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Asia

Letteratura Inglese	Chinese Literature	Letteratura Giapponese	Buddhismo
Islam	xx	xx	xx

Japan

Tokio	Osaka	Nagoya	Kyoto
Okinawa	Sapporo	Shikoku	Shimonoseki
Kyushu	Mito	Niigata	Ryukyu
Hiroshima	Hokkaido		Honshu

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Honshu Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Street Scene, Shibuya, Tokyo Street Scene, Shibuya, Tokyo J. Becker Honshu has all the fun and all the attractions. Tokyo and Kyoto, the imperial cities are both on Honshu. Other big cities with a long history and many sights such as Yokohama and Osaka are on Honshu too. The holy mountain of Mr. Fuji is on the island as well. Nikko in northern Honshu is definitely worth a visit. It's one of the most historic towns of Japan and the old city centre is still very much in use. The rest of Northern Honshu is less touristed, although cities like Niigata are rich in history and tradition. In central Honshu, the area around Furukawa is pretty and the Japanese alps are great for hiking in summer and winter sports and activities in winter. Matsumoto and Takayama are good places for exploring the alps. Also in central Honshu is the city of Nagoya, which can be used as a base to visit the Aichi and Gifu prefectures. The Kansai region, with Kyoto, Nara, Kobe and Osaka, is a must for visitors. Also around Kansai, are Koyasan and Amanohashidate. In the west Kurashiki is a very charming town. Hiroshima is famous for being bombed in the second world war and a visit to the Peace park is impressive. Although the Seto Naikai or "inland sea" is no longer lined with traditional fishing villages it's still a nice area to spend some time. Pick an island and come to rest in the beautiful surroundings. All three classic views of Japan (the Nihon Sangei) are situated in Honshu. Matsushima is outside Sendai, Miyajima is outside Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate is reachable from Kyoto by train. The best way to travel in Japan is on the Bullet Train which cruises at a speed of 235 kmh. Most trains in Japan are almost always on time. __________Tours and Excursions Edit This Holiday Trip to the Exotic Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan with Bhutan's No. 1 Travel Agent, Bhutan Majestic Travel. Bhutan Majestic Travel offer different inbound tour packages for Single Pax to Big groups and the tours which they organise are Cultural, Photography, Honeymoon, Festival, textile, Bird Watching, Fly Fishing, Mountain Biking, and many more so please do feel free to email us: info@bhutanmajestictravel.com or browse our website: http://www.bhutanmajestictravel.com :::::::::Amanohashidate Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Amanohashidate (Bridge to Heaven) is one of the Nihon Sangei, or Three Great Views of Japan. It is actually a long sand-spit, covered with pine trees. There are chair-lifts at each end, to bring you to higher elevation to see the sand-spit. You are supposed to observe it, by bending over, and viewing it framed by your legs! _________Getting Around Edit This While you can walk or cycle down the sand-spit of Amanohashidate, you can also take a ferry to the other end. _______Getting There Edit This There are direct train services from Kyoto daily, leaving at 0925hrs, taking just under two hours to get there. Part of the train journey is managed by a private railway company, so JR Rail Pass holders will need to pay a supplement. ::::::::Fukui Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Koi fish at a restaurant in Fukui Koi fish at a restaurant in Fukui Joseph Hollick An industrial center near the Hokuriku coastline north of Biwa-ko, Fukui is primarily oriented around agriculture and textiles. Essentially razed to the ground by bombing in 1945 and a subsequent earthquake in 1948, it is now an almost thoroughly modern city. The capital of the prefecture, Fukui proper offers few attractions for tourists, but it is a convenient base for visiting other attractions in the vicinity. Foremost among Fukui-ken's cultural sites is the Zen Buddhist center at Eihei-ji, a thirty minute's bus ride east of the prefectural capital. Despite being most regularly visited as a tourist site, the temple is an active Buddhist community and it offers programs for anyone interested in experiencing the contemplative, monastic lifestyle. Along the coast northwest from Fukui city is the scenic landmark of Tojinbo. Most famous as a historic suicide site, the rocky outcroppings jut out of the sea in a series of columns eroded over millenia by the saltwater. Several buses depart daily from Fukui city and boat trips are available from near the site. ::::::: Hikone Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hikone castle Hikone castle Matt Haswell The second most significant city in Shiga prefecture, Hikone is notable primarily as the site of one of Japan's 12 remaining original castles. Dating from 1622, Hikone-jo was the successor to neighboring Nagahama's castle, dismantled by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early 17th century. The castle grounds are highly popular during sakura (cherry blossom) season, being liberally endowed with the beloved trees. The castle itself is listed as one of Japan's National Treasures, a designation shared only by the castles of Matsumoto, Inuyama