Beginner's Guide to Japan

Sports

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:53:10 +0000

Sports are very popular in Japan. Like many things in Japanese culture, the sports enjoyed are divided into two categories: traditional and modern. Sumo wrestling is the most prominent traditional sport. Martial Arts are another big traditional activity.

Baseball has become huge in Japan recently, with several players making in impact in Major League Baseball, and the national team winning the first baseball World Cup.

Other sports enjoyed in Japan are tennis, volleyball, basketball, golf and rugby. Professional wrestling is also popular in Japan.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ja.html
http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/index.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Japan#Sports
http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/culture/japanese_tea_ceremony.html

Japan - Short Itinerary Overview

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:54:54 +0000

There are many ways to spend a few days in Japan. You can do a lot of stop and go traveling, or base yourself in one general area. You can even pack three days chock-full of sightseeing in Tokyo. Here are several options for a short trip to Japan in varying amounts of days.

The Chugoku (Western Honshu) District

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Day 1 – Four hours west of Tokyo or an hour west of Osaka, Okayama is a major stop on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line. En route, stop off in Himeji for a tour of Japan's loveliest castle. Spend the night in Okayama.

Day 2 – Take in Okayama's sights. Don’t forget Okayama Castle, which is deliberately painted black to contrast with white Himeji Castle. Another must-see is the nearby Korakuen Garden, considered one of Japan's most beautiful landscaped gardens. Depart Okayama for a night in one of Okayama Prefecture's six International Villas, beautifully constructed and situated in rural communities.

Day 3 – Take the train to Kurashiki, 26 kilometers (16 miles) west of Okayama. This is one of Japan's most photogenic towns. Stroll along the willow-lined canal of its famous historic district, stopping in at the Ohara Museum of Art, the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, and the Japanese Rural Toy Museum. Spend the night here.

Day 4 – Take the Shinkansen one hour west to Hiroshima and spend a couple of sobering hours at Peace Memorial Park. Afterward, take a 45-minute train to Miyajima, a scenic island in the Seto Inland Sea with the famous Itsukushima Shrine.

Shikoku Island

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Day 1 – From Okayama, take a train over Seto Ohashi Bridge on one-hour ride to Takamatsu, where you'll spend the night. Visit Ritsurin Park, a beautiful garden, and then head to Shikoku Mura Village, an open-air Edo-Period museum.

Day 2 – Take the train one hour west to Kotohira, where you can visit Kotohiragu Shrine and the nearby Kompira Grand Playhouse, one of Japan's oldest Kabuki theaters. Head onward to Matsuyama, where you should spend a couple relaxing hours at the delightful Dogo Onsen Honkan bathhouse before retiring to your hotel.

Day 3 – Tour Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan's few original castles, and then take a 20-minute train to the picturesque village of Uchiko, which boasts some fine old homes and buildings dating from the Edo Period.

Day 4 – For an up-close and personal tour of the Seto Inland Sea, head to the nearby Shimanami Kaido route with its dedicated hiking and biking trail (rental bikes are available) connecting six islands and extending 69 kilometers (43 miles) all the way to Hiroshima Prefecture. Stop off at the Shiyoden Treasure Museum to view its astounding collection of samurai armor and swords.

Tohoku District

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Day 1 – Take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Sendai (about two hours) and then board a sightseeing boat for a 50-minute trip to Matsushima, famous for its scenic coastline of pine-studded islets. Visit the venerable Zuiganji Temple, northern Japan's most famous Zen temple, Entsuin Temple with its nice gardens, and a museum or two. Spend the night in Matsushima.

Day 2 – Return to Sendai and take the Shinkansen onward to Kakunodate, a small and relatively unspoiled castle town famous for its samurai district and cherry trees. Be sure to see the Aoyagi Samurai Manor, a compound of traditional buildings packed with Edo-Period memorabilia. Spend the night in Kakunodate.

Days 3-4 – Backtrack one stop on the Shinkansen to Tazawako and board a bus for Nyuto Onsen, a secluded valley of hot springs and rustic inns. It's a good base from which to explore the many wonders of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park, including hiking, skiing, and swimming.

