Sagano, better known as Arashiyama, is a vast area in Ukyo-ku district, northwest of Kyoto city, encircled by Mounts Ogura and Atago and the Katsura river.
Osaka Great Peace Tower
This oddly designed tower is a cenotaph, in other words a funerary monument that doesn’t contain human remains but was erected in memory of a person, or group of people.
Aragijima : The Island of Rice Paddies
After visiting the lovely Wakanoura district and two magnificent temples in Wakayama (I’ll come back to those another time), I take a wide detour on the way back to Nara. Direction the terraced rice fields of Aragijima...
Hannya-ji: The Cosmos Temple
Nara is very pretty with plenty of hidden corners to visit that I’ll try to help you discover. One of my autumn favourites is Hannya-ji Temple.
Nara Dreamland: The End of a Dream
Nara Dreamland was an abandoned amusement park. I've just spent a year in Nara (2015-2016), a kilometre from the park, so it's time for me to write a little epilogue.
Yoshinoyama, The Cherry-blossom Mountain
Mount Yoshino is the most famous sakura site in Japan. With more than 30,000 cherry trees covering the whole mountain, the very idea seems fantastic. But is this really the best site? To get off to a good start, here’s...
Meoto Iwa: The Wedded Rocks
These two rocks connected by a thick rope and the little torii on top is one of these mysterious images that inevitably draw visitors to Japan. But if you actually go to see them won’t that strip them of their mystique...
Amanohashidate
According to a Japanese philosopher, Amanohashidate is one of the three most famous views of Japan along with Matsushima and Miyajima.
Nara Dreamland: The Abandoned Rollercoasters
Nara Dreamland - the last big abandoned attraction park in Japan - is still standing 2 years later after my first visit !
Shiraishi Mine: An Endless Discovery
The gigantic wooden shelves could not stand against the strong wind, nor did the limestone powder stored on those shelves which was mostly washed away with the rain.
Nara Dreamland: An Abandoned Amusement Park
In the outskirts of Nara, here is Nara Dreamland. The last bits of spirit is leaving this abandoned amusement park. Let's explore it.