history
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Yoshiwara Former Prostitution District | Mysterious charm of the adult world
In the traditional area of Asakusa in Tokyo, about 20 minutes from the famous Sensoji temple, you can reach the Yoshiwara Shrine. This small shrine has a tragic history.
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Oedo Onsen Monogatari Bathhouse – PERMANENTLY CLOSED-
Oedo Onsen Monogatari in Odaiba has closed its doors permanently in 2021. Please check out Oedo Onsen Monogatari Urayasu Mangekyo in Chiba instead!
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Tokyo Daijingu Love Shrine
Are you unlucky in the area of love? Then you should consider a visit to the Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. This shrine, which has a connection with the Goddess of the Sun, is supposed to help you find your true connection.
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The Hamarikyu Gardens, Tokyo | A beautiful garden with changing scenery
The Hamarikyu Gardens are a Japanese-style park in central Tokyo where a fresh sea breeze blows. The gardens used to belong to the shogun lords and the Imperial Family, and you can still see some remnants of those days.
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A pilgrimage course to the Seven Gods of Good Fortune in Ota that will bring happiness to your life!
Are you looking for a short pilgrimage to insert some more luck into your life? In Ota City near Tokyo, there is a route where you can do just that!
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Tsukiji and Toyosu: the Tokyo Fish Markets
In 2018, the fish market and the wholesale markets moved from Tsukiji to Toyosu. Some of the restaurants and shops stayed behind in Tsukiji, but the beloved tuna auction has moved.
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The Imperial Palace | Beautiful Sscenery and a Symbol of Japan
The imposing Imperial Palace and its wonderful Japanese garden are on top of most tourists’ must-see lists. A visit to the location of the former Edo castle is best done after learning a bit more about its history.
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Yasaka Shrine, Kyoto | Historic and Beautiful Building
One of the oldest shrines in Kyoto is located in the famous Gion district in Kyoto. The Yasaka Shrine stands out for its great beauty and interesting historical architecture.
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Eiheiji Temple, Fukui | Beautiful natural environment and practicing monks
Eiheiji, ‘The Temple of Eternal Peace’, is one of the two most important temples of the Soto Zen School. It is located deep in the mountains near the northwest coast of Japan, not far from the city of Fukui.
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Gion Corner, Kyoto | A great chance to experience Kyoto’s traditional performing arts
If you don’t have the budget to see Kyoto’s geisha in action in an actual tea house, Gion Corner in Kyoto is an alternative that gives you a great overview of traditional Japanese performing arts.
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Happy National Foundation Day in Japan
February 11th is National Foundation Day, a national holiday for Japanese people to remind themselves of the nation’s founding and foster their love for the nation.
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Kyoto Gion Matsuri | Beautiful decorations and flashy events
The Gion Matsuri in Kyoto is one of the three most famous festivals in Japan with more than 1000 years of history. I’m crazy about this festival which is cool, high-spirited and elegant at the same time.
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Imamiya Ebisu Shrine | Very popular in Osaka for its good fortune for prosperous business
This tranquil shrine is located near tourist hot spots but is not often visited by tourists. That makes the Imamiya Ebisu shrine a nice place to get away from the crowds for a bit!
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Sanno Sanctuary, Nagasaki has connected Japan with the world
One of the most impressive and curious places in Nagasaki is the Sanno Shrine because the main torii (gateway to the shrine) maintains only one pillar. How did this happen?
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Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki | Beautiful main shrine and historic statues of sacred horses
The Suwa shrine in Nagasaki was founded in 1614 as a way to expel the Christian faith from the region. During the Edo period, Nagasaki was one of the few places where there was contact with foreigners.
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Shurijo Castle, Okinawa | Beautiful castles with unique materials and decorations
Okinawa was an independent kingdom named the Ryukyu Islands from 1429 to 1879, and Shurijo Castle was the seat of this Kingdom for hundreds of years.
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Naha | An enjoyable trip to Okinawa starts here!
Naha is usually the first place tourists see in Okinawa after touching down in the archipelago. It’s a great place to spend a day or 3, so what is there to see and do there?
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Geisha | The most classy and beautiful entertainer in the world
Geisha are not prostitutes. This is a misconception based on inaccurate depictions in films and from the stories of American soldiers who went to Japan after WW2 when there was great poverty in Japan.
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Hakama | A beautiful kimono to wear on the big day
While most foreigners know about kimono, another traditional Japanese garment called hakama is not that known amongst most foreign visitors in Japan. A hakama are the skirt-like pants that are worn over a kimono.
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Monument For The 26 Martyrs | Clash of Japanese Culture and Christianity
Around 1549, Christian missionaries started arriving in Japan. They usually came from countries such as Spain and Portugal, and their objective was to spread the word of the church.