and Himeji. The southwestern approach to Hikone-jo has been recently redeveloped into a long street of boutiques and eateries, built in the style of an Edo-period town. Late August in Hikone sees the appearance of one of Japan's more unique "festivals": the Japan International Birdman Rally (Toriningen). The focus of the odd event is a competition of numerous 'flight machines' and gliders, upon which people launch themselves into the waters of neighboring Biwa-ko. :::::::::Himeji Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Himeji Castle Himeji Castle Out of the Grey The city's main claim to fame, is the splendid castle that sits on a hill overlooking it. In fact, the castle is visible from the Shinkansen tracks! If you only visit one castle in Japan, make it this one. It has extensive grounds, and an interesting display of items in the main dojon. The view from the top of the castle over the whole of Himeji is splendid. To get the castle, you can walk straight down the main drag for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, there is a covered arcade the runs parallel to the main drag, which is quite useful, if the weather is not cooperative. _________Getting There Edit This Himeji Castle Himeji Castle Out of the Grey The Shinkansen would be the best way to get to Himeji. It is on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, west of Osaka and east of Okayama. Contributors October 24, 2005 new by out of the grey ::::::::::Hiroshima Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Mazda's first car Mazda's first car Joseph Hollick When the first atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima on 6 Aug 1945 the city became an immediate symbol for the horrors of war. Today Hiroshima (pop. 1 086 000) has several moving reminders of that day of utter devastation. The centerpiece is called the A-Bomb Dome—it’s the skeleton of a domed building that survived the blast. Across the street is Peace Park where you’ll find the Cenotaph for the Victims (it contains all of their names) and the Atomic Bomb Museum. The museum’s photographs are the most compelling (and perhaps horrifying): They show the actual effects of radiation on human flesh. The most moving monument is the Children’s Peace Memorial (also called the Sadako Monument) which celebrates the desire for long life and happiness traditionally expressed in the folding of paper cranes. You may see groups of schoolchildren adding more paper cranes strung together in rainbow garlands to the millions that already surround the base of the memorial. It is a tradition that every school group or organization that visits this memorial, will place 1,000 paper cranes there. Our group from Canada placed 1,000 paper cranes and it was a very emotional time for the students. In the years since the war Hiroshima has been rebuilt into a fairly typical industrial city (Mazda has a huge factory there). It has covered shopping arcades lively department stores (with ardent consumers) and a helpful information office. The city’s streetcar system is not extensive but it is efficient and provides announcements of stops in both Japanese and English. Miyajima island lies just off the coast from Hiroshima—a short ferry ride from the end of the streetcar line. The main reasons to go there are solitude the view and the Shrine of Itsukushima which is built on wooden piers over the water. The shrine’s torii (the huge T-shaped gate at the entrance to a Shinto shrine) is out at the head of a bay—its orange paint stunning against the blue water has made this one of the most photographed places in Japan. (To get the best pictures be there when the tide’s in.) The shrine was constructed hundreds of years ago when the island was considered holy and commoners could approach it only by boat. Today travelers often find lodging on Miyajima while visiting Hiroshima. They don’t leave the island without sampling the locally made crackers. Only 30 mi/45 km from Hiroshima on the JR Sanyo railway line in Iwakuni is the most famous bridge in Japan the Kintai-kyo. Built in 1673 the Brocade Sash Bridge is composed of five gracefully arched spans. The bridge was originally meant for the use of samurai—all others were forbidden to step upon it. Vestiges of the Edo-period castle town can be seen in the vicinity of the bridge. Two nearby villages are famous for their pottery. Bizen has been producing its distinct deep brown pottery for the past 1 000 years. Hagi only began crafting pottery 300 years ago when master craftsmen were kidnapped from Korea to learn the secrets of their art. Hiroshima is 175 mi/280 km west of Osaka. :::::::::Inuyama Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see The area around Inuyama has been hailed as the Japanese Rhine. It is famous for the castle, perched on the hill overlooking the river; the strolling garden Uraku-en and the cormorant fishing. _______Getting There Edit This Inuyama can be accessed by taking the Meitetsu (private) line to Inuyama-yuen station. Alternatively, those with JR Rail Passes, can take the train from Nagoya to Gifu, and then the JR Takayama line train to Unuma, and then walking over to Inuyama (about 20 minutes) ::::::::: Ise-shima national park Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Ise Shrine Ise Shrine bonjojp Ise shima is a national park and it is centered around the sacred