ESCAPE

Tucked within Kaya Daimon Park in Itoshima, Totoro Forest is an unofficial Ghibli homage that stirs childhood memory and spiritual wonder. A camellia-lined tunnel evokes the magic of My Neighbor Totoro, where sunlight filters like grace through the canopy. With the Genkai Sea beyond and the scent of nostalgia in the air, this quiet forest path invites you to wander, reflect, and remember the beauty of what once was—or what we wish had been.

Discover Ishiyama-dera Temple, where Murasaki Shikibu found the inspiration to write The Tale of Genji. Overlooking Lake Biwa, this hillside sanctuary fuses literary history with spiritual legend—gold-prayer miracles, moonlit musings, and the 13th stop on the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage. Let MK guide you through cedar forests, Heian-era echoes, and the place where Japan’s first novel began.

Step into the legacy of Tachibana-tei Ohana, a historic samurai residence in Yanagawa where centuries of faith, duty, and memory converge. From Edo-era corridors to Meiji-era guesthouses, this living mansion tells a story of spiritual tension, inherited power, and enduring presence. Guided by the 18th-generation heir, visitors are invited to walk through time, where the past presses softly into the present—waiting to be felt.

On the edge of Fukuoka’s Itoshima Peninsula, Sakurai Futamigaura’s Couple Stones rise from the sea—bound by rope, framed by a torii, and bathed in myth. Said to represent Izanagi and Izanami, Japan’s divine creators, these sacred rocks draw lovers and seekers alike. Whether for the solstice sunrise or a sunset stroll, this stop on MK’s 5-hour Itoshima Course reminds us that beauty, belief, and love are never far apart.

Dotonbori isn’t just a street—it’s Osaka’s neon pulse, where retro-futurism meets fried food and spontaneity. Once a 17th-century canal, now a technicolor fever dream of signage, octopus balls, and late-night regrets. The district’s wild energy—equal parts jazz-era decadence and Blade Runner chaos—turns every walk into a scene. From Glico’s running man to legends of KFC curses and celebratory canal dives, this is where Osaka lives loud.

Tokyo Autumn Activities: Tokyo Moon Illuminations at Hotel Chinzanso, Monet exhibition, and Tokyo gourmet fair

Fukuoka Autumn Activities: Bamboo lantern illuminations at Kokura Castle, Traditional art backlit by lanterns, Kyushu Oktoberfest.

Sapporo Autumn Activities. Great Views of Autumn Leaves in Jozankei. Sapporo Short Film Festival. Sapporo Munich Christmas Market.

Parfum Satori’s “Sakura” perfume celebrates Japan’s beloved cherry blossoms. Fresh, bright top notes of cherry and perilla mint elicits the

PRESERVING SAGA WOODCRAFT TRADITIONS

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