Born in India and travelled eastward with Buddhism, Siddham found an unexpected home in the temples of Japan, where this distinctive script has survived and continues to be practiced today.

Tucked away in Gion is Kahitsukan, a museum currently exhibiting works by 20th-century artists, none of them trained calligraphers, who brought their own sensibilities to the art of ink and brush.

Somewhere between 25,000 pieces of calligraphy, I find myself hit by an epiphany that calligraphy is nothing but the traces of the soul. A calligrapher explains why.

Step into the Edo period this winter with the exhibition “Edo Paintings A to Z,” dedicated to a fascinating array of masterpieces from Japan’s golden era. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a first-timer, discover the timeless beauty brushed by masters who shaped Japan as know it.

Ever dreamed of catching a geisha performance up close? Dive into the cultural wonders of Kyoto's Gion Odori, where tradition comes alive.