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Tsumago-juku is a historic post town, known as "juku" or "shukubamachi," situated on the 500km long "Nakasendo Trail" that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern Tokyo). As one of five official highway...

Certainly Japan’s most famous artist, Katsushika Hokusai – more commonly referred to simply as Hokusai – spent some of his final years residing and painting in Obuse. Under the patronage of a wealt...

The Ganshoin Temple in Obuse is one with a long history. The most famous item of the temple is a painting made in 1848. Inside the temple you will find the last masterpiece of famous painter Hokusai ...

Takai Kozan was one of the wealthiest farmer-merchants of Obuse. Highly cultured and intelligent, he studied Confucianism, Sinology and Western sciences. His house was frequented by all sort...

Located in the north-east of Nagano Prefecture and within the larger Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, Shiga Kogen Highlands covers approximately 30,000ha / 300km². A landscape formed by volc...

Meditation is one the primary Buddhist practices and one which brings great peace and joy to both practicing Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. ‘Zazen’ or ‘Seated Meditation’ focuses practitioners on...

Buddhists believe that we must subjugate and ultimately rid ourselves of worldly desires in order to see the true nature of existence.  In order to guide and support us in that goal, qualified m...

Japanese calligraphy or ‘shodo’ is an ancient practice which retains its importance as one of the most popular fine arts in the country. Literally meaning ‘way of writing’, shodo embodies the virtues...

The teachings of the Buddha have been passed down to us in the form of written ‘sutras’ or religious scripture. By tracing the sutras in a form of calligraphy called ‘shakyo’, Japanese believe the wo...