Tentokuin: The Princess Temple in Kanazawa

22.01.2023

She was only three years old.

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

30.12.2022

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 you want to make nihon-shu, the drink we call “sake” in English, you have to register and establish a brewery under particular guidelines. Moonshine sake is forbidden. Except…

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…

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…

Under that Ishikawa Sky

28.08.2020

As if the heavens above Kanazawa weren't stunning enough on their own, they are even more so when framed by the Japanese Alps around Mount Haku or by the sea...

Go Forest Bathing & See Sacred Trees in Kanazawa

08.11.2019

In a smaller castle town like Kanazawa, finding a green spot of nature is easy! Here are my favorite places to visit sacred trees and bathe in forests.

Seseragi Marriage Festival

18.05.2019

Looking for true love in Japan? Say a prayer at the shrine during Seseragi-dori's Marriage Festival, a quaint but supremely friendly street fair in late May

One Night in Kanazawa: 24 Hours in the City of Gold

10.05.2019

Only one night in Kanazawa planned and don't know where to go? No problem! Here's our recommended walking itinerary for enjoying Kanazawa, Japan in 24 hours!

Sacred Wells and Magic Stones at Kanazawa Shrine

08.10.2018

Kanazawa Shrine is a secret many visitors miss and fewer know how to appreciate, connected to ancient folklore that is Kanazawa's namesake.