| Imperial
Palace
City/Region: Tokyo
Japan's Imperial Palace is regarded as the heart and soul
of Tokyo, standing on a huge site that still bears the remains
of Edo Castle, stronghold of the Tokugawa shogunate. The
present palace was completed in 1888 and is still home to
the emperor of Japan. The palace is off-limits but its grounds
and surrounds provide a much-needed green open space for
the city with Higashi Gyoen (East Garden), site of the Edo
Castle keep, open to the public. On 2 January and 23 December
each year visitors are able to enter the inner grounds and
see the Imperial family make public appearances from the
balcony. Guided tours of the palace are offered, but are
only in Japanese, although an English pamphlet and audio
guide are provided; these must be reserved in advance through
the Imperial Household Agency. In spring the gardens are
abloom with cherry blossom, particularly along the castle
moat.
Transport: Subway to Tokyo station
Hours: East Garden is open daily except Monday and Friday
from 9am to 4pm (until 3.30pm between November and February).
Closed from 28 December to 3 January and when Imperial Court
functions take place
Admission: East Garden has no admission
Yasukuni Shrine
City/Region: Tokyo
To the north of the Imperial Palace lies the controversial
Yasukuni Shrine, built to commemorate Japanese war dead
and now regarded as home to the souls of about two and a
half million who perished in conflict, mostly in the Pacific
War of World War II. Soldiers fought in the knowledge that
their spirits would find rest and honor at Yasukuni in the
after-life. The shrine has caused controversy for various
political reasons over the years since it was built in 1869
in honor of supporters of the emperor, killed in the run
up to the Meiji Restoration. More recently, with regard
to the country's constitution that requires the separation
of State and religion, cabinet ministers have been criticized
for attending anniversaries of Japan's defeat in World War
II held at the shrine. The shrine is confined behind a huge
steel torii gate, opening onto a long avenue lined with
gingko and cherry trees. The Worship Hall itself is a simple
Shinto style building. North of the shrine is the Yushukan
Museum, containing war memorabilia, some of which is disturbing
and thought-provoking such as the human torpedo and kamikaze
suicide attack plane.
Website: www.yasukuni.or.jp
Transport: Subway to Kudanshita Station
Hours: Shrine open 24 hours daily. Museum open daily 9am
to 5pm (November to February); 9am to 5.30pm (March to October)
Admission: Museum: ¥800, concessions available
Edo-Tokyo Museum
City/Region: Tokyo
Tokyo's museum dedicated to detailing the city's history,
art, culture and architecture through the medium of visual
displays is an impressive, not to be missed attraction.
Edo was the old name for Tokyo from its foundation in 1590
when it became the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun.
Exhibits include a replica of an ancient Kabuki theater,
maps, photographs and portrayals of the lives of the city's
merchants, craftsmen and townspeople in days gone by.
Address: 1-4-1 Yokoami, Sumida-ku
Phone Number: (03) 3626 9974
Website: www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp
Transport: Train to Ryogoku Station on JR Sobu line (West
Exit) or subway to Ryogoku on the Oedo line (A3/A4 exit)
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 5.30pm; Saturdays closing at 7.30pm.
Free tours given daily between 10am and 3pm
Admission: ¥600, concessions available
Akihabara
City/Region: Tokyo
Tokyo's electronic wonderland has become world-renowned.
In a small area near Chuo-dori Avenue, west of Akihabara
Station, are clustered more than 250 electrical appliance
and electronics shops, many of them now dealing in computer
hardware and software, where expert staff can answer queries
and visitors can browse through the showrooms of major manufacturers.
There are duty-free shops and various events to draw the
attention. The suburb has been specializing in electrical
equipment since the 1940s and is now regarded as the world's
biggest and best electrical equipment enclave.
