Also remember that Japanese rarely communicate in English and hence we have added a list of a few important words and phrases that could help you communicate with the local people in the “useful phrases and words” section of our pocket travel guide. The “climate guide” in our travel pocket guide would be very useful for the first time as well as the experienced traveler. Please also take time to go through the “safety tips”.

For most travelers, traveling to Japan means going to Tokyo. It is understandable since in Tokyo alone, a traveler will have so many things to do and places to see that the trip will in itself be quite a remarkable and rewarding experience. For a traveler with limited time, the sights and sounds of Tokyo will be enough to fill you with memories that can last a lifetime. Tokyo is home to 13.2 million people (August 2011). In feudal Japan, Tokyo was known as Edo. Now it is a vast metropolis teeming with people and being the capital city of Japan, has all the facilities and amenities for entertainment, shopping, business, culture and dining. It has gardens, temples, museums and scenic places that vie for attention with the myriad neon lights, skyscrapers and a bustling city life.

Places to see in Tokyo

Tokyo has several districts, and each has its own distinct characteristics that make it unique. In Central Tokyo you can find the site of the silver coin mint in Japan in Ginza, which actually means silver mint. Ginza is a prime real estate area in Japan, where a one-meter square lot can go up to over 10 million yen; where upscale entertainment, dining and shopping centers are located. From the Tokyo station in Central Japan, you can see the Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan’s Imperial family. Manga and anime fans will find Akibahara, also in Central Tokyo their Mecca. This is also where you can have a grand time browsing all the electronic gadgets to your heart’s content. The Yasukuni Shrine, a Shinto Shrine in Central Tokyo is a war memorial and a museum. It was founded in 1869 as a place to honor all those who have sacrificed their lives for Japan. It is also planted with hundreds of cherry trees including the representative cherry tree used by Tokyo’s meteorological agency to announce the official arrival of spring in Tokyo.

The Currency Museum and the Mitsui Memorial Museum where you can find the Mutsui family’s art collection as well as “Japan Bridge” or Nihonbashi are all near the Tokyo Station and Ginza. Shinjuku has the busiest railway station in the world as well as some of the tallest buildings in Tokyo. It is also a busy section in Western Tokyo where you can find entertainment, shopping and business establishments. For the young crowd, Shibuya is the place to be where the latest trends in entertainment and Japanese fashion are born. They will have the time of their lives when inside fashions stores like Seibu and Tokyu.

One of Tokyo’s largest parks is Shinjuku Gyoen where you can see a traditional Japanese garden, a French formal garden and an English landscape garden. The park is also planted with several species of cherry trees and ideal to be visited in the spring to experience the wonder of seeing those cherry trees in bloom. If you will be in Tokyo in autumn, try not to miss the Yoyogi Park. It has a large number of ginko trees whose leaves turn beautiful golden in the fall. Near the park is the Meiji Shrine, dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.

Asakusa in Northern Tokyo showcases what life is like in Japan decades ago, when life is simpler and slower. While there are also modern conveniences, you can still see traditional ways being practiced here. You can ride a rickshaw, go on a river cruise at Sumida, and enjoy the view at Sumida Park near the river. Look for the Rokku Entertainment District that is home to the first cinemas in Japan, pachinko parlors and rakugo theaters or verbal entertainment where a single storyteller sits on stage. The Asahi Beer Tower is also in Asakusa as well as the Drum Museum or Taikokan, which displays drums from all over the world. And you can experience playing with some of those drums, too.

The National Science Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum, National Museum of Western Art and the Tokyo National Museum are all located at Ueno Park. There is also Japan’s first zoological garden, the Ueno Zoo. While these are major attractions at Ueno Park, it is best knows as one of the best places to view the flowering of the more than a thousand cherry trees and where people can have hanami parties each spring.

Ryogoku is a place where you have a great chance to see sumo wrestlers as this is the center of sumo in Japan. You can even try a sumo wrestler’s staple food, chanko nabe, which you can order in some restaurants around the area.

