Is "NORTH" The Best Surf Photography Book Ever Made? From Tubes To Turns, Jai Glindeman's Surfing is a Treat to Behold Gerry Lopez Goes Deep With Justin Jay On The Plug Podcast NewsAll NewsEventsBig Wave NewsWorld Surf LeagueEnvironmentalIndustryWave PoolsPosts List ‘He Was Such a Legend’: A Decade After His Death, Shawn “Barney” Barron’s Spirit Shines in Colorful Air Show Hawaiian Big Wave Icon Clyde Aikau Passes Away at 75 still as enthusiastic as ever to talk surfboard design LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website and will be missed as one of surfing's most cherished icons Rika Takayama was the Japanese judoka who came closest to winning a medal at the Paris Olympics on Thursday but she fell short in a women's 78-kilogram division bronze bout After taking a puzzling loss in the quarterfinal Takayama bounced back with a dominant "o-goshi" large hip throw ippon win in the repechage but then was beaten when bronze medalist Patricia Sampaio hit her with a "seoi-otoshi" shoulder drop at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris "I thought this would be the stage of my dreams I am frustrated (with the outcome) but it was fun." 9 topped Uzbekistan's Iriskhon Kurbanbaeva in the round of 16 but went out with a whimper against Anna-Maria Wagner of Germany in her quarterfinal She was handed the loss after three shido penalties the last coming when she was attempting to extricate herself from her opponent who was gripping the collar behind her head Alice Bellandi of Italy won gold when she beat Israel's Inbar Lanir in the final reigning Olympic 100-kg champion Aaron Wolf of Japan was twice defeated first in the quarterfinals by Georgian Ilia Sulamanidze and then by Spaniard Nikoloz Sherazadishvili in the repechage Wolf declared through tears after his last bout that this would be his last Olympic campaign after his repechage defeat Wolf had a huge media profile in his homeland after the Tokyo Games and struggled with his weight After battling back to make the Paris team despite his ranking sliding to 13th in the world His day got off to a positive start with wins over Aaron Fara of Austria in his first bout and then the world No Sherazadishvili ended his run in the repechage when the Georgia-born former world champion proved too good winning by ippon after nearly seven minutes went on to lose in the gold medal bout to Zelym Kotsoiev of Azerbaijan Japan still leads the judo medal table with two gold and seven total medals with Kotsoiev putting Azerbaijan into second with the Central Asian nation's second gold of the games in the sport Olympics: Japan's Murao denied gold in Paris Games men's 90-kg judo Olympics: Judoka Takanori Nagase saved best for last to go back-to-back Olympics: Takanori Nagase wins back-to-back Olympic judo gold To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible After a commemorative photo was taken with participants in the ring Takayama stood in the corner and Suzuki in the red corner An announcement was made inside Korakuen Hall: "We will now have a singles match with no time limit."  ©KAKUTOLOG 2024 "Stand up!" "You can stand up!" Suzuki cried out loudly tears streaming down his face in an overflow of emotion Korakuen Hall was packed with 1,701 people who also shouted in support Takayama desperately tried to move in his wheelchair It was clear to see that the two men were stretched thin in the ring I'll wait for you on this throne as the King of Wrestling until you come back stand up and try throwing a punch in my face An endless flow of tears ran from Takayama's eyes The match was officially declared a no contest a long-awaited dream match for the Japanese audience fought for nearly 30 minutes in a battle that emotional fans in attendance deemed "perfect wrestling." The rest of TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 3 was a cornucopia of Japanese stars & styles The festivities kicked off with a unique tag team clash between Hideki Suzuki & Jun Kasai vs highlighting both hardcore and shoot-style wrestling in a mixed styles bout In what may have been the dark horse match of the event the legend Meiko Satomura took on "Shin-Yoshihiro Takayama," a super-sized version of Takayama played by brilliant pro wrestling parodist heart-felt tribute to Takayama that only Sakura could have delivered Jun Akiyama & Shuji Ishikawa defeated Team 200kg (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) & Masao Inoue in a mixed trios match that was as fun as it was violent with fans enjoying the hell out of the pretty-much retired Masao Inoue Keiji Muto and NOSAWA Rongai joined the ring at intermission and talked about their memories of "The Emperor," Yoshihiro Takayama Danshoku Dino & Naomichi Marufuji teamed up to defeat Kikutaro & Ryota Hama (dressed as Japanese celebrity Matsuko Deluxe) but clearly a great time was had by the audience TAKAYAMANIA EMPIRE 3 is available on exclusively on Wrestle Universe until September 16th Justin works for PRO WRESTLING NOAH as Global PR Director and as a staff writer for the Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline Watch for a new flashback feature every Thursday This article is a part of a new series by FanSided MMA honoring milestones and memories from the past Like many older fans of mixed martial arts I began watching the sport around the turn of the millennium My initial exposure was through a VHS tape of UFC 8 where Don "The Predator" Frye defeated Gary "Big Daddy" Goodridge to win the David and Goliath tournament When YouTube came into the mainstream I became aware of Pride Fighting Championships From the professional wrestling style production and ring entrances to the open-weight matches and soccer kicks sure the UFC had Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz but Pride had "The Axe Murderer" Wanderlei Silva The thumbnail of the video showed Frye in his now trademark American flag shorts engaged with a much larger man in what resembled a hockey fight I began to watch the video and what ensued was one of the wildest fights in mixed martial arts history After a one year run in the UFC that saw him go 10-1 and win two tournaments Frye began a career in professional wrestling His wrestling career took him to Japan to compete in New Japan Pro Wrestling the lines between professional wrestling and mixed martial arts were blurred as many wrestling matches were made to look like they were real fights and many wrestlers competed in both staged professional wrestling works and real mixed martial arts fights it was only a matter of time before Frye would make a comeback Carrying an American flag to the ring at his Pride Fighting Championships debut and wearing the shorts to match Frye was billed by the Pride 16 commentary team as "the quintessential American" would become his trademark during his time in the organization After winning his first two fights in Pride he was matched up with Mark Coleman at Pride 21 on June 23 The fight was to be a rematch of the finals of the UFC 10 Tournament Coleman sustained a neck injury in training and was unable to compete Stepping in on two weeks notice was Yoshihiro Takayama the accomplished professional wrestler cut an imposing figure Takayama was 0-3 in mixed martial arts having been stopped in all three of his fights At the opening bell the two combatants walked to the center of the ring and immediately started throwing haymakers What happened next will forever live on in highlight reels The two men grabbed the back of each other's heads with their left hands and started firing right hands in to each other's faces The typically reserved Japanese crowd erupted Takayama started throwing knees in the clinch and Frye let go of his head so his left hand could join in on the punching After the frantic pace of the first 40 seconds of the fight the fighters clinched in the corner of the ring They exchanged knees to the body before Takayama was able to throw Frye to the mat Takayama delivered a knee that glanced off of Frye's head Once both men were back on their feet they immediately grabbed the back of each other's heads again and resumed their interpretation of a game of Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots After another 10 seconds of both fighters throwing wild shots By this time Frye had a cut on his forehead and Takayama's face was severely swollen with his left eye almost completely shut Both men were battered and exhausted as they continued to fight in the clinch Takayama landing knees to the body and Frye landing hooks and uppercuts to the head The momentum was in Frye's favor as he was landing the cleaner shots when the referee called over the ringside physician to look at the swelling around both of Takayama's eyes Takayama and Frye once again met in the middle of the ring and began exchanging hooks After the fighters found themselves clinched in the corner of the ring yet again Takayama attempted to bring the fight to the ground He fell to his back and Frye started unloading punches from mount until referee Yuji Shimada called a stop to the fight The fight lasted all of 6 minutes and 10 seconds The longer I've watched the mixed martial arts the more I appreciate the beauty of a beautifully set up counter but sometimes it's just fun to watch a fight like the one Frye and Takayama gave us it is one of the most incredible displays of heart and toughness to ever take place inside of a cage or ring it's a must watch as despite my efforts © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER ","https://fansided.com/",{"alt":"8c","src":"8d","url":"8e"},{"type":"8b","value":"8f"},"link","Minute Media","https://www.minutemedia.com/",{"text":"8i","url":"8j"},{"type":"8h","value":"8k"},"All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Like many older fans of mixed martial arts Don Frye and Yoshihiro Takayama had a LEGENDARY battle in PRIDE If you live near Misawa Air Base and travel to Kyoto is not on the itinerary this year you don’t need to travel too far to enjoy a shrine similar to the old capital’s famous Fushimi Inari Shrine Every year thousands of visitors head to the shrine in Kyoto to get a closer look at the stunning sight of lush forest and mountains with a path covered in bright orange torii gates you can visit Takayama Inari in Tsugaru City The shrine is dedicated to the same god as the one in Kyoto This location is also considered to be a power spot which are shrines or temples Japanese people hold in high regard as places where their wishes are more likely to be granted and where you’ll find an abundance of healing energy Take a walk under the 202 gates which stand at 6’6-feet-high and are believed to ward off evil you’ll find many fox statues as the fox is the familiar spirit of the Inari God Climb to the top of the hilly path and be rewarded with a wonderful view of the shrine grounds and surrounding landscape This is also a good place to get a view of the autumn leaves so make plans to head to this power spot soon as it offers a familiar sight without the travel time required to go to Kyoto Aomori Prefecture (a 2.5-hour drive from Misawa AB) Kushihiki Hachimangu is about a 40-minute drive from Misawa Air Base and is one of the oldest Shinto shrines in the region This Hachinohe City shrine is a popular tourist attraction and features unique architecture offset by the impressive cedar trees that surround it Kushihiki Hachimangu is over 