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Welcome Grass Mats and Futons: Ryokan Stays in Japan
Nagano was our second stop out of Tokyo, and our first experience staying in a ryokan guest house. We found Chuokan Shimizuya Ryokan on Booking.com. With grass mats and sparse furnishings, it seemed huge in comparison to our city hotels. We took advantage of the baths, relaxed with tea in our room, used the window…
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Dragonflies in the Garden, Nikko, Japan
Nikko was our first stop out of Tokyo. The temple and shrine area (combining Buddhism and Shinto architecture) has the advantage of being situated on a gorgeous wooded mountainside, above a fast flowing river. The downside during our visit was that the Rinnoji Temple was completely encased by another building, as an eleven-year renovation project…
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Three Wise Monkeys of Sacred Stable in Nikko, Japan
The Three Wise Monkeys get all the attention, but the famous panel of “See/Hear/Speak No Evil” is just one of eight carved scenes depicting the arc of life. In any case, the monkeys are incorporated into the outer face of an Edo-era stable because they were thought to protect the animals inside. The stable sits…
