#4631

Japan destinations steeped in history

Follow in the footsteps of Samurai in Fukushima Prefecture

The Nisshinkan Samurai School

“I always wanted to explore Fukushima so I headed north from Tokyo station for a short ride on the Tohoku Shinkansen Toward Koriyama station… I boarded our chartered bus on the way to Nisshinkan Samurai school located in Aizu. It was the most prestigious institution of its time for training young samurai in the early 1800’s, the last part of the Edo era during the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate.”

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4622

Places with samurai history

“Through the years, I’ve had many people “back home” ask me about Samurai Spirit and ninjas. Is there any place in Japan left where one can find these things? This is a kind of question very difficult to answer. Of course, it is possible to find museums that feature many of the tools and stories of their history… But is the spirit of samurai alive? In our tour of central Fukushima, we visited four locations that are steeped in samurai history and culture - Shirakawa, Ouchijuku, Aizuwakamatsu, and Nihonmatsu.“

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4562

Visit one of the port towns that fueled Japan’s modernization

Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture

“Along with Kure, Sasebo and Yokosuka, Maizuru is one of the four most important port towns in Japan… Maizuru developed as seaside town with its own industry and culture reaching even more importance when a 5,300-year-old dugout canoe from Jomon period, which is considered one of the oldest in the world, was discovered and excavated. It is... also the perfect place for people longing for scenic natural beauty with its surrounding mountains and the open sea. There are fishing villages along the seaside where the fishing industry and processing facilities are located and operating since olden times.”

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4554

Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture

“The historic and beautiful port town of Kure is located between the more famous tourist destinations of Hiroshima and Onomich. A mere 60 minutes on the local train on the Sanyo main line directly from Hiroshima Station. For those of you looking to experience somewhere off the beaten track, a place where you can learn about Japanese maritime history, enjoy unparalleled views of the unique Seto-inland sea, sea submarine crews changing of the guard and taste delicious local fare Kure is a wonderful day trip.”

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4547

See some of the oldest surviving buildings in Japan

Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen, Ehime Prefecture

“Whenever my friends from overseas ask me what would be a classic thing to do in Japan, I always reply that visiting a medieval castle and staying in an onsen town (hot spring bath) are a "must". There is no doubt that a visit to Matsuyama City is the perfect way to combine both of these in one trip as it has one of the best preserved original castles and the oldest onsen in Japan.”

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4423

Ikaruga Town’s ancient temples, Nara Prefecture

“Today, we will showcase Ikaruga Town in Nara Prefecture, but you can also find the "Horyuji Temple", a World Heritage Site, also known as the oldest building in the world! There are many places around this temple where you can feel an ancient atmosphere. You can have more fun and interesting experiences…There is a lot of beautiful natural scenery on the outskirts of Horyu-ji, and many other temples worth visiting too.”

Read the full post http://www.deepjapan.org/a/4575

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