Do you know zazen? Zazen is a kind of meditation practiced in Zen school of Buddhism. Some Zen temples hold zazen sessions for citizens on regular basis. Webmaster participated in an English zazen session at Soji-ji Temple last week. Soji-ji Temple holds an English zazen session almost once a month. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:27) Tsurumi (walk 0:07) @… Read more →
Cherry blossom front has shifted toward north. Now, we have wisteria blossom in the central region of Japan. In the early April, the buds of wisteria were still small. But, those were growing gradually. And finally, started blooming Wisteria is one of popular horticulture trees (vines) in Japan. If you travel in Japan in this season,… Read more →
Webmaster visited Horai Bridge before last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:15) Shizuoka (local train 0:28) Shimada (walk 0:20) @, or Tokyo (local train 3:20) Shimada (walk 0:20) @ This bridge is 897m long and listed in Guinness Book of Record as the longest pedestrian wooded bridge. Only pedestrians and bicycles are allowed to cross. The… Read more →
Webmaster visited Kunowaki Suspension Bridge before last week. This bridge is located near Shiogo Station of Oigawa Railway (Oigawa-tetsudo). Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:15) Shizuoka (local train 0:30) Kanaya (local train 0:50) Shiogo (walk 0:05) @ Oigawa Railway starts from Kanaya Station. Oigawa Railway is a single track. The train went toward the upper stream of Oi-gawa… Read more →
Webmaster visited Endo Shellfish Museum (Endo-kairui-hakubutsukan) in Manazuru Town before last week. Access: Tokyo (local train 1:35) Manazuru (bus 0:20) Cape Manazuru @, or Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37) Odawara (local train 0:13) Manazuru (bus 0:20) Cape Manazuru @ Admission:￥300 for adult. Closed on Thursday and year-end holidays This museum is located on the tip of Manazuru Peninsular. … Read more →
Do you know Hakone-yoseki-zaiku? This is a Japanese traditional craft of wood mosaic (marquetry). (This photo is cited from www.yoseki-honma.com/) Webmaster visited Honma Wood Mosaic Museum (Honma-yoseki-bijutsukan). It is a small private museum run by Honma Mokkosho which is one of the craft studios of Hakone Wood Mosaic. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:37, or local train 1:15) Odawara… Read more →
Sawanoi Kushi-kanzashi Museum (Sawanoi Kushi-kanzashi Bijutsukan) is a museum which has comprehensive collection of traditional Japanese hair ornaments. (Introduction of the museum cited from its website) On display at Kushi-kanzashi Museum are what the late Chiyo Okazaki had collected for 40 years. The collection includes about 4,000 pieces of hair accessories as well as clothing, accessories and livingware of… Read more →
Webmaster visited Fuchu Kyodo-no-mori Museum last week. This is a field museum where traditional land scape with old houses is reproduced. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:50) Bubaigawara (bus 0:06) Kyodonomori-seimon-mae @ Admission:￥200 for adult. Closed on Monday and year-end holidays. The main building of the museum The exhibition on the culture and nature of Fuchu City… Read more →
Webmaster visited Nippara Limestone Cave (Nippara-shonyudo) last week. Admission: ￥700 for adult. Open every day except on year-end holidays. The length of the cave is 1,270m among which 800m is open to visitors. Access: Tokyo (local train 1:50) Okutama (bus 0:25) Higashi-nippara (bus 0:05 or walk 0:20) Nippara-shonyudo (walk 0:05) @ (The last stop of the bus… Read more →
Webmaster visited Japan Open-air Folk House Museum (Nihon-minkaen) last week. It takes less than one hour from Tokyo by train. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:14) Shinjuku (local train 0:21) Mukogaoka-yuen (walk 0:13) @ Admission:￥500 for adult. Closed on Monday and year-end holidays. The entrance house of the museum More than twenty old folk houses from various region… Read more →