Culture Green Bamboo Lantern Festival 2026 Aug 15th - Aug 16th Green Bamboo Lantern Festival offers a chance to experience a regional matsuri
Transportation Echigo One Day Pass Bryan Baier Niigata to Nagaoka and on to Ojiya, the Yahiko line from Yahiko to Higashi-Sanjo... This even works on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Niigata, Tsubame-Sanjo
11 Basho's Poem and Konzenji Temple Takako Sakamoto Konzenji Temple in Tsuruga, Fukui: A stone monument of Matsuo Basho's poem written for the sad fate of Nitta Army defeated here in 14th century
10 Culture Konpira-ji Temple and Ichijo-an Anonymous Konpira-ji Temple and Ichijō-an is a little complex including a Buddhist temple, a Shinto shrine, and a cottage where the haiku poet Tōyōjō Matsune lived
14 Natadera in Ishikawa Cathy Cawood Interesting features include a graceful pagoda, natural caves in a rock mountain, and a haiku by Matsuo Basho.
Culture Earth Celebration on Sado Island 2026 Aug 22nd - Aug 24th Take the matsuri (festival) atmosphere but change amateur drummers for
Food Nagahama Ramen Miyoshi Xia Fei Chiew Cultural, lively and full of delicacies, the Sanjo area of Kyoto is truly a wonderful place to stroll.
Shopping Naohide Kokeshi in Matsushima Justin Velgus One such doll is a miniature of Matsuo Basho, the legendary haiku poet... in a shiny, almost metallic dark cherry color paint with a poem from Matsu