Tokyo in One, Two or Three Days

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:58:34 +0000

If you are spending your entire short trip in Tokyo, you have to remember that this city is huge, and it takes time to get from one end to the other. Plan your days so you cover the city neighborhood by neighborhood, coordinating sightseeing with dinner and evening plans. To help you get the most out of your stay, the suggested itineraries below will guide you to the most important attractions. Note, however, that some attractions are closed 1 day of the week, so plan your days accordingly. The itineraries start with one day in the city and adds one day at a time to help you get the most out of your stay.

If you have one day – Start by getting up in the wee hours of the morning (if you've just flown in from North America, you'll suffer from jet lag anyway and will be wide awake by 5 a.m.). Start by heading for the Tsukiji Fish Market, Japan's largest wholesale fish market (closed Sundays, holidays, and some Wednesdays). Be brave and try a breakfast of the freshest sushi you'll ever have. By 9 a.m. get on the Hibiya Line and get on your way to Ueno, where you'll head to the Tokyo National Museum, the country's largest and most important museum (closed Mon). From there, move on to Asakusa for lunch in one of the area's traditional Japanese restaurants, and follow it by a walk on Nakamise Dori (good for souvenirs) to Sensoji Temple. In the late afternoon you might want to head to Ginza for some shopping, followed by dinner in a restaurant of your choice. Drop by a yakitori-ya, a typical Japanese watering hole, for a drink and a snack. You might be exhausted by the end of the day, but you'll have seen some of the city's biggest highlights.

If you have two days – On the first day, get up early and go back to Tsukiji Fish Market. Next, head for the nearby Hama Rikyu Garden, which opens at 9 a.m.; it's about a 20-minute walk from Tsukiji, or a short taxi ride away. After touring the garden, one of the city's best, board the ferry that departs from inside the grounds for a trip up the Sumida River to Asakusa, where you can visit Sensoji Temple and shop along Nakamise Dori, following that with lunch in a traditional Japanese restaurant. Next, ride the bus to Ueno, where you should walk through Ueno Park to the Tokyo National Museum. Afterwards, head to Ginza's many department stores. If there's a performance, drop by the Kabukiza Theater for part of a Kabuki play. Have dinner at a Ginza restaurant.

On your second day, go early in the morning to the Edo-Tokyo Museum (located next to the sumo stadium), a great museum that illuminates the city's tumultuous history. From there, head to colorful Harajuku, where you can visit Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo's most famous Shinto shrine; the Ota Memorial Museum of Art, with its collection of woodblock prints; and the Oriental Bazaar, a great place to shop for souvenirs. Spend the evening in one of Tokyo's famous nightlife districts, such as Shinjuku or Roppongi.

If you have three days – Spend the first two days as outlined above, and on the third day head for Kamakura, one of Japan's most important historical sites. Located an hour south of Tokyo by train, Kamakura served as the capital back in the 1100s and is packed with temples and shrines, one of which features the Great Buddha outdoor bronze statue.

If you have four days – Consider yourself lucky. Spend the first three days as outlined above; devote the fourth day to pursuing your own interests, such as taking a trip to one of Tokyo's numerous art or specialty museums, shopping, or soaking in a hot spring. This may be the evening to party, staying out until the first subways start running at 5 a.m.

If you have five days – You might visit Nikko, approximately two hours north of Tokyo, to see the sumptuous mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the shogun who succeeded in unifying Japan in the 1600s. Or you might consider a 2-day trip to Hakone, famous for its fantastic open-air sculpture museum and home to some of the best old-fashioned Japanese inns near Tokyo. It also offers unparalleled views of Mount Fuji, if the weather is clear.

Source
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/japan/0229022927.html

Japan - Week Itinerary Introduction

Tue, 23 May 2006 19:59:23 +0000

There are many ways to spend a week in Japan. How you’ll spend your time will vary with what you want to accomplish. Here are several itineraries – some which include variations within themselves – to get you started.

Narita

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Day 1 – Arrive at the Narita Airport and venture to your hotel in Tokyo, which is about a two-hour trip. It will have been a long flight, so take some time to recuperate from your flight. Get settled in and get a feel for the city. Finish the day with a meal in a traditional restaurant. Try to stay up as late as you can to adjust to the new time zone.

Day 2 – Depending on how you handle the jet lag, you may be wide awake very early, so get up and head for Tsukiji Fish Market. After a breakfast of fresh sushi, take the Hibiya Line to Ueno, where you'll find the Tokyo National Museum, the world's finest repository of Japanese art and crafts.

