by Zoria Petkoska The lavender paradise that is Furano lasts all summer, but it’s not like this area is a one-hit-wonder. All of Hokkaido is stunning in winter, with snowy landscapes, cozy hot springs and scrumptious food that never disappoints. And Furano is no different. So here’s what can you do in Furano and the…

Ritsurin Garden is a famous historical garden situated in the city of Takamatsu. It is designated as a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty” in Japan which was created in the latter half of the 16th century. It took 200 years for the garden to be nurtured into its present exquisite refinement. With its scenic tapestry…

Have you ever visited a traditional Japanese garden? If not, you’re missing out. There is something completely unique about how the Japanese construct their gardens. It goes far beyond the materials used and the flowers they plant and penetrates into the very soul of what a scenic garden is – a place to find peace.…

There are so many historic gardens around Japan but only a few offers miniature garden landscapes. One of these is called Shukkeien (縮景園), which literally means “shrunken-scenery garden” in English. It was constructed in 1620 under the order of Asano Nagaakira (浅野長晟), a Japanese samurai, in order to serve as a villa for his family.…

If you’re familiar with bonsai (miniature trees), then you probably have come across “bonseki” which are miniature landscapes presented in a black tray. It is an ancient Japanese traditional form of art which uses small dry elements such as white sand, pebbles, rocks and other tiny decorative things. These elements are combined together similarly to…