Serene
Kongorin-ji and its Army of Jizo
Perched on the hills of Shiga, Kongorin-ji is a quiet temple known for its architectural treasures, landscaped gardens, and dazzling maples, with an army of Jizo statues standing guard.
Easy walk
Futatsumori: Ogres and a Shot of Vegetation
Two forests, ogres, a poetess, and me in the middle, tiny but curious.
Namu Daishō Fudōson: Fire at the Edge of the Fields
In Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, a small Fudō altar stands at the edge of the rice fields, right before the forest takes everything back. A red torii, a wooden pavilion: behind the calm watches Namu Daishō Fudōson, deity of fire.
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.
Easy walk
Takayama Inari Shrine
Follow the Senbon-Torii path through the red gates to meet the foxes and the goddess Inari ...
Ethereal
Miharu Takizuka: The Most Beautiful Cherry Tree in Japan
A miraculous survivor of the 2011 earthquake, the blossom of the thousand-year-old cherry tree attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year!
Haunting
The Snow Monsters of Mount Zao
It’s not an easy encounter. I’d already visited a few years ago, but a gathering storm made it impossible for me to approach these monsters and stroke their silken fur.
Off the map
The Abandoned Wakagawa Power Plant
Let's go discover this very special haikyo with a man who is equally special, or maybe not.
Frosty
Ginzan Onsen : Silver Mine Hot Springs
Ginzan Onsen takes you back to the Taisho Era, warming your toes in an ashiyu – a piping-hot footbath – while enjoying an idyllic view of falling snow.
