All Aboard!

This is one of those things you see and know it’s just so crazy that it has to be true. Remind me never to take the rush hour train from Tokyo.

Map of Japan cira 1850

When I saw this map on Tokyomango, I knew I had to share it.

The continents, each assigned a different colour, are generally in the right position vis-a-vis each other, but their contours are very poorly rendered, as if the map was not drawn directly from a contemporary western example, but via a system of Chinese whispers. – Strange Maps

Not sure what a system of Chinese whispers is? Me either :P

Want to see some more old maps of Japan?

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Children Full of Life

I came across a tweet from Tokyomango about a very interesting and moving documentary the CBC did on one Japanese teacher’s quest to teach important life lessons to his grade 4 class.

Being that you often expect the Japanese to repress their feelings, it’s exciting to see someone teaching the benefits of understanding the need to express and explore feelings both good and bad.

The documentary is broken down into 5 parts and is well worth watching.

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New Look for I Heart Japan

I’ve been messing around all morning on a slightly new look for I Heart Japan. I was never completely satisfied with the old background, so I wanted to put something a bit more dynamic together.

So here we are! The new look for I Heart Japan. What do you think?

Kinkaku-ji – The Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion) is to Kyoto what the Empire State building is to New York- a quintessential piece of architecture that defines the area. It is pretty rare to see a mention of Kyoto in a web site or magazine without at least one picture of this beautiful, gold-covered building.

But what is Kinkaku-ji and why was it built? And if you’re planning to visit, what camera gear should you take to get the best shots?

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