Japan Kyoto Travel

18/07/2026

'Colour of emptiness' is written in Japanese as 空白色.Here, emptiness, 空（kuu)， suggests not a void, but a space open to the possibility of receiving other things.

Commissioned by the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Kanazawa, Ama's home/boat floating on memory with the colour of emptiness was created by the inviting participants to make imprints of personal doilies as markers of memory.

Together, these elements form a quiet chorus of personal and collective histories.

Now showing at the Art Gallery of NSW

23/06/2026

Strolling around the Katsura Imperial Villa, it is easy to imagine what it might have been like hundreds of years ago, with sophisticated court nobles and powerful samurai, and elegant ladies in kimono all here enjoying the good life. Managed by the Imperial Household, you can make reservations for the 60-minute guided tour, up to 3 months in advance. The cost is 1,000 yen per person, and please remember to bring your passport or other Government photo ID to enter. During Summer, the midday tours are not available due to the hot weather.

Strolling around the elegant Katsura Imperial Villa, it is easy to imagine what it might have been like in Japan hundreds of years ago.

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.