Every spring, the ruined enceintes of Fukuoka Castle take on a special blush of beauty, with the bare branches of its flowering cherry trees stirring magnificently into life.
Category Archives: Japan 2015
Field Report: Old buildings and new blossoms in Fukuoka, Japan (28 March 2015)
It might come as a surprise to many of us – as it certainly did to me – that the very first Zen temple founded in Japan isn’t located somewhere in the ancient imperial streets of Kyōto or the time-hallowed precincts of Nara, but right in the bustling downtown of Fukuoka.
Field Report: Kokura Castle, Kitakyūshū, Japan (27 March 2015)
It’s a fact that needs no repeating, but I’ll repeat it anyway: I love Japanese castles. And with a tiny sliver of sunlight still left after my day trip to Kumamoto, I seized upon the chance to add another one to my “been there” list.
Field Report: Kyū Hosokawa Gyōbu-tei, Kumamoto, Japan (27 March 2015)
Close relatives of the Lords of Kumamoto once lived within a stone’s throw of the enormous castle that loomed over the heart of this southern domain. But when the sweeping reforms of the ascendant Meiji government deprived them of both power and property, it became necessary to trade their old home for humbler accommodations. Humbler,Continue reading “Field Report: Kyū Hosokawa Gyōbu-tei, Kumamoto, Japan (27 March 2015)”
Field Report: Kumamoto Castle, Japan (27 March 2015)
Traditional stroll gardens, such as the splendid specimen we visited in the previous post, are all well and good for reinforcing your typical Edo-period daimyō‘s reputation as a man of refined taste. However, where visual manifestations of a Japanese warlord’s wealth and power are concerned, one would be hard pressed to find anything more capableContinue reading “Field Report: Kumamoto Castle, Japan (27 March 2015)”
Field Report: Suizen-ji Jōju-en, Kumamoto, Japan (27 March 2015)
Show-offery was serious business amongst the ruling class of Edo-period Japan. Since this was an age long before sports cars or private jets, one culturally refined way to outdo the neighbouring daimyō – short of setting fire to his castle and enslaving his entire household (which would have been just a tad uncouth) – wasContinue reading “Field Report: Suizen-ji Jōju-en, Kumamoto, Japan (27 March 2015)”
Field Report: Night View of Nagasaki from Mount Inasa, Japan (26 March 2015)
The Japanese are fond of making lists, and tourist attractions aren’t exempt from categorisation. Think of the near-legendary Three Views (which dates from the 17th century and probably started the whole set-of-threes mania), the Three Famous Gardens, the Three Famous Castles … you name it, there’s probably a list somewhere for it. And amongst thoseContinue reading “Field Report: Night View of Nagasaki from Mount Inasa, Japan (26 March 2015)”
Field Report: Gunkanjima, Nagasaki, Japan (26 March 2015)
Many of us have probably wondered what our modern-day cities might look like a few decades after being surrendered to the ravages of nature. For those seeking real-life inspiration to fuel their fevered post-apocalyptic fantasies, a brief visit to an abandoned island off the coast of Kyūshū might help them paint a more vivid pictureContinue reading “Field Report: Gunkanjima, Nagasaki, Japan (26 March 2015)”
Field Report: Nagasaki, Japan (26 March 2015)
After arriving in the historic port city of Nagasaki from my previous base at Saga, I booked a place on a special half-day island excursion (which will be the subject of a separate post). The tour was scheduled for early afternoon, which left me with several hours to kill – time that I decided toContinue reading “Field Report: Nagasaki, Japan (26 March 2015)”
Field Report: Saga Castle, Japan (25 March 2015)
Saga Prefecture doesn’t usually rank first in tourist itineraries (except for those chasing traditional Japanese porcelain), but rich cultural and historic rewards await those willing to invest a brief stop in this quiet corner of northern Kyūshū. After seeing one major attraction earlier in the day which represented Japan’s early, formative years, I travelled aContinue reading “Field Report: Saga Castle, Japan (25 March 2015)”
Within striking distance 