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We planned a brief stopover in Amanohashidate, one of the three Scenic Views of Japan, but ended up spending the whole day. Here’s why: Wonderful sights, wonderful food, and a roundtrip by boat. We reached Tottori City around 8 pm.

After a hearty breakfast, we set out for Izumo-taisha (出雲大社), the Izumo Grand Shrine. It is located on the northwestern outskirts of the city and is one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. Though the exact date of its establishment is unknown, it is believed to be the oldest shrine in Japan. In the Heian Period, it was described as the tallest wooden structure in Japan, exceeding even the Todai-ji in Nara. The Shimane Museum of Ancient Izumo displays several models based on...

This video was posted a few days ago by SeaWorld San Diego. It shows a Giant Japanese Spider Crab moulting, a procedure that takes up to six hours. The Japanese spider crab (タカアシガニ taka-ashi-gani, "long-legged crab") has the largest leg span of any arthropod, with some specimen reaching 3.8 metres across their outstretched legs. In order to reach such a size, the crabs need to moult frequently. They are native to the waters around Japan. More info: Japanese Spider Crab Below another...

A few impressions of CP+ 2019 at the Yokohama Pacifico, a comprehensive event at which all people living a "life with photography," from those who enjoy simply shooting with smartphones to professional photographers, can experience the joy of cameras and photography from every viewpoint. This year, the industry mammoths all showed off their mirrorless camera lines. It was fascinating to play with glass that one shall never be able to afford. :D The show is still on until Sunday, 3 March...

I love this book. End of review. No, I should write a little more than that. I do love it though. Japan Journeys is a collection of ukiyo-e (the Japanese term for woodblock prints pre-20th century) themed around travel in Japan. I’m not an expert on ukiyo-e, but I’m quite familiar with the subject. I got my first book on woodblock prints 20 years ago, got a few more after that, and have attended a few exhibitions on them while traveling in Japan. At this point, I’ve stopped buying...

From the Publisher The castles of Japan are both technical and aesthetic marvels. They are technical marvels in that they are perfectly suited to their roles of defensive fortresses and administrative centers in time of war. They are aesthetic marvels in that every curve and line reflects an extraordinary sense of beauty. How these castles came about, how they were built, and what their ultimate fate was, all this is depicted in sensitive prose and eye-opening photography. The great period...

Take a photographic journey through Tokyo's modern marvels and historical treasures with this informative, portable Japan travel guide. In The Little Book of Tokyo, veteran photojournalist Ben Simmons continues a quest he began over two decades ago to seek out and share his creative viewpoint and insider's perspective. Small enough to carry while travelling in Japan, this book is an ideal travel companion for a Tokyo experience, whether you're planning your trip, on your way, or merely...

Japanese whisky has been around for less than a century—but is now winning all the major international awards. How did this happen and what are the secrets of the master distillers? This whisky book divulges these secrets for the first time. Japanese Whisky features never-before-published archival images and interviews chronicling the forgotten stories of Japan's pioneering whisky makers. It reveals the unique materials and methods used by the Japanese distillers including mizunara wood...

The book explores relatively unseen gardens throughout Japan, those that have been overlooked by mass tourism and retain their original calm. Occasionally these gardens are not as famous as their cousins for different reasons: the temple priest is not interested in their sanctuary becoming a tourist attraction, or their location does not permit large tour buses. Certain gardens are maintained by each city, first and foremost for their taxpaying citizens, and therefore list them as "parks"...