Travel Japan on Guided Tours: Nara, Kyoto, Himeji & Osaka | Explore Japan with Tanuki Stories

Living in Japan changes you. Not all at once, but slowly—like one of Kyoto’s temple gardens that I walk through every week while guiding my tours. The transformation is subtle, accumulating in small details: a different way of breathing, observing, responding to everyday chaos.After three years in the Kansai region, I realized something I never expected: Stoicism and Zen, despite being born worlds apart, aim for the same inner freedom—even if they take opposite routes to get

The Japanese concept of Dō (道), often translated as "the way" or "path," lies at the heart of Japan's cultural, spiritual, and philosophical identity. Rooted in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions, Dō reflects a commitment to a lifelong journey of learning, mastery, and transcendence. However, in modern Japan, The Way of the Dō faces significant challenges. Consumerism, the neglect of kata (structured forms), and an over-reliance on rigid rules in organizations threaten t