 Yanesen
— Shitamachi off the Beaten Path
Asakusa and other parts of shitamachi have become
fixtures on the international tourist map, but
there is still one shitamachi area that remains
largely undiscovered by overseas tourists: Yanesen.
Yanesen is an almost triangular area with Nezu,
Nippori and Sendagi stations at its tips. ... |
 Azumino
– Where Crystal Clear Water Runs
Actor TERAO Akira’s anonymous character
wanders through the peaceful countryside along
a calm, crystal clear river, coming upon several
quietly turning watermills. Children, dressed
as if from a time long past, pick flowers and
walk by. ... |
 Ise
Mairi – Visiting Japan’s Holy Land
Japan has a spiritual sanctuary that was once
a must-visit site for pilgrims. It is located
in Ise City in Mie Prefecture, about 100 kilometers
south from Nagoya. Generally it is called “Ise
Shrine” and it is worshiped by people as
the head shrine of Shinto. ... |
 Mt.
Fuji – A Spiritual and Cultural Symbol
Nothing is as symbolic of Japan as Mt. Fuji. Standing
at 3,776 meters, the mountain that straddles the
prefectures of Yamanashi and Shizuoka is by far
the tallest in the country, visible even from
Tokyo. ... |
 Kyoto
Sightseeing Spots by City Bus
Tokyo may be Japan’s main city, but Kyoto
is the sightseeing capital. With sights like the
gilded Kinkaku-ji and the geisha district of Gion
being just the tip of the iceberg, Kyoto is simply
unmissable. And thanks to the best bus network
in Japan, Kyoto is easy to get around. ... |
 Harajuku
– Town of Young People and Fashion
Takeshita-dori is the first sight that greets
many visitors to Harajuku. And what a sight. At
almost any time of the week this narrow and noisy
pedestrian street is packed with a mixture of
teenagers and tourists shuffling shoulder to shoulder
taking in the mixture of small shops that cater
to Tokyo’s punk, gothic Lolita and hip hop
youth cultures. ... |
 Okutama
– A Treasure House of Nature Only Two Hours
From Tokyo
Tokyo, as most people know, is a busy cosmopolitan
city with a population of over 10 million people,
but there is much more to the capital city than
just high-rise buildings. The town of Okutama,
located in the extreme western part of Tokyo,
can be reached within about two hours by train
or car. Here, you will see the other side of Tokyo,
a world full of beautiful nature. ... |
 Tsukiji
– Entertaining Fish Market
It may only be a station away from the affluent
and cosmopolitan streets of Ginza, yet Tsukiji
couldn’t be more different. The area is
a no-frills working district with a distinctly
old-Tokyo feel that has become popular with Japanese
and foreign tourists alike, thanks in large part
to being the undisputed seafood capital of Tokyo
(Tsukiji Market). |
 Kamakura
– the Beautifully Scenic First Shogunate
Capital
Take a train heading south from Tokyo for about
1 hour and you will get to Kamakura, the old Shogunate
capital of Japan. MINAMOTO no Yoritomo, who became
the first Shogun in Japan, created a Kamakura
shogunate in order to carry out his political
aims. From that time, Kamakura became a center
of politics and economics but its power gradually
waned when the Minamoto clan fell from power after
Yoritomo’s death. ... |
 Akihabara
– Exciting Town of Two Faces
Walking through Akihabara Station’s Electric
Town exit on a Sunday afternoon can be like walking
into a fancy dress party. And a noisy one at that.
Girls in French maid outfits pose for cameras
as they hand out flyers and vie for attention
with wannabe pop idols and loudspeakers bellowing
out the latest deals to be had on electronics.
... |
 Unveiling
the Secret of Kusatsu Onsen
Kusatsu is a town like no other in Japan and it
has a secret that must be personally experienced
to be understood. The townsfolk are in on the
secret and are more than happy to share it with
visitors. So, just why are the people of Kusatsu
so enthusiastic about their home? ... |