Odaiba is a man-made district in Tokyo Bay. From being a fort during the Edo Period, it became an affluent residential and business district in the 1980s. It is now a popular tourist site for shopping and entertainment and the location for the headquarters of Fuji Television, Decks Tokyo Beach, which is actually a shopping mall, Aquacity Odaiba where you can find a ramen food theme park, the Panasonic Center and the Telecom Center from which you can take a view of Mt. Fuji and Tokyo from its observation deck. Odaiba is also home to the Museum of Maritime Science, National Museum of Emerging Science and an Edo Period-inspired onsen or hot spring, Oedo Onsen Monogatari. One of the most notable symbols of Tokyo Bay is the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Odaiba to the mainland. It is spectacularly beautiful when it is lit at night with beautiful colored lights that get reflected on the calm waters of the bay.

Things to do in Tokyo

A guided tour of the Imperial Palace is pre-booked, however if you failed to do that you can still take a stroll as the Imperial East Gardens which is open to the public except on Mondays. When shopping for electronics, head off to Akibahara where you will find the latest computers, cameras, mobile phones, electronic parts and gadgets. Do check that the units you will buy are rated for international use, particularly on the voltage ratings. Check also the warranties and product documentations. If you are going shopping in Ginza, the best time to go there will be on weekends as the Chio Dori Street is closed to vehicular traffic. You can also view the clock tower of the Ginza Wako building that was built in 1932 before heading down to the Sony building and take a look at all the latest models of their products on display, and maybe buy one or two. Although being renovated and expected to reopen in 2013, you can still see the Kabukiza Theater, an old Kabuki Theater which will be rebuilt to its former glory. For more organized shopping there are several buildings you can go to, so prepare your wallets and your feet as you visit several department stores in Ginza, such as Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, Matsuya, Hankyu, Printemps and Marronier Gate. And you do not have to worry about getting refreshments as several floors of each of these department stores have restaurants.

For a lazy afternoon stroll, take in the sights of a former feudal lord’s notable landscape garden at Hama Rikyu. But if you have kids with you and you want some thrilling rides, then Tokyo Dome City is the one for you. It is an amusement park as well as a baseball stadium. Shops, a hotel and restaurants are nearby, including the LaQua Spa.

For the early risers who want to savor the other side of Tokyo, the Tsukiji Market is a wholesale seafood market and you can take a look at all types of fresh seafood on sale. You may not have seen some of those that are available in this market. After browsing the fish market, take a boat ride across the channel and have some runny pancakes, called monjayaki, a specialty in Tsukishima, a manmade island built 100 years ago in Tokyo Bay.

After a mad rush to buy the latest in Japanese fashion in some of the stores in Shibuya, extend the fun and head down to Shinjuku. Although the extreme culture here may shock someone not ready for it, do keep an open mind and have fun people-watching especially at Takeshita Dori and Harajuku in general. It is so trendy and youth oriented and you may have some fun time when you go here on Sundays when the young ones come out for some cosplay.

Learn the history and process of making Japanese beer by visiting the Museum of Yebisu Beer near the Yebisu Garden Place, a short walk from the Ebisu Station. There’s free beer tasting, too so it is worth a visit.

Take a walk around Asakusa, a district in Northern Tokyo that still retains a traditional culture. You can either tour the place on foot or hire a rickshaw for a guided tour. Visit the 7th century Buddhist temple of Sensoji then go over and visit the Asakusa Shrine, especially if you are in Tokyo around the middle of May to enjoy the Sanja Matsuri and see the spectacle of the parade of over one hundred portable Shinto shrines, called mikoshi. There will be games, Japanese drums and flutes and plenty of food stalls. Shop for souvenirs to take home with you in several shopping streets in Asakusa, including Nakamise, Shin-Nakamise and Kappabashi.

Another garden that is good to visit in the fall is Rikugien, one of Tokyo’s most beautiful landscape gardens where you can spend an hour talking a slow walk along the winding paths around ponds, forested areas, islands and stop by a teahouse for some refreshment while you take in the myriad fall colors of the leaves of various trees and shrubs in the park.

