Sometimes men just cannot help glancing at charming women passing by even when they are going out with their girlfriend. Women wearing Japanese traditional clothes such as kimono (着物), yukata (浴衣, casual kimono for summer)are often attractive. Men also like women’s action of doing up their long hair. “Kanzashi (かんざし)” has been playing an important role for Japanese women to dress their hair when they wear such traditional clothes. "… Read more

Mt. Fuji from across Tokyo Bay (Chiba-ken)… Read more

With Hyogo Prefecture to the east and Hiroshima Prefecture adjoining to the West, Okayama Prefecture(岡山県) is located at the centre of the ancient Sanyō (山陽) Highway area. Facing the Seto Inland Sea(瀬戸内海) and Shikoku (四国) to the south, and adjoining the San-in (山陰) region to the north, Okayama-ken has had an important location as a strategic transportation hub of the western Japan. Okayama is the capital of Okayama Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chugoku Region after Hiroshima. The city is where the San-yo S… Read more

Kenkou-no-mori (or Takeda-no-mori), Koufu-city, Yamanashi-ken 健康の杜(武田の杜）… Read more

Despite its name, Ginkakuji (銀閣寺), the "Silver Pavilion" was never covered in silver. Ginkakuji (銀閣寺),formally a Zen temple named Jishouji (慈照寺) in Arashiyama(嵐山), Kyoto is perhaps the pinnacle of Japanese artistic expression. Best known for its stone gardens (the Sea of Silver Sand built to reflect the moon) and simple buildings, the temple was built in 1482 originally as a villa for the artistic Shogun (将軍) Ashikaga Yoshimasa (足利義政), a poor, inept ruler in a time of conflict and instability, but a great patro… Read more

Night VIew from top of Takao-san (Mount Takao 高尾山), Hachio-ji-city, Tokyo Takao-san is a 599 m (1,965 ft) high mountain located within an hour of downtown Tokyo, a popular hiking spot, with eight hiking courses and more than 2.5 million annual visitors.… Read more

Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) is a light festival held in Kobe every December since 1995 to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year. The lights were donated by the Italian Government and the installation itself is produced by Valerio Festi and Hirokazu Imaoka. Over 200,000 individually hand painted lights are lit each year with electricity generated from biomass for environmental reason . Lights are kept up for about two we… Read more

A View from Yamanashi Prefectural Museum (山梨県立博物館 Yamanashi Kenritsu Hakubutsukan) Opened in Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi in 2005. The collection relates to the natural history, history, and culture of Yamanashi Prefecture.… Read more

"@Home Cafe" received a “Certificate of Excellence 2015″ from TripAdvisor on its 11th anniversary this year. It’s near Akihabara station, and you can easily see the huge poster of the maids on the wall. Although the cafe is huge in terms of space, being located on floors 4-7, it’s not rare to see a long line of people waiting to get inside. According to the cafe staff, it’s not so crowded during mornings and nighttime, so for those of you who don’t want to wait in line, take note of this. http://blog-imgs-87.… Read more

Hakodate-yama (Mount Hakodate 334m) 函館山 in Hakodate, Hokkaido The mountain is renowned for its view of the surrounding bay and city. The Michelin Green Guide: Japan gave the experience 3/3 stars in a review, placing it as equal to mountain views of Naples and Hong Kong. The peak is accessible by hiking or by bike, as well as by a regular cable car service.… Read more

The Chichibu Yomatsuri (秩父夜祭, Chichibu Night Festival) is the 3*********** festival of Chichibu Shrine in Chichibu City, Saitama-ken, just about 90 minutes from central Tokyo. The festivals are held every year on December 2nd(Yoimiya=宵宮) and 3rd(Taisai=大祭) for 2 days, with the main action taking place on the 3rd. The Chichibu Night Festival is considered as one of Japan's top three festivals to feature "floats", the others being Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Hida Takayama Matsuri[/b… Read more

Month of November 2015 was 1.9 deg c warmer than the past years (since 1946) in Tokyo(eastern Japan) Early Autumn Forest… Read more

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavillion) on November 29, 2015 (from Live Camera) Kinkakuji (金閣寺) is a Zen temple in northern Kyoto whose top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf. Formally known as Rokuonji (鹿苑寺), the temple was the retirement villa of the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu(足利義満), and according to his will it became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect (臨済宗) after his death in 1408. Kinkakuji was the inspiration for the similarly named Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion=銀閣寺), built by Yoshimitsu's grandson, Ashik… Read more

Biei-cho, Hokkaido 北海道美瑛町 November 30, 2015 11:00am 23:00 Biei-cho 3C Cloudy… Read more

Many of the maple trees in Japan's later coloring koyo spots have been either delayed or started dropping their leaves before ever turning vibrant. However, the recent drop in temperatures and the generally sunny and crisp weather forecast will still favorably impact the colors over the next few days here in Nara, too. Todaiji (東大寺, Tōdaiji, "Great Eastern Temple") is one of Japan's most famous and historically significant temples and a landmark of Nara. http://blog-imgs-84.fc2.com/s/k/b/skbjkjsk/201511… Read more

Momiji(Japanese Maple) and Full Moon (November 26, 2015) May your days in a week be a good day !… Read more

Not only Geisha, Maiko and Geiko, many people in modern Japan still do wear Kimono particularly on festivals, ceremonies. This is Pai-chan's quick glossary of traditional Japanese Kimono attire. Kimono (着物=きもの) : Large robes, worn with an underrobe. Usually kimono are padded and bound to give a straight line. Kimono are seasonal, and also range in formality and style. Obi (帯=おび) : Large waist bands wrapped around the outside of the kimono. These are usually held shut with obi belts and are often t… Read more

Nison-in Temple (二尊院), Kyoto A tunnel of maple trees which extends to about 100m (109yd), referred to as “Momiji-no baba (riding ground)”, and is designated as a cultural asset by Kyoto-city.… Read more

Bone white, emerald green, muddy gray, tea brown, and rust red are some colors of Japanese ONSEN hot springs. The variety of colors is just one of the amazing aspects to contemplate, like wine experts do with wine. Doroyu Onsen, Okuyama-Ryokan, Akita-ken (秋田県どろ湯温泉奥山旅館露天風呂) (Simple sulphurous spring, original 67 deg c) Connoisseurs of hot spring water close their eyes and focus the non-visual senses on the consistency, the smell, and the feel of the water on the skin. After drying off, another consideration i… Read more