Takenouchi Kaido 1 (Sakai to Furuichi): Japan’s Oldest Road
Takenouchi Kaido is the oldest road in Japan going 26km from Sakai to west Nara. Even before Osaka and Kyoto
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Japanese History
The Yamato Sanzan: Nara’s Historic Mountains
If you walk around Nara or Asuka, you will see three mountains standing along the Nara Basin. Those three mountains
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Kannon-ji Castle: Shiga’s Massive Castle Ruins
For many, many years the southern area of what is today Shiga prefecture was politically important for many warlords. Its
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Yagyu Village: Nara’s Historic Sword Master Village
The small community of Yagyu Village in east Nara prefecture is a sleepy place. In fact, it is down-right remote.
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Kashinozaki Lighthouse and the Friendship of Japan and Turkey
Some of Japan’s best known and closest international relationships are with China, Korea, and America among others. But one of
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Emperor Jimmu, Japan’s First Emperor
Japan’s imperial family is the world longest reigning monarch family. If ancient sources are accurate the first emperor, Emperor Jimmu,
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Kusunoki Masashige, the Ideal Samurai
Some of the most famous warriors from Osaka, are without question Toyotomi Hideyoshi or Sanada Yukimura. However, most people outside
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Emperor Go-daigo, Japan’s Charismatic Emperor
In 2019, Japan will celebrate the crowning of its 126th emperor. In Japan’s long line of emperors, one in particular
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