Prambanan: Towers to the Gods
Just an hour to the northeast of Yogyakarta, on the Indonesian isle of Java, lies the remarkable Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. Built in the 9th century under the direction […]
Sunrise at Borobudur
Last weekend, my mom, cousin and I traveled to the giant 9th-century Javan temple known as Borobudur. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. In fact, the whole […]
The Arches and Foxes of Fushimi-Inari Taisha
One of the most remarkable shrine complexes in Japan is Fushimi-Inari Taisha. The shrine takes the middle part of its name from Inari, the god of grains. Founded in the […]
The Streets of Kyoto
Kyoto has a magical ring to it. The city is often said to be the spiritual center of Japan — the Lonely Planet calls it “a walk in mysterious places.” […]
Temples and Shrines of Higashiyama
The Higashiyama region of Kyoto has more shrines and temples than I can possibly count — and certainly more than the average visitor can manage in a day. If you […]
The Castles of Inuyama & Nagoya
About half an hour apart as the crow flies lie the ancient castle towns of Inuyama and Nagoya. Built in the early fifteenth century — and then heavily strengthened and […]
A Day in Takayama
In the middle of the island of Honshu, in the middle of the prefecture of Gifu, sits the small city of Takayama (population 88,000). It’s a sprawling place, spread out […]
Furukawa: My New Favorite Town
Sometimes when you travel, you stumble on a place that you don’t expect, one that hasn’t been on your radar screen at all. For me, that place on our Japan […]
The Homes of Hida
In central Japan sits an area called Hida, which encompasses a vast mountain region and the small cities of Takayama, Furukawa, and Gifu. But it’s mostly an empty and often […]
An Onsen & A Walk in Yuwaku
If you are staying in Kanazawa and want to get away from it all, you can drive up into the mountains just twenty minutes and find yourself in Yuwaku, a […]
