In Tokyo, Ueno Park stands out among tourists. The park is one of the city’s largest and most accessible, and it is an easy addition to any itinerary because it is steps away from Ueno JR Station. The park was part of a temple complex owned by the Tokugawa clan during the Edo Period. Today,…
Tag: Japan
Nikko, mountain worship, and kaitai-shuri
My colleagues and I had the opportunity to visit Nikko in the last week of February 2026. Our visit was part of a consultation with various institutions in Japan, as UP Diliman is in the process of establishing a Center for Indigenous Knowledges and Local Cultures. This center is envisioned as an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary unit…
Nope, it’s not only about the Geisha, but something more in Kyoto! (Part 3 of 3)
Then there is the Nijō Castle (二条城), built in 1603 as the official residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). But Ieyasu did not see the completion of the castle. It was his grandson Iemitsu who completed the palace buildings inside the complex some 20 plus years later after Ieyasu’s death….
Nope, it’s not only about the Geisha, but something more in Kyoto! (Part 2 of 3)
From the Golden Pavilion, I took a 35-minute bus ride going to Ryōan-ji (竜安寺、龍安寺) or the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon. Some visitors call it the Silver Pavilion. Going to the actual site was a bit tricky. The bus stop was quite far from the actual site. I had to navigate a long street then I…
Hiroshima Means Peace
On 6 August 1945, 8:15 AM – Tokyo Time, Enola Gay released Little Boy and came straight to Shima Hospital in the Prefecture of Hiroshima. Little Boy is a kid but ironically, a powerful young boy whose audacity paved the way for almost 300,000 Japanese casualties. Little Boy’s impact was so huge. Years later, thousands of Japanese continued to…
Tanghal Kultura 