shrine in Japan it has millions of tourist visiting it every year. __________Sights Edit This Ise Jingu Ise Jingu bonjojp Ise jingu is one of Japan's holiest shrine, it is visited by millions of japanese and tourists every year for worship and for a glimpse to the japanese culture and religion. ::::::::Izumo Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x View from Hinomisaki Jessica Bergner A small city of roughly 88,000 people situated in the very picture-esque prefecture of Shimane. Izumo is home to the tallest lighthouse in Asia (Hinomisaki), one of the largest wooden domes in Japan (the Izumo Dome) and most importantly Izumo-Taisha, home of the most important Shinto Shrine in Japan (and second oldest). Izumo is also located near Lake Shinji (the seventh largest lake in Japan). Izumo is famous for it's soba noodles and special cloth dying process. Located near the capital city of Matsue, Izumo is the perfect blend of country city life and beautiful country views. Travelers feel welcomed here by the very hostpitable Izumo-ites. A definite must-see for any serious Japan traveler. ::::::::Kaga Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Plastic food in restaurant displaying what is on the menu Plastic food in restaurant displaying what is on the menu Joseph Hollick Kaga is located in the prefecture of Ishikawa located between the cities of Komatsu and Fukui. Its population is about 72,000 people. Kaga was the first city in Japan to twin with a Canadian city (Dundas which now is part of Hamilton) in 1968. Student exchanges have been occuring between Kaga and Dundas since then. When visiting Kaga, normally there are no other foreigners in the city except for the Canadians, thus you really experience Japanese life as the group lives with host families for the three or four week duration. With Kaga being on The Sea of Japan, there is a lovely sandy beach in the Shioya section of Kaga. ::::::::::Kamakura Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see i_1 Kamakura is one of Japan's former capitals. It is located less than an hour south of Yokohama by train. Kamakura is known for its temples, shrines, ancient residences, and the "Daibutsu" (a giant, hollow, Buddha statue that you can even go inside). There is much to see in Kamakura if you're looking for traditional things, and it can make an easy day-trip if you live in or near Tokyo or Yokohama. Although there is much to see in Kamakura, be warned that when you arrive, you will almost definitely be disappointed. Kamakura is in no way a still-standing memorial to the past (like Venice). When you enter the small city, you'll see ugly buildings which it seems hardly any thought or effort was put into designing. This takes much away from the charm of the town. If you can either travel to Nikko (north of Tokyo) or Kamakura, I'd definitely suggest Nikko. However, if you have the time and you haven't been to Kamakura already, it's definitely worth a trip. ::::::::::Kanazawa city Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Kenrokuen Gardens - Removing weeds from moss surface Kenrokuen Gardens - Removing weeds from moss surface Joseph Hollick The principal city of Ishikawa prefecture and the capital city of Ishikawa, Kanazawa was, along with Kyoto, one of the only major Japanese cities to escape bombing in World War II. Oft-regarded as a "little Kyoto" for its numerous temples, shrines, traditional gardens and historic streets, it is considered today as somewhat of a backwater. Situated on the Sea of Japan coast, it sees heavy snowfall in winter and a rather wet climate for much of the year. Although home to a number of worthwhile sights, it also serves as a convenient springboard for the rural Noto peninsula to the north. Kanazawa's most famous sight is unquestionably Kenroku-en, rated among Japan's top three traditional gardens. Although this ranking has resulted in near constant tourist crowds, the beauty of the landscaping more than justifies a visit. Early mornings tend to be the best time to visit. Late November sees the erection of graceful 'yukitsuri' over the greenery - long ropes suspended from a central pole to protect the branches from the weight of accumulated snow. In addition, numerous poles are in place year round to support the old and heavy branches from both the snow loads and the weight of the branches themselves. Of note to tourists (from Canada in particular) is that instead of grass for covering the ground, they have moss. Ladies are often seeing removing weeds from the moss surface. The city's historic remnants include three old geisha districts, the largest and most important of which being the Higashi Chaya district northeast of the center. Despite being mostly ruins, Kanazawa's castle area features an intact, 18th-century gate and an impressive reconstruction of fortifications dating from 2001. An attractive, old samurai district (Naga-machi) has been meticulously maintained just west of the center. The now largely residential area of Tera-machi south of the center is home to many temples and shrines. The most famous of these is the "ninja temple" of Myoryu-ji, which is host to numerous trapdoors and trick walls. Kanazawa's modern center is based around the landmark Kohrinbo 109 building. The long artery of Hyakumangoku-dori runs through the main commercial center and its neighboring nightlife