800 years old and has been the center of faith in the region for centuries this shrine is considered a power spot which draws many near and far to seek good fortune in business The main shrine hall built by local feudal lord Mitsuyuki Nanbu in 1648 is designated national important cultural prosperity as the building is considered a valuable example of the early-Edo style shrine architecture The shrine treasure hall is also home to 25 precious samurai armors two of which— the Akaito-Odoshi Yoroi (armor laced with red threads) and Shiroito-Odoshi Tsumadori Yoroi (armor laced with white triangular-patterned thread)— are designated as national treasures Visitors are allowed to try on a suit of armor you may recognize western architecture on one building which stands apart from the surrounding buildings one of the oldest of its kind in Aomori Prefecture The hall was a school auditorium built in 1881 and the Meiji Emperor (grandfather of current Emperor Naruhito) stayed in the building when he toured northern part of Japan in the same year This building was not originally at this location but was moved here to commemorate the Emperor’s visit to go along a statue of his likeness in 1962 Aomori Prefecture (a 40-minute drive from Misawa AB) Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan It’s time for the surfing community to get together and remember Donald Takayama—the Hawaiian born surfing legend and master surfboard shaper/designer that moved to California in the 1960s and became one of the world’s most celebrated surfboard builders This memorial service is open to the public and will have a host of legendary surfers and speakers to share stories about Donald the surfer Following the speakers at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater surfers will paddle out just beyond the surf line to say their final farewell to Donald This will also be visible from the pier for those not able to paddle out on a board – Music by Takayama family at Amphitheater ●10:00 a.m – Speaker ceremony begins at Amphitheater ●11:30 a.m – Music and Hula Dancers by Momilani’s at Amphitheater ●12 p.m – Paddleout Water Ceremony begins next to pier ●1:30 P.M Jeanette Schumacher and Brendan White on behalf of HPD See www.hawaiianprodesigns.com for more info or updates as well as on Facebook at Hawaiian Pro Designs Surfboards Media with questions or needing assistance are welcome to contact Devon Howard at dhoward@spyoptic.com Masayoshi Takayama • Michelin-Starred Sushi Chef • Montecristo No Masa isn’t just another pricey New York City sushi counter—it’s the most expensive restaurant in the United States Flying fish into the country from Japan a few times a week all but guarantees that a meal at this three-Michelin-star establishment won’t be cheap curates some of the tastiest marine life to swim the oceans and prepares it in ways that transcend the platitudes of typical sushi talent and creativity come together with artistry and precision Chef Masa first started smoking cigars in the 1990s when he opened his Beverly Hills restaurant Some of his customers would offer him Cubans as a gesture of appreciation He accepted and has been smoking cigars ever since Chef Masa’s favorites are Cuban Partagás and Montecristo He lights something up almost every morning while devising his menu with a pencil and notepad and my brain works very well when I smoke a cigar,” says the 70-year-old sushi master Read Next: My Favorite Cigar (Steph Curry) Comedian and actor Marlon Wayans is not joking when talking about his love of cigars and the launch … The 47-year-old FanDuel host loves cigars nearly as much as he loves horse racing Comedian Jeff Dye was introduced to cigars by Terry Bradshaw It is fitting that a man who made his bones as a David battling amongst Goliaths should prefer the … He virtually grew up in a haze of smoke as the son of a … 2025年4月9日（水）～11日（金）、東京ビッグサイト（東京都江東区）にてMedtec Japan2025が開催され、帝京大学医療技術学部スポーツ医療学科救急救命士コース 准教授 高梨利満と同コース講師 高山祐輔が板橋区と共同でブース出展を行いました。 本イベントは医療機器の設計・製造にかかわる国内外の医療機器サプライヤーと医療機器メーカーが一堂に会するイベントで、3日間で17,261人が来場しました。今回、医療・ヘルスケア分野の起業支援や医工連携支援を推進する研究機関として、区内企業の産業振興支援を目的とする板橋区と初めての共同出展となりました。 Medtec Japan2025についてはこちら 帝京大学産学連携推進センターについてはこちら トピックス一覧へ Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Manga & Anime a legendary figure with two heads and four arms was given a more normal human appearance in a globally acclaimed manga that released its last volume on Dec Gege Akutami’s dark fantasy title “Jujutsu Kaisen” (Sorcery Fight) serialized in Shueisha Inc.’s Weekly Shonen Jump anthology from March 2018 to September 2024 has contributed immensely to the dissemination of the name Ryomen Sukuna including whether he was a hero or a villain In “Jujutsu Kaisen,” the protagonist fights Ryomen Sukuna portrayed as the “King of Curses,” in a quest to exorcise evil spirits The fictional villain is based on the ancient story of an individual with a monstrous apparition A visit to the Hida region in Gifu Prefecture where the legend of Ryomen Sukuna is still passed down reveals the various “faces” of the original sits at the Nyukawa branch of the Takayama city government in Gifu Prefecture The inscription explains that the 3-meter Ryomen Sukuna “traveled from Hida to Mino to demonstrate his prowess for the sake of his homeland” 1,600 years ago Takayama is described as the “birthplace” of Ryomen Sukuna and the legend of the mysterious person originates from the Nyukawa district “Our temple is said to have been established by Ryomen Sukuna,” said Shinkai Oshita Ryomen Sukuna is believed to have dug up the Lotus Sutra among other artifacts at the top of Mount Kesazan Senkoji honors four statues of Ryomen Sukuna a Buddhist sculptor from the Edo Period (1603-1867) keeps “records on the emergence of Ryomen Sukuna.” where Ryomen Sukuna had a meal before going to war remains in existence on the temple’s precincts affectionately called Ryomen-sama and Sukuna-sama is viewed as a “hero” who developed the area the Hida Nyukawa Sukuna Festival set up a huge Sukuna-inspired pot 6.1 meters in diameter The promotional mascot of Takayama city is known as Sukunattsu Ryomen Sukuna similarly appears in “Nihon Shoki” (The Chronicles of Japan) the oldest official book of Japanese history compiled in 720 But how he is treated in the document is significantly different from the descriptions in local records “Nihon Shoki” reads that “a man named Sukuna lived in Hida,” and that Ryomen Sukuna had “two heads on a single body” facing “mutually opposite directions.” he used all four arms to wield bows and arrows,” according to the history book “He disobeyed the imperial command and enjoyed plundering the people.” Ryomen Sukuna was reportedly defeated as a villain who opposed the imperial court and harmed the public Akutami got inspiration from this negative depiction of Ryomen Sukuna He says in Jump magazine that he checked “Nihon Shoki” and other materials to create the namesake for “Jujutsu Kaisen.” Why do the narratives display such a double-sidedness a professor emeritus of folklore at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies points to tensions between “the rulers and the ruled.” “The authorities labeled undesirable entities as ogres so they would be treated as antagonists to be defeated,” Komatsu said “This way of portrayal often conflicts with the perception of local residents.” Komatsu said the abnormal appearance of Ryomen Sukuna can be interpreted as a sign of either “disaster” or “blessing.” “Humans cannot see behind themselves,” Komatsu said People may have found something divine in this feature of Sukuna.” Also noteworthy is the fact that statues of Ryomen Sukuna a professor of Japanese art history at Tohoku University’s graduate school attributed this diversity to different religious purposes of the artisans “Sculptors likely anticipated the potential effects of their creations on viewers,” Nagaoka said “They appear to have chosen specific religious designs that aligned with their intended objectives.” He recounted the influence of these statues “Images add a sense of reality to stories,” he said “Figurines installed in the legend-preserving area help people there connect with the existence of Sukuna in a more realistic way.” such as illustrated scrolls from medieval times and improved printing technology in the Edo Period expedited the image formation of paranormal individuals and creatures Their images spread beyond the regions of their origin leaving a lasting impression on people’s minds “Jujutsu Kaisen” has provided a novel portrayal of Ryomen Sukuna allowing him to further expand the domain of his image can now reach out to consumers the world over,” said Komatsu “Harnessing the combined power of the internet and social media the image of Sukuna will capture far more people’s hearts from now although he was formerly known exclusively to a limited audience in a local region.” “Jujutsu Kaisen” has sold more than 100 million copies in digital and other formats The TV anime adaptation of the title was broadcast from October 2020 “Jujutsu Kaisen 0,” has pulled in 26.5 billion yen ($167.8 million) at the global box office ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ manga hits 100 million copies as it ends its run CT scan reveals tiny statue inside ancient Buddhist work in Kyoto Ancient treasures turn out to be far older than scholars thought Artisans create copper statue of plague-fighting beast Kutabe Spend vacation indoors reading comics in hotel’s unique rooms Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Elaborate floats dazzle visitors of the Takayama Spring Festival on Monday in Takayama The traditional two-day festival is recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage All 12 floats appeared since the Ebisutai float returned after its first major repairs in 140 years were completed Attendees cheered when the karakuri ningyo mechanical puppets on the floats performed amidst a sea of confetti please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Gifu Prefecture--Production of hana-mochi traditional New Year’s decorations is reaching its peak in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture Around 10 artisans at the Takayama Workshop of the Hida Hana-Mochi Association have been busy decorating tree branches with tiny red and white rice cakes The tradition of using rice cakes as substitutes is said to stem from the fact that fresh flowers are in short supply in the snow-covered Hida region The workshop can whip up practically anything from ornaments that stand 50 to 80 cm tall to ones measuring around 2 meters that are displayed in traditional ryokan inns and shops 25 or so and then the ornaments will be shipped to markets in Tokyo “It has finally become cold enough for the rice cakes to dry,” said artisan Sumie Nakano “We can’t celebrate the New Year without them.” Red and white mochi flowers in ‘full bloom’ for the New Year Sunset in Soja brings out the best of red rice for a little longer Four women die in Tokyo after choking on ‘mochi’ rice cakes No fish used in dessert shop’s seafood bowl lookalike cake GOHAN LAB/ Chinese-style cooked rice: Tricks for using a rice cooker for fuss-free rice and rice cake dish Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Tokyo Summer in Japan is not complete without the brilliant fireworks festivals. While there are many pyrotechnic events happening in Tokyo – mostly in July and August – there are more of these festivals in other parts of the country some of which are truly unique.  