A constant fixture of National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s journey through rural Japan was the whirligig, or as he ...

Nara Japan offers beauty, history and deer encounters, and is especially gorgeous during cherry blossom season.

An illustration of a magnifying glass. An illustration of a magnifying glass.

A constant fixture of National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek’s journey through rural Japan was the whirligig, or as he called them, “seismic scarecrows.” Gardeners he spoke to use these ...

On the rural islands of Nagasaki a handful of believers practice a version of Christianity that has direct links to a time of ...

Water lilies, often likened to "water fairies," are now at their best at the Nobeoka botanical garden in the city of Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture. In the garden's pond, cute white flowers peek out ...

Oda Noritsugu holds the "world's largest private chair collection," with a particular focus on Wegner's work. Now, he's ...

Kyushu is Japan’s third-largest island, and yet hardly anyone I know has been. It’s a total shame, because the region is ...

Roses have a reputation for being a little fussy and petunias need frequent deadheading and regular watering to keep them looking lush. But while these ornamentals can be managed with proper care ...

While Japan is famous for its beautiful Zen gardens, they are usually overshadowed by more popular destinations. However, the lesser-known gardens offer a unique look into traditional Japanese ...

Volunteers planted 55 trees and 22 shrubs for the Japanese garden at Yunker Farm, a key step in a decade-old project by the Northern Plains Botanic Garden Society. Volunteers and NDSU students ...

Shinto shrines, known as “jinja” in Japanese, have played an important role in Japan’s history and remain a part of daily life today. But how do you visit a shrine the right way, according to Japanese ...