Kansai

Kansai

Iconic red Daruma dolls, symbols of perseverance. Easy walk
Osaka

Katsuō-ji: Temple of the Daruma

Not far from Osaka, in the heart of Mino forest, is a place reputed to grant all wishes. Discover the Temple of the Daruma …

Busy
Half day (about 3–5 hours including travel from central Osaka); allow longer if visiting as part of a Kansai/ Saigoku pilgrimage day
Ine traditional boathouses at night, Japan coast town Easy walk
Kyoto

The Funaya of Ine

Nestled on a strip between land and sea, this picturesque village with its houses on stilts offers a landscape of rare beauty.

Some crowds
Half day for a walk along the bay and photos; Full day if you add the bay sightseeing boat trip and/or stay overnight in a funaya guesthouse.
Rock Ship of Masuda Easy walk
Kansai

The Strange Rock Ship of Masuda

The village of Asuka, in the Takaichi district of Nara prefecture, is famous for its mysterious stones.

Some crowds
2–3 hours (including local transit and the uphill walk); Half day if combining with other Asuka stone sites
Serene Bamboo Pathway in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan Easy walk
Autumn

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

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.

Busy
2–3 hours (half day if also visiting Tenryu-ji, Togetsukyo Bridge, and nearby shrines/temples)
Imposing war memorial tower against sunset skyline. Lively
Kansai

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.

Fireworks Festival
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Aragi Island Rice Fields Luminous
Summer

Aragijima : The Island of Rice Paddies

Winter Illumination
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Hannya-ji Temple Dreamlike
Autumn

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.

Cosmos Bloom
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Eerie ruins of Nara Dreamland at sunset, a haunting reminder of impermanence. Haunting
Nara

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.

Difficulty
Risk
Exploring Fushimi Inaris Enchanting Torii Gates in Kyoto, Japan. Some hiking
Kansai

Fushimi Inari Shrine at Night

When the moon slowly rises... And the lights begin to reverberate with the rhythm of a poem...

Some crowds
2–4 hours (longer if you loop the full mountain trail or explore side paths)