One of the most intriguing and unusual fireworks celebrations we’ve come across is the Hida Takayama Tezutsu Fireworks festival The event is celebrated annually on August 9 to ward off misfortune and bad luck.  This mesmerising showcase features a breathtaking display of fireworks held on temporary platforms along the Miyagawa River Instead of launching aerial fireworks high into the sky volunteers from the local community set off the fireworks stored in bamboo tubes while holding on to them This makes for an extraordinary sight as the handheld pyrotechnics shoot up like a massive fountain of fire.  a prayer ceremony is conducted to bless the local community The 2024 festival is scheduled for this Friday August 9 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm mark August 9 in your 2025 calendar as the event happens on the same date annually For more details, visit the website Where to find all the Pokémon manhole covers in and around Tokyo Tokyo ranked one of the world’s safest cities to travel to in 2024 Kyoto now has a museum dedicated to the city’s fabled geisha culture There are weekly fireworks at Gotemba Premium Outlets this summer Bruce Munro’s 1.3km-long light installation in Niseko is now open Want to be the first to know what’s cool in Tokyo? Sign up to our newsletter for the latest updates from Tokyo and Japan. facebooktwitterpinterestinstagramAbout us This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade have long been a source of top-grade timber and highly skilled carpenters who came to be known as Hida no takumi JAPAN HOUSE is featuring six artists that represent the region’s diversity of craft – woodcarving wooden lighting products and photography – and reflect the refined skills of ongoing generations of the master craftsmen of Hida.  Ayayuki Kosaka II (b. 1969) Ichii Woodcarvings Woodcarver *National Treasure Craft Ayayuki Kosaka II is a second-generation woodcarver Entering his apprenticeship at the age of eighteen began exhibiting his unique Hida Ichii itto bori work throughout Japan. Ichii is Japanese yew wood and the process of itto bori is carving created with a single instrument (in this case a chisel). Kosaka II has received many prestigious international awards he contributed to the interior renovations of Nagoya Castle Left: Hannya (Noh mask) Middle: Okina (Noh mask) Ichii (Japanese yew wood) Right: Izutsu Cherry wood Izutsu is a classic Noh play written by Zeami The main character is deeply in love with her husband she appears to a monk offering continued praise of her partner Menpou (Miniature Noh mask) Maple and cherry wood This mask represents those used in traditional Noh theater and dance performances Ryota Fukujyu (b. 1961)  Hida Shunkei lacquerware Lacquer Artisan  *National Treasure Craft The Fukujyu Shunkei Lacquerware Studio was established in 1850 fifth-generation owner Ryota Fukujyu leads the work overseeing ten artisans in the creation of traditional lacquerware with a touch of modern taste The Fukujyu studio elevates the essence of Hida Shunkei lacquerware in its ability to encapsulate both practicality and beauty Three Nesting Boxes of 6.5 sun* Japanese cypress Shunkei lacquer *traditional Japanese measurement: 1 sun equals 3 cm/1.18 in Round Two-Tiered Bento Box (Lunch box) Japanese horse chestnut Traditional Two-Tiered Handled Box Japanese cypress Mage Mizusashi Hegime (Bentwood water vessel with kusabi joinery) Japanese horse chestnut Shingen Bento Box (Lunch box) Japanese cypress Shunkei Lacquer Shingen Takeda was a preeminent daimyō in feudal Japan with exceptional military prestige in the 1600s he took his lunch packed in beautiful lacquerware in Japan lunches packed in lacquerware are now known as Shingen lunch 1946)  Shibukusa Ryuzo VII (b is one of the oldest potteries in Hida and has continued to seek new and modern Shibukusa-yaki designs while preserving the tradition The sixth-generation Ryuzo Toda started pottery from a young age and formally entered an apprenticeship with his father Shibukusa Ryuzo V at twenty years old He received his master’s name Shibukusa Ryuzo VI in 1981 His work is renowned for its traditional style; elaborate and distinctively colored cherry blossom paintings; and red-dyed porcelain with classic Shibukusa-yaki texture.  Today the sixth and seventh generations work together Shibukusa Ryuzo VII has collaborated with artists from a variety of fields presenting his work in Milan and across the globe Each successive generation continues to develop their own style of Shibukusa-yaki at the Shibukusa Ryuzo kiln Sakura (Cherry blossom) Tea Bowl Shibukusa-yaki pottery Sakura (Cherry blossom) Tea Utensil Shibukusa-yaki pottery Sakura (Cherry blossom) Vase Shibukusa-yaki pottery Sakura (Cherry blossom) Incense Burner Shibukusa-yaki pottery Engan Kokei (Warrior with the prestige of valor) From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery *Only Tiger is showing 1848–54) From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery *Description applies only to left piece Ginpu Rougetsu (Writing a poem under the moon while feeling the breeze) From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery *Description applies only to right piece Marishiten (Warrior god) From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery *Description applies only to left piece Kashiwade no Omihatebi From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery *Description applies only to right piece a powerful lord working for Emperor Kinmei he found the tiger and slayed it with his sword Ah and Un From the Irezumi (Tattoo) series Shibukusa-yaki pottery In Japanese Buddhist and Shinto cultures Ah and Un symbolize the beginning and end of all things The term Ah-un is the transliteration in Japanese of the two syllables “a” and “hūm,” from the Sanskrit alphabet They are also the first and the last letters The Japanese art of papercutting, kirigami (cut paper) was established around the eighth century as commercial handmade paper became increasingly available Read more. which translates as “decoration paper,” is a unique paper art tradition that has been proudly carried on as part of the seasonal Takayama festivals papercutting artisans have informed the development of other traditional Japanese crafts such as dyed and woven fabrics that feature patterns created through a papercut-inspired approach many Japanese papercutting artists were influenced by Western-style paintings In an effort to distinguish these graphic paper works of art from more traditional Japanese paper craft such as kirigami the cultural community began to use the term kirie (cut paper picture) Norihito Yoshimoto moved to the Hida-Takayama area at the age of fifteen He taught himself the traditional art of papercutting and is the pioneer of a style of kirie called “wa modern” (which means traditional Japanese taste mixed with a modern Western style). He has published numerous works encompassing the theme of Hida Takayama’s landscape and seasonal symbols and has received acclaim domestically and internationally with exhibitions in Denver as well as through studio visits by foreign collectors Nakabashi Bridge Right: Hida Takayama: Summer Hida Kokubun-ji Temple Right: Winter Is Coming: Shirakawa-go in Late Autumn Kirie Left: Hida Takayama: New Year Right: A Cold Night in Hida Takayama Kirie Girls’ Festival Kirie With origins in the Heian period (794 to 1185) Hina Matsuri (Girls’ Festival) is an annual festival that celebrates the health of young girls it is observed on April 3 and households are decorated with beautiful Japanese dolls and drawings In Hida Takayama it is held a month later on June 5 Flying carp kites and samurai armor displays symbolize robust energy and forward momentum Otsukimi (Moon Viewing) Kirie During one of Japan’s most beautiful and poetic festivals people gather to gaze at the autumn full moon the celebration is also seen as an appreciation of the harvest Fuji is a prominent symbol of Japan located just southwest of Tokyo Fuji is portrayed with strength and gentleness using traditional Japanese patterns is a family-run company that has created wooden lighting products for half a century in Hida Takayama Its celebrated Moare line is Japan’s first wooden lighting brand The work of these master craftsmen of the Hida region carries tradition into the present conveying comfort through the gentle beauty of light and the warmth of natural wood.   At the core of the company’s monozukuri However, it is the synergy of the materials and the entire design that allows the product to shine Kakishita Woody Works aspires to create a new lighting style in tune with the traditional Hida skills that have been honed in harmony with the forest.  plastic-coated paper Right: H+ Stand (Beech) Collaboration between Kakishita Woody Works and Heikki Ruoho (b an industrial and furniture designer from Finland Left: Floor Stand Shiromuji (Plain white) Right: Rangoushi (Lattice pattern) Walnut plastic-coated paper Designed by Tatsuya Shibuya Shibuya previously worked and designed lighting products for Panasonic Incorporating natural materials such as wood and handmade washi paper is the core of his design plastic-coated paper Right: Tipo (Oak/Walnut) Oak Fukutaro Teraji studied photography and film editing while working at an advertising agency in Tokyo he established Naughty Studio in Takayama the studio was awarded the Grand Prize as part of Universal Music’s video contest hosted by Lancers Co. The studio has gone on to produce major network television content including closing credits for Japan’s Yomiuri Television programming Teraji aspires to share the attraction of the Hida-Takayama region through his own unique perspective Spotlight on Traditional Craft of Japan HIDA Pottery | Shibukusa Ware JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles would like to thank the City of Takayama for the opportunity to be able to share this unique collection of remarkable craft, TAKUMI-The Arts and Crafts of Hida Takayama, in concert with our exhibition HIDA | A Woodwork Tradition in the Making This exhibition from Hida Takayama is traveling to Denver later this year to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the sister city relationship between Takayama and Denver.  