CyberGene Inc., 4-7-15 Ebisu, Tokyo 150-0013, Shibuya-ku (2026)

16/03/2026

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Owakudani is one of Hakone’s most famous scenic spots, a volcanic valley formed by the eruption of Hakone Volcano about 3,000 years ago. With white steam rising from the ground and the scent of sulfur in the air, it is a place where visitors can feel the living power of the earth up close.

This area was not always called Owakudani. It was once known as “Jigokudani,” or “Hell Valley.” Because volcanic gas and acidic soil made it difficult for plants to grow, the landscape was barren, rocky, and severe. Its harsh appearance led people to see it as a hell-like place and gave rise to its earlier name.

In the 20th century, Owakudani began to attract attention as a tourist destination. The opening of the Hakone Ropeway in 1959, followed by the completion of the full line in 1960, helped establish Hakone as a major sightseeing and hot spring area. Owakudani then became one of its most iconic attractions, admired for its dramatic scenery and visited by around two million people each year.

Shibusawa Eiichi also played an important role in the development of the region. Known as the “father of Japanese capitalism,” he was involved in projects that supplied hot spring water from Owakudani to places such as Sengokuhara and Gora. His efforts helped support Hakone’s growth as one of Japan’s leading hot spring destinations.

If you visit Owakudani, be sure to try its famous black eggs. Cooked in the area’s mineral-rich hot spring water, their shells turn black through a chemical reaction. They are known for their rich flavor, distinctive aroma, and their connection to this unique volcanic landscape.

If you visit Japan, Owakudani is a place worth experiencing for yourself—a dramatic landscape shaped by volcanic power and once feared as a place of hell.

13/03/2026

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Todai-ji is a Buddhist temple founded in Nara in 745 under Emperor Shomu. It was built during a time when Japan was suffering from epidemics, natural disasters, and social unrest. Through Buddhism, the court hoped to restore peace and protect the nation.

At the center of Todai-ji stands the Great Buddha, enshrined inside the Great Buddha Hall. Known as the Great Buddha of Nara, it is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and remains one of Japan’s most famous cultural landmarks. Its scale is striking, but the story behind its construction is equally impressive.

The Great Buddha project was an enormous national undertaking. It is said that as many as 2.6 million people were involved in the work. Since Japan’s population in the Nara period is estimated to have been around 6 to 7 million, this suggests that a remarkable share of the population contributed in some form. In that sense, Todai-ji can be seen as one of the greatest religious state projects in ancient Japan.

The original Todai-ji was much larger than the temple seen today. Its grounds included not only the Great Buddha Hall, but also lecture halls, monks’ quarters, dining halls, and other major buildings. Huge seven-story pagodas are also believed to have stood on both the eastern and western sides, giving the temple an overwhelming presence.

Over the centuries, Todai-ji was repeatedly damaged by war and fire. Much of it was destroyed in 1180 during the burning of Nanto, and more buildings were later lost during the Sengoku period. Even so, the temple was rebuilt again and again through the faith and effort of many people.

The present Great Buddha Hall is not the original Nara-period structure, yet it still stands as one of the largest wooden buildings in the world. Todai-ji remains a symbol of Japan’s history, resilience, and enduring spirit of prayer.

12/03/2026

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Ueno Park

Opened in 1873 on the plateau known as “Ueno no Yama,” or “Ueno Hill,” Ueno Park is one of Japan’s oldest public parks. Today, it is known as one of Tokyo’s leading cultural centers, home to museums, art galleries, a zoo, and concert halls. But this lively public space was once the site of a vast temple complex.

During the Edo period, the entire Ueno hill area was occupied by Kaneiji, a large temple founded by the monk Tenkai. Closely connected to the Tokugawa sh**unate, Kaneiji flourished as an important temple that protected Edo Castle. At its height, the grounds covered much of what is now Ueno Park, with numerous halls and sub-temples spread across the area.

That history changed dramatically in 1868, when the Battle of Ueno took place here as part of the Boshin War, the civil war between the new government forces and the former sh**unate side. The former sh**unate forces barricaded themselves inside Kaneiji, and the area became a fierce battlefield. Many of the temple’s buildings were destroyed. Structures such as Kiyomizu Kannon-do and Ueno Toshogu Shrine, which still remain in the park today, are among the few surviving reminders of that turbulent time.

After the battle, there were proposals to turn the site into a military hospital or cemetery. However, the Dutch physician Dr. Bauduin argued that it would be a loss to destroy its natural beauty and historic structures. Instead, he proposed preserving it as a Western-style public park.