While in Odaiba, view current and past car models from Toyota at their showroom, Toyota Mega Web. And feel like you have been transported to an 18th century southern Europe when you go shopping at Venus Fort. For an afternoon of fun, ride one of the largest Ferris wheels in the world or go to Leisureland. If you still have the energy, head down to Japan’s largest convention and exhibition center, Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Convention Center) and check what’s on.

Roppongi may be known for its nightlife but it is also a place to find the Art Triangle Roppongi, named for the three cultural centers, the Suntory Museum of Art, the Mori Art Museum and the National Art Center, Japan’s largest.

A trip to Tokyo is not complete if you miss visiting the Tokyo Tower, which is 13 meters higher at 333 meters than the Eiffel Tower from which it was modeled after. The main observatory is located 150 meters up the tower and a special observatory is located 100 meters higher. From there you can have a wide view of Tokyo and see Mount Fuji. At the lower floors of the tower is a wax museum, a hologram gallery, food centers, souvenir shops, Guinness World Records Museum and a Shinto shrine. It is bathed in white light during the summer months and lit orange during the winter months so that the tower looks warm during the cold nights.

Japan’s second largest city and home to over 3.6 million people, Yokohama is one hour away from Tokyo, and is the capital city of the Kanagawa Prefecture and a busy port, favorite of expats and has one of the largest Chinatowns in the world.

Places to see in Yokohama

Gardens are everywhere in Japan and Yokohama in no exception. Here you will find the Sankeien Garden where models of historic building from all over Japan can be seen, nestled amid greenery, rivers and ponds. Minato Mirai is a sprawling new urban district on the waterfront with high-rise residential areas, entertainment and shopping venues, convention centers, museums, onsen and parks are built. It is the location of the tallest building in Japan, the Landmark Tower with its Sky Garden Observatory, which is 273 meters from below. One of its most distinguished landmarks is the giant Ferris wheel at Cosmo World, near the half-moon shaped Intercontinental Hotel. A unique shopping experience can be had when you visit the World Porters Malls where each floor has a specific theme. Yokohama also has it share of museums, including the Nippon Maru, a retired shipping vessel that is permanently docked in the city’s port and the Yokohama Port Museum across it. You cannot go wrong when you take a look at the Cup Noodles Museum where you can even design your own cup noodles or make cup noodles from scratch for a small fee and prior reservation.

The Yokohama Museum of Art has seven galleries. One is dedicated for photography, three for permanent collection and the rest for special art exhibitions. The museum showcases Yokohama’s history and contemporary art from local artists. For kids there is the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum that showcases exhibits on transportation, space, ocean, environment, technology quest and daily life discovery. It has several interactive displays using simulators that will delight every science buff.

The Osanbashi Pier gives an unobstructed view of Minato Mirai. At the Yamashita Park you will find the floating museum, the retired ocean liner Hiwaka Maru and near it is the Yokohama Marine Tower that gives a 360-degree view of the city from its observation deck at 106 meters in the air.

Things to do in Yokohama

You cannot leave Japan without tasting some its delicious ramen. And there is a Ramen Museum in Yokohama to boot. The unique museum is near the Shin-Yokohama Station. You can view the history of ramen noodles at the first floor gallery. At the two floors of the basement you will find a replica of the old town of Shitamachi where ramen became very popular. You can have a taste of ramen dishes from different regions in Japan from the nine restaurants located in the basement. They even serve mini ramen so you can sample multiple ramen dishes at once. Meal tickets are to be purchased from the vending machine conveniently located at the front of each store.

Join the tour of the Kirin Beer Village and view a presentation of the history of Kirin Beer and beer making in Japan, including the process of making beer when touring the facilities. English pamphlets are available so you can follow the presentation. At the end of the free brewery tour you will be given some snacks and two servings of beer.

A different kind of zoo was established in Yokohama in 1999. It is quite unique and one that you should not miss. Zoorasia tries to mimic the natural habitat of all the animals kept there and will provide a learning experience for kids and older people alike. There are seven ecological areas in the animal exhibitions. Japanese countryside, Amazon Jungle, Oceanian Grassland, African Tropical Rainforest, Asian Tropical Forest, Central Asian Highland and Subarctic Forest.