View All Articles Back To Top We use cookies to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience By clicking 'Accept All Cookies' you agree to the storing of cookies on your device we will only use those cookies necessary for the performance of the website We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors Performance cookies are used to understand and analyse the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customised advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyse the effectiveness of the ad campaigns Gifu Prefecture--The Shinhotaka Ropeway aerial tramway has reopened here after a three-month hiatus offering breathtaking summer views of the Northern Japan Alps 2 for uphill access had been undergoing sporadic repair work since spring last year to replace four ropes for two gondolas They feature Japan’s only double-decker cabins which were introduced more than a quarter of a century ago It connects Shinhotaka Onsen Station at an altitude of 1,117 meters and Nishihotakaguchi Station at 2,156 meters with two lines Tourists and alpinists gathered in large numbers for the Aug 2 at Shirakabadaira Station (1,308 meters) at 8:15 a.m The area surrounding Nishihotakaguchi Station is being renovated jointly by Takayama-based Okuhi Kanko Kaihatsu Co. its parent company headquartered in Nagoya Their stated aim is to make it a “world-class mountain resort.” An observation deck offering a frontal view of Mount Yarigatake was built in fall 2022 in the area named “Itadaki no Mori” (Forest of the summit) A walking trail through a primeval forest is due to open and there are plans to stage various events in September and October The four-story Nishihotakaguchi Station building is also undergoing renovations to upgrade the rooftop observation deck and other facilities The renovation work is expected to be completed in spring 2026 “We want visitors to enjoy scenic views of the Northern Japan Alps from various angles so they can fully appreciate its great natural beauty,” said Hiroyuki Kawase Mountaintop swing rekindles joy of watching Heidi TV series Panoramic tours at Kurobe Gorge to start in June; best book early Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp Takayama Festival is actually two festivals that take place annually in the city of Takayama which is the festival of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine The centerpiece of both events is a collection of splendid yatai of which 12 feature in the spring festival and 11 in the autumn festival dazzling the crowds of onlookers with their colorful and intricate decorations The autumn festival takes place on October 9 and 10 each year A detailed schedule is published around one month before the festival in pamphlets and on the Takayama City website but if you want to view the yatai at leisure you should start with a visit to the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine in the grounds of the shrine and on the avenue leading to its front gate is a unique opportunity to see all 11 yatai together as they are normally stored at different locations around the city It allows visitors to examine the decorations close up woodcarving and metalwork skills that have gone into their creation You can also watch performances by mechanical puppets (karakuri ningyo) mounted on the yatai The puppets of the Hoteitai yatai perform twice a day during the two days of the festival The show (karakuri-hono) involves two puppets dressed as Chinese children (karako ningyo) before ending up on the shoulders of a puppet of Hotei but are controlled by nine highly skilled puppeteers known as ayakata The spectators cheer each time one of the child puppets successfully moves to the next trapeze and the excitement of the festival reaches a peak The grounds of the shrine are usually crowded with spectators so you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the performance to be sure of a good view You can enjoy the autumn festival not just at the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine The procession of four wheeled yatai (yatai hikimawashi) takes place only during the autumn festival set off by backdrop of Takayama’s historic district Another festival must-see is the Goshinko procession in which gods usually worshiped at permanent shrines parade through the streets in portable shrines followed by a procession of many hundreds of people The costumes worn by the participants are a key attraction who wear flat straw hats and sound bells and drums to an accompaniment of ancient gagaku music and the parade marshals (keigo) with their broad-shouldered kamishimo over-garments are among the finest sights of the festival The Goshinko procession takes place on both October 9 and 10 are brought out into the streets of Takayama a number of yatai are on permanent display at the Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan situated in the grounds of the Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine If your schedule allows you to stroll around the city about a week before the festival you can observe the work of attaching the decorations to the yatai It’s a rare opportunity to see how the yatai are put together and will enhance your enjoyment of the festival itself The historic district of Takayama preserves the old townscape It serves as a backdrop for the yatai procession and the Yoimatsuri during the autumn festival but is also pleasant just to stroll around Takayama was founded in the late 16th century as a castle town Part of the city has been designated an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and where the history of Takayama is particularly evident which served as government offices from the end of the 17th century This historically important structure is the only one of its kind in Japan to remain unchanged since its days as a government building Jinyamae Asaichi (morning market) is held every morning close by the Takayama Jinya Here you can talk with local farmers while enjoying the delights of the changing seasons it is a great opportunity to meet local people many cultural experience programs aimed at foreign visitors have been developed Among the most popular are walking around the historic streets of Takayama dressed in a kimono and trying your hand at making Sarubobo dolls More information to help you plan your visit can be found on the English version of the Hida Takayama Tourist Information website visit Hida Takayama Tourist Information at Browse the JNTO site in one of multiple languages CJ shared with us her top places you need to visit in Japan and included a few great book recommendations From fashion through folklore to everyday expressions cats are a meaningful feature of Japanese culture It is generally believed that felines first appeared in Japan with the arrival of Buddhism via China their main role was to stop pesky vermin from damaging the precious scriptures From then on they have truly become part of the culture Picture the instantaneously recognisable Hello Kitty or the mythological shape-shifting Bake-Neko you have heard the expression neko jita which translates as “cat tongue” and which refers to the inability to take hot food or drink Or maybe you have come across the phrase: neko no te mo karitai meaning you are so busy you want to borrow a cat's paws These are just some of the feline-themed examples I came across in my three years of residence in Japan that inspired my travel memoir Now let me take you on a journey to discover my top five destinations to inspire your own feline-focused discovery of Japan My journey of exploration into Japan’s cat culture began in Gifu prefecture in Takayama surrounded by the Hida Mountains of the Japanese Alps It is also the birthplace of Gershwin – the main character in 'The Cat with Three Passports' This magical city is steeped in history and is home to the famous Takayama Festival that’s held each April It will always have a special place in my heart not only because of its amazing scenery but also because of the incredibly special people that call it home you don’t have to look far to find an animal-inspired statue in Takayama Here are just three feline statues that mark some of the most treasured places in the city A giant Maneki-Neko located on Honmachi Street has a fishing rod in its paw and a red sea bream that welcomes prosperity to the commercial part of the city It’s said that Sea Bream is an auspicious symbol in Japan and is known as the ‘King of Fish’ due to its longevity The second cat statue can be spotted outside a cluster of gift shops at Hida-No-Sato (Hida Folk Village) an open-air museum of old farmhouses and traditional gasshō-zukuri-style buildings The statue is positioned opposite the main village and greets visitors with a raised paw as they pass The third cat statue is in Takayama’s old town located on Kamisannomachi just outside of the Hisadaya restaurant Here it feels like you have stepped into the Edo period (1603-1867) with its old sake breweries and dark wood buildings of yesteryear you can enjoy an authentic Japanese lunch with a focus on local ingredients The concrete kitty sits with its left paw raised Before leaving Takayama for a new job at British Hills in Fukushima prefecture, I spent some time visiting Tokyo. Strolling through atmospheric Asakusa and along Nakamise Shopping Street (the main approach to the Buddhist temple of Sensō-ji), I stumbled upon Adachiya this popular shop stocks a wide range of dog and cat supplies which features in Chapter Ten of The Cat with Three Passports Although everyone doubted that I would get my cat to wear it he kindly obliged (only a little unwillingly) on special occasions I was particularly fascinated by all of the cute photos of pet cosplay that were on display in the shop Deciding exactly what to buy was a difficult choice but I felt inspired by the pictures captured by previous customers to dress up my own cat Japan is home to numerous cat islands but the one that I visited was Tashirojima which lies just off the east coast of Honshu near Ishinomaki Often described as one of Japan’s most wonderful places to visit It enjoys fresh sea breezes and captivating scenes of fishermen hauling in a tasty catch the cats of Tashirojima were originally brought to the island to deal with the mice population they help the local residents by attracting tourists The island’s dwindling human population means that the human to cat ratio is reported to be a staggering 1:4 a recent surge in tourism from curious folks hoping to witness a slice of this cat heaven has breathed new life into Tashirojima you can treat yourself by staying in the cat-shaped cabins of Manga Ai-land which have been designed by famous manga artists such as Shotaro Ishinomari This part of the island has been nicknamed “Manga Island” due to the resort’s unique design no visit to Japan is complete without spending at least some time at a cat café I had the pleasure of visiting two of them while in Tokyo and they did not disappoint Owned by Takako Saito, Asakusa Nekoen is a cafe that looks after rescue cats until they find their forever home I got to meet a cat from Fukushima's “Uninhabitable” Radioactive Zone The café is open from Wednesday to Monday 11:00 - 21:00 (closed Tuesday) and the entrance fee is ¥800 (around £5) for one hour The second cat café I visited was Nyafe Melange which is just a short walk from the west exit of Ebisu JR station giving you plenty of time for kitty cuddles In addition to around 20 cats for you to pet they have a cute coffee table book that introduces each of them as well as being the only cat café that allows children Opening times for this café are from 12 pm to 8 pm What cat-loving writer wouldn’t go catnip crazy for a bookshop that exclusively stocks books on kitties? Nyankodō is in Tokyo’s famous used bookstore district of Jimbocho and has everything you need for the purrfect read Browse the shelves of this quirky store and you will find not only cat-inspired books but also cat-themed goods Two of my favourite books on cats are by Japanese authors: 'The Guest Cat' by Takashi Hiraide and 'The Travelling Cat Chronicles' by Hiro Arikawa But over 100 years before these books were released the famous Japanese author Natsume Sōseki was writing about our feline friends in the book 'I Am a Cat' – a satirical work on Japan’s upper-middle-class society He was also a scholar of British literature and wrote 'The Tower of London' another book that inspired me greatly due to its accurate portrayal of a Japanese person living in London during the Victorian era With so many cat-themed destinations in Japan you would be unlucky not to find one during your travels While these places captured my imagination during my time in Japan I know the list is far from exhaustive when it comes to the country’s cat offerings and I definitely have plans to explore further when I return On top of my list for my next visit to Japan is Gotokuji Temple which is located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo This Buddhist temple is said to be the birthplace of Maneki-Neko – the ‘beckoning cat’ who brings good luck to residents across the Japanese archipelago and beyond Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders in medicine Read the latest news stories about CUIMC faculty Takayama has developed an international reputation treating all forms of heart and aortic problems He is particularly known for his skill in open and endovascular aortic surgery and myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy “Hiroo is what people call a ‘surgeon’s surgeon,’” says Emile Bacha “He is one of the few surgeons in the Northeast to take on highly complex cases His unending energy shows as he works late into the night in the OR.”  