The literally hang out the flags for visitors to the small town of Nishikawa in the snowy foothills of Yamagata’s Dewa Sanzan mountains. A large British Union Jack was crossed with a Japanese Hinomaru over the entrance to Tamaki, a riverside restaurant famous for ...

Stepping off the shinkansen at Okayama Station and crossing over to the iron rails and worn stone of the city’s aged streetcar system, you experience an abrupt transition in time and space. An aerial photo of almost any major Japanese city taken 40 or ...

For many years, Hakushu village, tucked away in Yamanashi Prefecture, was the venue for a colorful international festival featuring avant-garde performances by musicians, dancers and other artists. That, sadly, no longer takes place, but vestiges of the event remain. Drawn to the beauty of ...

Over one hundred jauntily clad figures line the street where the Koto Ward Office once stood. Ever since the ward office moved to more spacious quarters elsewhere, the local merchants association has worked hard to keep pedestrian traffic heavy along this venerable shopping street. ...

MOUNT HAGURO, Yamagata Pref. — Three days trekking deep into the mountains with no money, makeup, jewelry, bath, toothbrush or razor is definitely not your average walk in the hills. Add on agreeing to endure a grueling series of self-suffering ancient rituals and sacred ...

“Shall We Meet in Yurakucho (Yurakucho de Aimasho)” was the title of a 1958 megahit number, sung by the king of Japanese blues, Frank Nagai. As Frank described it, Yurakucho was always misty with fog and the collective sighs of hundreds of lovers, the ...

Ever since Kyoto was founded by the Emperor Kanmu in 794, its temples, garden sanctuaries, artisan quarters, elegant back streets and superb inns and shops have lent credence to the city’s nickname, “Hana no Miyako,” the City of Flowers. Every flower needs a ready ...