Jae For Japan
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Hello! I’m a HK born Singaporean residing in Tokyo. I provide custom made tours. Pm for details!
Takigyo, 滝行,瀑布修行, or Waterfall training. Probably the most Zen thing you can imagine doing in Japan.
I shaved my head previously to join a 3 days 2 night temple training with my son.
3 days in Tenkouji (天光寺), about an hour away from Tokyo city center, does not only involve waterfall training. Before setting off, there is a 100回参り, or pay respect 100 times, where one must shuttle run back and forth to pay respect to Kuukai (空海), or Namu daishi Henjou Kongou (南無大師遍照金剛), the founder of Buddhism in Japan.
Other time spent includes meditation, recital of sutra, 324 times of repeated action of gratitude1 showing etc.
The waterfall training itself was brutal. 20 minute walk uphill, or which over 10 minutes in Jungle path and stones and river stream, in slippers. On our first day’s return journey, heavy downpour occurred immediately.
On the second day I discovered a giant toad, or Ōgama (大蝦蟇), followed by a larger sized snake.
I can’t help but think, these two animals must be sent by the mountain and dragon king I was saying gratitude to during training.
I am not a Buddhist. I was told by my wife that we should let our son experience this. And I just went along. It wasn’t a bad decision at all.
Both myself and my son gained spiritual and mental growth, and in my case, physical energy spent.
This experience doesn’t have to be a 3d2n thingy. There are many local tourists who arrive at 1pm, and be done and leave by 5pm.
Would you like to be ZEN for a day?
#滝行 #修行 tokyo
10/08/2026
My annual National Day next-morning ritual:
Japanese Bread from drug store, lightly toasted
Singapore Traditional Kaya
Japanese Eggs from Asano Poultry farm
Japanese Dark Soy Sauce Mio Tsukushi
Malaysian Ground black pepper Serbuk Lada Hitam
Morocco Bacha Coffee Caremelo Morning Black
Japanese Watermelon from Yamagata
Japanese Official Chiikawa Merch mug
Preparing for my spiritual practice (修行) with my older son tomorrow. Botak again!
#修行
26/07/2026
The lake that provided life since ancient time Japan
The land of the rising sun.
These are my playgrounds, all within grasp.
Travelling is about exploration, discovery, and the joy from it.
It’s not supposed to be stressful.
It’s not about planning to the detail. It’s about allowing what comes our way have its way, and we take it in.
JaeforJapan Tours, the Omakase, or the preferred term, blindbox holiday experience
Don’t you love looking at those food sample places in front of restaurants in Japan?
Well, you can make your own!
At Yamato Samples, your child (or yourself) can make a variety of realistic food samples. And it is conveniently located in Ikebukuro.
What would you like to make?
13/07/2026
Naraijuku Post town
In the past, getting around Japan requires “passports” and passing through “immigration point”, as its similar to getting into an entirely different “Country” ruled by a different Feudal lord.
Of which, these post towns were born.
It mainly serves as amenity support for travelers, with lodges, teahouse, ryokan, and entertainment.
These post towns are also often used as meeting place, legit or not. Assassination etc also often happens.
Heikei Hotaru, and Genji Hotaru
The two types of firefly exclusive to the climate of Japan and surrounding countries like Korea and Russia.
Fun fact, they are named after two ancient clans of Japan who are rivals.
The Genji fireflies are bigger and brighter, while the Heike are smaller and dimmer.
Natural fireflies are hard to find nowadays. I can take us there in summer, but we gotta be very quiet and not disturbing their natural habitat.
Nagashi Somen, AKA flowing noodles is a cold noodle dish invented specifically to counter summer heat.
Spinning around refreshing natural water of the mountain areas (in this case, Tochigi region, most likely from Nikko or Kinugawa), it keeps the freshness and elasticity of the noodles at its best.
Dipping in mentsuyu sauce, in my case, along with spring onions and wasabi, paired with fried chicken karaage and pickles.
Ahh! No more summer heat!
#流しそうめん