Takayama plans to extend the multidisciplinary spirit that has come to define his career at Columbia In partnership with vascular surgeon Virendra Patel where the two surgeons work collaboratively on complex cases Takayama is one of best cardiac surgeons of his generation,” says Craig Smith The Aortic Center at Columbia brings cardiac and vascular surgeons together to offer patients every possible option. Read more Takayama is known for his teaching; in 2012 he received the American Association of Thoracic Surgery’s most prestigious national education honor His research has been supported by national grants and he has authored over 200 publications Takayama attended medical school and completed his internship at the University of Tokyo He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Washington and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at CUIMC/NYP « Back Don Frye was involved in one of the most memorable fights in MMA history but his journey to get there wasn’t always easy (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) – Don Frye eased into his tan leather chair loosened his back brace and rested a leg on the matching ottoman with a sigh commemorative Japanese pieces and photos of him and his two daughters fill his living room’s wooden shelves Half a dozen saddles are stacked next to his chair and cowboy hats and reins line the wall beside him bright serape on the chair and flagstone flooring tie the scene together “The Predator,” often regarded as one of the grittiest fighters in MMA history, acknowledged he hadn’t watched his fight with Yoshihiro Takayama in years Japan’s PRIDE was the top mixed martial arts promotion in the world so fierce that the referee had tears in his eyes Both fighters exchanged something more than just blows to the face “I should’ve retired after the Takayama fight,” said Frye Took a big chunk out of my spirit – that fighting spirit that the Japanese always talk about burly mustache as his former self and Takayama – the 6-foot-7 285-pound Japanese wrestler – moved to the corner of the ring and exchanged right hands akin to Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots The match more closely resembled a hockey fight than a professional MMA contest I remember that,’” Frye said in his distinctive “He punched me and knocked my feet out from underneath me so I had to grab him by the scruff of his neck to keep from falling The fight only lasted six minutes and 10 seconds of the first round but what had transpired was more than anyone could have asked he was crying during the fight – said it was an honor to be a part of that fight.” Frye won by way of technical knockout on the scorecard the audience because they witnessed something that they will probably never Frye switched to a video of Takayama’s current condition Takayama severed his spinal cord while performing a sunset flip for wrestling for Dramatic Dream Team Pro-Wrestling in 2017 which left him paralyzed from the shoulders down rewinding and rewatching the move that cost Takayama his movement and career Nobody else on the planet but him would’ve made that fight what it was.” a rural community 30 miles north of Tucson tail up and charge” mindset produced explosive fights but what really powered his rage was experiences in his youth and then at “10 or 11” while working as a dishwasher for a hotel in Sierra Vista Although Frye and his family fought to press charges nothing materialized and the experience led to him to start drinking alcohol in fifth grade as therapy “I was molested a few times when I was a kid so that will f—— make you a little angry,” Frye said It gave me something to stay angry about and motivate me.” Fyre figured the early childhood experience was “just life,” but it left him scarred “I’d like to kill those f—— that did that to me,” Frye said staring out the kitchen window at the Catalina Mountains That rage followed him throughout his career and has led to a “major role” in an upcoming movie with actor Michael Paré about tracking down and killing pedophiles He took the role based solely off the plot Frye is circumspect about his career as a fighter “The UFC came around at that time and I was like 28 I don’t think I fought in the UFC until I was 30.” When the UFC was started in 1993 – and even up until the early 2000s and many of the moves used then are now illegal one of the first true mixed martial artists with backgrounds in wrestling His technique later became the basics of modern MMA “The Predator” had a professional MMA record of 20-9-1 with one no contest over his storied career PRIDE FC and New Japan Pro-Wrestling were among the biggest Frye may have never graced the MMA world at all is one of only four cage fighters with over 100-career wins “He got me into the UFC when I asked him to He got me some fights across the country where I didn’t get paid but that’s pretty much how you test somebody.” “I already knew he had a bone-headed attitude,” Severn said he just goes straight forward like a bull in a China closet.” Frye stormed into the fighting scene early appearing as one of the “most well-rounded fighters” in the UFC at the time finishing all three fights in under three minutes with Severn in his corner He would later win UFC 9 and Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 while finishing as runner-up in UFC 10 the UFC was set up in a tournament bracket Don Frye won his final belt in the UFC during Ultimate Ultimate 2 in 1996 before moving on wrestling and MMA in Japan. He finished his UFC career with a 10-1 record and changed the sport forever. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News) Frye finished his UFC career with a 9-1 record He moved on to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and PRIDE FC Frye took part in what is known as one of the most iconic MMA fights of all time It was Frye’s career and charisma that turned him into an icon overseas Although his close friends knew him as J.R he’d turn into Don “The Predator” Frye – rock star,” Spencer said you’d get off the plane and it was just crazy he would take a lot of time with them and I’m sure that’s what made him big over there.” His popularity also led to his featured role in “Godzilla: Final Wars.” Frye worked odd jobs ranging from horse shoeing But fighting is just one of the many chapters that altered Frye’s life The life of fighting – or lack there of – led to a pair of divorces that ended his belief of the possibility of a successful marriage and left him broke “I didn’t have the money (when I didn’t fight),” Frye said “When I broke the rod (in my back) – the first time I didn’t know it she’d be loving and caring in front of everybody you don’t have the pain tolerance you used to have ‘I don’t think you can provide for the family anymore.’ Ah The UFC changed Frye’s life once again when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016 The induction also got him through a major back surgery one that left him in the hospital for almost three months with most of it being in a medically induced coma from brain hemorrhaging and his career started to spiral in the wrong direction when he became reliant on pain medication from his various injuries The one regret Frye had over his career was not listening to his body Not listening to his body and masking the pain with medication shortened his career “I’ve had like 27 just on my back or related to my back alone about five or seven on this (left shoulder) Many fans remember Frye and love to interact with him like at this UFC International Fight Week Legends Panel in Las Vegas (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Don Frye’s career took a toll on his body, but he still makes sure to care for his horses and property. (Photo by Andrew Lwowski/Cronkite News) has been “like a brother” to Frye for nearly 30 years They met while Frye worked as a reserve firefighter before making it to the UFC “A lot of people that were around Don always wanted something from him,” Spencer said “When he started getting a little bit famous so I went up there and did all the framing on the garage and put their trusses up and got it all framed in for him We’re friends.’ And he couldn’t believe it because everybody else that always hung around him always wanted something because I knew him before he was famous and I didn’t want anything from him And I get pretty pissed off when people try to take advantage of him.” and he came down and stayed with me for like a month and a half after my wife died.” And it was Spencer who got Frye’s pit bull “The most special thing to him is his dog,” he said When Frye came back from California after his surgery and stroke he was in the middle of the divorce at that time and somebody had this bulldog that they didn’t want anymore and so he called me and he’s like ‘Can I bring it home?’ and I’m like ‘Yeah.’ Swear to God The juxtaposition of The Predator’s ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating “I have never seen anything like it,” Spencer said “We were out at one of my friend’s house and there was this horse – we were on this 10-acre thing and it was on the other side – Don calls over to the horse and the horse comes over and lets Don pet him “My friends said that horse was wild and that nobody else could even get close to it He’s like an animal whisperer or something Frye’s cage name comes from his first English bulldog His long career has sculpted Frye’s perceptions on divorces injuries and making a living; he acknowledges he’s “a lot darker now.” “You get ripped off for a few million dollars it will change your opinions on a few things,” Frye said He lives a simple life on a quaint 2-acre property backing up to the Catalinas who he admires for staying with him through the divorces help with care of the animals and property “Don Frye is a guy who enjoys his life,” Frye said two beautiful daughters who take care of him Andrew Lwowski Andrew Lwowski expects to graduate in August of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sports journalism Lwowski works as a reporter and photographer for Wrangler News and interned for Phoenix Magazine Visuals in spring 2022 Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Find a staff list and description of our beats here Privacy statement Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content Sign up for daily headlines [email protected] © 2025 Cronkite News. All rights reserved. Creative Commons 2015Photo by Randy HarrisSave this storySaveSave this storySaveI might almost be staying in Hobbitland The minute darkness descends and the paper windows under the thatched roofs all around me begin to glow Lanterns cast reflections on the rice paddy at the center of the 20-house village and the sign warning of nearby bears grows indecipherable in the pitch black Wandering between A-shaped houses with their steep 60-degree straw roofs—*gassho zukuri,*or “praying hands” in Japanese though they also look like giant open books—I might be walking through a Christmas card of occasional lights and tree-trunk seats gathered around a mushroom-shaped low table Inside the cozy Yomoshiro guesthouse serves hearty mountain vegetables and river fish cooked by his cheerful wife around an *irori,*or traditional sunken hearth He collected some of the vegetables five months ago on slopes filled with antelope as his ancestors have done since before the United States even existed had barely seen electricity or cars or trains Offering gunpowder in lieu of tax to local warlords through the mountains to deliver their payment I’ve seldom felt so far from fluorescent lights and Western fashions After UNESCO declared Gokayama and Shirakawa-go World Heritage Sites in 1995 even though—as Yomoshiro’s proprietors tell me wistfully—young people keep fleeing to the city (even as many in the city long to go “back to nature”) the houses of Shirakawa-go are illuminated after dark tour buses crowd in to see a fairyland brought to life a vision of what my wife calls “the true Japan.” In a country where it’s common to find the raw and the cooked this is the rare area where you can see both cool and warmth in their essential forms crowning grace of the area is the pretty boutique town of Takayama and more seductive and foreigner-friendly than almost anywhere else in Japan Takayama has its own cluster of traditional houses ten minutes from the train station but really its beauty lies in its narrow lanes of two-story wooden houses of the kind that have disappeared almost everywhere else Takayama is a treasure-house of jazz bars and stylish galleries and crafts shops; even the 7-Elevens here are elegant latticed-wood structures As you walk into the hills ten minutes from the old quarter rich with 13 temples and parks made for strolling you hear running water wherever you go; above the Yasu River winding through the center of town a series of shapely bridges turns the bustling city into a garden and find myself in a dazzle of shoji screens and bare tatami rooms sunlight streaming in under the high rafters Windows are pulled back to afford glimpses of the first reddening maples in a tiny garden; the light filtered through the paper windows makes abstract expressionist patterns across the tatami I’m so transformed by the scene—the most beautiful house I can remember seeing in Japan—that I have to return the next day to watch the light work new designs across the thinly lacquered beams and pillars Many visitors look in on Ainokura and Shirakawa-go on an easy day-trip from Takayama returning to the town of dainty curlicues and cosmopolitan restaurants for the evening But I was very glad to have spent one night in a thatched farmhouse Japan can be an incomparably sleek and friction-free bullet train of an experience; but being back in a *minshuku,*or family-run guesthouse reminds me that the country’s sovereign graces have to do with friendly humanity and an eagerness to make visitors feel at home—even if laminated cards are needed to explain what kind of celery you’re eating Beniya Mukayu An elegant refined 17-room inn a little over two hours from Takayama near the Yamashiro onsen(hot springs); every room comes with its own open-air bath Hidatei Hanaougi This ryokan has a hot spring on the property Magoemon For a thatched-house experience in Shirakawa-go Wanosato A luxe ryokan a short drive from central Takayama Yomoshiro A guesthouse in the gassho zukuristyle Heianraku An inexpensive foreigner-friendly place; especially good for vegetarians Mieux Bistro A pleasant French bistro on the main drag in Takayama with reasonable teishoku(three-course) sets available at lunchtime Hida Folk Village A pleasant open-air museum featuring 30 traditional farmhouses Kusakabe Heritage House A high-raftered merchant’s house from the Edo era Shirakawa-go Folk Village Yoshijima Heritage House A merchant’s mansion reconstructed during the Meiji period, near Kusakabe Heritage House. Snow Countryby Yasunari Kawabata; Vintage, $12. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world The locally-inspired property features indoor and outdoor natural hot spring baths surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Takayama unveils its newest addition to its growing portfolio in Japan the hotel is inspired by the reinterpretation of Takayama's traditional handicrafts enriched with locally-inspired hotel experiences Ideally situated in the heart of the city within a four-minute walk from JR Takayama Station Mercure Hida Takayama offers 161 beautifully designed guestrooms and seven room types to accommodate various travel needs including connecting rooms and accessible rooms a charming lobby with a modern wooden chandelier and shelves featuring local artwork creates a warm ambiance while an inviting lounge by the hotel's main entranceis furnishedwith a fireplace creating a social gathering space for travellers as they step inside A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar "Hobar" named after the Japanese word for magnolia leaves which are traditionally used to cook the regional dish of Gifu Prefecture and dinner service making use of local produce and the famed Hida beef the indoor and outdoor onsens on the top floor of the hotel provides guests with a refuge of relaxation Three private onsens are perfect for couples and families who prefer some privacy as they unwind and take in the beautiful scenery of Takayama Takayama is a city in the mountainous Hida region of the Gifu Prefecture The famous Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go the Sanmachi Historic District will transport travellers back to the Edo Period with its preserved wooden merchant houses and museums Local treats and original sake breweries await those seeking a taste of the region The city is also famed for its biannual Takayama Festival one of the most beautiful festivals to celebrate spring and fall one of the world's most expansive midscale brands reflecting the distinct character and culture of each destination in which it resides Bringing its brand promise to life through design Mercure believes that travel connects guests to the locality and people Accor currently operates 19 hotels across eight destinations in Japan Mercure Hida Takayama will become the 8th Mercure hotel in Japan and will join a collection of over 810 Mercure addresses globally across 60 countries Hotel website Brand OwnerAccor HOME > Business Wire > Article more more more explore the slow tempo and historic architecture of Takayama The Izumi Maple Reds defeated the Hida Takayama Black Bulls Gifu to remain sixth in the Japanese handball league H The Maple Reds beat the Black Bulls 30-26 in the 19th round of the 2024-25 Japanese Women's Handball League H at OKB Gifu Seiryu Arena in Japan on the 9th This kept the Maple Reds in sixth place with eight wins while the Black Bulls finished 10th with one win The Maple Reds led the offense with seven goals by Kayoko Ando and goalkeeper Kazuo Enoki led the team to victory with 12 saves The Black Bulls led the attack with Shiori Saito and Aya Kadomori scoring six goals each and Rina Toyoshima scoring four and goalkeeper Yui Nakizono made seven saves The situation continued to be tense 5-4 until the 9th minute of the first half but the Maple Reds later scored five goals in a row and went on a 10-4 run The Black Bulls chased after the Black Bulls by recovering two goals the Maple Reds finished the first half with a 14-9 lead The Maple Reds had Ricoh Ishikawa's even performance throughout the first half the Maple Reds also led the game with steady offense He started with a gap of 17-9 by scoring three goals first the Maple Reds scored three goals in a row to escape by 23-14 but Lena Ogawa scored two and Aya Kadomori scored two in the middle The Maple Reds wanted to run away with two consecutive goals but the Black Bulls fought back with three goals to catch up to 24-28 but there was not enough time to turn the tide The Maple Reds' organized play and the players' even performance were outstanding and the Black Bulls struggled hard in the second half but it was a pity that they could not overcome the gap in the first half ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Vatican is currently investigating miracles associated with the intercession of Blessed Justus Ukon Takayama that could lead to the canonization of the Church’s first samurai saint Japanese Cardinal Thomas Aquinas Manyo Maeda of Osaka revealed on Thursday that the Vatican’s investigation into the miracles is ongoing, according to reporting by CBCP News the news arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  “We pray that the investigation of Ukon’s miracles will be completed and approved at least within the next year or two,” Maeda said.  Maeda revealed the investigations after a special Mass in honor of Takayama in the Manila Cathedral in the Philippines The cardinal and 30 other Japanese pilgrims journeyed to Manila Dec.18-22 as part of an annual pilgrimage to the site of Takayama’s exile and death.   A renowned Japanese warrior in his day and a man of great learning and culture Takayama renounced his power and possessions rather than give up his Christian faith For his defiance Takayama was exiled from Japan fleeing with 300 other Christians to the Philippines where he died in 1615.  Pope Francis approved a decree designating Takayama’s death as a martyrdom and he was officially beatified in February 2017 To be canonized as the Church’s first samurai saint the Vatican must approve at least one verified miracle attributed to Takayama's intercession.  Born in a castle to a noble Japanese Buddhist family in 1552 Takayama was raised to be a warrior and an exemplar of the Japanese spirit and culture The Takayama were daimyo: members of the class of ruling feudal lords who held vast estates and were entitled to raise armies.  Though Takayama’s father had intended to put an end to the Christian’s proselytizing he ended up being so impressed with the Christian arguments that he converted to the faith along with his son.  Takayama was baptized as a Catholic at the age of 11 and despite being caught up in wars and political upheaval he and his father were able to use their influence to support missionary activities in Japan serving as protectors of Japanese Christians and of the missionaries According to a 2014 CNA interview with Father Anton Witwer general postulator of the Society of Jesus who advanced Takayama’s cause for beatification Takayama and his father influenced the conversion of tens of thousands of Japanese According to the writings of missionary priests Takayama spent long hours in prayer and meditation throughout his life especially in his later days when the Japanese persecutions were worsening.  