Today, Ueno Park welcomes around 30,000 visitors a day on average. Behind its vibrant atmosphere lies a deeper story: Ueno Park is not only a place of leisure and culture, but also a space where the religious legacy of Edo, the conflict of the late Tokugawa period, and the beginning of modern Japan still quietly remain.

10/03/2026

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In Minato City, Tokyo, in the middle of office districts like Shinbashi and Toranomon where Japanese salarymen hurry through the streets, there stands a shrine that seems almost out of place.

This is Atago Shrine, founded in 1603 by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first sh**un of the Edo sh**unate. It enshrines Atago Gongen, a deity associated with victory in battle and protection from fire, and was long revered as a guardian shrine protecting Edo from fires and other disasters.

One of the shrine’s most famous features is the steep stairway leading up to the grounds, known as the “Stairs of Success.” The front approach, Otoko-zaka, has 86 stone steps, and its name comes from a well-known Edo-period legend. When Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third sh**un, saw plum blossoms blooming on Atagoyama and ordered someone to bring him one, everyone hesitated because of the steep slope. Yet one samurai, Magaki Heikurō, rode his horse straight up the stairs and presented the blossoms to the sh**un.

Iemitsu praised his horsemanship and effort, calling him “the finest horseman in Japan.” Until then, Magaki Heikurō had been an unknown retainer, but his name became known throughout the country overnight. This story gave rise to the name “Stairs of Success.”

Today, the Stairs of Success are especially known among businesspeople as an auspicious place to pray for career success. Because the shrine stands close to office districts such as Shinbashi and Toranomon, many people visit before important milestones such as a promotion, career change, starting a business, or taking on a new challenge.

Atago Shrine still preserves a distinctly Japanese scene where long history, faith, and the wishes of people living busy modern lives come together. For businesspeople, merchants, and anyone hoping for success, it is a place worth visiting at least once.

09/03/2026

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Kyoto’s Sanzen-in is a Tendai Buddhist temple with deep ties to Japan’s Imperial family, said to date back to the Heian period.

In previous posts, I have introduced temples associated with schools such as Jodo Buddhism and esoteric Buddhism, especially Shingon. This time, however, I am featuring Tendai Buddhism for the first time. Tendai is one of the major schools of Japanese Buddhism, centered on the Lotus Sutra. In Japan, it was established in the early ninth century by the monk Saicho. Its main center is Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei, on the border of Kyoto and Shiga, and Sanzen-in is said to have originated as one of its temple compounds.

A defining feature of Tendai Buddhism is that it does not cling to a single doctrine. While placing the greatest importance on the Lotus Sutra, it also embraces practices such as nenbutsu, Zen, and esoteric teachings. At its heart is the belief that all people have the potential to become Buddhas, not only monks or those of special status.

Sanzen-in also has a strong connection to Japan’s Imperial household. From the late Heian period onward, beginning with Saiun Hosshinnō, the son of Emperor Horikawa, the temple is said to have been headed by members of the Imperial family and regent class. The court ritual known as Gosenbōkō was also passed down through Sanzen-in and continued from the twelfth century until the late Edo period. This shows that Sanzen-in was not simply a mountain temple, but a highly prestigious institution linked to the Imperial court.

Over its more than 1,200-year history, Sanzen-in served as a place of spiritual discipline for powerful figures, including emperors. When you visit, I hope you will not only admire its beauty, but also feel the depth of its long history for yourself.

09/03/2026

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Hatonosu Gorge is a place where you can experience a natural landscape that feels like a remote mountain countryside, even though it lies within Tokyo.
This area is known as Okutama, and its quiet mountains and crystal-clear river scenery have attracted visitors for generations.

In 1657, during the Edo period, a great fire known as the Great Fire of Meireki destroyed around 60 percent of Edo.
In the rebuilding that followed, timber from the Okutama region was used as an important resource.

The Tama River also played a vital role in carrying that timber downstream.
For this reason, it is said that lodging huts for timber workers were built around Hatonosu, and Suijin Shrine was enshrined there as a prayer for safety on the water.

The name “Hatonosu” also comes from a small local legend.
It is said that two doves built a nest in the forest near Suijin Shrine, and the people who gathered in this area came to cherish that nest. Over time, the place came to be known as Hatonosu.

Today, Hatonosu Gorge is loved as a walking destination where visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature in every season.
In spring and early summer, the area is filled with fresh green leaves, while in autumn the entire gorge is wrapped in colorful foliage.

The scenery of Hatonosu Gorge was shaped by the Tama River over a very long period of time.
Later, during the Edo period, after the Great Fire of Meireki, this river also played an important role in supporting people’s lives by carrying timber used for the reconstruction of Edo.