Website: www.akiba.or.jp/english/index.html
Transport: Subway to Akihabara Station
Hours: Stores are open from 10am to 7pm daily
Sensoji Temple
City/Region: Tokyo
The Asakusa neighborhood of Tokyo draws visitors to admire
the city's oldest temple, Senso-ji, founded in AD628 with
a quaint legend attached to it. The story goes that two
young brothers fishing in the nearby river netted a golden
image of Kan'non, the Buddhist goddess of mercy, and were
inspired to enshrine it in the temple. The statuette is
still inside, but never shown to the public, though pilgrims
flock here every day seeking the favor of the goddess. There
are also numerous festivals associated with the shrine,
and a hugely popular firework display is held on the Sumida
River every summer. Tourists enjoy the visit to the temple
mainly because the approach is a colorful pedestrian lane,
Nakamise Dori, lined with shops and souvenir stalls. Nearby,
the Demboin Garden is a good spot to grab a break from the
city crowds.
Address: 2-3-1 Asakusa Taito-ku, Shitamachi (downtown)
Phone Number: (0)3 3842 0181
Transport: Subway to Asakusa station
Hours: Daily 6am to 5pm
Admission: Free
Tokyo Disneyland
City/Region: Tokyo
Plenty of fun is to be had for the young and young at heart
at Tokyo's Disneyland, virtually a carbon copy of the theme
park in California in the United States. The expected attractions
like a Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain and Toontown are all
included on the huge site, along with a sea park and five
hotels.
Phone Number: (045) 683 3333
Website: www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp
Transport: The park is reached via the JR Keiyo Line or
JR Musashino Line from Tokyo Station; disembark at Maihama
Station (South Exit) where there is a Disneyland Welcome
Center
Hours: Daily 8am to 10pm (summer), 9am to 9pm (winter)
Admission: One-day passport: ¥5,500 (adults), ¥4,800
(children ages12-17), ¥3,700 (children ages 4-11). Several
other ticket options are also available
Tokyo National Museum
City/Region: Tokyo
Close to Ueno Station, enclosed in the Tokyo Metropolitan
Imperial Gift Park, the National Museum boasts the largest
collection of Japanese art in the world. Exhibits range
from antique kimonos and delicate pottery to woodblock prints
and archaeological finds. The vast collection is displayed
on a rotating basis with at least 4,000 artifacts visible
at any time, so the museum always has something new to offer.
The museum consists of five different buildings containing
numerous galleries, so one needs sufficient time to do it
justice. The Imperial Gift Park also contains some other
cultural institutions, including a zoo, the Metropolitan
Art Museum, Bunka Kaikan Cultural Hall, the Western Art
Museum and the National Science Museum.
Address: 13-9 Ueno Park,Taito-ku
Phone Number: (03) 3822 1111
Website: www.tnm.go.jp
Transport: JR Line to Ueno or Uguisudani Station
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 5pm, depending on season; closed
Mondays. On Fridays from April to December open until 8pm;
Saturdays and Sundays from April to September until 6pm
Admission: ¥420 (adults), ¥130 (students), free
for scholars
Mount Fuji
City/Region: Tokyo
The dormant volcano of Mount Fuji, 62 miles (100km) southwest
of Tokyo, has been revered since ancient times and no exploration
of Japan is complete without visiting the mountain that
is known fondly as 'Fuji-san' by the locals. It's symmetrical
cone towers 12,388ft (3,776m) and Mt Fuji, with its snow-crowned
summit, has become as symbolic of Japan as the country's
flag. Closest town to the volcano is Fuji Yoshida, from
where buses leave frequently for Fuji's 'fifth stage' (the
usual jumping-off point for hikes up the mountain) from
outside the train station. There are six trails to the summit,
of which the Kawaguchiko Trail is the easiest, quite manageable
even by children and the elderly as long as they have stamina
and good shoes. Overnight huts are available. Official climbing
season is from 1 July to end of August - in winter snow
makes the ascent too dangerous.
