Travel Experiences in Japan

Tucked away on the west side of Tokyo, a 10-minute walk from Ogikubo Station, stands Japan's first-ever life-sized bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, gifted tin 2008 to Suginami Ward. The library hides an archive of rare photo stories and vintage Japanese newspaper clippings.

Perched next to Japan’s largest carved sitting Buddha on Mount Nokogiri, the four-headed lion capital of the Ashoka Pillar stands as an unexpected footprint of Indian history on a jagged cliffside. Stumbling upon this national emblem of India, gifted to the Nihonji Temple in 1989.

Wandering to the western edge of Yokohama’s waterfront promenade reveals the Indian Water Tower, a striking monument disguised as an Islamic courtyard fountain pavilion. Erected in December 1939 by the Indian Association in Japan serves as a beautiful reminder of human solidarity.

Venturing into Kobe's upscale Kitano-cho neighborhood reveals a pocket of Indian heritage built not by IT engineers, but by generations of pearl traders. Kobe Jain Temple, opened in 1985, is a marble masterpiece featuring intricate elephant carvings and a central idol of Bhagwan Mahaveer flown in directly from Mumbai. 

Tracking down the exact filming locations of the classic 1966 Bollywood hit Love in Tokyo reveals a fascinating "then-and-now" look at Japan's capital. Revisit iconic backdrops from the movie - like the pelican fountain at Hibiya Park or locations around Haneda Airport, Ueno, Ginza, etc.