Tag Archives: Japan

10 Stunning Woodblock Prints from Japan

You can almost smell the sweet cherry blossoms and taste the salty sea air when you look at the work of legendary 19th-century artist, Hiroshige. At a time when traveling long distances was arduous, if not impossible, Hiroshige’s woodblock prints of Japanese landscapes, festivals and monuments let people experience the wonders of their country without leaving their hometowns. You can do the same today with these 10 gorgeous selections from the Library of Congress’ Prints and Photographs Division. Explore more of the LOC’s phenomenal collection containing more than 2,500 pieces of art by Japanese artists from the seventeenth through early twentieth centuries here.

 

Mount Fuji, Japanese Woodblock - Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
A view of Mount Fuji behind maple trees in Tokyo, 1858

Massaki of Suijin Shrine, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
View from Massaki of Suijin Shrine, Uchigawa Inlet and Sekiya, 1857

Mishima Station, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Travelers and residents at the shrine and inns at Mishima station, 1855

Otsuki Fields, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Otsuki fields in Kai Province, 1858

Horikiri iris garden, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Horikiri iris garden, 1857

Tokyou Tanabata festival, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Tokyo during the Tanabata festival, 1857

Satta in Suruga Province, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
The sea at Satta in Suruga Province with Mount Fuji in the background, 1858

Hasedera in Yamato Province, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Hasedera in Yamato Province, 1859

Suido Bridge, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Fish in front of Suido Bridge and Surugadai, 1857

Meguro drum bridge, Japanese Woodblock, Photo by: flickr/The Library of Congress
Meguro drum bridge and sunset hill, 1857


Images Courtesy of  The Library of Congress flickr

Tohoku: Off the Beaten Path in Northern Japan

Tucked in northern Japan, Tohoku is the emerging travel destination that needs to be on your must-visit list. Take the 90-minute ride on a bullet train from Tokyo and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. You’ll fall in love with the breathtaking forests surrounded by snowy peaks, never want to leave the hot springs you soak in each afternoon, and eat and drink your fill while visiting fish markets, partaking in noodle eating contests, and touring the area’s vineyards. It’s time to start planning your next adventure, so we’ve rounded up some of Tohoku’s highlights to get you started.

shibata miyagi tohoku japan train
JR Tohoku line train and cherry trees along Shiroishi river banks

Samurai Warriors

Visit the samurai village of Kakunodate for a glimpse of samurai architecture. Then learn all about how Japanese swords are made from Swordsmith Kunihiro (given name Mitsugu Nakahata) who owns a workshop in Inakadate.

Hot Springs

Caution: it’ll be hard to tear yourself away from the hot springs (onsen in Japanese). There are more than 10 different types of mineral hot springs in the Tohoku region. The different minerals are supposed to have various healing qualities. Soak in the sulphur-infused outdoor hot springs at the Zao Onsen resort or take in the views of the mountains overlooking Tazawa Lake while relaxing in the Nyuto Onsen, or, if you’re feeling daring, visit the 1,000-person hot spring at Sukayo Onsen.

onsen in nyuto akita japan
Japanese onsen in Nyuto, Akita Prefecture, Northern Japan

Eat

Tohoku is a foodie paradise. You’ll find some of the best sushi you’ve ever had in Miyagi, where there are more sushi restaurants than you could ever possibly visit. Throughout the Tohoku region you’ll find many fish markets, make sure you try the donburi, a rice bowl of fish, vegetables and meat at the local fish market. In Morioka you’ll want to try “The Great Noodles,” Wanko Soba (a noodle challenge where you’ll try to eat as many bowls of noodles as you can), Reimen and Jajamen. Go hungry, and don’t forget to consider staying at one of Tohoku’s farms during your trip.

japanese meal
Photo courtesy of #gotohoku

Drink

From whisky to wine, Tohoku artisans are brewing and fermenting delicious drinks. In Iwate you can learn about making sake and even make and label your own at the Sekinoichi Sake Brewery, while in Sendai you can visit the Akiu Winery where the owners are making wine from local grapes.

Highway on Mount Iwate in Tohoku, Japan
Highway on Mount Iwate in Tohoku, Japan

Find Your Zen

Learn to meditate like a monk at the Chokai-san International Zendo. Located in Akita, the center provides meditation for visitors with explanations in English. 