Phone Number: 555 72 0259 (Fuji Visitor Center)
Transport: Fujikyuko bus from Tokyo's JR Shinjuku station
to Kawagutiko station. From Kawagutiko, take the bus to
Fuji Gogome
Kamakura
City/Region: Tokyo
The city of Kamakura, about 30 miles (50km) southwest of
Tokyo at the base of the Miura Peninsula, was the political
powerhouse of Japan in the middle ages and the seat of government
for most of the 13th century. Because of its historic importance
Kamakura boasts numerous monuments, temples and shrines
of interest to tourists. As an added bonus the city sports
some sandy beaches and good hiking trails in the nearby
wooded hills. Kamakura's many sights are too numerous to
detail individually, but most important of them all is the
Great Buddha. This bronze statue of the seated Amida Buddha
is located in the grounds of the Kotokuin Temple, and standing
at almost 44ft (13,35m) high, it is the second largest Buddha
statue in Japan after that found in the Todaiji Temple in
Nara. The Kamakura Great Buddha was cast in 1252 and was
originally contained in the temple hall. A tidal wave (tsunami)
washed away the temple in the late 15th century, but the
Buddha prevailed and since then has stood in the open.
Website: www.kamakuratoday.com/e
Transport: JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo Station, or the Enoden
Railway, an unusual streetcar-like train service
Yokohama
City/Region: Tokyo
While visiting Japan's largest city, Tokyo, it is quick
and easy to pay a visit to the country's second largest
metropolis as well: Yokohama can be reached in less than
30 minutes by train from Tokyo, lying south of the capital.
The main reason for visiting Yokohama is to marvel at its
futuristic new city center, and perhaps take a stroll through
Japan's largest Chinatown. Yokohama's Chinatown, entered
through four colorful gates and teeming with restaurants
and shops, developed after the city became one of the first
Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade after generations
of isolation ended in 1859. Chinese traders flocked to the
city, establishing a cultural neighborhood. Minato Mirai
is the new central city area around the harbor, characterized
by the Landmark Tower, rising to 971ft (296m). Visitors
can ride to the tower's observation deck in the world's
fastest elevator, traveling at 2,461ft (750m) a minute,
for a view that on a clear day stretches as far as Mount
Fuji.
Phone Number: (0)45 441 7300 (Tourist Information Center,
Yokohama Station)
Website: www.city.yokohama.jp/en
Transport: Toyoko Line from Shibuya, JR Tokaido Line or
JR Yokosuka Line from Tokyo or Shinagawa Station
Kyoto Imperial Palace
City/Region: Kyoto
Japan's imperial family lived in the Kyoto palace from 1331
until 1868 (when they moved to Tokyo), and today visitors
can view the furnishings and delicate decorations on guided
one-hour tours of the city's Imperial Palace. It is necessary
to reserve a tour in advance by calling at the Imperial
Household Agency office in the Kyoto Imperial Park, which
surrounds the palace. To join a tour you need to produce
your passport.
Transport: Karasuma Subway line from Kyoto Station to Marutamachi
or Imadegawa Station
Hours: Daily tours, except Sundays. Closed for official
functions and from 28 December to 4 January
Admission: Free
To-ji
City/Region: Kyoto
To-ji, with the tallest pagoda in Japan, was the temple
founded in 794 as guardian of the then young capital city's
welfare. Today it stands about 10 minutes walk to the south
of Kyoto Station, drawing curious tourists to admire in
particular its five-story pagoda, which was rebuilt in the
mid-17th century. During the span of centuries a treasure
trove of statuary, calligraphy and paintings has been collected
at the temple, now housed in the various historic buildings
making up the temple complex. The statues include a six-meter-tall
Senju Kannon (thousand-arm Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) carved
in 877.
