Culture Biwako Biennale 2026 Late Sep - Mid Nov This autumn, the lakeside city of Omihachiman in Shiga Prefecture will once again transform into a living canvas as the BIWAKO..
Culture Miho Museum Nestled in the dense, green hills of Shigaraki about an hour’s drive from Kyoto is one of Japan’s least-known architectural gems. In the 1970’s,..
Culture Enryaku-ji Temple Enryaku-ji Temple, located on Mount Hiei in Otsu, overlooks all of Kyoto from its serene mountaintop. The temple was founded in 788 in the early Heian..
Culture Hiking Around Azuchi Castle Ruins rachel teo The relentless heat of the Japanese summer has finally waned, and it's the best time of the year to go on a hike! Join me in..
12 Temples & Shrines Shirahige Shrine Cathy Cawood The "floating" tori at Shirahige Shrine is smaller than the tori at Miyajima, but forms a beautiful scene against the backdrop of..
Culture Kongorin-ji Temple Kongorin-ji Temple is a peaceful place to relax, off the beaten path. If you want to venture outside the popular tourist spots of Kyoto and get away from..
12 Traditional Pottery Kilns at Shigaraki Cathy Cawood See climbing kilns at Shigaraki, a town that has produced pottery for thousands of years, and is one of the 'Six Old Kilns of..
Festivals Otsu Festival 2026 Mid Oct Otsu Matsuri takes place in early October and features thirteen ornate floats with ingenious mechanical puppets.