Lake Towada

This large crater lake is simply stunning. Outdoor enthusiasts will love hiking around the lake where various mountain overlooks offer breathtaking views. After tiring yourself out opt to take a boat ride around the lake before indulging in ramen and salted fish in the nearby village.

Matsushima Bay

If you only go to one part of Tohoku make it Matsushima Bay. While fairly small, you could spend several days here. Wander around Fukuura Island, walk across the iconic red bridge, visit the Godaido Temple and tour the Shiogama Fish Market. If you’re game you can even shuck your own oysters for lunch.

godaido matsushima temple japan
Tourist at temple in Matushima, Northern Japan

 

*Featured image: Illuminated lanterns in wooden tunnel inside snow dome at Aomori Winter Festival, a famous snow festival in the Tohoku region of Japan

Restore Balance in Kyoto, Japan

Japan is considered one of the world’s most elegant cultural, historical, and creative hubs. Known for everything from its debonair cherry blossoms and culinary ingenuity to an embattled, complicated history, its magnetic allure makes for an easygoing but educational trip.

The country’s seventh-largest city, Kyoto, is Japan’s entertainment and lifestyle playground. Located on Japan’s island of Honshu and with a population close to 1.5 million, Kyoto’s resilience is world-renowned. Throughout the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by dozens of natural and manmade disasters, from brutal fires to debilitating wars. Due to its historic value, the city was even spared from the atomic bomb during World War II. It’s now home to preserved temples, shrines, and priceless Asian structures found nowhere else in the world, being dubbed the “city of a thousand temples.” It’s also considered a premier fall foliage location, touting beautiful crimson and orange forests that divinely shroud constructed holy sites. While anyone could get lost in all Kyoto has to offer, first-time visitors should take time to check out some of the city’s most memorable sites.

 

Nijo Castle

nijo castle kyoto

Built in 1603 and used as an imperial palace for hundreds of years, Nijo Castle was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994. This flatland castle is considered Japan’s best example of Feudal Era architecture. It was constructed for Japan’s militant shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and used as his Kyoto office and residence until the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867. Castle grounds are surrounded by stone walls and deep moats, which served as a defense during the city’s most tumultuous years . Home to more than 400 cherry trees and a modish plum orchard typically used for traditional tea ceremonies, the castle and surrounding palace estate features Kyoto’s most pacific views.

 

Nishiki Market

nishiki market kyoto japan
Illuminated paper lanterns hanging above the entrance of Nishiki Market in Kyoto, Japan

Located in the heart of downtown and colloquially known as “Kyoto’s pantry,” Nishiki Market is unrivaled in the city’s traditional food market. Being Kyoto’s largest open-air market, the variety of fresh Japanese cuisine and ingredients are omnipresent. From fresh tofu, fish, and vegetables to wagashi (sweets) and tea, Nishiki caters to all palettes. The market’s breezy aesthetic welcomes both tourists looking grab a bite at one of many sit-down restaurants, or locals picking up a few homegrown basics for an evening dish.

 

Nanzenji Temple

nanzenji temple kyoto japan
Sanmon gate at Nanzenji Temple in Kyoto, Japan

On the helm of the prolific Higashiyama mountains is one of Japan’s most coveted and respected temples. It is the leading school within the Rinzai sect of Buddhism. The grounds were once home to an emperor’s self-commissioned retirement chateau in the 13th century, all of which were leveled during the Muromachi Period’s civil wars. Although most of the active lecture halls in Nanzenji are off limits to the public, visitors are welcome to explore the temple’s famous brick aqueduct, as well as the many sub-temples including Nanzen-in Temple, where you’ll find the mausoleum of Emperor Kameyama and a memorial garden in his honor.

 

Fushimi Sake District

fushimi inari torii gates kyoto japan
Torii Gates Path of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto’s premier Sake distribution center offers dozens of elaborate brewery buildings and stunning tree-plaited canals — and don’t forget fresh sake from the source. Fushimi, or “underground water,” is most famous for its mellow, delicate springs ideal for sake production. Believed to be a particularly delicious complement to traditional Kyoto dishes, the Japanese rice wine made in Fushimi is famed not only for its undiluted taste, but its support of local business and the Kyoto way of life. After trying it for yourself,  head over to the Fushimi-Inari-Taisha Shrine, a tribute to, fittingly, the god of rice. The walk to the shrine’s peak yields unparalleled views of Kyoto and its neighboring mountain regions.