Greg Goodmacher

1 month ago | teajourney.pub | Greg Goodmacher

Two Mexican nationals living in Japan say that studying chado, or the Japanese way of tea, has brought numerous benefits, including strengthening their marriage. They recently shared their story and a soothing cup of gyokuro tea with me. Mary Rangel Avila and Alberto Lepe were the only North Americans to qualify as tea ceremony teachers the afternoon of October 29, 2023, at a Hoenryu Tea School ceremony in the ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto.

Dec 4, 2024 | en.japantravel.com | Greg Goodmacher

Illustrious chefs, Shinto, Buddhist, and Shugendo spiritual leaders, virtuoso musicians, tea ceremony masters, and a renowned calligrapher collaborate at a Japanese World Cultural Heritage site to produce an exclusive program of events blending the culinary, artistic, and spiritual worlds. This is Nachi Premier. Wakayama Prefecture’s Kumano Nachi Taisha, part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range—a UNESCO World Heritage site—is the location of these experiences.

Jul 6, 2024 | escape.com.au | Greg Goodmacher

Serene, picturesque, with a richness of greenery, gourmet food, hands-on experiences, and temples and shrines as magically beautiful as those in Kyoto – it’s easy to believe that Fukui consistently ranks number one in Japan’s yearly happiness rankings. Surprisingly, though, Fukui – around three hours west of Tokyo – is Japan’s second-least visited prefecture. Don’t expect that statistic to remain, though.

Dec 1, 2023 | scmp.com | Greg Goodmacher

Meditate under an icy waterfall, walk on water ninja style, and take the ninja train in Mie, JapanFalls spill crystal-clear water into the fish-filled rivers and streams that run through the steep, verdant mountains of Japan’s Mie prefecture. In Nabari city, natural tranquillity defines the Akame 48 Waterfalls’ riverside trail, where the air is fresh and leaf-scented – but masks a violent history.

Sep 16, 2023 | teajourney.pub | Greg Goodmacher

Drinking Tea History in Nara, JapanTo savor Japanese tea history in the region where it was first grown, I embarked on a tea pilgrimage to Butsuryu-ji Temple in Uda City, Nara Prefecture. The wealth and depth of tea culture exceeded my expectations. Many believe that the famous Japanese Buddhist monk Kukai (774 –835) brought the first tea seeds to Japan in AD 806 after returning from studying Buddhism in China during the Tang Dynasty.