area of Kata-machi with its pulsating neon signs. Kanazawa station, recently rebuilt, is now almost an attraction in itself, with its sleek, futuristic design, towering wooden entrance gate, and plaza clock made from a series of small fountains. :::::::::Kawasaki Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see :::::::::::Kobe Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see kobe port kobe port w_trvlr Located roughly in the center of Honshu, Japan's main island, Kobe is easily accessible by land, sea, and air. It is about 3 hours and 20 minutes from Tokyo by Bullet Train. Together with Osaka and Kyoto, it forms the focal point for the economy of western Japan. One of the more interesting areas is Kitano. Since the late 1800s the area has served as a residential district for foreigners. With many houses in semi-Western and semi-Japanese style, the town is rich in exotic atmosphere characteristic of Kobe. Some of the houses, called "ijinkan" in Japanese, are open to the public, or used as boutiques and restaurants offering ethnic foods; others are still inhabited by foreign residents. Kyukyoruchi also has many old western style buildings. Nada, the eastern part of Kobe, is known for the production of sake or rice wine. "Nada-no-ki-ippon," which is made from pure water of the Rokko mountains, is among the most celebrated sake brands. Several wineries are open to public, and there you can learn the process of sake production and taste it just produced. Another interesting thing to do, is a visit to the Arima Spas. It's one of the oldest spa resorts in Japan. Its mineral-rich "gold" and "silver" water is effective for the treatment of digestive ailments and skin diseases. Located around the spa are a variety of sights --- Zuihoji Park, where a famous warlord Hideyoshi Toyotomi held tea ceremonies in the 15th century; Onsen Shrine dedicated to the priests who first discovered the spa; and Tsuzumigataki Fall. The resort contains a number of high-class Japanese-style hotels and souvenir shops. :::::::::::Kyoto Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Girl Girl kiani Kyoto is a sightseer's paradise. It is virtually a living museum of Japan's great artistic heritage. To explore it on foot, at least in each general area, is an intriguing and rewarding experience that creates unforgettable memories. Further, sightseeing is facilitated by the original basic grid pattern in which the city was first laid out. But whichever way you choose to view the treasures of Kyoto, you will never see enough - and never be disappointed. Kyoto is well preserved as it was not destroyed during WWII. Many temples and shrines are in Kyoto that are worth visiting and it is difficult to see all of them. The Kyoto International Conference Center is located here which hosts many large conferences. With this conference center here and the fact that Kyoto is a large tourist attraction in Japan, you will see many non-Japanese people in Kyoto ::::::::Matsumoto Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Matsumoto Castle Matsumoto Castle Mihoshi Myru This city in the Japan Alps is pretty and makes a good base to explore the area. Part of Nagano prefecture, there are hot springs and wasabi fields around, as well as good hiking trails. The castle in the city, is also picturesque. Also interesting, is the former merchant district of Nakamichi, where you will be able to find some nice craft shops, and the Ukiyo-e museum. There are many nice cafes, restaurants and bars in the city centre, and it has a young and cosmopolitan feel thanks to the city's university and proximity to Tokyo. For hot springs, check out Asama-onsen in Matsumoto city itself, a short bus ride from the train station. For wasabi, take a short trip on the train to Hotaka. For hiking, your best bet is Kamikochi although this is about a 2 hour journey by train and bus from Matsumoto. ___________Sights Edit This Matsumoto-jo or Matsumoto castle, is one of the best preserved castles in Japan. Unlike many other remaining castles, it is an example of a plains-castle (ie. it is not built on a hill). There is a moat surrounding the castle, which was used to bury the dead. The castle is mainly painted black, which earned it the nickname "crow castle". ________Getting There Edit This There is a rapid train service from Shinjuku JR station in Tokyo to Matsumoto. It is also connected by limited express to Nagoya and Nagano. ::::: Mito Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see x Nato! Yummy! Taken from: http://www.rei.org/JPN/ Mito is the perfect Japanese little, big city, close to Hitachi-naka, where I lived. Mito is situated in the southeast of Honshu Island 125 km north of Tokyo. It is the capital of Ibaraki prefecture and has a wonderful mix of old and new. It is well known for its "Natto" (A food incidentially that most foreigners hate... Took me 6 months to stomach it!). The above picture is Natto wrapped in the traditional manner. You can find it not wrapped like this easily in stores. Natto is sort of a stringy bean food. Nothing good in texture, but add some soy sauce and you might ONLY hate it. (Again... 