Category Archives: Japan, Travel & Culture

Tamba Winery

Finding that imported wines often did not suit the qualities of Japanese food, Tetsuo Kuroi set to making Western-style wines that would best complement Kyoto’s traditional cuisine. Continue reading

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Kitamura Traditional Japanese Village

Designated a national preservation site, the locals don’t seem to mind the visitors poking about on their village streets gawking and taking photos. They go about their daily lives: gardening, posting letters, putting out washing. Continue reading

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Kurotani Japanese Paper Museum

Our first stop of the day is at Kurotani Japanese Paper Museum in Ayabe. Here 800 years of making washi paper by hand is still alive. Continue reading

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Hokkaido Crab

The large and lively beast barely wedges into the pot. Naturally it isn’t eager to go in. Continue reading

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Hosen-in Temple, Kyoto

The art of matchless garden design and ancient pine framed by the temple pillars somehow suspends time. Continue reading

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Grass Blooms (Issa)

In my province grass blooms too. (Issa) Continue reading

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Sakura at Fushimi Inari

To my left a distant cloud of pink catches my attention—a lone tree, magnificent for its startling solitude in the evergreen forest still dark with the last days of winter. Continue reading

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Rengeji, Kyoto

This temple visit wasn’t on the original plan; however, the space in front of the gates appeared as if by design and now it’s our destination, if not our destiny. Continue reading

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Autumnal splendor at Nanzenji

The autumnal fires are in full, glorious blaze on this November morning. Continue reading

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3.11.2013

We cry out for what we have lost, and we remember you again. Leonard Cohen Continue reading

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