Discoveries from around the archipelago
It's time for another look at the various shrine prayer plaques around Japan. I've found some interesting ones in recent months, and the more you know about the story you tell, the more fascinating that random shrine can become. 1. Hachiman Shrine (Shirakawa-go) - The Hachiman shrine in the UNESCO World Heritage Village of Shirakawa-go has... Continue Reading →
Last November, I spent a few days traveling through central Japan and one of those nights was spent at a farmhouse in Shirakawa-go. Most people visit Shirakawa-go on a day trip from either Takayama or Kanazawa and fight the hordes of tourists to get crowd-free pictures of the gassho zukkuri (praying hands) homes that the village... Continue Reading →
About two weeks ago, I embarked on a planned overnight stop en route from Takayama (in the Japan Alps) to Kanazawa (on the Sea of Japan coast). My destination was the Shirakawa-go region, known for its thatched roof gassho-zukuri (praying hands) houses and a place that has long been on my "to-visit" list. While Takayama's manhole... Continue Reading →