6 months) Scenic spots worth seeing include the imperial park. It looks stunning during the cherry blossums. In the off-centre of the park lies two rather beautiful Go boards. Go is currently a very popular game within Japan. One I personally love and live for. Think of it as Chess, if Chess were complex and hard while being simple to grasp. Also within Mito is the "Art Tower". Personally, I was never really taken by it. It is merely an interesting looking building, that reminds me of the falic CN tower. In all, my second home is Mito. A beautiful city. LOTS to see and do, without the problems of a big city. The people are friends and understanding. (added on 5/1/2005 ) Mito is the largest city at the Ibaraki prefecture (population; 263,748(April 2005)), and a capital city governed by Tokugawa lords (="Mito Tokugawa ke") in the Edo era. Lord Mitsukuni Tokugawa (17th century) is a nation-wide famous person in the Japanese history and is called as "Mito Koumon". Mito has a world second largest city park called as "kairakuen". In March, there are a lot of plum blossoms ("ume") and a must see. :::::::Mount Fuji Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Mount Fuji is the highest (3,776 m / 12,388 ft) mountain in Japan. The mountain and its surrounding area have been placed on Japan's candidate list for the UNESCO World Heritage. :::::::::: Nagahama Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Old district of Nagahama Old district of Nagahama Matt Haswell A small city on the eastern shore of Shiga prefecture's Lake Biwa, Nagahama is regionally known for its large stock of traditional architecture. Numerous streets to the east of the main train station are lined with machiya (townhouses) and kura (warehouses), many of which are now host to shops and crafts stores. Nagahama's most famous speciality craft is glassware, a good display of which can be found in the Kurokabe Glass Shop (itself a converted, historic bank). A somewhat unremarkable reconstruction of the city's 16th-century castle sits to the west of the train station, on a hill overlooking Biwa-ko. The original castle was built in 1574, only to be disassembled in 1615 to provide materials for neighboring Hikone-jo's construction. :::::::::Nagoya Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see View of Nagoya castle from the top of JR Towers View of Nagoya castle from the top of JR Towers Cindy Atkinson Nagoya is located at the heart of central Japan, some 1,5 hours by train south of Tokyo. Some of the scenic areas of the region include Nobi Plain, and the Omo River valley. As the nucleus of this central area, Nagoya, with its population of more than 2.15 million, is one of Japan's major cities, and an important industrial and cultural center. The main sight in town is undoubtedly the Nagoya Castle, famous for the golden dolphins adorning its rooftop, was constructed in 1612 and a new castle town formed. Nagoya is actively preparing for a future in which lifestyle, technology, and culture work together to create a harmonious environment. The nearby Shikemichi quarter is well worth a visit. Its history dates back to the days of commodities merchants of the 18th century. Old warehouses, private homes, temples and shrines remain to this day. Downtown Nagoya is bustling and busy. It's a good place for shopping but it often leaves the visitor out of breath. The Hisaya Odori Park is the place to head for then. It consists of a series of parks in the downtown area and it's great for relaxing a bit. Osu is perfect for shopping or to visit one of the many museums in the area. The last sight not to be missed is the Atsuta Shrine. One of the three major shrines in Japan along with Ise and Meiji. Atsuta Shrine houses the Kusanagi (grass-mowing) Sword, one of the three Sacred Treasures of the Imperial Family. Sakae is a busy shopping area, and recently has added a new Apple store, for those in need of a little free internet. :::::::::Nara Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Todai-ji Todai-ji Gianky Nara was the first imperial capital in Japan and today remains one of the country's most important historical and cultural centers. It is a relatively small, intimate city, dominated by the Todai-ji temple complex, which is the primary destination for most visitors. The central temple, the Daibutsu-den, is the largest wooden structure in the world and hosts the famous Daibutsu - an enormous casting of the Buddha, which is itself Japan's largest bronze statue. Todai-ji sits in center of the expansive Nara-koen, a park first established in the late 19th century. There are many other old, famous buildings and sights in the area, but perhaps the most beautiful is the approach to Kasuga Taisha, where stone lanterns line the wooded, secluded path. South of Nara-koen is Nara-machi, an old residential district still peppered with traditional buildings and narrow alleyways that is well worth a visit. The outskirts of Nara city are home to a number of important temples, chief of which is the UNESCO-listed Horyu-ji. The oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Japan, Horyu-ji lies off a spur rail line southwest of Nara and is home to a distinctive five-storey pagoda, numerous priceless artifacts and Kon-do, the world's oldest wooden building. Closer to Nara proper are the temples of Yakushi-ji and Toshodai-ji, both of which also share UNESCO World Heritage status. The trio can all be visited in a day from Nara, which more than justifies a two-day visit to the area. _____Getting There Edit This Most travellers will take the