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    Muza-chan's Gate to Japan featured articles


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  • 20 Jul: Tokyo Sky Tree building site Photo Report 

    Tokyo Sky Tree building site Photo Report
    About 11 months ago, I was writing about the construction of the Tokyo Sky Tree tower. Yesterday, I went again to visit the construction site, to see how the work progressed.Well, 2 years after the start of construction, the progress ... »

    Read more » 62 comments »
  • 24 May: A Japan Photo per Day - Top 10 Most liked Photos of the Half year 

    A Japan Photo per Day - Top 10 Most liked Photos of the Half year
    You probably already know that I like top lists, especially around anniversary dates. So, since yesterday was the 6 months anniversary of the "A Japan Photo per Day" series, I thought to find out which were the most appreciated photos ... »

    Read more » 73 comments »
  • 27 Apr: The Japanese Torii, 20 Amazing Vintage Photos 

    The Japanese Torii, 20 Amazing Vintage Photos
    Even from the first visit to Japan, I was fascinated with torii, the gates marking the entrance to the Shinto shrines.Torii at Futarasan Shrine, NikkoAlthough an usual part of the Japanese landscape, the origins of torii are ... »

    Read more » 76 comments »
  • 22 Apr: A Photo Visit to a Japanese Flea Market 

    A Photo Visit to a Japanese Flea Market
    For me, a visit to the flea market is always an opportunity to see (and eventually learn) new "old" things. Because you never know what you can find... and even more so in Japan. ;)  ... »

    Read more » 49 comments »
  • 29 Mar: Harajuku Fashion Photo Essay, Takeshita Dori 

    Harajuku Fashion Photo Essay, Takeshita Dori
    A walk on Takeshita Dori represents a unique experience, even if you're not interested in shopping or in Japanese fashion trends.Takeshita Dori EntranceLocated right across the Harajuku Station, Takeshita Dori, a narrow street ... »

    Read more » 41 comments »
  • 05 Mar: The Japanese Officer - 30 Years in War Mission 

    The Japanese Officer - 30 Years in War Mission
    36 years ago, on March 9 1974, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, from the Japanese Imperial Army Intelligence, surrendered after almost 30 years of hiding on a Philippine island.Hiroo Onoda as a young officer, image via Wikipedia In ... »

    Read more » 35 comments »
  • 03 Mar: Customs and traditions of Japan - Hina Matsuri: Dolls and Deli 

    Customs and traditions of Japan - Hina Matsuri: Dolls and Deli
    On March 3rd, Japan celebrates Hina Matsuri 「雛祭り」, the Japanese Doll Festival, also known as the "Girl's Day", an important event, especially for families with daughters. photo credit: St ... »

    Read more » 48 comments »
  • 25 Feb: 20 Japan Top Lists 

    20 Japan Top Lists
     Dear friends, welcome to the Japan Blog Matsuri, February 2010 Edition!This month, 20 Japan bloggers united to provide you with an amazing set of Japan Top Lists, covering a great variety of subjects: tourism, technology, ... »

    Read more » 72 comments »
  • 15 Feb: What to do in Japan? 33 Must See Japanese Scenes 

    What to do in Japan? 33 Must See Japanese Scenes
    Japan was and remains a unique place. Whether we talk about traditional festivals or traditional theater, religion or pop culture, architecture or transport, food or clothing, martial arts or games, you can see in Japan unique scenes, ... »

    Read more » 96 comments »
  • 08 Feb: 26 Beautiful Vintage Photos of Mount Fuji 

    26 Beautiful Vintage Photos of Mount Fuji
    Japan's love for Mount Fuji, the most famous place in Japan, remained unchanged over the years. Fuji-san (富士山) is definitely the most represented place from Japan, starting with the ukiyo-e paintings, continuing with ... »

    Read more » 62 comments »
  • 05 Feb: 40 great vintage Geisha Photos 

    40 great vintage Geisha Photos
    Today we almost cannot think about traveling somewhere without taking photos, with more or less sophisticated cameras or at least with the mobile phone...A hundred years ago however, when the first westerners started visiting Japan, ... »