Chinese traders and merchants have found their way in numerous cities and countries around the world, and Japan, one of China’s closest neighbors is no exception. While shopping for souvenirs, which you can find plenty of in Yokohama Chinatown, the main attraction is still the variety of delicious Chinese dishes, steamed buns or manju, ramen and dumplings. The food may be Chinese but you will find that these have been Japanized, so the taste and presentation may be different from what you are used to.

Osaka is home to 2.6 million people and the second most important city in Japan. Called Naniwa during the Nara Period, it was once the capital of Japan, and is actually its first known capital.

Places to see in Osaka

There’s a mix of old and the new in Osaka. At the Tempozan Harbor Village is the impressive Osaka Aquarium or the Kaiyukan that showcases marine life found in the Pacific Rim in its fifteen tanks with the nine-meter deep central tank containing a whale shark found in the Pacific Ocean. On the other hand Osaka is the location of the Osaka Castle built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1583. It is surrounded by moats, secondary citadels, stone walls, turrets and gates. The Osaka Castle Park is planted with 600 cherry trees the bloom in April, has sport facilities, a Hokoku Shrine dedicated to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and a multipurpose arena.

Osaka also has one of the most famous Sumiyoshi shrines among the over 200 that can be found across Japan. The one in Osaka, the Sumiyoshi Taisha is one of the oldest in the country, founded around third century and is a fine example of a purely Japanese style of shrine architecture. Another thing that should not be missed is the oldest state temple in Japan called the Shitennoji, which was founded by Prince Shotoku in 593, a Buddhism supporter. The temple has an impressive 5-story pagoda, a garden and a turtle pond as well as a treasure house where you can see sculptures, scriptures, paintings and other valuables. Prince Shotoku is enshrined in the Golden Hall of the temple.

Across from the Osaka Castle is the Osaka Museum of History which was opened in 2003. Equally impressive is the National Art Museum of Osaka, located at the underground floors in Nakanoshima Island. The museum showcases contemporary Japanese and foreign art. A new building was opened in 2007, a curiously designed building that represents the shape and growth of the bamboo plant. The art museum is adjacent to the Osaka Science Museum. Another curiously shaped building is the Umeda Sky Building, consisting of two towers connected by a Floating Garden Observatory for a great city view. You will find a replica of a Japanese street during the Showa Period in the first basement of the building.

If you are interested to know the many horrors that happened during World War II, the Osaka International Peace Center (Peace Osaka) has a permanent exhibit, chronicling the aggressions of Japan in Korea, Southeast Asia and China. You will also find documents on the atomic bombings and the invasion of Okinawa by the
United States.

Things to do in Osaka

Osaka is known as the food capital of Japan so you can have a taste of a variety of food anywhere in the city, with the highest concentration of different types of restaurants, from fine dining to fast foods and bento shops in Umeda and Dōtombori. Osaka subscribes to the saying “eat until you drop” or kuidaore, so have a go to your heart’s content. Major credit cards are accepted in most restaurants and cash will be gratefully accepted. Sales tax is included in the bill and tipping is not practiced. As there are so many dishes to be had in Osaka, do try to sample the octopus dumplings called tako-yaki and the famous grilled pancake like okonomi-yaki, in Chibo and Fugetsu. The dish is a mix of sliced pork, diced vegetables, eggs, shrimps in batter, grilled on a hot plate and topped with mayonnaise, a special sauce, dried fish shavings (katsuo-bushi), finely grated dried seaweed called aonori. You should also try the kitsune udon, tecchiri (hot pot), udon-tsuki, a hot soup with fresh meat or fish, tofu and vegetables with noodles. Shabu-shabu originated in Osaka. Do not forget the hakozushi, a type of sushi that is boxed instead of rolled and the breaded and deep-fried meat and vegetables called kushi-katsu, another Osaka invention. For desert, order the paired sweet soybeans me-oto zenzai.

For shopping go to Minami and check out the America-Mura to see the latest trends or go to Shinsaibashi shopping arcade and the Minami Semba. For upscale fashion from the world’s top brands, their shops are along the Mido-Suji Avenue in Nagahori. Osaka’s Minami also has an underground shopping area where you will find Namba City, Namba Walk and Namba Nan-nan. For low-priced electronics go to Den-Den Town.

