Japan Reference

🍂 Late summer in a glass: Musubito Banka Sōshū brings ripe apple, pineapple and melon, a silky texture and a long, clean finish. An excellent autumn sake. jref.com/sake/musubito-banka…

Hikone Castle (彦根城) is one of Japan's finest surviving castles and one of only five castles whose keeps have been designated National Treasures. jref.com/articles/hikone-cas…

Eishо̄-ji (英勝寺), the last remaining nunnery of Kamakura jref.com/articles/eisho-ji-t…

Kaizō-ji (海蔵寺), a hidden temple with a lot of history. jref.com/articles/kaizo-ji-t…

Autumn must be just around the corner: Sapporo Baisen, Suntory Kohaku-no-Kutsurogi ("ember-coloured relaxation"), Kirin Akiaji, the autumn brews for 2019.

The Bon (盆) or Obon (お盆) Festival, also known as Urabon (盂蘭盆), is a Buddhist observance to honour the spirits of ancestors. jref.com/articles/obon-festi…

Enno-ji Temple (円応寺) belongs to the Kenchō-ji School of the Rinzai Sect and is located in Kita-Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, The temple is famous for its magnificent wooden statue of Enma (閻魔), the King of the Underworld. jref.com/articles/enno-ji-te…

Tōkei-ji, the Temple of Divorce: women's lib in the Kamakura Era. jref.com/articles/t%C5%8Dkei…

When Google Translations were still funny (found at Kawagoe Castle in 2014).

Amanohashidate, one of the top 3 scenic spots in Japan. jref.com/articles/amanohashi…