When I wrote “Did Nara’s Giant Buddha Statue Just Prevent A 7.8 Earthquake?”, I received a request to write about Japanese Buddhism. However, I thought it would be tough for me because I’m not a practicing Buddhist so I … [Read more...]
Nara is a landlocked prefecture in the Kansai/Kinki region of Japan on Honshu Island. It’s well known for the Nara Shika (deer) Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site Todaiji Temple (Eastern Great temple), the Nara Daibutsu … [Read more...]
I've never understood architecture. Like fine art, architecture seems like one of those subjects that requires years of training and study to be able to really, fully appreciate. But to plebes like myself, it remains a … [Read more...]
Happy New Year! I've got some bad news for you: this year is going to suck. Well, not for all of us, but for those of us at a particular age, 2013's going to be a really awful year. The best you can really do is just … [Read more...]
One of my top recommended places for those of you planning a trip to Japan, Mt. Koya (AKA Koyasan) is a must see and must go-to in my book. Whether you're looking to get away from it all, relax, or just be amazed, Mt. Koya … [Read more...]
When most people think of Japan, a few images stick out in their head: things like cherry blossoms, Mt. Fuji, and Kinkaku-ji. You might not know the name Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺), but you're almost certainly seen pictures of … [Read more...]