An Autumn Afternoon in Gotokuji
In the quiet neighborhood of Setagaya, the lucky cats of Gōtokuji beckon curious passers-by, perhaps saving weary soul or two.
In the quiet neighborhood of Setagaya, the lucky cats of Gōtokuji beckon curious passers-by, perhaps saving weary soul or two.
Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Kawasaki Warehouse is a game and entertainment center designed to look like the grimy city of Kowloon.
Located in Hiroshima City, Shukkeien Garden is a park that dates back to 1620. Like many traditional Japanese gardens, a pond lies at its center, and around it, a walking trail. It takes around an hour to explore the entirety of the park at a leisurely pace.
Fall in love with the colors of fall at Hananuki Gorge in Ibaraki Prefecture!
When Tokugawa Ieyasu died, Kunōzan Tōshōgū in Shizuoka Prefecture was built to enshrine his remains. They were lated moved to Nikko, but it is said that a part still remains in its original resting place. To this day, Kunōzan Tōshōgū remains a spectacular feat—an ornate shrine fit for a fearsome ruler.
The Enoshima Electric Railway (“Enoden” for short) runs through Kanagawa Prefecture, from the traditional city of Kamakura to the island of Enoshima, with Fujisawa as the last stop. Designed with a vintage flair, its train cars are beloved icons that add a nostalgic flavor to Kamakura and Enoshima’s easy atmosphere.
Fall is my favorite season, and my first fall trip of the year happens to be in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama. For this one-day trip, we made use of the SEIBU Pass and checked out spider Kinchakuda Park, Alishan Cafe and Akebono Children’s Forest Park.
Part of the joys of being a train enthusiast in Japan is collecting train stamps. Sounds pretty geeky, but it can get quite addictive as you keep traveling. I bought my train stamp book from Maruzen and have been using it as one of the ways to record my travels.
Isumi Railway is best known for its Moomin Train, fashioned after the beloved Finnish series of the same name. Running along the Bōsō Peninsula, these yellow train cars take its passengers through Chiba’s green fields and historic towns, and is especially popular in spring as cherry and rape blossoms (菜の花) frame the landscape.
One of the most exciting ways to explore Japan is by rail. On the first installment of Railway Diaries, we…