Thank you for finding Spiritual Japan Journal. I’m Sumire, and I’m happy you’re here.
Why I Write
I was born and raised in Japan, but there is still so much about my own country left for me to learn. I have many places I want to visit and many questions I want to answer.
I love castles, samurai history, Zen, and shrines that have been here for centuries. I find them beautiful, fascinating, and, to be honest, incredibly cool. I’m proud that they belong to the culture I grew up in.
I’ve also learned that some traditions have fewer people to carry them on, and some crafts have no successor. I find that deeply sad. I want the Japan I find so extraordinary to remain for the next generation. I also want to understand it better myself and tell people outside Japan what I discover.
Each trip starts with something I want to know. My husband and I visit the place connected to that question and speak with the people we meet there. I share what I learn through writing, photography, and film.
What You’ll Find Here
I publish about four full-length articles a month, and sometimes more.
You’ll find stories about shrines and temples, their history and beliefs, traditional crafts and the people who preserve them, and knowledge passed down through everyday life. Some articles begin with a place I want to see. Others begin with a Japanese word, a seasonal custom, or a memory of my mother or grandmother.
Accuracy matters to me. I check historical claims against reliable sources and present legends as legends. When something cannot be confirmed, I say so.
Reading and Subscriptions
New articles are free to read for seven days. After that, they move into the paid archive.
Free subscribers receive each new article while it is free. Paid subscribers can read the entire archive at any time. A few introductory articles will always remain free.
Come With Us
Would you like to travel across Japan with us?
Spiritual Japan Journal is made by my husband and me. Visiting these places costs money, and every article takes time to research, photograph, film, and write.
With a paid subscription, you can read everything we have published. Your support also helps pay for future trips and gives me the time to keep writing.
Every paid subscription tells me that someone wants these stories to continue. I’m grateful for every one.
Where to Start
If this is your first visit, the articles below are a good place to begin.
Another way to support us ☕
We know a paid subscription may not be right for everyone. If you enjoy our stories and would like to support our travels with a one-time contribution—perhaps toward a train ticket or a cup of tea along the way—we’d be very grateful.
Spiritual Japan Journal —Sumire