If you are in Osaka in January, April, June to August or in November, do no fail to drop by the National Bunraku Theater. Bunraku is a traditional puppet theater and Osaka is only one of the few places where you will have the chance to watch this art form. There are programs in English and earphones are provided.

In the outskirts of Osaka is the Mino Park or Minō Kōen. Located in a forested valley. This is a wonderful place to be in especially in the fall when the leaves are changing color. Walk along the trail reach the Mino Waterfall which rises to a height of 33 meters. From the fall you will pass many temples and building, the most impressive of which is the Ryuanji Temple that peeks behind several trees. When you are there in the fall you will have the chance to sample a local delicacy, called morniji tempura, which is maple leaves deep friend in batter, sold at the food stalls along the hiking trail.

Your stay is Osaka can be packed with so many things to do and places to see that you may have to narrow it down to a few to fully enjoy your stay. For the young and the young-at-heart there is the Universal Studios Japan, which is a replica of Universal Studios in Orland, Florida. But it is still worth a visit especially if you have kids. You can also keep the kids amused when you bring them to the Osaka Aquarium and see its main attraction, two huge whale sharks swimming among rays and smaller sharks. Queues can be long so go there early for your tickets.

Kyoto or Heian used to be the capital of Japan in 794 and about one thousand years thereafter. It is Japan’s seventh largest city and home to about 2.6 million inhabitants. It historic value spared the city from the atomic bombings during World War II, and travelers can still see several shrines and temples that have survived wars and fires. Kyoto is located in the island of Honshu and is the capital city of the Kyoto Prefecture. It is located in a valley and the city had been designed according to traditional Feng Shui arrangement. Kyoto is a well-preserved city whose main attraction lies in its 400 Shinto shrines and 1,600 Buddhist temples.

While Kyoto retains its old world charm with its shrines and temples, the computer age is also present in Kyoto. Kyoto is the headquarters for some of the top IT and electronics companies in Japan, including video game manufacturer Nintendo, electronics and medical equipment company Omron and Shimadzu Corp., electronic parts manufacturer Rohm, precision-instrument maker Horiba, TOSE and Intelligent Systems (video game development companies associated with Nintendo), Nidec Corporations (electric motors manufacturer) and ceramics, digital imaging systems, electronics, telecom and semiconductor manufacturing company Kyocera to name a few.

Places to see in Kyoto

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Nijo Castle is a 17th century residence of the first shogun during the Edo Period, Tokugawa Ieyasu. When the rule of the shogun ceased, the castle became an imperial balance. When you tour the place you will see its three areas, the Honmaru and the Ninomaru or the main and secondary circles of defense and a garden encircling both areas. Kiyomizudera is also one of the heritage sites in Kyoto and is one of the most celebrated temples in the city. Built in 780 one of its main attractions is the nailless-wooden stage jutting out from the main hall. Currently construction is underway and it will be open again by 2013. The stage gives an awesome view of the maple and cherry trees on the hillside and a breathtaking view of the city. Inside the main hall is a small wooden statue of Kannon, with its eleven faces and a thousand arms. Blessings are believed to be had when you visit this temple. Drinking water coming from the Otowa Waterfall is said to bring benefits. There are three streams of water from the waterfall and you must only drink the water from one, for success in school, for longevity or for a good love life. A favorite spot for people seeking love is the Jishu Shrine behind the main hall. It is said that when you find your way with your eyes closed from one stone to the next, which is 18 meters away, you will be lucky in finding the love of your life. It you use someone to guide you then you need someone’s help to intercede in finding your true love. Sanjusangendo or Rengeo-in is also a 120-meter long wooden temple dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Kannon. Her eleven heads are there so she can see the human sufferings better and her thousand arms are for helping more people in their fight. It is an awesome sight in itself to see the main statue of Kannon flanked by smaller Kannon statues, 500 on each side, arranged in rows of ten. You will not see one thousand arms on each statue literally. There are actually 42 arms on each statue. Two are regular arms, so they do not count when you multiply the other 40 with the 25 planes of existence to get the total of one thousand arms. Note that the main statue of Kannon is quite large, and the 1,000 other statues are life-size.