Address: 1 Kujo-cho, Minami-ku
Phone Number: (0)75 671 9612
Hours: Daily 9am to 4.30pm (20 March to 25 May, and 20 September
to 25 November)
Admission: ¥500 admission is charged for the Main Hall
and pagoda
Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)
City/Region: Kyoto
One of Kyoto's most popular attractions is to the north
of the city. The Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) is a three-story
pavilion covered in gold leaf, glittering in the waters
of a calm pond. Kinkakuji was built in 1397 as a retirement
home for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, who lived there in
luxury until he died in 1408, after which the building was
converted into a Zen temple. In 1950 a mad monk burnt the
pavilion down, and it was not rebuilt until 1955. Today
it is covered in gold leaf five times thicker than the original
coating, and presents an awesome sight. A short walk from
the pavilion is Ryoanji, Japan's most famous Zen rock garden,
laid out in the 15th century. A veranda overlooks the garden
in which 15 rocks are set among raked white pebbles.
Address: 1 Kinkaku-ji-cho Kita-ku, Kyoto
Phone Number: (075) 461 0013
Email Address: office@shokoku-ji.or.jp
Website: www.shokoku-ji.or.jp
Transport: Bus 101 or 205 from Kyota Station or subway
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission: ¥400
Sanjusangendo Hall
City/Region: Kyoto
The temple of Rengeoin in eastern Kyoto is better known
by its popular name of Sanjusangendo Hall, and houses an
amazing sight. Inside the longest wooden building in Japan
stand row upon row of life-sized statues of Kannon, the
goddess of mercy, carved from Japanese cypress in the 12th
and 13th centuries. There are 1,001 statues altogether.
The statues surround the large, central figure of a seated
Kannon, carved in 1254 in the Kamakura Period.
Address: Shichijo Dori
Phone Number: (075) 525 0033
Transport: Bus 100, 206 or 208 to Hakubutsukan Sanjusangendo-mae
Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm (April to mid-November); 9am to
4.30pm the rest of the year
Admission: ¥600 (adults), ¥300 (children)
Gion
City/Region: Kyoto
Most visitors to Japan are fascinated with the traditional
Geisha: white-faced kimono-clad women specially trained
to entertain and spoil men in a soothing setting. Kyoto
boasts one of the most famous Geisha districts in the country,
a neighborhood of plain wooden buildings to the east of
the Kamo River known as Gion. There were once thousands
of Geisha and maiko (apprentice Geisha) performing their
genteel tasks in this area. Today the number has dwindled
to a few hundred, but visitors who stroll the Hanami-koji
street at sunset, past teahouses and restaurants, will probably
catch a glimpse of one or two en route to the geisha houses
in their clattering wooden shoes. The geisha houses themselves
are strictly off-limits to anyone not properly introduced
and invited, but from behind the paper screens you will
hear the strains of music and laughter. While geisha-spotting
in the Gion district, take in the Yasaka Shrine with its
many paper lanterns, and the Minamiza Kabuki Theater.
Transport: Train to Keihan Shijo station, or bus 100 or
206 from Kyoto Station
Kiyomizudera
City/Region: Kyoto
The 'Pure water temple', Kiyomizudera, is one of Japan's
most celebrated temples, founded in 780 and associated with
Nara Buddhism, the oldest sect in Japan. The temple's main
feature is the lovely view afforded of the wooded hills
of eastern Kyoto from its terrace. Below the terrace is
the spring from which the temple got its name; visitors
can sample the water, which is said to have healing powers.
Nearby is an interesting three-story pagoda, and the Otawa
Falls. The approach to the temple along Kiyomizu-michi or
Gojo-zaka is steep and narrow, the streets lined with stores
specializing in local sweets, pottery and the inevitable
souvenirs. Behind the temple is the Shinto Jishu Shrine,
dedicated to the god of love.
Phone Number: (075) 551 1234
Transport: 15-minute bus ride (100 or 206) from Kyoto Station
to Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka stop
Hours: Daily 6am to 6pm
Admission: ¥300
Katsura Imperial Villa
City/Region: Kyoto
Considered to be the finest example of pure Japanese architecture
and garden design, Katsura Rikyu, built in 1645 by Prince
Toshihito, is beautiful in its simplicity. The buildings
are constructed of entirely natural materials and consist
of a moon-viewing pavilion, an imperial hall, teahouse and
the wooden villa itself. The garden is designed for leisurely
strolls with surprises around each turn of the path, from
stone bridges and lanterns to ponds and manicured trees.
