Itsukushima (Miyajima): Japan’s floating Torii
About 30 minutes away from Hiroshima Station there’s Itsukushima Shrine, a Unesco World Heritage Site in the island of Itsukushima, popularly know as Miyajima (literally “Shrine Island”). Its gate or torii is probably the most famous one in the world and definitely a “must-see” for many local and foreign tourists. The reason why the torii is “floating” is because the…
Mitama Matsuri: 30.000 lanterns, one controversial shrine.
Mitama Matsuri is one of the biggest Obon festivals in Tokyo. It gathers thousands of people that come to Yasukuni Shrine to eat, dance and enjoy the impressive 30.000 yellow lanterns. It really is a beautiful thing to see! Originally held first in 1947, Mitama Matsuri is an event to pray for and honor the dead from the war. During…
The KYOTO of Eastern Japan? A day in KAMAKURA.
Kamakura is a small city with tremendous culture and yes, a giant bronze Buddha. Being only 50 km away from Tokyo, conveniently covered by regular trains from the capital, it’s an extremely popular day trip destination. Adding to the equation, Kamakura has a beach that gathers not only regular visitors but countless surf aficionados. Early June is a wonderful time…
The most popular festival in Tokyo. SANJA MATSURI
Sanja Matsuri (三社祭) is different. Maybe it’s the 2 million attendees it gathers, maybe it’s the countless mikoshi (portable shrine) they carry, or maybe is the wilder atmosphere. Or perhaps it’s the healthy interest in a portion of its participants: the yakuza (japanese mafia). But Sanja Matsuri is more than a “Yakuza Festival”, despite of many of the international media trying…
Let’s talk about replacing the “offensive” symbol in Japanese Maps.
I’m late to the party but I recently learned about the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan decision of changing a few of the symbols used on maps. Since the Olympic Games are only a couple years away and the tourism is growing so wildly, I guess they want the maps to be more standardized (meaning similar to the European and…
