Soft Waters Run Deep: The Role of Water in Japanese Cuisine
The ingredient that gives traditional Japanese cuisine its flavor has almost no taste. Shaped by terrain, Japan's soft water is the key to washoku, making everything from sushi to sake that much be...
Penis Paradise: Phallic Shrines in Japan, Part 1
Introducing six of Japan's most prominent penis shrines and the festivals associated with them.
Fantastic Breast Shrines and Where to Find Them
Helping you keep abreast of Japan's breast shrines and temples since 2025.
Goho, Gomi, Goshiki: And the Magic Number in Japanese Cuisine is...
To create balance and beauty in your cooking, look no further than these classic principles of washoku: goho (five methods), gomi (five tastes), goshiki (five colors) and gokan (five senses).
Kyoto in August: Gozan Okuribi Ritual Fires, Wind Chimes and Beer
Kyoto in August glows with late-summer festivals, from the blazing bonfires of Gozan no Okuribi to events that offer relief from the lingering heat.
Bon Odori: The Obon Festival Dances That Couldn't Be Banned
Though a cherished festival event, the dances of Obon were once in danger of being stamped out by the authorities. But you can't keep a good dance down - if you come across a Bon Odori in summer, d...
Ato Matsuri Tales from the Latter Festival of the Gion Matsuri
Warrior monks and other colorful figures depicted by the floats of the Ato Matsuri, the latter half of Kyoto's Gion Matsuri festival, bring Japanese history and legends to life.
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 6
The final in a six-part series about cat shrines and temples. From Omatsu's revenge to dancing cats, these tales take us to Tokushima, Tottori, Wakayama, Yamagata, and Yamaguchi.
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 5
The cats return in Part 5 of this six-part series of feline shrines and temples. Vengeful ghost-cats, sleeping kitties, and more in Osaka, Saitama, Saga, and Tochigi.
Wisdom in a Bowl: Tips on Staying Cool from Japanese Tea Ceremonies
A combination of Zen philosophy and mindfulness in everyday activities, chado offers elegant ways to remain cool - and centered - in summer’s heat.
Summer Sights: Places to View Lotus Flowers in Japan
Should you be in Japan in July or August, wake before dawn and head to a lotus pond near you. Whether or not you hear the legendary sound of lotuses blooming, it's hard to remain unmoved when, in a...
Saki-Matsuri Stories from the Gion Festival Floats of Kyoto
The floats of Gion Matsuri, the highlight of the 1,100-year-old festival, can be seen as a creative response by the people of Kyoto to personal and collective disaster, with solutions woven into st...
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 4
These mystical cat tales get curiouser and curiouser. Part 4 introduces cat shrines and temples in Miyagi, Nagano, Nagasaki, Niigata, Oita, and Okayama.
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 3
Is there no end to cat worship? Part 3 introduces cat shrines and temples in Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, and Kyoto. We go deep.
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 2
The feline pilgrimage across Japan continues. From cat shelters to military time-keeping cats, these places celebrate cats in all their forms. Part 2 introduces shrines and temples in Gunma, Ibarak...
Cat Shrines and Temples of Japan: Part 1
Cats have been venerated as deities, decried as pests, feared as vengeful spirits, kept as mice catchers, and adored as pets. Part 1 introduces shrines and temples in Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Fukui, a...
Japan Travel Guide: Festival highlights of Gion Matsuri, Spiritual Heart of Kyoto
Size matters when it comes to festivals and the Gion Matsuri is easily the largest in Japan. Held in Kyoto through the month of July, it marks the culmination of months of preparation by thousands ...
The Best Warabi Mochi in Kyoto You’ve Never Heard Of
It's been billed as a workshop that will reveal the secrets of great warabi mochi. The teacher: a master craftsman with a reputation for exclusivity. The content: instructions not found in regular ...
Kyoto in July: A Guide to the City’s Summer Events
Kyoto is a city that hums with memory and July is when it sings the loudest. Beneath the heat is a festival beat that celebrates the present, venerates the past and offers a prayer for the future.
Regional Train Bento: A Tour of Japanese Cuisine
Get a taste of Japan’s regional cuisines in train station bentos that showcase local culinary traditions. From Hokkaido’s squid rice to Toyama’s trout sushi, this guide takes you on a mouth-waterin...
Ekiben: Mapping the Journey of Japanese Train Bento
Discover the history and cultural allure of ekiben, Japan’s iconic railway bento. Once simple travel fare, these gourmet boxed meals now celebrate regional specialties and the art of Japanese cuisine.
Strangely Specific Shrines for Your Body
The kami are everywhere around us; most temples and shrines are sufficient for general good health prayers. But for people who prefer being as specific as possible with their wishes, it’s best to h...
Feeling Feline: Every Cat Shrine and Temple in Tokyo
Whether you're looking for lucky maneki-neko or a lost cat, these cat shrines and temples in Tokyo are the purr-fect addition to any itinerary.
Culinary Shrines of Japan: Part 2
If there is anything we can all give thanks for, it’s food — that which keeps us alive, and in many cases, sane and happy. Some shrines prefer to specialise in particular types of food, resulting i...