    Read more » 73 comments »
  • 29 Jan: Top 6 'Giant Robots' Japanese Attractions 

    Top 6 'Giant Robots' Japanese Attractions
    The "robot anime" (ロボット, robotto) (known outside Japan as mecha anime) is a Japanese animation genre featuring walking robots (called mecha), usually bipedal, with arms and hands able to use objects and ... »

    Read more » 73 comments »
  • 15 Jan: The Japanese Soldier 

    The Japanese Soldier
    38 years ago, on January 24 1972, two residents from Guam discovered Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier who was hiding in the jungle for... 28 years.Shoichi Yokoi, preparing to return to civilization, image via Wikipedia When ... »

    Read more » 42 comments »
  • 08 Jan: Japanese Giant Tombs 

    Japanese Giant Tombs
    From time to time, searching for travel destinations, I stumble across interesting things in Google Maps, like the huge drawing with Earth-kun. This time, browsing the Google Earth near Osaka, my attention was suddenly drawn to some... ... »

    Read more » 49 comments »
  • 15 Dec: 7 Reasons Why Japanese Trains Are Different 

    7 Reasons Why Japanese Trains Are Different
    Anyone who experienced the Japanese trains has a story to tell... There are hundreds of stories about the punctuality, the speed or the cleanness of the Japanese trains. Nevertheless, what makes the Japanese trains so different? Of ... »

    Read more » 123 comments »
  • 08 Dec: A Spiritual Look at the Great Buddha of Kamakura 

    A Spiritual Look at the Great Buddha of Kamakura
    The Great Buddha from Kamakura (Daibutsu) represents the Amida Buddha (in Japanese Amida Nyorai), the Buddha of the Infinite Light, the main Deity of the Buddhist Sect Jodo (Pure Land).Actually, Buddha is not a name, but a ... »

    Read more » 56 comments »
  • 01 Dec: Top 10 Tokyo Skyscrapers Short Guide 

    Top 10 Tokyo Skyscrapers Short Guide
    If we compare the Tokyo's tallest buildings with the skyscrapers from other countries, most probably they won't impress much: the tallest building from Tokyo is only the 145th in the world, with a height of 248 meters (the tallest ... »

    Read more » 93 comments »
  • 24 Nov: Children's Mikoshi 

    Children's Mikoshi
    For me, a Mikoshi parade is always a source of joy. I participated at several parades and, every time, I met happy and friendly people, many smiled at me, some of them posed for photos and some of them tried to explain to me, with pride, ... »

    Read more » 36 comments »
  • 15 Nov: Customs and traditions of Japan - Shichi Go San 

    Customs and traditions of Japan - Shichi Go San
    Shichi-Go-San ( 七五三 - seven-five-three ) is a festival marking a Japanese traditional rite of passage for 3 and 7 year-old girls and 3 and 5 year-old boys. Because it is not a national holiday, it is held on the ... »

    Read more » 28 comments »
  • 06 Nov: Japanese Yukata Photo Essay 

    Japanese Yukata Photo Essay
    In Japan, old and new are joined not only in architecture, but also in the dressing style. One of the main aspects I love about Japan is the fact that it is one of the few modern countries where the traditional dressing is still ... »

    Read more » 32 comments »
  • 30 Oct: 12 Bird's Eye View Photos of Yokohama 

    12 Bird's Eye View Photos of Yokohama
    I think that the best place to admire Yokohama from high above is from the heights of the Yokohama Landmark Tower. If the weather is good the landscape is stunning, and you can ... »

    Read more » 47 comments »
  • 23 Oct: Japanese garden photowalk - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ponds 

    Japanese garden photowalk - Tsurugaoka Hachimangu ponds
    One of the most beautiful places in Kamakura is the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, built in 1180 by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate.There are a lot of interesting things to be said about this ... »

    Read more » 40 comments »
  • 16 Oct: Ema and Lucky Star - From Shinto tradition to Anime 

