19 Items Tagged

Uncrowded Japan

The Ichiriki teahouse.

Ichiriki

More than 300 years old, Kyoto's historic "teahouse" still operates as an invitation-only geisha club.

8 Spooky Locations to Explore Japanese Lore

A tour of the supernatural from one of our top contributors.

Jonathan Carey November 4, 2020

Abandoned and derelict homes in Wajima, Western Japan.

'Ghost Houses' Haunt a Rapidly Aging Japan

Young heirs are abandoning the family homes of their forebears.

Allan Richarz July 14, 2020

Cable car.

Takamatsu, Japan

Mt. Yashima Ropeway

Nestled amid the trees lies an abandoned funicular railway that dates back to the 1920s.

Akiyoshido Cave

Approximately 300 million years ago, a massive coral reef existed in what is now the largest limestone cave in Japan.

Kejonuma Leisure Land

A quaint amusement park now sits, rusting and forgotten among the foliage.

The Nagoe Pass.

Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura's Seven Entrances

Narrow passes cut out of mountains surround the medieval capital of Japan.

The large Wadōkaichin monument.

Chichibu, Japan

Wado Ruins

The birthplace of Japanese coinage.

One of the Chinsekikan's most popular stones: Elvis Presley.

Chichibu, Japan

Chichibu Chinsekikan (Hall of Curious Rocks)

This quirky little private museum is home to more than a thousand stones, carved by nature, that resemble human faces.

The Hundred Caves of Yoshimi

The Hundred Caves of Yoshimi

This ancient burial site was once thought to be the home of a race distinctive to Ainu folklore.

The prison is surprisingly light and airy.

Aikawa Prison

A wooden prison doesn't sound like a good idea, yet this abandoned 1950s detention center still stands today.

The Sake Master Reviving a Long-Forgotten Local Rice

Hiroshima's heirloom hattanso lay dormant for a century.

Reina Gattuso March 3, 2020

Oshima Island and the red Togetsukyō Bridge

Matsushima, Japan

Matsushima Bay

These tiny pine-covered islands have inspired art and poetry for centuries.

Bieszczady National Park in Poland.

How Do You Convince 125 Million People to Embrace Wolves?

It would be good for Japan's forests and farms (less so the deer).

Allan Richarz August 26, 2019

The women's bath at the Makiba-no-ie Ryokan in Yufuin, Ōita Prefecture.

Soak in These Photographs of Japanese Hot Spring Baths

For decades, Mark Edward Harris captured the calm and intimacy of onsens.

Winnie Lee August 22, 2019

The "5 pm chime" can include music, civic announcements, and more.

Every Day at 5:00, Japan Tests Its Disaster Warning System With Folk Tunes

The "5 pm chime" has taken on many meanings over the years.

Allan Richarz June 13, 2019

Rebuilding and reconsecrating shrines may involve several rituals over many years.

The Haunting Beauty of the Reconsecration of Shinto Shrines

Photographer Yukihito Masuura spent more than a decade documenting rituals that connect past and present.

Jessica Leigh Hester April 5, 2019

The delicate art of coloring a manhole cover in Otawara, Japan.

On the Hunt for Japan's Elaborate, Colorful Manhole Covers

Dedicated enthusiasts travel the country and scour the ground to see them.

Allan Richarz March 15, 2019