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Why is the tomb of Jesus Christ in Japan?
In truth, Jesus Christ lived in Aomori, Japan! I discovered a small village in Aomori with “Tomb of Jesus” and “Pyramid”! Whether you trust it or not, it’s up to you! There is “Tomb of Jesus” in Shingo village in Aomori Prefecture. Kiyomaro Takeuchi who was the founder of religion visited Herai village (current Shingo village) in 1935 and found “Tomb of Jesus”. According to “Takeuchi document” that is said to be transmitted from generation to generation in Takeuchi family, Jesus came to Japan when he was 21, trained himself for 12 years in Japan, came back to Judea at the age of 33, conveyed the teaching of God and […]
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Kappabuchi Pool, the most famous Kappa tradition site in Japan
If you have Iwate Prefecture’s official “Kappa Capture License”, everyone can capture Kappa! Even fishing tackles can be borrowed for free, so you can go Kappabuchi Pool with empty hand! The story of Kappa was written in “Tono Monogatari (Story of Tono)” published in 1910 that gathered mysterious folk tales transmitted to Tono district of Iwate Prefecture. According to “Tono Monogatari”, there are many Kappa lived in the pool of river flowing in the back of Jokenji temple in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture. Those Kappa surprise people and play a prank on people and this place is called as Kappabuchi Pool from the old days. Kappa is a fictional animal […]
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Tourist spots in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture related to salmon called Iyoboya
People on Murakami City, Niigata love salmon very much. They eat everything from head to tail of salmon, so cats in Murakami City surely feel bitter because they cannot have a tiny share of it. I just cannot help feeling sorry to them. In Murakami district of Niigata Prefecture, salmon is called as “Iyoboya” for a long time. In Murakami, both “Iyo” and “Boya” are words expressing fish, so Iyoboya means “fish of fish”. Miomote River flowing to Murakami was known as a salmon river since the Heian era, and its salmon was dedicated to the Imperial Court as a tax. In the Edo era, salmon became an important source […]
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Shibata Castle
Pay attention to the roof of three-story yagura (turret) of Shibata castle! There are three Shachihoko (fish shaped ornaments placed on a roof of castles), and it is absolutely wonderful for castle lovers. This is a related castle of Ako Roshi (loadless samurai of Ako domain), Yasubei Horie! Shibata Castle is one of the “Japan’s Top 100 Castles” in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture. Since the surroundings of the castle were wetland and many irises were growing naturally, so it was called as the iris castle. Originally, it was a castle of Shibata family, a clan of Echigo (present Niigata Prefecture) since Kamakura Era, but in 1587, Shibata family was destroyed […]
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Yoronjima Island
Do nothing special, but I just want to relax and enjoy myself! Yoronjima Island Island in Kagoshima Prefecture is a small island of coral reef recommended for those who want to enjoy relaxing mood! Yoron Island is a small coral reef island with a circumference of approximately 23 km and the southernmost tip of Kagoshima Prefecture. It located about 563 km south of Kagoshima and about 23 km north of Okinawa main island. This island is very popular for honeymoon from long time ago because there are colorful tropical flowers such as hibiscus and bougainvillea and the emerald green color sea is very clear and beautiful, with many colorful tropical […]
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Kamo Aquarium, famous for its jellyfish
It’s so photogenic! I visited the world’s best jellyfish aquarium “Kamo Aquarium”! There is the world’s best “jellyfish aquarium” in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture. “Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium” is an aquarium specializing in jellyfish and they exhibit more than 50 kinds of jellyfish. They have been awarded a Guinness world record by its number of exhibition of jellyfish. The nickname of this aquarium is “The Dream House of Jellies”. It started in 1930 as a private aquarium. Although the aquarium was closed during the wartime, but in 1956, it started again as “Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium”. In 1964, it was relocated, newly constructed and became the aquarium that 200,000 people […]
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Kouri Island
This is the island you definitely want to go with your partner! The reason why Kouri Island of Okinawa is called “island of love”! Kouri Island is a small island of a perimeter 8m, surrounded by the emerald green sea and it is located in the northeastern part of main island of Okinawa. To Kouri Island, you will go from main island ofOkinawa to Kouri Island via Yagaji Island. There are bridges between main island of Okinawa to Yagaji Island and Yagaji Island to Kouri Island. Kouri Island has been a shooting location for TV dramas and advertisement, and in recent years it is gaining popularity as a tourist attraction. […]
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Abashiri Prison Museum (former Abashiri Prison)
If you do something bad, you will be taken to “Abashiri Prison”! I had a prison meal at “Abashiri Prison”, the coldest prison located in extreme northern Japan! The Abashiri Prison, known as the coldest and farthest prison in Japan, is in Abashiri city, Hokkaido. In the movie “Abashiri Prison” which Ken Takakura played the lead, Abashiri Prison was the setting of the movie. In the movie, Ken Takakura played a prisoner, and the scene he broke prison and escaped became popular. This movie was serialized and the prison became very popular. All Japanese in their 50s or over knows the name of this prison. After Meiji Restoration, there were […]
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Sasagawa Nagare Coastline
When I saw the sun set into Sea of Japan from Sasagawa Nagare, I suddenly feel sad and cried out “Mom! Oh, mother!” without thinking. Sasagawa Nagare is a coastline of about 11km at Sanpoku area of Murakami where is in the northern tip of Niigata Prefecture. This coastline is a place of scenic beauty which has fantastically shaped rocks, solitary islands, caves etc., which eroded by the waves of Sea of Japan continues. Also it is one of the most famous coastal scenic spots and selected as one of 100 Landscapes of Japan. In 1927, it was designated as a national site of scenic beauty and natural monument of […]
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Hisui Coast (Jade Coast) and Fossa Magna Museum
I will teach you how to find jades at “Jade Coast” in Niigata! The stone you picked from the coast can be appraised by a stone professor at Fossa Magna Museum for free. The coast in Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture is familiar with the nickname of “Hisui Coast (Jade Coast)”. This is because the mountain of Hime River and Oumi River flowing in Itoigawa City is the largest jade production area of Japan and on this coast, you can pick up the jade carried from upstream. (Collection of jade is forbidden at Hime River and Oumi River since it is designated as natural monuments of Japan.) The coast in Itoigawa […]
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Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine (Gold Panning Experience)
Everyone who wants to be a billionaire gather! Why don’t you pick up gold dust on the oldest gold mine in Sado Island, Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine? Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture is a very famous for Sado Gold Mine as it called “Gold Island”, but in fact, there are 55 gold and silver mines on Sado Island. Among them, there are 4 main mines, such as Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine, Niibo Silver Mine, Tsurushi Silver Mine, and Aikawa Gold and Silver Mine (commonly called Sado Gold Mine). In July 2024, it was decided that the Nishimikawa Placer Gold Mine was registered as a World Heritage Site as one of the […]
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Streetscape of Murakami, a castle town in the Edo period
I walked through the streets of Murakami, where Machiya traditional wooden townhouse remain. Murakami, located in the northernmost part of Niigata Prefecture was flourished as a castle town of the domain of Murakami during the Edo era, and there are samurai residence and houses of Edo and Meiji era called as “machiya (town house)”, that shop and house are added together still remained. In addition, Miomote River flowing through Murakami is known as a salmon river since Heian era, and a unique salmon culture still remains. The townscape of Murakami is also used for an advertisement of JR East. In front of the shop where the big shop curtain written […]