    Ema and Lucky Star - From Shinto tradition to Anime
    In the old times in Japan, it was a custom for wealthy families to donate horses to shrines, as part of the invocations and a sign of respect for kami. In time, this practice changed, first the donations became horse statues and finally ... »

    Read more » 51 comments »
  • 09 Oct: The pirate ships from Hakone 

    The pirate ships from Hakone
    As a child, I was fascinated by adventure books with explorers and pirates and I was dreaming of sailing away... I know, it's unusual for a girl, but I even learned some sailing and navigation terms. So, when I visited Hakone, I ... »

    Read more » 28 comments »
  • 25 Sep: Akihabara Maids, candid shots in Akiba 

    Akihabara Maids, candid shots in Akiba
    The first maid cafe (メイドカフェ, Meido kafe) in Akihabara, the coffee shops where the waitresses are dressed as maids, appeared in 2001. In time, they become one of the Akihabara ... »

    Read more » 63 comments »
  • 11 Sep: Japanese garden photowalk, Hasedera 

    Japanese garden photowalk, Hasedera
    A photowalk through the amazing Japanese garden inside the Hasedera Temple from Kamakura. It's an oasis of peace and silence... so I'll let the following 14 photos to speak for themselves: O plimbare foto prin superbă ... »

    Read more » 46 comments »
  • 02 Sep: Good Bye, Gundam! 

    Good Bye, Gundam!
    The time has come to say Good Bye to the life-size Gundam statue from Odaiba! For now, it is unknown what will be the fate of the statue after dismantling. I hope that after some time we will see it again, somewhere.Click on photo ... »

    Read more » 54 comments »
  • 17 Aug: 30 detailed Gundam photos 

    30 detailed Gundam photos
    Finally, the time has come to visit Odaiba and, of course, the Gundam. Many photos were published until now (my favorites are shibuya246's), but the modelist in me wasn't satisfied yet... I wanted more details!I took a lot of ... »

    Read more » 21 comments »
  • 06 Jul: Customs and traditions of Japan - Travel impressions from last years Tanabata 

    Customs and traditions of Japan - Travel impressions from last years Tanabata
    I like Japanese festivals, Buddhist and Shinto alike, they transpose me into their magical world, with kami, supernatural beings and romantic stories, they make me see the world with child's eyes and enjoy simple things. Perhaps the ... »

    Read more » 69 comments »
  • 20 Jun: Travel tips for visiting Tokyo 

    Travel tips for visiting Tokyo
    When I make plans for holiday, in addition to maps and data about the places I wish to visit, I always search travel tips and information about discounts for tourists. After accommodation and meals, I spend the most on ... »

    Read more » 15 comments »
  • 21 May: My favorite place in Japan, Meiji Jingu 

    My favorite place in Japan, Meiji Jingu
    Not infrequently, events I couldn't control and that messed up my tight schedule, where more good than bad. An event like this happened on my first visit to Meiji Jingu, when a strong rain caught me, probably not by accident, ... »

    Read more » 33 comments »
  • 20 Apr: A Summer Night at Sensoji 

    A Summer Night at Sensoji
    During my first visit in Tokyo, I stayed at a hotel in Asakusa. Arriving early, after I left my luggage at reception, until the hour when I could check-in the room, I took a walk in the area, eager to see the places I have ... »

    Read more » 15 comments »
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  • Featured on I'm a featured blogger on Lonely Planet
    Travelavenue.com - favorite blog 2010
  • Today's J-Music

  • 02 Sep: 50 'Love' Songs, 2: Fukui Yukari - Rain of Love 
    50 'Love' Songs: Fukui Yukari - Rain of Love:  ... »
    Read more »
  • Recent Popular Articles

