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 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,..
Festivals Otsu Festival 2025 Oct 11th - Oct 12th Otsu Matsuri takes place in early October and features thirteen ornate floats with ingenious mechanical puppets.
Culture Corn Festival 2025 Late Jul - Mid Aug Corn is a vital crop with immense importance as a food, feed, and fuel source. The Yatsugatake corn variant grows well in Japan..
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..
Museums Okishima Chris Glenn Okishima is unique as the only inhabited lake in Japan and it’s long history is even more unique. The 450 residents descended ..
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..
Festivals Mii-dera Cherry Blossom Awa Odori 2026 Early Apr Shiga's Mii-dera Temple is set to host a lively new event this spring—the Mii-dera Cherry Blossom Awa Odori— bringing the ..
