Narelle Katsumoto

Traveling in Japan often means walking over 20,000 steps a day, which can get exhausting. But Japan isn’t only about the excitement and long days of exploring, you can also enjoy a more relaxing side of the country. Imagine soaking in warm water while taking in beautiful views of nature. That’s the onsen experience. With over 27,000 hot springs spread across Japan, you’ll easily find a place to unwind and recharge after days of adventure. But there’s more to onsens than meets the eye. Let’s...

For two weeks, from March 1 to 14, the historic temple becomes the stage for one of Japan’s oldest living traditions: the Omizutori Festival (お水取り). This ceremony has been held every single year since 752. That’s more than 1,270 years of continuous history.

If you’ve travelled to Kyoto in the past decade, you may have noticed that at certain times of the year, a soft warm glow lights up temples across the city as it welcomes the night. That’s Hanatouro.