Sendai Tanabata Festival
The Sendai Tanabata Festival is when the shopping streets of central Sendai and the surrounding area are decorated with colorful Tanabata decorations. It is affectionately known as "Tanabata-san" by the locals.
There are all kinds of traditional Japanese dance, music performances, and taiko drum shows. It's a fantastic way to experience Japan's rich culture.
Ginza-Dori street
Ginza-Dori street is one of Japan's most prestigious shopping districts with a sense of history and elegance. It is lined with department stores and high-end brand stores, rivaling New York's Fifth Avenue and London's Oxford Street.
Visitors can take a leisurely stroll down the street and enjoy a pleasant shopping experience.
Daisetsuzan Sounkyo Kurodake Ropeway
Located at the center of Hokkaido, Daisetsuzan, a mountain range of eight volcanos, is called the ‘’god’s playground.” One of them is Mt.Kurodake, rising 1,984m above sea level. A nature hike along alpine plants and Ezo chipmunks in spring and summer, gorgeous fall foliage in autumn, and ski or snowshoe hike in winter. Daisetsuzan is fun to visit throughout the year.
When I woke up in the morning, it was snowing heavily and visibility was really bad. I was worried the ropeway would be closed, but luckily I got to ride it. Once I reached the fifth station, I got to see the real beauty of nature.
Rinnoji Temple (Miyagi Prefecture)
Rinnoji Temple, also known as Kongo Hozan, is a Soto Zen temple founded in 1441 by Date Mochimune. It has one of Tohoku's most beautiful Japanese gardens, with a pond in the center and a three-story pagoda rising in he northwest.
With the three-story pagoda and the garden, I think this is the most beautiful temple in Sendai.
Takayama Inari Shrine
Takayama Inari is the major shrine in Aomori with blessings of good harvest, safety in the voyage and business prosperity. The founding is unclear, but a wealthy family ruling this area in Kamakura through Muromachi Periods is said to have built this shrine.
The biggest difference from the Inari Shrine in Kyoto is that here, the beautiful snowy scenery covers the bright red torii gates. The contrast of red and white makes it even more stunning.
Myoryuji Temple
This Nichiren Shu temple was built in 1643 by Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga Domain, from a prayer hall near Kanazawa Castle. Because of its Dejiro (outlying castle) to fortify the main castle in case of emergency, the entire building has a complex structure, with hidden stairs, rooms, and pits everywhere to scare off enemies. A statue of Niczou Shonin, a Houson (a follower of Buddhism) of Nichiren Shonin, is enshrined here.
From the outside, it looks like it's only three stories tall, but inside there are actually seven floors! There are all kinds of hidden features designed to protect the lord from assassination. If you want to visit, you need to make a reservation by phone in advance.
Kurokawa Onsen
This hot springs village sits along the same river that waters the rice paddies between the northern mountains of Aso. The entire hot springs area is designed seamlessly with nature, with each hilltop inn and connecting halls a separate annex that attaches to the next mountain hill.
This quiet hot spring village is a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind.
Mt. Otowa Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Opened in the year 778, the temple was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994. In the 130, 000 m2 area of the precincts spread out on the hillside of Mt. Otowa, there are more than 30 cathedrals and monuments, including national treasures and important cultural properties.
The Kiyomizu Stage is such a unique structure. Not a single nail was used in its construction, which is really impressive craftsmanship. This technique actually came from China's Tang Dynasty.