a brutal persecution against the Catholic faith broke out under the rule of the Japanese chancellor Toyotomi Hideyoshi Hideyoshi called on all Japanese Catholics to abandon the faith or face consequences It is said that Hideyoshi even crucified Catholic men and women to make an example of them Despite years of loyal service to Japan as a warrior, general, and feudal lord, Takayama was faced with the ultimatum of either renouncing his faith or his feudal power. According to the Filipino organization the Lord Takayama Jubilee Foundation Takayama was willing to obey his feudal superiors in all things except when it came to his faith He chose to give up his power rather than denounce his God For this Takayama was stripped of his rank and authority.  His final words were to call his grandchildren to stand firm in Christian faith.  The Vatican has not yet replied to CNA’s request for more information on the nature of the miracles being investigated Frye won via technical knockout on the scorecard “I’d like to kill those f—— that did that to me,” Frye said Frye finished his UFC career with a 9-1 record with no fights going the distance His popularity also led to his featured role in “Godzilla: Final Wars.” And it was Spencer who got Frye’s pit bull “The most special thing to him is his dog,” he said The juxtaposition of the Predator’s ferocious persona in the cage with his bond with animals outside is fascinating Frye’s cage name comes from his first English bulldog the Tucson Sentinel publishes our stories without a paywall We believe a healthy community depends on everyone having access to quality independent journalism we're committed to providing real reporting to all Southern Arizona residents A single story can cost us thousands of dollars to report – some take months & months of dogged digging others require paying for tall stacks of records that officials don't want to provide Some mean driving to remote corners of Pima County & some see our reporters sitting through endless government meetings to make sure they get the whole story & not just a quick headline Our award-winning newsroom has some of the best reporters and we're dedicated to getting the story right Our pioneering effort (we were one of the very first local nonprofit news outlets in the entire country) to rebuild local journalism will only work if enough people join our Watchdog Club community of paying members Please join today for as little as $15/month For those who can't afford to contribute right now, please sign up for our free Watchdog Update newsletters & help the spread word about the Sentinel to your friends Your contributions help the Sentinel sustain & grow our nonprofit newsroom & bolster our commitment to delivering the important independent news our community needs to thrive The Tucson Sentinel is published by Tucson Investigative Reporting Center Inc. we're committed to providing real reporting to everyone in Southern Arizona But a single story can cost us thousands of dollars to report – some take months and months of dogged digging and some see our reporters sitting through endless government meetings to make sure they get the whole story and not just a quick headline Our pioneering effort to rebuild local news will only work if enough people join our Watchdog Club community of paying members For those who can't afford to contribute right now, please sign up for one of our free Watchdog Update newsletters and help the spread word about the Sentinel to your friends A smarter Tucson is a better Tucson — and the Sentinel shines a light on this town because we love it Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom is an award-winning journalism pioneer that learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands. © 2009-2025 TucsonSentinel.com Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands. who owns the Masa restaurant in New York City pays tribute to his friend Anthony Bourdain found dead after apparently taking his own life Chef Anthony Bourdain found dead at 61 The global appeal of Anthony Bourdain Eat out on Tuesdays and other Bourdain tips ShareSaveGavin Newsom on why Democrats got 'crushed' by TrumpCalifornia's governor was also asked by BBC Newsnight about his rumoured White House ambitions. 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With the fiercest of contests in the ring come the fiercest level of respect out of it Last month, reports emerged that Yoshihiro Takayama — one half of the most famous brawl in mixed martial arts history — had suffered an injury during a professional wrestling match that had left him paralysed from the neck down While Takayama battles his injury his old foe and the other half of the aforementioned brawl has recorded an impassioned video message offering his condolences and his support God gave me the greatest opponent anybody could ever ask for,” Frye says in the video You made the greatest fight the world has ever seen You are the reason that our fight beat the world cup of soccer head to head on TV You are the first person anyone asks about when they meet me We are not ready to lose you and let you go not much is known about Takayama’s condition short of his paralysis although the outlook is reportedly not good A statement by the former MMA star was read by an official at a recent press conference after suffering a cervical spinal injury in my match nor breathe on my own,” read the statement my heart stopped and I had other post-operative trouble My condition and disappointing progress left me unable to offer updates that everyone gathered together and offered me their support is something I can only be deeply grateful for I want to contribute my own ideas and will be doing my very best to recover.” A foundation has been launched by Japanese professional wrestling promotion DDT Pro-Wrestling to help raise money to cover medical costs. You can donate here Investigative stories and local news updates Coverage of the Hawaiʻi State legislature in 2025 Award winning in-depth reports and featured on-going series Get the week’s news delivered straight to your inbox “We need to maintain a safety net of services that enable seniors to age in their homes as long as possible.” Civil Beat asked candidates to answer some questions The following came from Gregg Takayama, candidate for the state House, District 34, which includes Pearl City, Waimalu and Pacific Palisades. There is one other candidate, Republican Jaci Agustin Go to Civil Beat’s Elections Guide for general information, and check out other candidates on the General Election Ballot Community organizations/prior offices held: Member of Pearl City Lions Club Board of Directors of Friends of Pearl City Library Campaign website: www.greggtakayama.com This year has seen an outsized influence from people who want big changes in how government is run What would you do to change how the Legislature is run We need to better utilize modern teleconferencing technology to enable neighbor island and even Oahu citizens to participate in legislative hearings without the need to fly to Honolulu or being limited to submitting written comments It’s difficult for average citizens to take off from work and wait to testify at a hearing – and even more difficult for the aged and disabled Hawaii is the only Western state without a statewide citizen’s initiative process We’ve seen that the initiative process can be hijacked by special interests that spend vast amounts of money to influence the outcome At least the legislative process provides accountability through our representative democracy debate and deliberation that is lacking in the initiative process Hawaii has long been dominated by the Democratic Party establishment Hawaii’s Democratic Party is big and still growing Our “tent” is so large we need to do a better job of building bridges among the many groups that comprise our party – Hillary’s supporters with Bernie’s The Democratic Party is growing because while we build bridges the Republicans build walls to keep out immigrants suppress minorities and protect big business What specific steps would you take to strengthen Hawaii’s lax lobbying I support providing increased resources for the State Ethics Commission to enforce existing laws and carry out ethics training for state employees Would you support eliminating Hawaii’s high fees for access to public records when the request is in the public interest I know that access to public records can be crucial to uncovering wasteful spending and mismanagement Unreasonably high fees should not be used to frustrate public access especially because so many records are now accessible electronically and don’t require time-consuming paper searches Voters complain their elected officials don’t listen to them What would you do to improve communication My Capitol office is one of the few that literally keeps our door open during legislative sessions so visitors are welcomed and feel welcome I keep in touch with citizens by walking door-to-door issuing regular legislative newsletters (three this year) sending out about 22,000 informational postcards per year on issues like telephone scams and road construction and holding monthly town hall meetings in cooperation with other area lawmakers Listening to neighbors’ problems produces results: My office has helped get a state fence repaired on Komo Mai Drive and the cleaning of overgrown city sidewalks It’s also resulted in legislation to provide $1 million to remove hazardous trees from private property and control messes created by overfeeding of feral birds What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district We need to maintain a safety net of services that enable seniors to age in their homes as long as possible This issue is especially acute in Pearl City which has one of the higher percentages of senior citizens We need to support family caregivers and supplement them with more state-funded programs like transit services delivered meals and effective referral services Support for these programs is a top priority of the legislative Kupuna Caucus comprised of legislators and senior-focused organizations and government agencies There is a desire to grow the economy through new development yet also a need to protect our limited environmental resources How would you balance these competing interests We need to grow our economy by encouraging development of high-tech knowledge industries and scientific research – especially in biomedical life sciences high-value industries that sustain our environment and tap the abilities of our best and brightest young people We know that our top students can compete nationally and even internationally because they already do intermediate and high school levels regularly travel to mainland competitions and do well against top-flight competition The best way to nurture young entrepreneurs in these areas is for the University of Hawaii to promote creative interaction among our strong programs such as medicine The goal should be to use modern research and technology in innovative ways to solve societal problems and human needs What should the Legislature do to improve