train to Nara. JR Rail Pass holders should take the JR service to Nara, from Kyoto. :::::::::::Niigata Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Mount Myoko Mount Myoko Nicholas Klar Niigata Prefecture is on the northwest coast of Honshu. It lays in beautiful mountain surroundings on the Echigo Plains and is easily accessible via the Joetsu or Nagano shinkansen (bullet train). Not many foreign tourists get here but the region is famed for the quality of it's rice and sake. Many Japanese families buy these items from here because of their high quality. The region is also steeped in history and tradition. The 'Snow Country' of Niigata is famous throughout Japan and has inspired countless writers, poets and artists. If you want a glimpse of rural Japan through the window of an old one-carriage train, this is the place. Across from Niigata is Sado Island (a former place of exile for outcasts), made famous by the Kodo drummers and the Earth Festival held in Ogi each summer. Niigata is also famous for it's skiing and onsen (hot springs), particularly around Myokokogen and Yuzawa - which are easily accessible from Tokyo. Famous resorts such as Akakura can be almost deserted on a weekday, with reasonable lift prices. _________Sights Edit This terao kita niigata ken train schedule :::::::::::Nikko Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Pagoda in Nikko Park Pagoda in Nikko Park Cindy Atkinson Nikko is one of the most popular daytrips from Tokyo and among Japan's best-known tourist attractions. The shrines and the temples in the city, and above all the splendid Tosho-gu complex are often considered some of the best sights in the country. Many Japanese and foreigners familiar with the country recommend including Nikko in any first-time visit to Japan. The main attraction is the Tosho-gu shrine, built in the early 17th century as a mausoleum piece for the founder of the shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu. More Chinese than Japanese in style, the complex's elaborate ornamentation is the result of Ieyasu's grandson, Iemitsu, who deemed the old structures insufficient for his grandfather's legacy. The complex was restored in 1818 and has seen additional work done in recent years. Other attractions include the comparatively austere Rinno-ji and Futarasan-jinja, and the mausoleum of Iemitsu himself, Taiyuin-byo, basically a smaller, less gaudy version of Tosho-gu. The recently reconstructed Shin-kyo bridge (originally built in 1636) marks the entrance to Nikko National Park and the shrine and temple complex. Around an hour's bus ride deeper into Nikko National Park is the popular lake of Chuzenji-ko. Beautiful scenery, good hiking and a 100-meter high waterfall (Kegon Falls - well-known as a site for suicides) are the main attractions. Further up in the mountains is the hot spring resort village of Yumoto, a relaxing place to end a day of heavy sightseeing and/or hiking. :::::::::Noto-hanto Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A thumb-like peninsula jutting out into the Sea of Japan, Noto-hanto is known for its slow-paced, rural environs. Sitting to the north of Kanazawa in Ishikawa-ken, the peninsula consists largely of rolling hills and rugged coastlines, dotted with small towns. Its main tourist center is the old fishing port of Wajima, a town famous for lacquerware and fresh seafood. Public transportation has been significantly curtailed in recent years, so exploration is best made via a car or bicycle. Due to the lack of development relative to many areas of Japan, the peninsula is often considered one of the country's best cycling locations. ::::::::Osaka Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Doutonbori channel at night Doutonbori channel at night Jan Morén Located in the west of Honshu, Osaka offers many sights and is worth a visit. It is the third largest city in Japan, and is known to be a friendly, easygoing city. Though there are relatively few historical sights, the nigthlife is extensive and it is an excellent place for shopping. The variety and quality of restaurants is perhaps the best in the country. A trip to Osaka can easily be combined with a visit to Kobe, Nara and Kyoto which are nearby. Kobe is an international city with ethnic restaurants and a Chinatown, while Kyoto is the ancient capital full of historical temples, and Osaka is a bustling metropolis. Nara is a smaller, more intimate city, and was the first imperial capital. :::::::::::Saitama Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Teioh (aka Hiro’s Yaki Tori Restaurant) has long been famous for its great food and even better hospitality throughout Saitama City. Testimonials from customers past and present are scrawled in Japanese, English and even French all over the wooden walls. Hiro, or as he is affectionately known to local gaijin Supa Hiro (Super Hero), can remember the nationality and occupations of all past gaijin friends who have left their marks on his hallowed walls. His English is not quite as good as his food, but his sense of humour certainly transcends all language barriers. Also working at the restaurant are his wife, Mitsuyo, and his daughter, Chizu, who also speak English. Chizu is extremely fluent, practically native, and her sense of humour and fun rival her father’s. On the menu you’ll find beef-on-a-stick (to use Hiro’s