During a recent visit to the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Japan, I was enchanted by the beautiful white-walled townscape and the rich history and art it held. The serene atmosphere along the Kurashiki River, with its white-walled warehouses and willow trees, offered a truly unique and charming experience. Exploring the traditional buildings and modern shops, such as the Kurashiki Canvas and Kurashiki Denim stores, was a delight. The area was bustling with tourists. I spent an entire day enjoying myself in the history, art, and culture of this remarkable quarter and look forward to returning in the future.

It's amazing to hear about Shirakawago, located in Gifu Prefecture. It's not just a beautiful spot, but it offers so much more. The village's Gassho-style houses, with over 100 buildings of this style still standing, are truly remarkable. I enjoyed the experience the traditional Japanese scenery and rural ways of life there. The rich history of the area dating back to 7000 B.C. is truly awe-inspiring. The iconic gassho-style houses with their large thatched roofs resembling hands joined in prayer are such a beautiful representation of the village's unique culture.

Hachiji Koshoji Temple. It is a classic composition for this period. Nagoya, Aichi

With the ceiling painting of History Restrooms available Mountain Temple The approach road lined with Autumn leaves with dazzling green leaves Restrooms available It was a healing time, early summer afternoon Gari

【Magome juku】Magome juku in Nakatsugawa City is very popular with overseas tourists. In a Shukuba full of atmosphere, you can enjoy time travel as if you were transported back in time to the Edo period while walking along the cobblestone slope! Restrooms available in several places in the Shukuba, and the pleasant sound of water streams by. It is also the birthplace of Shimazaki Fujimura, who is known for "Before Dawn" and "Destruction", which was also made into a movie. The Fujimura Memorial Museum has a collection of about 6,000 works, including manuscripts of Fujimura's works and his belongings. The photo was taken around this time last year 2023. Period, hydrangeas bloom in the Shukuba. The hydrangea Shukuba is a sight that can only be seen at this period! !! Other, there are restaurants and shops, and you can Fun eating and shopping. It is a Spot that cannot be missed in Kisoji sightseeing! !!

It is said that the name "Fighting Dragon Nada" in Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture comes from the Chinese poet Liangchuan Hoshiiwa, who visited this area at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, and when he saw the torrent stream flowing down through the rocky area, he imagined the dynamism of two giant dragons and chanted "Standing like a white wave cloud and singing water."

Kannonji Temple, located in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, is said to have been founded by Hodo Sennin in the 4th year of Yoro 720. It is also a famous temple called Hydrangea Temple, and many Worshippers come during the season. Famous hydrangeas, but Dharma is also Restrooms available.

Fresh greenery of Metasequoia trees 2024.06.16 About 500 metasequoia trees are planted on the prefectural road Koaraji Makinozawa Line, which runs through the agricultural park Makinopic Land, for a length of about 2.4 km, forming a landscape typical of the Highlands as an approach road to the Makino Highlands. The beautiful scenery of the four seasons, such as the budding and fresh greenery of Spring, the deep green of summer, the Autumn leaves of autumn, and the bare trees and Snow Flower in winter, harmonizes with the mountains of the Nosaka Mountains, which are in the distance, and fascinates people who visit. In 1994 Heisei 6, it was selected as one of the Yomiuri Shimbun's "New 100 Views of Japan Street Trees" and has attracted public attention.

Baekje Temple 2024.06.15 Baekje-ji Temple is one of the oldest Temple in Omi Province, founded by Prince Shotoku in the 14th year of Suko, more than 1400 years ago. A long time ago, when Prince Shotoku took inn at the foot of Mt. Tarobo in Yokkaichi, he saw Zuiko Myoko in the eastern mountains every evening. The next morning, the prince was mystified, and when he entered the mountains, he found a large tree with the upper half of its trunk cut off in the place of the light spring. Around this large tree, Mr./Ms.'s mountain monkey worships with fruit offerings. When the prince saw this scene, he felt that this great cedar tree was a sacred tree, and he was instructed to build a statue of the Bodhisattva Kanzenon with this large tree growing, and he put his first sword into it. This Kanzenon is called "Ueki Kannon" because it is a large tree with roots, and the trunk of the upper half becomes the "eleven-sided Kannon" enshrinement facing east at Yongunsa Temple in Baekje, and the west-facing "Ueki Kannon" faces each other to become "two Kannon-sama of the same tree".　From HP

