Blog
Blog
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Matsumoto Castle
There are only five castles designated as National Treasures in Japan. Among them, Matsumoto Castle is particularly popular with French visitors. A hospitality team dressed as ninjas and other characters helps to entertain the visitors. It is said to have originated as Fukashi Castle, built by the Ogasawara clan who ruled Shinano Province during the Warring States period; the main keep and the castle town were subsequently developed by Ishikawa Kazumasa, a close aide to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo Shogunate. During busy periods such as public holidays, queues can stretch to over two hours, and the…
- Matsumoto
- Spot introduction
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Daiō Wasabi Farm
On tours that include Matsumoto, a visit to Daiō Wasabi Farm in Azumino is almost always included, alongside Matsumoto Castle. This area is blessed with natural spring water—filtered over many years by meltwater from the Northern Alps and residual snow from glaciers—and, as the water temperature remains stable throughout the year, it is ideal for wasabi cultivation. The vast farm also features a watermill, and at this time of year, when the greenery is at its best, visitors can enjoy scenery reminiscent of an Impressionist painting.
- Matsumoto
- Spot introduction
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Takayama ramen
In Gifu City, where I’m from, there’s a Chinese ramen shop called Kotengu, which I often visited to round off a night out. This ‘Chinese ramen’ is what is now known as Takayama ramen. Whilst the name ‘Takayama ramen’ is now well established, it used to be called ‘Chinese ramen’. Because the soy sauce base and broth are simmered together in a large pot, the colour is quite dark, but the flavour is light and refreshing, and it goes very well with the thin, curly noodles. Nowadays, Takayama Ramen is as popular as Hida beef. I visited Ramen Fukuchan. It’s…
- Food
- Spot introduction
- Takayama
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Genkyu-en Garden
With the cherry blossom festival now over, Hikone Castle has returned to a state of tranquillity. From Genkyu-en Garden, situated to the east, the castle keep serves as a backdrop, lending the scene a sense of grandeur. Genkyu-en is a strolling garden centred around a vast pond, where visitors can enjoy a variety of scenery, including nine bridges spanning the inlets and islands within the pond. Due in part to the destruction caused by the Second World War, only 12 castle keep towers remain in Japan today. Of these, five castles, including Hikone Castle, have been designated as National Treasures…
- Hikone
- Spot introduction
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Kōko-en
Kōko-en is a garden that has even been used as a filming location for period dramas. Although it tends to be overshadowed by Himeji Castle—one of Japan’s most iconic World Heritage Sites—it is one of my favourite Japanese gardens. It is a pity that tours tend to spend so much time at Himeji Castle, leaving little opportunity to visit Koko-en. Gardens that make use of ponds and flowing water are known as ‘strolling pond-and-stream gardens’, and they developed as daimyō (feudal lords who are subordinate to the shogun) gardens during the Edo period. The scenery changes as you move through…
- Himeji
- Spot introduction
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Double-flowered cherry blossoms
Double-flowered cherry blossoms (Yaezakura in Japanese), which bloom about one to two weeks later than the Somei-Yoshino variety, are now in full bloom all over Kyoto. The sight of the petals layered upon one another is particularly elegant at night. In Japanese, ‘yaezakura’ literally means ‘double-flowered cherry’, referring to the eight petals that overlap. The number ‘eight’ is considered auspicious in Japanese culture and is often used to signify many. Whereas the Somei-Yoshino cherry has five petals, the double-flowered variety typically has ten or more, with some specimens exceeding 100 petals.
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Namako Walls
Namako walls (sea cucumber wall) are a defining feature of Kurashiki’s landscape. This technique, which involves laying flat roof tiles on the exterior walls and applying plaster to the joints in a raised is said to have originated in the Edo period. The name ‘namako wall’ is derived from the resemblance of the raised plaster to a sea cucumber. As they provide protection from the wind and rain whilst also being visually appealing, they are used in modern Japanese-style restaurants and houses; in the Bikan Historical Quarter, there is even a Tully’s Coffee with a Namako Wall. However, as they…
- Kurashiki
- Spot introduction
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Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is renowned as a prime example of preserved traditional streetscapes in Japan. The term ‘Bikan’ refers to a magnificent view or a pleasant landscape. This aesthetic has been preserved through a townscape conservation campaign in which the local authorities and residents have worked together. The banks of the Kurashiki River flourished as a rice trading hub, and the area is popular with French visitors due to its rows of mansions and storehouses belonging to wealthy merchants. The fruit parfaits here are highly recommended, but my personal favourite is Chaya Ohashi, located near the car park. Their…
- Kurashiki
- Spot introduction
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Arashiyama at the Weekend
The weather in Kyoto this weekend has been fine; although the cherry blossoms are beginning to fall, the streets are bustling with foreign tourists everywhere you look. The path through the bamboo grove, in particular, is absolutely teeming with people. It is not clear exactly when this bamboo grove was established. The bamboo is of the species mōsō bamboo, native to China. Although it is said that monks brought it back from Tang China in either the 9th or 13th century, it is believed that the species was not introduced on a large scale until the 18th century, so it is…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Great Buddha Adorned with Flowers
The Great Buddha at Tōdai-ji Temple in Nara was adorned with a profusion of flowers. Apparently, the entrance ceremony for Tōdai-ji Gakuen school took place yesterday. It is said that new students and their parents are allowed to ascend the pedestal, an area normally off-limits to the public. This is a special place accessible only to those associated with Tōdai-ji. The Great Buddha was cast over a period of three years in the mid-8th century, but its head fell off during a major earthquake in the mid-9th century. Although it was restored, it was destroyed by fire during the wars…
- Nara
- Spot introduction
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Yaebenishidare Weeping Cherry at Ryōan-ji
The Yaebenishidare Weeping Cherry begins to bloom slightly later than the Somei-Yoshino cherry. At this time of year, in the rock garden of Ryōan-ji, one can enjoy the striking contrast between the deep crimson petals and the white sand. It is said that the rock garden at Ryōan-ji was created by a Zen monk in the mid-15th century, but the identity of the gardener remains unknown to this day. There are 15 stones arranged in the garden. As it is impossible to see all 15 stones at once from any single vantage point, it is said to represent an imperfect…
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction
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Kameyama: A Traditional Confectionery Shop
In Kyoto, there are small traditional confectionery shops known as ‘oman-ya-san’, which are beloved by locals as places to buy everyday sweets. Kameyama is situated on Gojo Street—where it is said the tragic warlords Yoshitsune and Benkei met in the 12th century—and is now located within the Matsubara Kyogoku Shopping Arcade. It is a shop recommended by Rakucho Nakaoka-ya, the makers of the ‘ojami’ zabuton cushions used at our guesthouse. It is said to have been in business for over 200 years. Their anmochi, filled with sweet red bean paste, has a gentle sweetness. It is a shop we highly…
- Food
- Kyoto
- Spot introduction