Archive for japan

Walking along the river, towards the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, you get a sense of majestic grandeur. It is one of the few areas of the city that has open skies, and beautiful gardens. Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, started…

Senso Ji temple known as Asakusa Kannon, is Tokyo’s most sacred temple.  In 628 AD, two fishermen fished a small gold statue of Kannon, the Buddhist statue of mercy, from the Sumida River. Their master Shokai built a temple for…

The most important Shinto shrine in Tokyo, is Meiji Jingu (Imperial Shrine) dating from the 1920. Under a huge Otorii (gate) made from a 1,500 year old Japanese cypress, and large cedar trees, you will find the entrance to the…

The best place to buy tea in Kyoto is Ippodo. Filled with history and tradition, the tea house dates back to the 1700 century, during the Edo period. It is an institution for tea lovers!   ©2012 Chloe Garcia Ponce –…

The most famous shrine dedicated to Inari, the deity of rice and sake, lies near the sake-making district of Fushimi in Kyoto. The avenue of the Torii gates at Fushimi Shrine, is breath taking. Hundreds of Torri Gates have been…

The quintessential Zen temple Nanzen-Ji, exudes serenity. This temple has been at the center of Japanese Zen history since 1386.  Built in 1890 the red brick aqueduct in front of the Nanzen-In Temple, was one of Meiji Japan’s first feats of engineering….

The Nijo Castle, was built by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1543, symbolizing the power of the Edo based shogunate. The Nijo Castle is best known for its ornate interiors created by the Kano school painters. The nightingale floors were designed…

The Gion is a preservation district, it is separated from the main city by the Kamo River. It is Kyoto’s most charming and unspoiled district. It is also known as the Geisha quarter. The stone paved roads, the exquisite wooden buildings…