Japan Kyoto Travel

13/04/2026

Soba, or buckwheat noodles, are one of Japan’s main types of noodles, and Echizen soba is a regional variety of this noodle that originated in Fukui. Fukui is renowned for its buckwheat cultivation and is home to roughly 22 native species of this flowering plant.

Set in a traditional Japanese building, the soba-making experience is roughly two hours and led by a soba master.

Located in central Japan along the country’s western coast, Fukui Prefecture is an off-the-beaten-path destination that offers an idyllic reset for the mind and body. Here, revered cultural sites, prehistoric wonders, and quaint rural communities harmonize with diverse natural beauty.

27/03/2026

A great option for Narita travellers

01/01/2026

Kyoto is a city of prayers. Thousands of temples and shrines dot this town, in labyrinthine alleys, nested into the folds of the surrounding hills. I was wondering if any difficult challenges in my public or private life would lie before me this year. So I chose Kiyomizu Temple for my first spiritual visit of the new year in order to face those challenges like a leap in the dark as if I were jumping down from the Kiyomizu-no-Butai itself.

Kyoto is a city of prayers. Thousands of temples and shrines dot this town, in labyrinthine alleys, nested into the folds of the surrounding hills. I chose Kiyomizu Temple for my first spiritual visit of the new year in order to face those challenges like a leap in the dark.

03/12/2025

When we watch the shimmering coral, the swaying grasses, and the graceful fish gliding through the water, we are not mere spectators—we share their world. For a moment smiles sparkle and hearts overflow with joy, swimming to the rhythm of the reef.

Perhaps this is why we must be here in person, not just watching through a screen. The ocean’s magic cannot be streamed; it must be felt, breathed, and lived.

The Great Barrier Reed hosts nearly 600 coral species, including surprisingly fast-regenerating table corals. Osaka Aquarium's exhibit, inspired by scenes of both damage and rebirth, highlights how even tiny sea creatures keep the reef alive.

13/11/2025

It was the most unexpected of homecomings. Over a decade ago, I literally put on the family crest, in the most formal embodiment of Japanese attire called kuro montsuki.

The word montsuki does not refer to the shape of the garment, for when you hang or fold it; it looks nothing like when you wear it. It only takes its shape when you put it on. Actually the word means the putting on of a family crest. When you put it on, you become the embodiment of hundreds of years...

11/09/2025

The tea room Juan is a great way for English speakers to experience traditional tea culture in Japan. In Japanese, Ju means to join together. An represents a tea house. So most tea houses will have the word An in their name. The host, Mrs. Kirihata, founded this tea house so guests from the world may join each other to enjoy the tea. In tea culture, Japanese have a famous motto, “Ichigo, Ichie,” saying that the every tea ceremony is unique, a true once in a lifetime experience and can never be repeated. Every moment during the tea ceremony has meaning, a tribute to the sophisticated tea culture which has developed over many centuries.

For the Japanese people, tea ceremony is not only a way to commune with the guests but also an art form to showcase its ancient history and culture.

19/05/2025

Nestled between sea and mountains in northern Kyoto lies the scenic town of Kyotango—a serene coastal escape where tradition and nature live side by side.

For those seeking more than surface-level sightseeing, Tsunagaru Inc. presents a Journey of Encounters—a deeper kind of journey shaped by hands-on experiences, heartfelt conversations, and the quiet beauty of everyday craftsmanship.

07/04/2025

The Aoi Matsuri is one of the oldest and most celebrated parades in Japan. So much so, the word “Matsuri” originally referred only to the Aoi festival. Full of pageantry, the festival transforms the usually tranquil park and gardens into a big costume party, with people dressed in Heian period (794–1185) court regalia parading from the Imperial Palace

The Aoi Matsuri is one of the oldest and most celebrated festivals in Japan. So much so, the word “Matsuri” originally referred only to the Aoi festival.

18/11/2024

Bingata is a discourse on what art is, whether it is the expression of life or nature. It draws parallels with Mingei ideas of bamboo patterns, in that simplification is beauty.

What is art? What is creation, or creativity? Overflowing with love and beauty, the people of Okinawa expressed their joy in the form on Bingata for centuries.

16/11/2024

A new service counter prepared to help the incoming tourists is available just a minute walk away from the Central Gate of Kyoto Station

16/11/2024

What happened to William Adams, the English ship pilot featured in **un ?

The memorial stone of William Adams, the British shipmate, ship pilot, and trader that the main character in Sh**un was modeled on, sits on a hilltop in Yokosuka.

16/11/2024

In the 1270's Marco Polo spoke of the fabled land of Japan. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sets sail for this fabled land, only to land in the Americas. No wonder the Portuguese wanted this fabled land to themselves. **un

St Agnes Cathedral is a story of modern day Kyoto, a story of faith and the uniting of the two cultures in Kyoto today, that of the United States and Japan. Bilingual Services in English and Japanese are held at 8:30 am every Sunday in Central Kyoto near the Imperial Palace.