Phone Number: (0)75 211 1215 (Imperial Household Agency)
Transport: Bus 33 or train from Kyoto Station
Hours: The villa may be visited only on pre-arranged conducted
tours organized by the Imperial Household Agency, with four
tours held each weekday and occasional tours on Saturdays.
Tours are in Japanese only, and can be arranged at the office
of the Imperial Household Agency next to the Imperial Palace
in central Kyoto. Closed 28 December to 4 January and for
imperial functions
Admission: Free
Nara
City/Region: Kyoto
The city of Nara, 26 miles (42km) south of Kyoto, could
be regarded as the place where Japan's culture was formalised.
The city, originally called Heijo, became the first permanent
capital of the country in 710. Although its capital status
only lasted for 74 years, they were years that entrenched
and enshrined Japan's arts, crafts and literature. Nara
flourished as a political and cultural center and thus was
blessed with numerous temples, shrines, pagodas and palaces,
which today attract locals and foreigners intent on glimpsing
historic Japan. Most of Nara's historic treasures are contained
in a vast park which has been designated a World Heritage
Site, making sightseeing easy and pleasurable. Highlights
are Todaiji, the huge temple that contains Japan's largest
Buddha statue, and Horyuji, the temple containing the world's
oldest wooden structures.
Website: www.city.nara.nara.jp
Transport: Twice hourly JR train or by Kintetsu Railway
from Kyoto Station
Osaka
City/Region: Kyoto
Japan's third largest city, the industrial metropolis of
Osaka, lies just 26 miles (42km) south of Kyoto. It is worthwhile
visiting the city just to see its magnificent castle or
to watch a show at the Bunraku puppet theater. Osaka's castle
dates back to the 16th century, built by the powerful lord,
Hideyoshi Toyotomi. It was rebuilt in 1931, renovated in
1997, and is today a national treasure. Osaka is one of
the few places left where visitors can watch the fascinating
art of Bunraku, traditional puppet theater, which, like
kabuki, was a rare form of entertainment designed for the
common people rather than nobility. Other attractions in
Osaka include an impressive aquarium, a spa with a bathhouse
that can accommodate 5,000 people, and Universal Studios
Japan, a theme park focusing on the American movie industry.
Website: www.city.osaka.jp
Transport: Kintetsu Railways connects Kyoto to Osaka
Peace Memorial Park
City/Region: Hiroshima
Around the epicenter of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima
in 1945, a complex of buildings and monuments has been erected
in the Peace Memorial Park to commemorate the earth-shattering
event. It is dedicated to the promotion of world peace.
Central to the park is the only remaining city building
damaged in the blast. It was formerly the Industrial Promotion
Hall, but is now known as the Atomic Bomb Dome and has been
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park also contains
the Peace Memorial Museum, featuring exhibits that graphically
portray the horrible effects of the bomb on the city and
its citizens. Between the museum and the dome stands the
Memorial Cenotaph containing a stone chest, inside which
is a list of all those killed in the explosion or who died
subsequently from the long-term effects caused by radiation.
The Cenotaph also houses the peace flame, which will burn
until nuclear war is no longer considered a threat to humanity.
Other monuments contained in the solemn park include the
Statue of the A-Bomb Children and the Atomic Bomb Memorial
Mound that contains the ashes of tens of thousands of unidentified
victims.
