Featured

temples

Are Japanese temples on Mt Koya cashing in on the foreign tourism boom?

With more than 100 million yen in underreported income, questions are being raised over the morals of profiting from overseas tourists.

Read More

Ghibli/Kyoto crossover artwork decorates goshuin papers for Zen and Ghibli art exhibition [Pics]

Kyoto museum’s ”Ghibli for grown-ups” event collaborates with three Kyoto Zen temples.

Read More

Megadeth guitarist becomes voice of reason regarding tourists dancing at shrine in Japan

Tourists’ dance video at Kyoto shrine prompts angry response from Marty Friedman.

Read More

Kyoto temple bans visitors from wearing kimono

Visitors to 600-year-old temple prohibited from wearing traditional garment following problems caused by those prioritizing cool social media photos over basic manners.

Read More

Beautiful 785-step Japanese shrine sando stairway walk is one very good reason to visit Kagawa

A sweaty, but unforgettable, visit to Kompirasan.

Read More

Japanese temple burns to the ground, fire burning inside for 1,200 years unharmed

Sacred fire saved from non-sacred fire on Miyajima.

Read More

Japanese manhole lid raises eyebrows with fertility god symbol that looks like… well, you know

Festival of the Steel Phallus deity gets a steel lid in a rural city. 

Read More

Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]

Mr. Sato starts his urban exploration of Tokyo to catch a glimpse of local neighborhoods’ pasts before they’re changed forever.

Read More

Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens

The ume of Ikegami grow up a terraced hillside, and under the radar.

Read More

Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?

With a diplomatic spat prompting a warning from the Chinese government, we go to see if it’s had any effect on Tokyo’s most popular historical neighborhood.

Read More

7-Eleven Japan offering sakura extract lipstick blessed by 300-year-old Kyoto temple

Sakura Veil plumpers make a stop at temple in the Kyoto foothills before making their way to convenience stores.

Read More

Buddhist monks in Japan preparing to hold funeral service for thousands of stuffed animals, dolls

Temple founded centuries ago helps out with unique modern ceremony in Osaka Prefecture.

Read More

Kyoto travel alternative: The “little Kyoto” of Shuzenji【Photos】

Sometimes great travel experiences come in little-Kyoto packages.

Read More

Hidden travel gems of northern east Japan, presented by the Kita Kanto Brothers!【Photos】

Our northern Kanto reporters team up and head to Gunma for a look at this part of Japan that gets overlooked by tourists.

Read More

This overlooked neighborhood east of Tokyo is awesome in many ways, left us with just one regret

And that regret is entirely on us, not on Shimosa Nakayama Station.

Read More

Temple-heavy Kyoto presenting a unique challenge for travelers looking for Muslim prayer rooms

Kyoto City Tourism Association extends help to those looking for a place to pray the Islamic way.

Read More

Is Kyoto really as crowded with foreign tourists as they say?

Assessing the state of overtourism firsthand reveals some surprising results. 

Read More

Getting off the beaten Kyoto temple path and onto a mossy one with the Kyoto Moss Tour Passport

New pass gets you access to six beautiful moss temples that aren’t that Moss Temple.

Read More

A nearly 400-year-old Kyoto temple ordinarily closed to public is accepting visitors this summer

A rare chance to see this temple-within-a-temple that’s off the beaten tourist track.

Read More

Temple in tiny town in Japan transforms into otherworldly beauty on special summer nights

Tokoji’s event is compelling reason to make a trip to one of Japan’s less-visited prefectures.

Read More

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9