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The archive

All Stories

5 dispatches from temples, tea houses, deserts and mountain villages across the continent.

Fushimi Inari Shrine
Attractions Kyoto3 min read

Fushimi Inari Shrine

Ten thousand vermilion torii gates winding up a sacred mountain.

Kenji Watanabe · May 31, 2026

Kyoto in the Rain
Culture & Craft Kyoto3 min read

Kyoto in the Rain

Wet stone, dripping moss, the smell of cedar and incense — Kyoto rewards the traveller who packs an umbrella and a little patience.

Kenji Watanabe · May 31, 2026

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove
Attractions Kyoto3 min read

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

A green cathedral of bamboo on the western edge of the city.

Kenji Watanabe · May 30, 2026

Chasing Fuji from the Chureito Pagoda
Attractions Fujiyoshida3 min read

Chasing Fuji from the Chureito Pagoda

Four hundred steps above Fujiyoshida, a five-storey pagoda frames the mountain the whole country quietly worships.

Kenji Watanabe · May 27, 2026

Kyoto on a Budget
Travel Guide Kyoto3 min read

Kyoto on a Budget

Most of Kyoto's magic is free — here's how to do it for less.

Kenji Watanabe · May 18, 2026