From Ueno, take on the Ginza Line to visit Asakusa and its famous Nakamise Dori Lane with shops selling traditional products and visit the Sensoji Temple. Time permitting, stroll down Ginza's fashionable shopping district or head toward Harajuku with its inexpensive clothing boutiques and Oriental Bazaar. Spend the evening in Shinjuku, Roppongi, or another of Tokyo's famous nightlife areas; or attend a Kabuki play.

Day 3 – Take a 40-minute ride on the Shinkansen bullet train to Odawara or a 90-minute ride in a Odakyu Romance Car to Hakone Yumoto. Both of these locations are gateways to the wonderful Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park (if possible, leave your luggage at Odawara Station and travel overnight only with a small bag). Here you can travel through some of Japan's most scenic countryside via a circuitous route that includes a two-car tram, a cable car, ropeway, and a boat, while seeing such sights as a wonderful open-air sculptural museum and, if you're lucky, the elusive Mount Fuji. Spend the night in the Fujiya Hotel or in a Japanese inn.

Day 4 – Complete your trip through Hakone, return to Odawara, and transfer to the 3-hour Shinkansen bullet train to Kyoto. Finish the night with a stroll through Kyoto's central shopping area and a visit to the Museum of Kyoto, topped with a walk through the Gion geisha district and the Pontocho nightlife area. Spend the night in one of Kyoto's many traditional Japanese-style inns.

Day 5 – Start the day with a self-guided walk through eastern Kyoto. Make sure you see Sanjusangendo Hall, Kiyomizu Temple, and the garden of Heian Shrine. Follow this with shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. If you’re visiting in the summer, spend the evening watching cormorant fishing in nearby Arashiyama.

Day 6 – Visit Kyoto's other main attractions – Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Ryoanji Temple with its famous rock garden and the Golden Pavilion. Those with a rail pass, should consider taking the 1-hour Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto to Himeji, where you can tour one of Japan's most beautiful feudal castle.

Day 7 – Depart Japan from Kansai International Airport.

Hokkaido Island

Tue, 23 May 2006 20:02:39 +0000

Day 1 – Take the train to Hakodate (about a 6-hr. trip from Tokyo). Take a cable car to the top of Mount Hakodate, famous for its night view of Hakodate.

Day 2 – Start your morning with a visit to Hakodate's morning market and then depart for Noboribetsu Onsen. Hike through Hell Valley for a view of the bubbling hot water that has made Noboribetsu famous, and then experience its magic at the Daiichi Takimotokan hot-spring baths (open to non-hotel guests until 3pm). Spend the night in Noboribetsu Onsen.

Day 3 – Visit Edo Wonderland Noboribetsu, an early Edo-Period theme park, or the Noboribetsu Marine Park. In late afternoon, depart for Sapporo, about 90 minutes away, where you'll spend the night.

Day 4 – Take a walk through Sapporo's downtown district and then tour the Sapporo Beer Museum, following the tour with lunch at the Sapporo Factory. Afterward, take a 50-minute bus ride to Nopporo Forest Park, where you can visit the Historical Museum of Hokkaido and see vintage homes and buildings at the Historical Village of Hokkaido. Spend another night in Sapporo.

Day 5 – Depart Sapporo by train and travel to Kamikawa – about 2 ½ hours away – then take a 30-minute bus ride to Sounkyo in Daisetsuzan National Park. Rent a bike and ride to the pretty Sounkyo Gorge, and then take the cable car to the top of Kuro-dake Mountain for the view or some hiking. Spend the night in Sounkyo.

Day 6 – Make an early-morning departure by bus to Kamikawa and then take the train 2 1/2 hours to Bihoro. There, board a sightseeing bus for a 5-hour tour of Akan National Park, ending up in Akanko. Spend the night there.

Day 7 – Take a boat cruise of Lake Akan, famous for its marimo, a sponge-like ball of duckweed, and tour the marimo museum. Visit Ainu Kotan Village with its shops and traditional Ainu dancing.

The Kansai Area

Tue, 23 May 2006 20:03:21 +0000

Day 1 – Arrive in Osaka by train or by plane and transfer to Osaka Station (a 30-min. trip from the airport). Settle into your hotel and then start your trip out right by heading for Spa World, one of Japan's most sophisticated hot-spring spas, where you can swim and relax in whirlpools and hot baths; you can even get a massage to smooth out those travel kinks.

