Many Makino Metasequoias Morphing Majestically over the Months

We visit Makino Pic-Land, and its road lined with metasequoia, during two different seasons.

Ragtag Taga

We go deep into the mountains to explore a wind cave and then visit one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.

Something Old and Something New

Castles! Cakes! Canals! We explore Omihachiman city, where we see the old, the new, and the old again.

The Modern Eight Views of Omi 6: Wild Geese Returning Home at Katata 現代の近江八景6：堅田落雁

Author’s note: This is the sixth installment in a series about the Eight Views of Omi. (Read part five here) Please enjoy and follow along as we deconstruct the modern-day landscape of Shiga and examine its vibrant history and culture. Thank you for reading! – Maddie 著者メモ: 近江八景にかかるシリーズの第六稿です。（第五稿はここです） 現代の滋賀県の景色を解体したり、豊かな歴史と文化を調べたりしているので、楽しんで読み進めてください！ご読了ありがとうございます。 – マディ About a thirty minute walk…

The Modern Eight Views of Omi 3: Evening Glow at Seta 現代の近江八景3：勢多夕照

Author’s note: This is the third installment in a series about the Eight Views of Omi. (Read part two here) Please enjoy and follow along as we deconstruct the modern-day landscape of Shiga and examine its vibrant history and culture. Thank you for reading! – Maddie 著者メモ: 近江八景にかかるシリーズの第三稿です。（第二稿はここです） 現代の滋賀県の景色を解体したり、豊かな歴史と文化を調べたりしているので、楽しんで読み進めてください！ご読了ありがとうございます。 – マディ   A flicker of light….

Celebrating Spring at Ishiyamadera

Over 1200 years ago, at a time when classical art and literature were flourishing in and around Heian-kyo (the newly relocated capital of Japan), a Japanese monk named Kukai traveled to China, where he was taught the secrets of the esoteric Buddhist tradition.  This experience eventually led to the birth of the Japanese Shingon Sect, one…