An alternative guide to Japan

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Darumayama Kōgen, Fuji Filling the Frame

At Darumayama Kōgen, on the Izu Peninsula, an old volcano offers two sunsets at once: Fuji across Suruga Bay on one side, the Sagami Sea on the other. A walk to the summit.

Urban Exploration

We slip through Japan’s forgotten corridors; silent rooftops, rusted tunnels, and cities paused in time.

@jordymeow

@jordymeow

This week in Japan

282 festivals and events, Oct 31 to Nov 6

Sat 31 Oct Art festival Now Miyama Craft Week Hioki (Higashi-Ichiki), Kagoshima · until Nov 3 The Satsuma-ware potters village opens its kilns and studios for five days of crafts and shows. Sat 31 Oct Illumination Now Bonto Lamp Evenings at Torin-in Kyoto (Ukyo, Myoshinji), Kyoto · until Nov 8 Hundreds of small lamps trace patterns in the garden of a Myoshin-ji sub-temple. Sat 31 Oct Illumination Now Suo Kokubunji by Night Hofu, Yamaguchi · until Nov 8 The golden hall of one of the few provincial temples still standing on its Nara-era site glows at night, with concerts. Sat 31 Oct Season Now Shichimenso Red Seashore Festival Saga (Higashiyoka), Saga · until Nov 1 On the Ariake Sea mudflats, a salt plant turns red like maple leaves as far as the eye can see. Sat 31 Oct Market Now Amakusa Great Ceramics Fair Amakusa, Kumamoto · until Nov 4 About a hundred kilns from Amakusa, the island of porcelain stone, sell direct, with wheel-throwing tryouts. Sat 31 Oct Illumination Now Izumi Bamboo Lantern Festival Izumi, Kagoshima · until Nov 3 Bamboo lanterns light the samurai houses of Izumi's Fumoto district, just as the cranes arrive for winter. Sat 31 Oct Art festival Now Kyoto Modern Architecture Festival Kyoto, Kyoto · until Nov 8 Meiji to Showa-era banks, schools and cafes open their usually closed doors over two weekends. Sat 31 Oct Market Now Himeji National Pottery Fair Himeji, Hyogo · until Nov 3 About thirty pottery regions sell bowls and plates in the castle's shadow, with wheel and kintsugi workshops. Sat 31 Oct Season Now Hirosaki Castle Chrysanthemum and Autumn Leaves Festival Hirosaki, Aomori · until Nov 8 A thousand red maples, a Mount Iwaki made of chrysanthemums and flower dolls next to neputa paintings. Sat 31 Oct Market Now Kyoto Antique Fair Kyoto (Fushimi), Kyoto · until Nov 1 Three days, hundreds of dealers and 150,000 objects: tea wares, prints, armour, ceramics and Meiji curios.

+272 more festivals and shows this week All on the app’s map, day by day. iPhone Android

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Offbeat

Dates estimated from past years: check the official site before you go.

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