  • 29 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Hello Kitty Popcorn Vending Machine 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Hello Kitty Popcorn Vending Machine
    I rarely eat popcorn, but I was tempted when this Hello Kitty Popcorn Vending Machine drew my ... »
    Read more » 34 comments »
  • 25 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Traditional Japanese sweets 
    A Japan Photo per Day -  Traditional Japanese sweets
    I love the Japanese traditional sweets, so when I arrived in Kawagoe, the first visit was to the ... »
    Read more » 33 comments »
  • 22 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Senso-ji Temple Restored 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Senso-ji Temple Restored
    Since the last year, the Senso-ji Temple from Asakusa was covered in scaffolding for restoration ... »
    Read more » 36 comments »
  • 18 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - The Steepest Funicular from Japan 
    A Japan Photo per Day - The Steepest Funicular from Japan
    With an elevation of 608‰ (over 31 degrees), the Mount Takao funicular (Takao Tozan Railway) is the ... »
    Read more » 27 comments »
  • 11 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Tower special lights: Blue Diamond Veil 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Tower special lights: Blue Diamond Veil
    You know that I like admiring Tokyo from the Tokyo Tower's observatories. And the best part is that ... »
    Read more » 49 comments »
  • 10 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Tower clear view 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Tower clear view
    I was lucky to catch a few days with clear air, which are quite rare in Tokyo, so went again to ... »
    Read more » 42 comments »
  • 07 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - The Knitting Ram from Ueno 
    A Japan Photo per Day - The Knitting Ram from Ueno
    On the elevated walkway in front of the Ueno Station, there are several displays featuring various ... »
    Read more » 36 comments »
  • 06 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Hiroshima and Nagasaki Flame 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Hiroshima and Nagasaki Flame
    65 years ago, at 8:15, the first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima. Several days later, Tatsuo ... »
    Read more » 61 comments »
  • 04 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - The New Yamanote Pokemon 
    A Japan Photo per Day - The New Yamanote Pokemon
    One of the benefits of being accommodated in Ueno is the easy use of the Yamanote line, so ... »
    Read more » 44 comments »
  • 02 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Sake Vending Machine 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Sake Vending Machine
    If two days ago I was writing about an old sake store, today I discovered what is probably the most ... »
    Read more » 39 comments »
  • 01 Aug: A Japan Photo per Day - Akihabara Uchimizu 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Akihabara Uchimizu
    Uchimizu is a traditional Japanese custom, consisting in splashing water on the streets, in order ... »
    Read more » 39 comments »
  • 31 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Old Sake Store 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Old Sake Store
    This is how a sake store looked during the Edo period, with long eaves and wide entrance. The first ... »
    Read more » 47 comments »
  • 27 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Panda Bus Nin Nin 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Panda Bus Nin Nin
    There are many ways to visit Asakusa, but definitely the cutest is this Nin, Nin Panda Bus. Plus, ... »
    Read more » 39 comments »
  • 25 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Steampunk in Tokyo: Hayao Miyazaki's BIG clock 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Steampunk in Tokyo: Hayao Miyazaki's BIG clock
    Strolling through Shiodome, in front of the Nippon Television Tower, I found this less-known ... »
    Read more » 69 comments »
  • 23 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Hot Night at Ueno Station 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Hot Night at Ueno Station
    I'm accommodated near Ueno Station, so I found the time to take some night shots from the elevated ... »
    Read more » 35 comments »
  • 20 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Books Vending Machine 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Books Vending Machine
    There are over 5.5 million vending machines in Japan, so I rarely notice them (except when I'm ... »
    Read more » 42 comments »
  • 17 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - The Newest Japanese Train 
    A Japan Photo per Day - The Newest Japanese Train
    The newest Japanese train, Keisei AE series, started today new Skyliner services, over the brand ... »
    Read more » 32 comments »
  • 15 Jul: Travel to Japan preparations 
    Travel to Japan preparations
    I'm preparing to leave for Tokyo, so for the last weeks I've been researching... As you know, one ... »
    Read more » 135 comments »
  • 14 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Gundam Head Close-up 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Gundam Head Close-up
    Gundam Head Close-up, Odaiba, ... »
    Read more » 36 comments »
  • 12 Jul: A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck 
    A Japan Photo per Day - Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck
    Tokyo Metropolitan Building Observation Deck, ... »
    Read more » 35 comments »
  • See more Popular Articles »


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