More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan

One of my favorite Japanese architects is Arata Isozaki. He was born in Oita in 1931 and after graduating worked under Kenzo Tange. ...

Unusual Ema in Japan Ema, votive plaques, can be found at many shrines and temples and nowadays are usually a standard size and shape, t...

The ruins of Funai Castle are in downtown Oita City, though when it was built this was the coast. Some form of catle was here in the mid...

At the end of the tenth day of my walk along the Shikoku pilgrimage I was at Saba Daishi, a small temple on the coast near Mugi. I spent...

The Great South Gate, located halfway up the stepped slope leading to Yusuhara Hachimangu Shrine in the mountains outside of Oita City w...

On some recent travels I came across a couple of towns that have their manholes designs designed by children. The first was Takamatsu in...

Yusuhara Hachimangu Shrine was the major shrine of what is bow called Oita City, and is located in the mountains to the west of the city...

One of the delights of wandering the backwaters of Japan, for me at least, is stumbling upon huge pieces of modern architecture, often q...

A pair of huge trees flank the entrance to Asami Shrine in Beppu. I posted on the shrine many years ago. It is the main shrine fo...

Sekkeiji, the 33rd temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage was fairly unimpressive. That may be due to it being the end of a long day when I fi...