Nara, a former capital city of Japan is home to free-ranging deer, and one of Japan’s largest statues of the Buddha.  The Buddha’s statue is housed in the world’s largest wooden building.  Yet this building, the temple Todaiji, is a reconstruction...

In Autumn in Japan, there are many beautiful colours, and some amazing trees we don’t see so often in Australia. The tree above is a Gingko tree, in a temple courtyard, in full Autumn leaf. They are bright yellow, and can be seen from across the...

In the grounds of the Zen Buddhist Temple of the heavenly dragon (Tenryuji) in Arashiyama I had a very special dining experience. Their vegetarian restaurant Shigetsu had the most artistically presented and tasty collection of dishes for their set...

Public bath experience Try this arty public bath house 銭湯 (sento) is located on the tiny island of Naoshima, about 2.5 hrs by train and ferry from Osaka.  Jims Japan regularly takes travelers to this art-themed island.  Bathing is segregated by...

Blossoming is a weather driven event, so there are long term forecasts in Japan as to the first day of cherry blossoms in the various regions of Japan.  Here is a map provided by Otenki.jp.  The dates are month / day.  You can follow the wave of...