Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine
 
Since I missed the Kumano Hongu Taisha Grand Shrine yesterday, I decided to visit the shrine before starting my walk today as it is one of the most three important shrines on the pilgrimage route, as well as the head shrine of over 3,000 Kumano shrines across [...]

When I was planning my Japan trip, I came across an article about the ancient pilgrimage trail, Kumano Kodo, in the Wakayama region. Despite numerous visits to Japan over the years, I have never heard of this trail before. I became interested and started researching about the trail. Unlike the famous pilgramge [...]

 
When I decided to take a sabbatical for 6 months, I wanted to switch off from running a business and focus more on myself. For years, I have been doing various part time courses on textiles esp. indigo dyeing and shibori (Japanese resist dyeing), and so the sabbatical was a good opportunity [...]

 
I am finally ready to write again after three months of 'work-detox' period. This is the first entry since I went on my sabbatical, and I am writing solely because I feel like it, rather than seeing it as some kind of obligation.
After running the business for over six years (plus a [...]