Shirahama Beach Sand Art Contest Tomoko Kamishima Shirahama Kaigan Park: This Sand-Art Contest started 47 years ago and has taken place every year, much like the famous snow festival..
Culture Nison Temple, Kyoto: Origins 2 of 2 Justin Velgus The nine dragon-headed water god Kuzuryu and lucky god Benzaiten seemed to have fused together. According to Japanese history,..
Culture Tōshi Island, Miketsu-Kuni Cathy Cawood Tōshi Island in Ise-Shima National Park has a relaxed island atmosphere and delicious seafood.
Activities Visiting Mikimoto Pearl Island Cathy Cawood On Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba you can learn all about cultured pearls and Kokichi Mikimoto, the 'Pearl King'. You can..
Activities A Day at Toba Aquarium Cathy Cawood Toba Aquarium is the only place you can see dugong in Japan. It has the greatest number of different species of any aquarium in..
Culture Visiting an Ama Diver Hut in Toba Cathy Cawood Meeting Japan's female Ama divers over a delicious seafood lunch with spiny lobster at Hachiman-Kamado, an Ama diver hut in..
Transportation On the Slow Boat to China Amber Mezbourian Make the journey as memorable as the destination by taking a ferry between Osaka and Shanghai, giving you time to relax and soak..
Culture Gio-ji Temple, Kyoto: Part 1 of 4 Justin Velgus Standing quietly on the eastern foot of Mt. Ogura in Sagano, Kyoto, Gio-ji Temple is more of a hermitage than a temple.