"Sawajiri's Terraced Rice Fields" in Marumori Towns, Miyagi Prefecture Masonry, which is rare in Tohoku, is a historic terraced rice field that was developed from the Edo period to the Showa period. It has been selected as one of the "100 Best Terraced Rice Fields in Japan" and was certified as a "Tsunagu Terraced Rice Heritage" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the 4th year of Reiwa. I hope that we will always be able to see the original scenery of Japan, which has such a long history.

Kankōchi Suwa!!! Introducing the Takashima Castle Festival! May 26, 2024 — held every year on the fourth Sunday of May. We held the 55th Takashima Castle Festival. This year, 19 acts performed on stage. There were hip-hop dance routines, traditional Japanese dance, taiko drumming, singers, cheerleading, and the Matsumoto Castle matchlock gun corps. The matchlock team left a powerful impression. Even in Japan, this is something you rarely see. The matchlock firearms date back about 430 years, and few groups still maintain and use functioning examples. The Matsumoto Castle matchlock gun corps preserves these guns and passes on the tradition. As a result, you can see matchlock demonstrations at events like those at Matsumoto Castle. The team brought several types of matchlocks. To an amateur eye, I saw two kinds: first a bantsutsu infantry gun, then a chūtutsu medium cannon. They fired blank shots in several formations. The blast was tremendous! At the end, a shooter from Suwa fired the chūtutsu. The sound ripped through the space where we stood. It was truly loud and spectacular!! There were taiko performances and children’s hip-hop dances, with families coming to watch. At the festival you could also buy food stalls and specialties from sister and friendship cities, and try tree climbing!!! Blessed with good weather, many citizens attended. If you have the chance to come to the Takashima Castle Festival, be sure to come and enjoy it!

◆Myojin Stone◆ The Myojin Stone is a giant boulder shaped like an ellipsoid, about 2.5 meters in its long axis, 1.8 meters in its short axis, and 1.2 meters tall. No one knows exactly how long it has rested here, but it is thought to have come from the Ina Mountain Range during an ancient flood of the Mibuzawa River. This rock has long been revered by local people as a mysterious stone that, while easily moved by a child’s strength, does not budge even in major floods. At some unknown point in time it became enclosed by a tamagaki fence and has been regarded as a sacred spot serving as a place for worship of Suwa Taisha from a distance. The origin of the name is unclear, but it is said to have begun when the deity Suwa Daimyojin was invited from Suwa Taisha and, until the shrine building (Mibuzawa Suwa Shrine) was completed, the sacred object was enshrined on this rock and rituals were performed. Since then, whenever the shrine has been rebuilt or renovated, it has become customary to use this rock as a temporary resting place for the sacred object. ●Details of Myojin Stone ・A request to visitors Local residents cherish this stone. When entering among the stones and pushing them, please take care not to break the shimenawa ropes or sakaki decorations. ・Facilities There are stairs with handrails. ・Toilet None. ・Parking None (please use the parking lot in front of nearby Mibuzawa Suwa Shrine). ・Contact Toyooka Tabijikan (0265-49-3395)

Kannon-do at Ninna-ji Temple The construction of Ninna-ji Temple began at the request of Emperor Mitsutaka, and was founded by Emperor Uta in the 4th year of Ninwa (888). It has been revered by successive emperors as a private temple of the Imperial Family. The photograph is a high-resolution image of 33 enshrinement Buddha statues and murals Reproduction the normally non-Open to the public Kannondo at the Tokyo National Museum. There were so many visitors that it was difficult to take pictures so as not to let people in, but this was the only one that looked like Kannondo. It's really beautiful.