We hope you will visit Hatonosu Gorge and experience a uniquely Japanese natural landscape unlike anything found in other parts of Asia or in the West.

27/02/2026

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Do you know kabuki?

Kabuki is one of Japan’s most iconic traditional performing arts. Since the early 1600s, it has captivated people, especially in Kyoto, as a form of popular entertainment.

The origins of kabuki are said to trace back to the dance of a single woman. Its foundation is believed to lie in kabuki odori, created by a dancer named Izumo no Okuni. She is said to have originally served as a shrine maiden of Izumo Taisha in present-day Shimane Prefecture. While visiting Kyoto and spreading religious teachings, she performed kabuki odori, and its beauty and originality quickly attracted attention in the city before spreading across Japan.

Early kabuki was centered on simple dance performances. Over time, music, acting, lavish costumes, and storytelling were added, allowing kabuki to develop into a unique form of theatrical art unlike any other.

As the centuries passed, kabuki continued to evolve while being carefully preserved. Its performance style gradually became more refined, and today it is known as a distinctly Japanese stage art in which male actors perform every role. In this way, kabuki grew while remaining beloved by many people, and it has become one of Japan’s most representative traditional arts.

The Shijo Kawara area of Kyoto is deeply connected to the birth of kabuki, and Minamiza is a historic and prestigious theater that carries on this legacy. The current building was completed in 1929, and kabuki performances are still held there today.

If you visit Kyoto, be sure to stop by Minamiza and experience kabuki for yourself—a performing art that has been cherished in Japan for more than 400 years.

27/02/2026

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Murou-ji Temple

In the past, Japan had sacred mountain sites like Koyasan, where women were not allowed to enter.
Koyasan, located in Wakayama Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most important sacred sites and the center of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, founded by Kukai. Because it was long preserved as a place for monks’ spiritual training, women were once forbidden from entering the mountain.
In contrast, Murou-ji, built in the mountains of Nara in the late 8th century, became known as a temple with a deep connection to women’s faith, and was later called Nyonin Koya — “Women’s Koyasan.”

One reason for this lies in the nature of Murou-ji itself. Rather than being solely a place for severe ascetic practice, it developed as a sacred place of prayer and spiritual discipline, where people offered prayers for their lord or for someone dear to them. Murou-ji is said to have been founded in connection with prayers for the healing of an imperial prince.
Within this character, the temple came to embrace the faith of women as well, and eventually became known in contrast to Koyasan as Nyonin Koya.
Later, in the Edo period, its halls and pagodas were restored through the patronage of Keishoin, the mother of Sh**un Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, and its name became even more widely known.

For more than a thousand years, countless prayers have been layered into this mountain temple.
It could be said that Murou-ji’s history has been shaped not only by prayers for oneself, but by prayers offered for others.
Perhaps you, too, may wish to offer a prayer here for someone dear to you.

24/02/2026

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When people hear “Japanese food,” what comes to mind? For most, it’s sushi—and among sushi, tuna is one of Japan’s timeless favorites.

Misaki Port, on the Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa—an easy trip from Tokyo—is cherished as a true “tuna town.” It has flourished as a fishing port since as far back as the 14th century, and in the early 20th century it grew into a key base for deep-sea tuna fishing. Soon, tuna boats from across Japan began gathering here, and “Misaki” became synonymous with tuna.

If you visit Misaki, start with tuna sushi. Because this is a landing port, the fish is handled fast, and the local shops have an expert eye for selecting the best cuts. Expect a clean, rich akami flavor, a gentle sweetness of fat, and a melt-in-your-mouth finish. Many people travel here from within Japan just for this. Come to Japan and skip Misaki’s tuna, and you may regret it.

From Misaki Port, a sightseeing boat crosses the water in about five minutes to Jogashima Island. At the southernmost tip of the peninsula, Jogashima is defined by rugged seascapes—rocky shores and cliffs shaped by relentless waves. The highlight is Uma-no-se Domon, a dramatic natural rock arch carved by the sea.

For panoramic views, head to the high ground near Awasaki Lighthouse and the Umiu Observatory, where the horizon opens wide. In certain seasons, large flocks of Japanese cormorants (umiu) gather along the cliffs, adding a rare wildlife scene to the landscape.

At night, the lighthouse beam sweeps across the dark sea every few seconds, briefly tracing the waves. On clear, low-moon nights, the Milky Way can appear as a bright band overhead.

Taste real tuna in Misaki, then take in Jogashima’s coastline. Food and nature sit side by side in one compact day trip. Together, they create a Japan experience you won’t forget.