Address: 1-2 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku
Phone Number: (082) 241 4004
Email Address: hpcf@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp
Website: www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/index_e2.html
Transport: Hiroshima bus to Yoshijima alighting at the Heiwa
Kinen Koen (Peace Memorial Park) bus stop; or HiroshimaPort
streetcar to Chuden-Mae, or Eba streetcar to Genbaku Domu
Mae (A-bomb Dome) stop
Hours: Daily 8.30am to 6pm (March to November); 8.30am to
7pm (August); 8.30am to 5pm (December to February)
Admission: ¥50 (adult), ¥30 (child)
Hiroshima City Museum of
Contemporary Art
City/Region: Hiroshima
Hiroshima boasts the first public art museum in Japan devoted
exclusively to contemporary art. The museum is housed in
an interesting building designed by Japanese architect Kurokawa
Kisho, based on the shape of a Japanese warehouse (Kura).
The building is set high on a hill in Hijiyama Park, famed
for its cherry blossoms and splendid city views. The museum
itself contains the works of established and up-and-coming
Japanese artists. For those not familiar with Japanese art
the museum has provided information books on the individual
artists represented, written in English. There is also an
outdoor sculpture garden to enjoy.
Address: 1-1 Hijiyama Koen, Minami-Ku
Phone Number: (082) 264 1121
Website: www.hcmca.cf.city.hiroshima.jp
Transport: Bus or streetcar from Hiroshima Station
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
Admission: ¥360 (adults), ¥270 (students), ¥170
(scholars)
Hiroshima Castle
City/Region: Hiroshima
Hiroshima's original castle, built in the late 16th century,
was totally destroyed in the atomic blast but has been reconstructed
as a perfect reproduction of the original. The castle houses
a museum detailing the city's history and the historic feudal
system. The exhibits include some models of ancient Hiroshima
and the castle.
Address: 21-1 Motomachi, Naka-ku
Phone Number: (082) 221 7512
Transport: Streetcar from Hiroshima station to Kamiya-cho
station on lines 1, 2 or 6; it is a 10-minute walk from
there
Hours: Daily 9am to 5.30pm; 9am to 4.30pm (October to March)
Admission: Castle tower: ¥320 (adults), ¥160 (children).
Castle grounds free
Miyajima
City/Region: Hiroshima
The romantic little island of Miyajima lies about eight
miles (13km) off the mainland in the Seto Inland Sea. Apart
from being scenically beautiful with steep wooded hills,
the island is famous for its Itsukushima Shrine featuring
a massive red wooden torii (gate). The shrine is partially
built over water, and was founded in the 6th century. During
high tide the shrine stands in the ocean, which is particularly
picturesque when the building is illuminated at night. The
rest of the island makes for great hiking opportunities,
particularly in spring when the many cherry trees are in
bloom. Deer roam free and monkeys chatter in the woods.
Phone Number: (0)82 944 0008
Website: www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/miyajima/english/top2.htm
Transport: JR Sanyo Line or tram 2 to Miyajimaguchi Station.
Ferries leave frequently from the pier nearby
Hours: Itsukushima Shrine: daily 6.30am to 6pm. Until 5pm
in December and until 5.30pm from mid-October, November,
January and February
Admission: ¥300
Sandankyo Gorge
City/Region: Hiroshima
The erosion of the limestone plateau in the northwest of
the Hiroshima prefecture has left a beautiful deep gorge,
stretching for about 11 miles (18km), full of primeval forest,
waterfalls, monkeys, unusual rock formations and the Onbashi
Bridge, the largest natural bridge in Japan. Sandankyo Gorge
is a favorite route for hikers.
Transport: Train or bus from Hiroshima City
Castle
City/Region: Fukuoka
Fukuoka's castle is in ruins, but it is still a favorite
spot for tourists to congregate (mainly for the view). Built
by the feudal lord in days of old, it was composed of 47
turrets of various sizes. Today the Otemon gate, Tamon turret
and a few walls remain.
Transport: Bus to Otemon or Heiwada stops, or subway to
Ohorikoen Station
Hours: Open daily
Shofukuji Temple
City/Region: Fukuoka
The Shofukuji Temple was the first Zen temple to be built
in Japan. It was founded by the father of Japanese Zen,
Eisai, in 1195. In the temple grounds are the remains of
two other ancient temples, Jotenji and Tochoji.