Day 2 – Spend the day in Osaka, visiting Osaka Castle, the aquarium and maybe even Universal Studios. In the evening, explore the Dotonburi nightlife area or take in a Bunraku puppet performance.

Day 3 – From Kintetsu Namba Station, take the Nankai Koya Line to Mount Koya, Japan's most sacred temple village. Here you can spend the night in a Buddhist temple and dine on prime vegetarian food.

Day 4 – Return to Shin-Osaka Station and transfer to a train to Himeji (a 40-min. trip), where you can tour the magnificent Himeji Castle and delightful Koko-en Garden. In late afternoon, take the Shinkansen to Kyoto, where you can stay in one of Kyoto's many traditional Japanese-style inns.

Day 5 – In Kyoto, visit Ryoanji Temple with its rock garden, the Golden Pavilion, the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Nijo Castle. Top off the day with a walk through Kyoto's central shopping area, stopping off to see the Museum of Kyoto. In the evening, take a walk in Gion and along Pontocho.

Day 6 – Start the day with a self-guided walk through eastern Kyoto, seeing Sanjusangendo Hall, Kiyomizu Temple, and Heian Shrine, followed by shopping at the Kyoto Handicraft Center. If it's summer, spend the evening watching cormorant fishing in nearby Arashiyama.

Day 7 – Take a day trip to Nara, where you can see the Great Buddha and Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park.

The Japanese Alps

Tue, 23 May 2006 20:04:03 +0000

Day 1 – Settle into Nagoya, gateway to the region's many destinations. Visit Nagoya Castle and the Tokugawa Art Museum.

Day 2 – Spend the morning touring a few more Nagoya attractions such as the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium or Noritake Square. In the afternoon, head to Inuyama City and its Meiji Mura open-air architectural museum. If it's summer, stay in Inuyama and observe the evening cormorant fishing.

Day 3 – Depart Nagoya by train on the Chuo Honsen Line to either Nagiso or Nakatsugawa Station (about 30 minute) and then board a bus for either Tsumago or Magome. Here you can have a pleasant 3-hour hike along the old Nakasendo Highway, one of feudal Japan's several highways connecting Edo with the provinces, and tour the old post towns of Tsumago and Magome. You can spend the night here, or continue onward to Matsumoto in the Japan Alps.

Day 4 – Spend the morning seeing Matsumoto's two most important sights – Matsumoto Castle, with Japan's oldest existing donjon, and the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, one of the best woodblock-print museums in Japan. In the afternoon, take the train north to Kanazawa on the Sea of Japan.

Day 5 – Spend the day in Kanazawa. Be sure to stroll through Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of Japan's finest, and tour the nearby Seisonkaku Villa and the excellent Ishikawa Prefectural Museum for Traditional Products.

Day 6 – Take the bus onward to Shirakawago (there are two buses daily from mid-March to November), a tiny village of rice paddies and thatched farmhouses. Spend the night in one of these farmhouses.

Day 7 – Take the bus to Takayama in the Japan Alps. Spend the afternoon strolling through its picturesque historic district and visiting a few of its many unique museums. Spend the night in a traditional Japanese-style inn. Before departing Takayama, visit the colorful morning market by the river.

Sources
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/japan/0229032970.html

Japan - People and Culture

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:51:49 +0000

Japan - Cities and Regions

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:59:14 +0000

Japan - Activities and Attractions

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:00:40 +0000

Japan - Week Itinerary

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:02:15 +0000

Beginner's Guide to Japan

Sports

Japan - Short Itinerary Overview

The Chugoku (Western Honshu) District

Shikoku Island

Tohoku District

Tokyo in One, Two or Three Days

Japan - Week Itinerary Introduction

Narita

Hokkaido Island

The Kansai Area

The Japanese Alps

Japan - People and Culture

Japan - People and Culture Overview

Demographics

Culture

Education

Japan - Cities and Regions

Japan - Cities and Regions Introduction

Regions

Cities

Japan - Activities and Attractions

Japan - Activities and Attractions Overview

Temples

Shrines

Gardens

Japan - Week Itinerary

Japan - Week Itinerary Introduction

Narita

Hokkaido Island

The Kansai Area