Kumamoto Castle 2024.04 The stone wall of Kumamoto Castle that I wanted to see I couldn't go straight down, but it was a masterpiece.

Katahara Hot Spring Hydrangea Village. It was a masterpiece. Gamagori City, Aichi Early June 2024

Sunrise on the Nata Coast The sun seemed to be smiling in the Torii shrine gate.

Narai juku "It's off-limits today due to road construction!" Alamār!" It is located in Narai, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture. Narai Juku is the 34th post town in the Nakasendo Highway, counting from Itabashi Inn on the Edo side and Moriyama Inn on the Kyoto side, just in the middle of the Nakasendo Highway. The Town has been selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and retains a strong appearance of the past. On the day I visited, half of the road was off-limits due to road construction tears. The construction had not started yet early in the morning, so I asked to take a picture. "It's off-limits today due to road construction!" Alamār!" I don't know if the two people in the photo were talking. Restrooms available.

Cherry blossoms and Himeji Castle Himeji Castle is also known as White Heron Castle, a castle located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Major buildings such as castle towers and turrets built in the Edo period still exist, and are registered as national treasures, important cultural properties, and UNESCO World Heritage Lists. I visited Himeji Castle when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, The photo was taken from the restaurant in the building. I tried to make it a panoramic style, and when you look at it like this, it is quite wide. Cherry blossoms and egret castle are the best match.

This is Anabunshu Seiryozan Kujinji in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture. Impression when I first saw this. It feels insanely historical. It is my favorite building in Kyoto.

This is Anabunshu Seiryozan Kujinji in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture. Impression when I first saw this. It feels insanely historical. It is my favorite building in Kyoto.

The ancient shrine illuminated by the sunlight shining through the trees was beautiful, and I was fascinated for a while.

It was a very beautiful sight to see the moist approach to the rain Gari.

It is an Akagi Shrine located on Mt. Akagi in Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture. It was a beautiful sight with light shining on the Temizuya.

It is Haruna Shrine in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture. I wonder if people in the past also walked up this long approach ... That's what I thought.

This is the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. We went sightseeing at dusk. It is a very magnificent structure.

It is a spectacle bridge Miyamori River Bridge in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture. It seems that this place is lit up every day... It was very beautiful.

I went to Oshino Hakkai for the first time. The number of foreign tourists was overwhelming. I guess you're interested in Japanese history and culture.

【Banned River】 The Isumi River under Otaki Castle was called the Otomegawa River. In the Edo period, the Murasaki carp caught here was presented to the shogun, so the common people were prohibited from catching fish here. That's why it was a forbidden river.

Wishes come true "Shikinamiya" / Ryukyu Hachisha It is one of the eight Ryukyu shrines in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. Restrooms available are shrines that received special treatment from the Ryukyu royal government, and they are called the Ryukyu Eight Shrines. One pigeon never leaves the Torii shrine gate! Even if you get closer... Are you waiting for God? I felt something very auspicious. ^^

Wishes come true "Shikinamiya" / Ryukyu Hachisha It is one of the eight Ryukyu shrines in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture. Restrooms available are shrines that received special treatment from the Ryukyu royal government, and they are called the Ryukyu Eight Shrines. Restrooms available has a legend in Shikina Shrine, and there is a cave behind the Main Shrine. A long time ago, a woman named Ōama Shirarei found a cave that emitted a mysterious light at night, and found a binzuru in it, and her wish came true because she deeply believed in it. In addition, since he cured the illness of the son of the king of Ryukyu at that time, it is said that he founded the Shikina Palace there. The Main Shrine was built around the 16th century. The pre-war building was built in the style of Sangensha and was roofed with main tiles, but it was burned down in the Battle of Okinawa, rebuilt in 1968 Showa 43, and rebuilt in 2013 Heisei 25 to become the current structure. I went to Shikinagu for the first time ^^ I also went to see the cave behind the Main Shrine, but it's a pity that the gate is closed, and it seems that the cave door opens on the 1st and 15th of every month and you can go inside. It is also known as the Power Spot.