English translation), pork-on-a-stick, chicken-on-a-stick, chicken balls-on-a-stick, chicken wings-on-a-stick, chicken skin-on-a-stick, garlic-on-a-stick, green chilies-on-a-stick, nikomi (pork soup), raw cow liver, raw pig tongue and a few other local delicacies. Draught beer comes in 2 sizes, medium and large, and bottles of Sapporo are also available. Sake (nihon-shu), red wine and various flavours of chuhai are also served. Prices are very reasonable. What sets Hiro's yaki tori apart from the rest is Hiro’s special secret recipe sauce. With a soy base, reddy orange in colour and rich in flavour, nobody but the man himself knows what the ingredients are. In a night at Teioh you’ll oft find Hiro rubbing his injured shoulder while laughing and making jokes. He had a motor cycle accident in April. On nights where his shoulder aches he takes his medicine, nihon-shu, and talks about his samurai heritage. He’s always careful to point out that his ancestors were the poor samurai, from the country. Hiro speaks 3 languages, Japanese, English and French. He learned to cook as a young man at chef’s school and was the yaki tori chef at his restaurant until recently when he decided he’s rather spend his nights flitting like a social butterfly from one guest/friend to another. Hiro has been a surrogate father to many a foreigner, and Teioh a second home. To quote one of the messages on the wall, “Thank you for taking care of me and giving me advice. I can never repay you.” Teioh can be found on the North end of Yono Honmachi station, the 2nd station south of Omiya, Saitama. Yono Hommachi station is 4 minutes from Omiya station and 35 minutes from Shinjuku station. Teioh is open from 5pm to 10.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Also in Yono Hommachi you’ll find a well renowned sento (just up the road from Saizeriya and next to Family Mart). Approximately 30 metres from the sento is the Saitama Arts Theatre. One station north of Yono Hommachi on the Saikyo line is Kita Yono, home of the John Lennon Museum and the Saitama Shintoshin complex. ::::::::::Sendai Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tanabata festival on June Tanabata festival on June Atsushi Sendai is the main big city in northern Honshu, and is a major Shinkansen stop. It can be used as a base to explore northern Honshu, and Matsushima is a short train-ride away. :::::::::Shimonoseki Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Shimonoseki is located at the southern tip of Honshu, and is known for being the city of Fugu, or blow-fish. The largest catch of these fish with toxic livers is found here. Don't worry, the Fugu served at restaurants is perfectly safe to eat--the liver is carefully removed before preparation. You can walk under the Kamon Strait to find yourself on Kyushu. Of course you can also drive across the beloved bridge which connects the two islands, or take a ferry or train. The Kamon Strait was the site of a major historical battle, and you will find the residents of Shimonoseki are more interested in history than in other places in Japan. Because so many died in the battle here, it is thought to be haunted. There is even a species of crab here which appears to have the faces of warriors on their backs! (An example can be seen at the museum at Akama Shrine) ::::::::::::Shizuoka Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see A beautiful sight on a sunny day from Shizuoka A beautiful sight on a sunny day from Shizuoka Kazuhiro.K Shizuoka is located between Tokyo and Nagoya, and is a Shinkansen (Hikari and Kodama) stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen line. It also has Tokaido line and developed bus lines so much to anywhere with Shizutetsu. It takes 1 and a half hour to come from Tokyo and 50 minutes from Nagoya with Shinkansen ride. Shizuoka is famous for its tea (around Makinohara), Motor cycle (Suzuki and Yamaha, located in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka prefecture), piano(Yamaha and Kawai in Hamamatsu),orange, tuna and other fresh much fish(Yaizu port is the No.1 in the world) and that beautiful picture that you might have seen before somewhere that has Shinkansen mainly in front of Mt.Fuji. The beautiful sights of Mt.Fuji are seen in Shizuoka. Moreover, Shizuoka is famous for soccer. With 2 professional soccer team and other team around it, many people play soccer. It has 40 thousands Brazilian which occupies for 50% of all foreigners in Shizuoka. Shizuoka is a great city with mountains around,clear rivers, fresh fish. It's the best for those who got tired of much people like Tokyo. You can go for cycling to Fuji,driving,bathing to Izu. :::::::::Takayama Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Old town Old town bonobono Takayama is located in the Japanese Alps in central Honshu. It is a very attractive place that has managed to keep most of its traditional architecture with many nice inns, sake breweries and shops in the city centre. It's an ideal starting point for hikes or biking trails in the summer. One of the main attractions is the Hida folk museum, an open air museum that gives you a pretty good insight in the region and its history. It consists of an eastern and a western section, one ticket giving access to both, connected by a nice walk through the fields. A daytrip to the Central France and the Loire Valley