police accountability I support providing the Honolulu Police Commission with greater authority and resources to investigate complaints against officers Its disciplinary recommendations should be required to be carried out by the police chief unless he disagrees in writing police body cameras have been shown to reduce complaints against officers because they promote better behavior by both police and citizens I’m disappointed that the Honolulu Police Department – the 20th largest in the nation – has failed to take a leadership role in utilizing body cameras and is instead trailing behind neighbor island departments As chair of the House Public Safety Committee I introduced a measure in 2015 to fund body cameras but unfortunately it failed to gain final approval We’ll keep trying because of the importance of  getting body cams to our officers and dash cams into police vehicles What would you do to ensure we’re taking care of our kupuna I helped lead this session’s enactment of the CARE Act to assist family caregivers transition their loved ones from hospital to home by requiring hospitals to provide caregiver training I also authored a new law to fund a falls prevention coordinator position I’ve fought for more funding of state Kupuna Care programs which assist stay-at-home elderly with delivered meals healthy aging programs and counseling services Hawaii needs to enact a family leave program (like California and New York) that provides workers time off to help care for newborns and elderly family members It can be funded by workers through payroll contributions as we already do for temporary disability insurance We also need to consider a state long-term care insurance financing program to enable families to cope with the enormous cost of long-term care whether through a general excise tax surcharge or some other method The average annual cost of a nursing home — if you can get into one — is more than $126,000 We came very close to enacting a state long-term care program in 2003 when the Legislature passed the Care Plus proposal What would you do to improve Hawaii’s public education system I am a proud product of our Hawaii public schools and I appreciate the crucial role of classroom teachers That’s why I’ve strongly supported providing teachers with the tools they need tax deductions for classroom material purchases and financial incentives for advanced learning — and why I’ve been endorsed for re-election by the Hawaii State Teachers Association We should lessen our reliance on standardized testing as a measure of teaching ability and student learning We need a more balanced approach that allows more decision-making at the individual school level that recognizes local community needs and interests and encourages innovative teaching methods I also believe the Legislature should generally not interfere with curriculum decisions better left to education professionals We should focus on providing schools with needed resources – cooler classrooms campus infrastructure improvements such as upgraded electrical systems and high-speed cable capacity – that enable them to do their jobs more effectively Unfortunately, being named a finalist for a Pulitzer prize doesn’t make us immune to financial pressures. The fact is, our revenue hasn’t kept pace with our need to grow, and we need your help Civil Beat is a nonprofit, reader-supported newsroom based in Hawaiʻi. We’re looking to build a more resilient, diverse and deeply impactful media landscape, and we hope you’ll help by supporting our essential journalism Civil Beat has been named the best overall news site in Hawaii for the 14th year in a row by the Society of Professional Journalists Hawaii Chapter Emperor Hirohito's reign (the Shōwa Era) was one of the most tumultuous in Japanese history. It began with Japan's slow descent into fascism and went through the devastation of World War II and nuclear bombing before going through the economic miracle that would make Japan one of the most powerful countries on Earth In Takayama's Shōwa-kan Museum pop culture trinkets from the more than 60-year period are arranged into a free-flowing experience with something to appeal to every niche and interest There is barely a blank space anywhere in the building Yet the museum never feels slapped together You can enter what resembles a 1950s barber shop with Japanese radio blaring out long-forgotten songs to the phantom guests an authentic 1950s Japanese car teases with its invitation to enter You can gawk and smirk at the cheesy television shows of times gone by with Astro Boy playing as proudly as it did all those decades ago.  a 1960s-style theater plays old Godzilla films behind a curtain the old NES classics are given their own room for a younger generation to experience Posters of everything from daily kitchen appliances to wrestling showdowns plaster the walls A working karaoke machine plays the songs of times gone by A unique museum documents pop culture and bicycles from the 20th century Serbia This small museum celebrates the history of the Ouija board and its connection to the city of Baltimore This deceivingly ordinary warehouse hides an enormous collection of pop culture treasures See the motorcycles that launched the stuntman to fame and the gear that saved his life The largest funeral ever held was for one of Tamil's most influential politicians Browse an impressive collection of passenger and military aircraft dating back to World War II a former wartime bunker holds some surprising secrets Australian YouTuber Chloe Ting's guide to Nagano Most people who have been to Japan have travelled through the main cities of Tokyo If you’re looking for a more off-the-beaten-track experience I would highly suggest and recommend these spots from my latest trip to the Hokushinetsu region Before jumping into the brief guide below on what to do check out my montage video of my trip to get some visuals Zenkoji Temple is located about a 10-15 minute drive away from Nagano Station Locals visit it daily to get blessings from the priest at dawn and it’s a lovely place for a stroll you can walk along a long stretch of traditional looking buildings that have various shops Recommended eats along this street would be chestnut food items like chestnut mochi chestnut ice cream or just plain chestnuts There’s also a famous apple pie store that serves up delicious pastries made from the sweetest apples from the Nagano region Another recommendation would be to have a soba noodle meal There’s various stores selling it but look out for the ones that have an open window display of them making their noodles fresh daily Be sure to go early as they’re known to sell out early by lunch About an hour away from Nagano Station is Shibu Onsen which is a historic and attractive hot spring town in Yamanouchi Town hence the recommendation to stay at least 1 night so you get to enjoy the various hot springs in this small town We stayed at Kanaguya which I would highly recommend It’s an historical 250+ yr old ryokan dating back to the Edo Period and the place looks like a labyrinth 4 communal ones and 5 private ones for those of you who aren’t that comfortable with enjoying the hot springs in public I highly recommend you try their Kaiseki meal for a complete dining experience The Jigokudani Monkey Park is a short distance from Shibu Onsen making it a great short morning or midday sightseeing trip if you’re staying in Shibu Onsen town It’s a must visit spot in winter to see the snow monkeys up close and personal as they soak in the natural hot springs Just be sure not to feed them and make sure your belongings are packed safely away the shortcut pathway is closed which means you would need to take a 20-30 minute hike up to the hot springs There are boots available for rent if you don’t come with the right footwear This snow hut village is open only for a month in a year so you’ll have to time your trip well to catch this one. They’re not just an attraction, but they’re open for reservations for lunch or dinner so you can gather around within a snow hut and enjoy a nice warm hot pot together with your group. You can find out more details on their website I recommend starting the day at Kenrokuen Garden as it’s less crowded if you arrive early It’s a beautiful spot to take a stroll and its extremely beautiful during the winter season Located right next to Kenoruken Garden is Kanazawa Castle Both these spots have tons of picture perfect scenery for photos so do take your time and enjoy the surroundings I was here for a good 2-3 hours and enjoying it at a slow pace so Higashi District was one of my favourite places to shop during my trip It’s a beautiful row of traditional houses and lots of visitors come dressed the part with kimonos on but it has it’s own uniqueness and you definitely must try all the interesting snacks they have You’ll also find several ice cream stores selling soft serves with a piece of gold leaf on it It’s definitely something worth trying and truly unique to Kanazawa where you can have a Gold Leaf experience in making your own gold leaf chopsticks If you managed to squeeze all the above by 3 pm I would highly recommend visiting the Omicho Market before it closes at 5 pm It’s a busy and colourful street lined by about 200 shops and stalls selling various fresh seafood and produce One of the stores sell fruits cut up to bite sizes so you get to sample some fresh fruits on the spot instead of buying large ones which may be inconvenient during your travels One of the seafood stores I went into served up fresh sashimi and grilled oysters and scallops with sake but I couldn’t pass on the opportunity to indulge on fresh seafood and I had no regrets we went to Shirakawa-go by car and it took approximately 1-1.5 hours It’s a must visit spot on your bucket list and I personally would prefer visiting it in winter over summer you can actually stay overnight in one of these traditional houses and indulge in Hida Beef I’m sure you’ve heard of Kobe beef but the Gifu prefecture’s famed Hida Beef does give it a run for its money and I’m a huge fan you’ll probably need about 3 hours in the village Just make sure you make your way up to the observatory to get a bird’s eye view of the village for a photo and ensure you try their Hida beef or soba noodles and the afternoon strolling through the Takayama Historic Village and heading towards the Sakurayama-Hachiman Shrine but it’s still a decent sized town so don’t expect it to be quick There are rickshaws available for rent in the middle of Takayama Historic Village It’s a great spot to rent a kimono and experience a day in their traditional wear while shopping and enjoying sweet treats I highly recommend trying out their fresh fruit mochis and steamed Hida Beef buns Absolutely delicious and we got some for the road on our way home Consider ending your trip at Takayama like I did Having a couple more days to your itinerary in Takayama will allow you to visit the Hida No Sato – a traditional village just 15 mins away from Takayama’s main town You can also check out the Shinhotaka Ropeway and stay the night at the many traditional inns along that stretch of road as they have outdoor onsens you can enjoy in the snow They’re all an easy drive away and there’s so many outdoor onsens to choose from I highly recommend Shinzansou or any of the other onsen that are just next to the Shinhotaka Ropeway