The sacred ume tree outside Kitano Tenmangu’s main shrine is said to be descended from the same “Maya Kobai” strain as the “flying” Japanese apricot of legend. The tree, estimated to be ...

Divided into the four prefectures of Kagawa, Ehime, Tokushima and Kochi, Shikoku can be reached by air, train, bus or ferry from Japan's major cities. With its 88 temples and sacred sites ...

People say it carries the voice of the deities, which seemed appropriate as we were on the Kumano Kodo, Japan’s ancient ... The Kumano Kodo, a sacred route for over 1,000 years, is an antidote ...

It embodies the essence of what overseas tourists come to Japan to experience. The sacred, peaceful stillness you feel as you take a meditative walk through moss-covered trees and stones to the ...

Japan has been a destination of choice for travellers from across the world, with several areas, not least large parts of Tokyo and Kyoto, groaning under the weight of overtourism. Ski resorts are ...