is highly recommended. ::::::::::Tsuchiura Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Historic Tsuchiura First High School Historic Tsuchiura First High School Toyohara Tsuchiura is a city of approximately 130,000 residents located 50 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. Tsuchiura is on the western end of Japan's second largest lake, Lake Kasumigaura. Boating and fishing are commonly seen on the lake. Attractions Tsuchiura is known as a center of lotus root (renkon) cultivation due to the marshy environment. The city is also the host during the first Saturday of every October to the Tsuchiura Fireworks Festival (also called the All-Japan Fireworks Competition). The competition is usually a 2 1/2-hour event that draws around 250,000 spectators. Eight hundred meters west of Tsuchiura Station is Kijo Park with some rebuilt structures from the castle that had been at that site. Just to the east of the park along a side street in Tsuchiura Machikado Kura are a few historic warehouses that are open to the public. Tsuchiura City Musuem is on the south side of the park. The main police station is at the street intersection to the west of Kijo Park. Shopping Urala is across from the West Exit of Tsuchiura Station. An elevated walkway connects the train station to Urala. Urala contains Ito Yokado -- a discount department store -- and several vendors in this tallest of Tsuchiura's buildings. The top of Urala contains condominiums ("mansions"). The basement contains a bakery, ice cream shop, and supermarket. The first, second, and third floors are shops and restaurants. The fourth and fifth floors contain an auditorium and conference rooms. Mall 505 is a three-floor shopping mall in downtown Tsuchiura. The mall is built below the flyover Tsuchiura-Gakuen road. The mall is 200 meters northwest of Tsuchiura Station. There are still shops, bars, and restaurants in the mall. There have been fewer establishments in the mall since Urala opened. Wing Department Store is located at the West Exit of Tsuchiura Station. The basement contains food items. The first, second, third, and fourth floors contain shops. The fifth floor contains restaurants and a children's game arcade. Hotels Hotel Marroad Tsukuba is 600 meters to the north of Tsuchiura Station. The Main Post Office is next to the hotel. Hotel Marroad Tsukuba is Tsuchiura's largest hotel. This is the second tallest building in Tsuchiura after Urala. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://tsukuba.wikicities.com/wiki/Tsuchiura :::::::::Tsukuba Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Tsukuba University Tsukuba University Tsukuba University Tsukuba Science City as its name implies is a center of research in Japan. This city of approximately 150,000 residents hosts many of Japan's national laboratories and research institutes. Private companies have also located their research facilities to ths city about 50 kilometers northeast of Tokyo. Tsuchiura is on the eastern border of Tsukuba. :::::::::Yokohama Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Akarenga Sogo Akarenga Sogo Takimoto Yugo Only 32 kilometers from Tokyo, Yokohama is Japan's second-largest city. A cosmopolitan port city with an interesting history, it easily merits a visit from the capital. It was in Yokohama that Commodore Matthew Perry landed with his 'black ships' in 1853 to force Japan to open up to foreign trade. A mere village at the time, Yokohama soon grew into one of Asia's major ports, with an atmosphere not unlike that of a frontier town in the American "Wild West." Today Yokohama remains a very international city. Many of the sights in Yokohama are close to the waterfront, Minato Mirai is the futuristic heart of the area. The ever-changing area features many shops, restaurants, a maritime museum (partially housed in a historic ship) and a museum of modern art. Within easy walking distance are the Akarenga - a pair of early 20th-century, red-brick warehouses recently converted into boutiques and dining places. Unquestionably the biggest draw for Japanese tourists is the much-hyped Chukagai (Chinatown) south of the old center. Although mostly a modern district now, it has retained a picturesque, Chinese-style temple and offers a myriad of popular - if pricey - restaurants. Yokohama's greatest foreign legacy can be found in the Yamate district overlooking the port and providing good views towards Minato Mirai. Set on a terraced hill beside the slick shopping district of Motomachi is the old Foreigners' Cemetery, which is riddled with Christian crosses and elaborate mausoleums. The winding streets leading away on the hilltop beyond are still dotted with old, Western-style houses - attractions that are arguably more interesting to domestic tourists than those from abroad. One of the most interesting places elsewhere in the city is without a doubt Sankei-en, a haven of peace in the big city. The garden consists of a collection of historic buildings moved there from elsewhere in Japan. The surrounding landscaped grounds are very pretty as well and, as always, best seen in springtime. ___________Getting There Edit This The best way to reach Yokohama form Tokyo is by train. The fast train takes only 30 minutes. You have the choice between the JR Keihin Tohoku line, the JR Yokosuka line, Tokyo Toyoko line and Keihin Kyuko line.