Tōzan Jinja, the Potter’s Shrine
Together with the hidden village of Okawachiyama in the adjacent valley, the town of Arita (有田) in Saga Prefecture is considered the birthplace of Japanese porcelain ceramics. For four centuries […]
Author Archives: Peter Lam
Okawachiyama: The Secret Porcelain Village
Hidden in a small valley surrounded by lush forest and jagged mountains lies the village of Okawachiyama (大川内山). Located in Saga prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, this tiny […]
The Hells of Unzen
The Unzen-Amakusa National Park was established in 1934 as Japan’s first national park, and today spans Nagasaki, Kumamoto, and Kagoshima prefectures in southern Kyushu island. It’s name is derived from […]
Out and About: Nagasaki
Most people only know Nagasaki (長崎 – “Long Cape” in Japanese) as the second site of an atomic explosion, on August 9 1945 three days after the first attack at […]
Gunkanjima: Battleship Island
One of the most anticipated visits on my recent southern Japan tour was a trip to Hashima (端島), commonly known as Gunkanjima (軍艦島 – “Battleship Island”). Located some 15 kilometers […]
Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
Alongside Yokohama and Kobe, Nagasaki’s Shinchi-macho district is one of Japan’s three designated Chinatowns. It is also the country’s oldest, dating back from well before the Edo Period. During Japan’s […]
The Spring Lantern Festival
The Spring Lantern Festival is held on the fifteenth and final day of traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. Under the first full moon of the lunar year, lantern decorations of […]
New Year at Che Kung Temple
Chinese New Year is upon us – Happy Year of the Dog! The celebration of the lunar new year is by far the biggest and most important holiday in Hong […]
Peter Lam Photography 