Eiheiji: Silence in the Ranks
I came to Eiheiji expecting a sleepy mountain temple. I found the opposite: a living Sōtō Zen monastery, taut with discipline, wrapped in cedar, wood and moss.
Hidden
The Mysterious Game Boy Mailbox
Somewhere in the Japanese hills, a giant grey Game Boy sits by a country road, wedged between bamboo and moss. Press Start, and nothing happens.
Cinematic
Akiyoshidai: Lunar Landscape of Jagged Rocks
Perched at 300 meters in the mountains of Yamaguchi, the Akiyoshidai plateau presents a breathtaking karst landscape of towering limestone formations, majestic cliffs and expansive grassy plains.
Easy walk
Sado Mine: The Mountain That Bleeds Gold
Off Niigata, the Sado gold mine: frozen tunnels, the industrial ruins of Kitazawa and the giant gash of Dōyū-no-wareto. A spectacular, uneasy UNESCO site.
Some hiking
Jinjo-ji: Ancient Shrine Lost in the Mountains
Dans le fin fond de la campagne rurale japonaise, on tombe parfois sur des endroits qui semblent figés dans le temps. Le temple Jinjoji à Shimonoseki en fait clairement partie.
The Psychedelic Yayoi Kusama Museum in Tokyo
The museum dedicated to the work of artist Yayoi Kusama, opened in 2017 in the heart of Shinjuku, offers a fun experience, sometimes psychedelic and clearly outside of time (and space!).
Haunting
Kejonuma: The Ferris Wheel Suspended in Time
A rusting Ferris wheel in the Tohoku countryside is all that remains of Kejonuma Leisure Land. Once a vibrant amusement park, it now stands as a haunting monument to a bygone era.
Off the map
The Enigma of the Black House
Back after thrilling adventures, I stand before this house that seems straight out of a feverish dream. Its walls, blackened like the ashes of a fire, are covered with enigmatic messages traced in white or yellow. I waited, observed... then finally dared to enter.
Photogenic
Monet’s Pond: Where Waterlilies and Koi Live Together
Crystal-clear water, waterlilies and koi carp: dive into Monet's Pond, a hidden gem in the heart of Gifu Prefecture.
Off the map
New Muroto Sky Rest: Abandoned at the Summit
Découvrez le mystère captivant du Skyrest New Muroto, un restaurant panoramique abandonné au Japon, entre ambitions déchues et folklore hanté.
Off the map
The Abandoned Okutama Cable Car
Discover the haunting charm of the abandoned Okutama Ropeway in Tokyo—an atmospheric haikyo site where Japan’s past meets nature’s quiet reclamation.
Easy walk
The Arimaston Building: A Handcrafted Corps Buzié
The Arimaston Building, a unique architectural masterpiece in Tokyo, erected by Keisuke Oka with patience and passion over nearly 20 years.
