Like this post? Help us by sharing it! When the most widely recognised images of Japan are scenes of neon nightscapes or of bullet trains whizzing past Mt. Fuji, many are surprised to discover most of Japan is wooded, mountainous and sparsely inhabited. But stray far enough and you can find yourself in Hokkaido: Japan’s […]
Wildlife & Environment
The Wild Heart of Japan
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Japan is a land forged by fire and ice, as well as what happens when the two of them meet – mainly lots of water! Formed by volcanic activity at the merger of four tectonic plates, Japan is the product of massive forces – forces that have […]
More than hot water: The onsen story
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! When you conjure up an image of Japan, it is hard not to think of the icons (cherry blossom, neon lights, Geisha, Sumo, Mt. Fuji etc) and the ‘oh-so-different’ culture found all over. Located along the ‘Ring of Fire’ and with 10% of the world’s active volcano, […]
Kengo Kuma: Finding Architectural Harmony
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Words by Tyler Palma and quotes from Kengo Kuma reprinted with permission Kengo Kuma has been in the news most recently as the designer of the new Japan National Stadium, the planned site for the Tokyo Olympics. But his prominence as one of the most significant and […]
Calm by Design: Bringing a Japanese garden home
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! For many people, one of the major attractions of a trip to Japan is the chance to visit some of its world-famous gardens and experience the visual beauty and tranquility they encapsulate. Over the last century and a half, beginning with Japan’s opening, the style has taken […]
Invitations to Stillness: Japanese Gardens as Metaphorical Journeys of Solace
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! This post, courtesy of our friends at Kyoto Journal, is adapted and condensed from an article by Japanese garden expert Mark Hovane. You can click here to read the entire article, and read other insightful stories about Japan and Asia in Kyoto Journal. There is a significant […]
Kōmyō-in (光明院) garden sub-temple of Tōfuku-ji, Kyoto. Photo by John Einarsen, courtesy of Kyoto Journal
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! This post, courtesy of our friends at Kyoto Journal, is adapted and condensed from an article by Japanese garden expert Mark Hovane. You can click here to read the entire article, and read other insightful stories about Japan and Asia in Kyoto Journal. There is a significant […]