Blog News about Japan

In December 1993, Himeji Castle became Japan’s first World Heritage site along with Horyuji Temple in Nara. Himeji-jo Castle is affectionately known as “Shirasagi Castle” for its elegant appearance like a white heron spreading its wings. It features a vividly white castle wall with white plaster all over the walls, a 5-story, 7-story large keep, and a tower-style small keep connected by watari-yagura turret. The main keep of Himeji-jo Castle that we are looking at was built in Keicho 14 (1609). Even after more than 400 years, it still retains its beautiful form.

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Kamikochi is a scenic spot upstream of the Azusa-gawa River in the southern Hida Mountains of western Nagano Prefecture. It is a part of Chubu Mountain National Park and designated as a national cultural property (Special Places of Scenic Beauty and Special Natural Monuments). Height above sea level: approximately 1,500 m. The average temperature in January is -7.7 ° C, and the minimum temperature is below -30 ° C, and it is very cold, and even the maximum temperature during the day can be below -20 ° C. On the other hand, the average temperature in August was 19.7 ° C, which was only 22 ° C during the day, and it was quite cool in summer.

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Sakamoto, which prospered as a temple town of Hieizan Enryakuji, has about 50 Satobo. The satobo was given to an old priest who had completed ascetic training on the mountain, and all of the satobo have beautiful gardens with designs such as natural stones and borrowed landscapes, and beautiful colors such as azaleas, autumn leaves, and moss.

The area was designated as an important traditional building preservation district in 1997.

Sakamoto is also home to a group of stonemasons called the Anaoshu (Ushuu), who built the castle’s stone walls, and the Satobo stone walls are solid (Kengo) made of skillfully piled natural stones, creating a tranquil atmosphere in harmony with the white walls.

In northern part of Japan, still cherry blossoms are far away and there is still much snow left as well.

Approximately 500 metasequoias have been planted along Shiga prefectural road Koaraji Makino Sawa Line over a total length of 2.4 km, creating a scenic approach to the Makino Plateau, in harmony with the distant mountains of the Nosaka Mountains.

The trees were first planted by the Makino-cho Fruit Tree Producing Association as part of the “Makino Do-no-Sato” project in 1981, and have since been cherished and nurtured by members of the association and other local people. Metasequoia is a deciduous tree of the genus Metasequoia of the family Taxodiaceae, native to China, and its Japanese name is Akebonosugi. It is named Meta (deformed) Sequoia because it resembles Sequoia, which is said to have a maximum tree height of 115 m.

It attracts visitors in each of the four seasons with the buds and fresh greenery in spring, the deep greenery in summer, the colored leaves in autumn, and the naked trees and snowflakes in winter. In 1994, the magazine was selected by The Yomiuri Shimbun as one of its “100 Views of New Japanese Street Trees” and has since attracted public attention.

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Time goes by in this pandemic world, too. Cherry blossoms are now in full bloom in Kyoto. At night, the cherry blossoms along the Takase River that flows through the town are very beautiful.

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Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a big suspension bridge that connects about 4km between Kobe City and Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture. The distance between the 2 main towers standing in the Akashi Strait is 1,991 meters, which is famous for being the longest in the world! Do you know that there is a tour where you can experience the size of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge? With the tour, you can not only walk part of the bridge, but also climb to the top of the main tower, which is about 300 meters high.

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The Miracle Star Botanical Garden is on Awaji Island. It exhibits not only plants native to Awaji Island but also plants from all over the world. It is a very large facility, so it takes about half a day if you take your time. If you come to Kansai, you can make a day drive trip.

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According to Japanese mythology, Awajishima was the first island created by a god. It’s right in the center of the map of Japan. This island is rich in nature and you can see many flowers. It is connected to Honshu by a bridge, so you can easily visit by car.

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The practice of zazen is recently becoming more popular among both Japanese and people from overseas.

Zazen is a particular kind of meditation, unique to Zen, that centrally functions as the very heart of the practice. In fact, Zen Buddhists are generally known as the “meditation Buddhists.” Basically, zazen is the study of the self.

Zen is one sect of Buddhism, introduced to Japan from China in the 7^th century. It was revived in the 12^th century and began to spread throughout the country. Today, there are three major sects: the Soto Sect, the Rinzai Sect and the Obaku Sect.

The original and ultimate purpose of Zen is to attain enlightenment (satori). This is not the sole purpose, nor is the purpose to stand the pain of sitting for a long time or experience the ascetic practice of being hit with the keisaku stick. The purpose of zazen is to sit quietly and calm your mind.

This Zen philosophy influenced Japanese culture such as Japanese gardens, tea ceremony and flower arrangement.

Some temples of these sects accept visitors who want to try zazen.

Kyoto is the center of Zen culture.  For those of you who have chosen to try zazen in Kyoto, it is sure to be a very special experience.

CoCoMo Japan Travel is offering an “Experience Zen Meditation”, “Tea Ceremomy” and “Philosopher’s Path Walking” tour from 2010 in Kyoto. This tour is conducted with a certified English-speaking guide, so it is highly recommended for people who are looking for a zazen experience in English.

Well, let’s get a glimpse of this tour!

In the morning, at 8:15 a.m., an English speaking guide takes you to Kodaiji Temple.

Kodaiji Temple, formally known as Kodaijushozenji Temple, is located in the Higashiyama district in Kyoto. It was established in 1605 by the noblewoman Kita-no-Mandokoro in memory of her late husband, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-98).  All Kodaiji Temple’s buildings have been designated as “Important Cultural Properties” by the Japanese Government.

In the fresh morning air, you can try zazen practice and hear the priest’s sermon for about 1 hour.

After that, the tour will visit Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavilion), which is also a Zen temple. This temple is surrounded by trees, has a quiet outlook and is in harmony with the garden that utilizes the natural surroundings of the area, from which you will feel the calm dignity of the natural surrounds.

Strolling down the Philosopher’s Path, a beautiful tree-lined walk along side a canal, you will arrive at a quaint house as the final stage in your morning’s journey.  This is “Kano Shojuan” tea house, where you can enjoy tea ceremony while viewing Japanese traditional hanging scrolls (kakejiku) or flower arrangement in the tea house.

This half-day tour will end around noon, and you will enjoy a very fulfilling morning.

You will be able to feel your inner self and Zen philosophy through this tour. How about joining this special experience during the season of the new green leaves!

Tokyo’s Kappabashi is a popular spot for overseas visitors, who come to see the area’s shops selling restaurant equipment. One of the things they particularly like is the authentic-looking food samples and cutlery. In Japan, many restaurants display such colorful samples in a menu showcase to facilitate food selection. I suppose eateries whose food displays are allowed to become faded and grimy might have equally unsanitary kitchens, and are best avoided.