Japan Review - A Japanophile's Review of All Things Japan

Chasing Geishas in Kyoto

July 1, 2018June 29, 2018shinnichi Comment

While planning our Kyoto itinerary, I made sure that I get to experience Kyoto of old and new. Our first two nights in [...]

A Shrine for Entertainers: Kurumazaki-jinja Shrine

June 12, 2018June 29, 2018shinnichi Comment

If Fushimi Inari Shrine is known for its thousands of red torii gates, the red tamagaki [fence of the shrine] in Kurumazaki-jinja Shrine distinguishes [...]

A Carpet of Pink: Higashimokoto Shibazakura Park

May 29, 2018June 29, 2018shinnichi Comment

Cherry blossoms or sakura have long been associated with Japan’s spring. Shibazakura, small little flowers that resembles the shape of sakura grows widely, [...]

Spring in May: Hanami at Matsumae Park, Hakodate

May 15, 2018June 29, 2018shinnichi Comment

For the rest of Japan, hanami or cherry blossom viewing, happens from late March to April. But in the northernmost island of Hokkaido, [...]

Self-drive Hokkaido: The Tokachidake Mountain Range from Shikisai no Oka , Biei

Self-drive Hokkaido in Late Spring

April 5, 2018April 1, 2018shinnichi Comment

Hokkaido’s vast landscapes are best explored by the convenience of your own transport. For foreign tourists, this means renting a car [self-drive] from [...]

Listen to Haruki Murakami: A Night of Good Music

March 24, 2018shinnichi Comment

I am a self-confessed Haruki Murakami fan and this February and March 2018, fans from Manila are treated with the first Haruki Murakami [...]

The master filmmaker, Akira Kurosawa's grave

Visiting Akira Kurosawa’s Grave in An’yō-in Temple, Kamakura

March 23, 2018March 24, 2018shinnichi Comment

First published in my personal WordPress blog sheilaoftheworld.com I’m putting this here in celebration of Kurosawa’s 108th birthday today, March 23. It was [...]

Film Review: Gintama「銀魂」

September 22, 2017September 23, 2017shinnichi Comment

Gintama (Silver Soul) 銀魂 [Gintama] 2017, Comedy, Action Director: Yūichi Fukuda I feel that I have to start with a disclaimer, as I [...]

Film Review: Mumon: The Land of Stealth 「忍びの国」

August 29, 2017March 24, 2018shinnichi 1

Mumon: The Land of Stealth 忍びの国 [Shinobi no Kuni] 2017, Action Director: Yoshihiro Nakamura Shinobi no Kuni, literally country ninja, is a jidaigeki [...]

A Glimpse at a Monk’s Life: Staying at a Temple Lodging in Koyasan

August 9, 2017August 8, 2017shinnichi Comment

Temple lodging or shukubo is an old type of accommodation in Japan. It caters to visiting pilgrims but recently gained popularity with foreign [...]

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