kimono crafted in Kanazawa are uniquely designed for the samurai class...

The Voice of Japanese Zen: D.T. Suzuki

30.05.2021

Japanese Zen was once believed only to be understood in Japanese. Daisetz Suzuki broke all molds, becoming Zen's ambassador to the English-speaking world.

Toyama, for Crafts & Nature Lovers

20.05.2021

There are many charming spots in Toyama, but from here I want to share everything that appeals to my craftwork-loving heart! So let's start...

Komatsu: Pines, Performances & Peace

11.05.2021

Just 17 minutes away by train or car, Komatsu is the birthplace of "Children's Kabuki" and a place to reconnect with nature, with the sprawling forest shrine of Natadera, the moss garden at the Forest of Wisdom, and the Takigahara Farm, an…

Seisonkaku Villa & the Last Days of its Lord and Lady

28.04.2021

Seisonkaku, a carefully preserved Japanese villa and home to a lady whose house served the imperial aristocacry, stands today as a house museum in Kanazawa.

The Samurai District of Kanazawa: Nagamachi

09.04.2021

Home to samurai soldiers of Edo era Kanazawa, the fortified walls now surround samurai museums, craft shops, unique cafes and Japanese gardens.

House of the Banished Samurai, Kurando Terashima

23.02.2021

Few know to look for this house that belonged to a banished samurai. Kurando Terashima, a warrior first of the people, was exiled for speaking out harshly against feudal government policies. Additionally a prolific painter, his entire hous…

The “Ninja” Temple: Samurai Secrets and Lies

17.02.2021

Famous for its trick doors, hidden chambers, and many traps, Myouryu-ji is often referred as Ninjadera, or "Ninja Temple," though the temple has little to do with ninja at all. The temple was a sanctuary for forbidden samurai and offered e…