Takao-san is a popular mountain to the west of Tokyo with a number of hiking tracks and Yakuoin temple, and I’d never been out there. This is surprising given that it’s only an hour from Tokyo and easy to get to, quick to climb, and (supposedly) has views across to Fuji-san. I think what had deterred… Continue reading A morning mission to Takao-san
Tag: temple
Old Edo streetscape survives in Kawagoe
Kawagoe promotes itself as “Little Edo”, with a streetscape that lets us imagine what a town in the Edo period might have looked like. One key stretch of the main street even comes without power lines, which are so often a blight on the Japanese cityscape. This might sound like only a small attention to… Continue reading Old Edo streetscape survives in Kawagoe
Summer excursion to Kamakura & Yokohama
My sister Cathy was visiting Japan for nearly a week, and we had a great time catching up in Tokyo while she was here. Unfortunately, she’s already gone home to Australia, but on Sunday, we had a really fun, although rather hot, summer’s day exploring a few sites in Kamakura, followed by Yokohama for dinner.
Rambling around the Kamakura Alps
Japan has the Kita (North) Alps, the Minami (South) Alps, and, according to my Japanese language guidebook called “Tokyo One Day Hiking”, also has the Kamakura Alps. Of course, they’re only about 100 or so metres above sea level, and civilisation almost reaches their peaks.
Sugimotodera
Sugimotodera, the oldest temple in Kamakura.