History and travel records

The Yamanobe Road is said to be the oldest official road in Japan, and runs along the mountain edge on the southeastern edge of the Nara Basin. The reason it is on a slightly elevated area is that much of the Nara Basin was wetland and swampland during the Kofun period, and going back even further, it was a lake during the Jomon period. The ancient tombs and shrines along the road tell the story of this area being the birthplace of the Yamato nation, and it's fun to walk alon

Kofuku-ji Temple was originally the family temple of the Fujiwara clan, and was a large temple complex that took over 100 years to build...

Two valleys (Kiso Valley and Ina Valley) run vertically through southern Nagano Prefecture, with the Kiso River flowing to the west and...

While living in Tokyo, one tends to think that Kamakura is close and one can go there anytime, but I decided to take a leisurely walk...

Taga Castle was built in the early Nara period (the first year of the Jinki era, 724) as an administrative center and a military garrison...

Fushimi is the lowest point in the Kyoto Basin, located at the confluence of the Katsura River, which flows through Kyoto City, the Kamo...

Asama is an archaic word meaning volcano, originally called "Asama" and then "Sengen" from the Middle Ages onwards, and coupled with the...

The road heading south from Itoigawa to Hakuba and Omachi is known as the "Salt Road," and salt and seafood have been transported there...

The Matsumae clan, the only feudal lord in Ezo (Hokkaido) under the feudal domain system, originally called themselves the Kakizaki clan,...

The ancient Echigo Province capital was located in Fushiki, Takaoka City, in the western part of Toyama Prefecture. Nearby is the...

Last time, I traveled around Tohoku, following in Basho's footsteps, on what I called "the shortcut to the depths," ten years ago. While...

Although I say I like Japanese history, I have never actually visited Ise Grand Shrine, and I felt a little inferior. I have visited many...

I was worried about the rainy season weather while arranging tickets and accommodation for Saga, but before I knew it, the dry rainy...

Soma Ota Shrine in Haramachi (present Minamisoma City) was built when Soma Shigetane moved with his family and retainers from Moriya...

Sado has an area of 855 km2, 60% of Oahu and 30% larger than the 23 wards of Tokyo, and is home to 47,000 people. Oahu has 900,000...

Naegi Castle is known as the best mountain castle in Japan, and was the residence of the Toyama clan of Naegi Domain, which had a fief of...