19/02/2026

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Naritasan Shinshoji is one of Japan’s major centers of devotion to Fudō Myōō, a Buddhist protector believed to ward off misfortune and guide people back to the right path. The temple’s story links two very different currents of Japanese history: the emergence of samurai power and the popularity of kabuki.

Shinshoji is traditionally said to have begun around 940, in the mid-Heian period. In the Kantō region, the warrior Taira no Masakado proclaimed himself a “new emperor” and raised a large revolt against the imperial court. To suppress it, the monk Kanchō was ordered by Emperor Suzaku to found a temple at present-day Narita (Chiba) and perform daily goma fire rituals before Fudō Myōō. The rebellion was later subdued, and Naritasan became known as a sanctuary tied to prayers that overcame turmoil.

As the warrior class rose, the temple gained strong samurai patronage. Minamoto no Yoritomo—who established the Kamakura sh**unate (1192), Japan’s first full-scale warrior government—was among the leaders remembered for honoring Naritasan, helping it become a familiar spiritual landmark for the samurai world.

Naritasan’s influence also reaches into kabuki, the flamboyant Edo-period theater known for striking makeup, lavish costumes, and dramatic historical and everyday stories. A key connection is Ichikawa Danjūrō, the celebrated actor lineage called “Narita-ya.” The house name comes from Naritasan: tradition says the first Danjūrō prayed here for a child, received an answer, and deepened his faith. Many of his signature plays featured Fudō Myōō, and even today the 13th Danjūrō inherits Fudō-themed repertoire.

With over a thousand years of history, Naritasan Shinshoji is a place where faith, power, and performance became intertwined—and where you can still feel that living connection.

18/02/2026

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Takeda Castle Ruins

High on a ridge in Asago, Hyogo, Takeda Castle is a rare mountain fortress where only vast stone walls remain. On certain early mornings—when cool air, humidity, and light wind align—a sea of clouds fills the valley, and the ruins seem to float. That’s why it’s called the “Castle in the Sky” and the “Machu Picchu of Japan.”

These stones once held a full castle. In the early 1400s (Muromachi period), it was built by the Otagaki clan under the powerful Yamana family, rulers of Tajima (today’s northern Hyogo). The site lies on routes linking eastern Japan with the Kyoto–Osaka heartland. Holding this height meant controlling the movement of troops and goods, and projecting power across the region.

Tajima was long contested by local forces and neighboring lords. In the late 16th century, as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, the area was reorganized under central rule. Takeda Castle was taken and administered by Toyotomi Hidenaga—Hideyoshi’s younger brother and a key operator of the new regime.

Later, Hideyoshi’s retainer Akamatsu Hiromide became lord and is said to have strengthened the stoneworks that survive today. After the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Hiromide—aligned with the Western Army—was defeated by the Tokugawa. The new Edo sh**unate pushed policies that reduced castles and weakened distant western strongholds, and Takeda was abandoned. Its wooden buildings vanished, leaving the fortress’s stone skeleton.

Today the summit is an open stone maze above the town, with sweeping views even on clear days. Come at dawn in season, follow the ramparts, picture the warriors who fought for this crossroads, and watch a landscape that feels almost unreal.

18/02/2026

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Nikko Tamozawa Imperial Villa offers a deeper side of Nikko. Most visitors first head to Toshogu Shrine, but Tamozawa shows how the Imperial household actually lived during Japan’s modernization. The villa was developed in 1899 and used until 1947 by three generations of emperors and crown princes.

Its core appeal is architectural layering. Part of the former Kishu Tokugawa Edo residence was relocated here, leaving a base of late Edo samurai design. On top of that, Meiji planners added a careful blend of Japanese and Western styles. In the Taisho era, Western influence was refined further in interiors and room function.

This makes the villa feel like a walk-through timeline. You can trace how Japan’s ruling elite shifted from a samurai-centered order to a modern international style, while still preserving Japanese spatial values. Instead of reading about that change in a textbook, you can see it in corridors, verandas, windows, and furnishings.

The interiors capture the transition clearly. A billiards room and ornate Western-style decorative elements reflected tastes that were still rare in Japan at the time. At the same time, the complex keeps Japanese sensitivity to season, light, and framed garden views.

The site is also nationally recognized. It is regarded as the largest surviving imperial villa from the Meiji and Taisho periods, designated an Important Cultural Property in 2003, and selected as one of Japan’s 100 Historic Parks in 2007.

Seasonal beauty is another highlight: cherry blossoms in spring, fresh green in summer, vivid foliage in autumn, and quiet snow scenes in winter. Tamozawa is not just a former royal residence. It is a rare place where architecture, modern history, and the evolution of Japanese aesthetics can be experienced in one continuous space.

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