Address: 6-1 Gokuso-machi, Higashi-ku
Phone Number: (0)92 291 0775
Transport: Subway to Gion station
Fukuoka Asian Art Museum
City/Region: Fukuoka
Fukuoka's Asian Art Museum is housed in a new complex in
the Shimokawabata district of Hakata Ward, in the heart
of the city. The museum houses a collection of more than
1,000 works including paintings, sculptures, prints and
handcrafts. It also serves as a center for art education.
Address: Riverain Complex, 3-1 Shimokawabata-machi, Hakata-ku
Phone Number: (0)92 771 8600
Transport: Subway to Nakasu-kawabata station
Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm; closed Wednesdays
Admission: ¥200 (adults), ¥150 (high school and
college students). Admission for special exhibitions varies
Kushida Shrine
City/Region: Fukuoka
One of Fukuoka's best-known shrines is Kushida, founded
in 757. It is situated in the heart of ancient Hakata with
a huge gingko tree, said to be 1,000 years old, shading
its forecourt. The shrine honors the grand deity, Ohata
Nushina-mikoto, and was built during the Heian Period for
the common people. Today it is very much enjoyed by locals
and visitors alike during the summer's major event, the
Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. On the last day of the festival
the Kushida Shrine becomes the starting point for the Oiyama
fun run when hundreds of young men clad only in loin cloths
carry heavy wooden shrines through the streets along a set
route, vying to clock the fastest times. The shrine itself
contains several items of interest, particularly the Eto
Arrow plate bearing carvings of the Chinese zodiac and a
brace of anchor stones, recovered from the harbor, that
were once attached to ships of the Mongolian invasion fleets.
Address: 1-41, Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku
Phone Number: (0)92 291 2951
Transport: Subway to Nakasu or Gion station
Dazaifu
City/Region: Fukuoka
In the northern part of Kyushu Island in south-western Japan
lie the ruins of Dazaifu, a city that during the 1st century
was the seat of Government for the island and first line
of defense against threat from the East Asian countries.
The walled city once stood in open fields, but now the ruins
on the southern slopes of Mount Ono are surrounded by modern
Dazaifu, and the valued historic site has been turned into
a park. Apart from the interesting ruins, Dazaifu also boasts
one of Japan's most important shrines. The Dazaifu-tenmangu
Shrine is dedicated to a great scholar named Sugawara Michizane,
who died in the year 903 and subsequently became revered
as a deity because of his wisdom. The shrine is now a place
of pilgrimage for students from all over the country, especially
when examination season comes around. The approach to the
shrine is lined with teahouses specializing in a local rice
cake delicacy, which is believed to keep illness at bay.
Website: www2.city.dazaifu.fukuoka.jp/dazaifu/eng.html
Transport: Train from Fukuoka city
Mount Aso
City/Region: Fukuoka
The composite active volcano of Mt Aso lies almost in the
center of Kyushu Island and boasts the world's largest caldera,
stretching 11 miles (18km) from east to west and 15 miles
(24km) from north to south. Inside the caldera are five
volcanic peaks, with one of them, Naka-dake, still being
active and regularly emitting smoke and ash. The rest of
the landscape inside the caldera is green and grassy, grazed
by cows and horses and inhabited by about 50,000 people
in several towns and villages, seemingly unphased by living
inside a volcanic crater. In the town of Aso there is a
museum dedicated to the volcano. Visitors can watch large
screen presentations about Aso and the associated geology,
in addition to viewing a live image from a camera positioned
at the active crater site.
