New Year’s in Kanazawa: Stripping Firefighters, Holy Prayers

29.12.2024

Ring a temple bell, get your shrine fortune, and watch acrobatic Japanese firefighters strip in the snow! Here's what to expect for New Year's in Kanazawa.

Doburoku Festival: Sake Celebrations in Shirakawago!

18.10.2022

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

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.

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…

Noyaki: Wildfire Earthenware on Kanazawa’s Beach

30.08.2019

Once every summer, just as the temperatures have passed […]

“Thank you, Hakusan!” Hiking Japan’s Holy Mount Haku

02.06.2019

Hiking Hakusan in the Japanese Alps is a regular pilgrimage of people living in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. This holy mountain is no light trek, but worth the view.

Oyama Jinja: Kanazawa’s Most Popular Shrine

15.09.2018

Every Kanazawa tourist visits Oyama Jinja Shrine for its beauty. Don't be one of the many who miss its secrets and royal samurai history.

The Origin of Zen

22.08.2018

The popularity of Zen Buddhism; with its stronger focus on nature, the possibility of spontaneous enlightenment, and an emphasis on mentors and teachers rather than deities; exploded as the developing samurai warrior class adopted its teac…

Yuyado Sakamoto: A Unique Ryokan Experience in the Noto

26.08.2017

— ARCHIVED — This article is no longer bein […]

Shukubo Ikumo: A Temple Stay among the Clouds

17.09.2016

— ARCHIVED — This article is no longer bein […]

Hanging Corn: Luck for 46,000 Days!

27.08.2016

— ARCHIVED — This article is no longer bein […]