Phone Number: (096) 734 2111
Hours: Aso Volcano Museum open daily 9am to 5pm
Nagasaki
City/Region: Fukuoka
The beautifully situated port city of Nagasaki lies at the
southern end of Kyushu Island, 95 miles (152km) southwest
of Fukuoka. Nagasaki was open to the world for centuries
between 1639 and 1859 while the rest of Japan was secluded
from foreign contact by governmental decree. The exposure
to foreign cultures has left the city with a sophisticated
and liberal air that makes it popular for tourists, enhanced
by the many attractions in the city itself and surrounding
prefecture. Feudal castles, samurai houses, smoking volcanoes,
hot spring baths, rugged offshore islands, beautiful beaches
and friendly people are all here to be enjoyed. The most
important site in the city is the Peace Park (Heiwa Koen),
commemorating Nagasaki's darkest hour on 9 August 1945,
when a nuclear bomb intended to be dropped on the Mitsubishi
Shipyards exploded instead over the Urakami district, killing
150,000 people. A black stone column marks the blast's epicenter,
alongside the Atomic Bomb Museum.
Email Address: info@city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp
Hours: Atomic Bomb Museum: daily 8.30am to 5.30pm
Admission: Atomic Bomb Museum: ¥200 (adults), ¥100
(children)
Hokkaido Ainu Center
City/Region: Sapporo
The Ainu people with their unique culture have lived on
the island of Hokkaido for hundreds of generations. The
Ainu Center in Sapporo details the history and culture of
the island's indigenous people using interesting exhibits
and demonstrations.
Address: 7F Kaderu 2-7 Bldg., N2 W2, Chuo-ku
Phone Number: (0)11 221 0462
Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm; closed Sundays and between 29 December
and 3 January
Admission: Free
Historical Village
City/Region: Sapporo
The impressive and entertaining outdoor museum village depicting
Hokkaido life in days of old is situated in Sapporo at Atsubetsu
Ward, in a corner of the Hokkaido Nopporo Forest Park. The
site features restored or recreated buildings from the Meiji
and Taisho periods, and includes edifices like the old Sapporo
railway station, old Otaru newspaper company buildings,
fishermen's cottages, mountain villas and the like. Horse-drawn
trolleys run through the village and in winter horse-drawn
sleighs carry visitors around the site.
Address: Konopporo 50-1, Atsubetsu-chyo
Phone Number: (0)11 898 1000 (recorded information)
Hours: Daily except Mondays 9.30am to 4.30pm
Admission: Summer: ¥610 (adults), ¥450 (students).
Winter: ¥500 (adults), ¥400 (students)
Beer Museum
City/Region: Sapporo
If you are here for the beer, which is possible because
Sapporo beer is known throughout the world, then a visit
to the beer museum in the historic Sapporo Brewery building
is a must, together with a tour of the brewery itself, which,
of course, ends with a tasting. The red brick brewery building
has been home to the Sapporo Beer Company, third-largest
beer producer in Japan, since 1876. One-hour tours are conducted
at 15-minute intervals every day throughout the year; however
these are in Japanese only. It is possible to book in advance
and request an English interpreter.
Phone Number: (0)11 731 4368
Email Address: museum@sapporobeer.jp
Website: www.sapporobeer.jp
Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 3.40pm
Admission: Free
Mount Moiwa
City/Region: Sapporo
Fondly known as Sapporo's 'backyard ski resort' Mt Moiwa
offers 11 different courses for all grades of skiers from
beginners to advanced. Most are well lit to enable visitors
and locals alike to enjoy the fun of night skiing, taking
in the breathtaking view of the city as they fly down the
sparkling slopes under the stars.
Phone Number: (0)11 581 0914
Transport: 10 minutes drive from the Makomanai Subway Station
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 9pm (mid-December to late March)
and until 5pm in winter
Admission: Mt Moiwa Ropeway: ¥1,100 (return). Chairlift:
¥100 (one way)
Noboribetsu
City/Region: Sapporo
The famous hot-spring resort of Noboribetsu Onsen is situated
inside the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. The spa is one of
many found in Hokkaido, but being closest to Sapporo is
very popular. Hot mineral springs gush out about 10,000
tons of water a day, said to have healing properties for
a range of disorders. The resort is also known for its 2,000
cherry trees that make a stunning sight in spring.
Website: www.noboribetsu-spa.jp/en
Transport: Train or bus from Sapporo Station
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