Another temple that will take your breath away is Kinkakuji in northern Kyoto. It is a Zen temple, the top two floors of which are golden. They are actually covered in gold leaf, hence it is called the Golden Pavilion. It was formerly a retirement villa of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, a shogun and upon his death in 1408 he willed it to become a Zen temple for the Rinzai sect. The Shinden style of architecture was used for the first floor, typical of the palaces during the Heian Period while the second floor was built in the Bukke style of samurai residences. The top floor is done in the style of a Chinese Zen Hall and has a golden phoenix. The pavilion is not open to the public but the rest of the area can be explored. A figure of Kannon, surrounded by the Four Heavenly Kings is located on the second floor while Shaka Buddha statues and that of Yoshimitsu’s can be seen through the front windows on the first floor and can be viewed across the pond. There are statues that are said to bring good luck when you throw coins at it and an Anmintaku Pond, which never dries up.

Japan is noted for its torii gates and here in Kyoto you can experience walking through thousands of it when you visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine, a Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto built in 794. There are literally thousands of vermillion-colored torii gates flanking the hiking trails up to Mount Inari. There are even miniature ones which you can see along the pass. Statues of foxes, said to be the messengers of Inari can be seen everywhere. Local food stands sell Kitsune (fox) Udon and Inari Sushi, all with pieces of fried aburaage or tofu, believed to be a favorite of foxes. There are still so many temples and villas to visit in Kyoto, including imperial residences, the Philosopher’s Path at the Higashiyama District, famous for its cherry blossom trail, the rural setting and the Sanzenin Temple in Ohara, Kurama, an idyllic place with hot springs and a temple, the serene Byodoin Temple and Tofukuji Temple, famous for its burst of colors in autumn, and the equally famous rock garden inside the grounds of Ryoanji Temple.

Things to do in Kyoto

If you are a fan of manga, Kyoto will be your paradise. Therefore the city should be on top of your Japan travel itinerary. It may be the first place you will visit when you reach Kyoto. So head down to the Kyoto International Manga Museum and view the various exhibits before sitting down and read all the manga that you can. It may take a while since the museum has over 200,000 manga titles at the moment and is planning to acquire every manga that has ever been published.
Kyoto is also famous for its many Japanese traditional crafts, including weaving and kimono manufacturing. It may be cheaper here so check this out. Sake brewing is a traditional industry and Takara Holdings and Gekkeikan are two of the famous sake breweries with headquarters in Kyoto.

Experience the old world charm of Japan by taking a walk in the preserved district of Higashiyama. It’s just a two-kilometer walk that will take about an hour and a half but you will be taken back in time as you browse along several small shops selling local crafts and traditional food. For some geisha entertainment (geiko in the local dialect) and maiko (geisha apprentice) experience, head over to Gion, the famous geisha place in Kyoto and have something to eat at an ochaya or teahouse while you get entertained.

Time your travel to Kyoto in July so you can experience the spectacle and join in the fun of the Gion Matsuri. Find the best vantage point to watch the Yamaboko procession, where 23 floats for the Yama and 9 floats for the hoko will keep you in awe due to their enormity, grandeur and lavish designs. The floats can be as high as 25 meters and weigh up to twelve tons. They are pulled by wheels that are taller than people. The annual festival is hosted by the Yasaka Shrine and the ceremony dates back to 869.

It will be a pleasant experience for you and your kids when you spend some time at the Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama. It can be a steep climb up the hill but it will be worth it as you see monkeys freely cavorting in their natural surroundings while you are the ones caged as you view and feed them. After that you can spend a relaxing time at Funaoka Onsen, an outdoor public bath with separate sections for men and women.

It is the third largest city in Japan and ranks fourth in population, with over 2.2 million people (August 2011). Nagoya is the capital city of the Aichi Prefecture and is located in central Honshu in the region of Chūbu. It is one of Tokyo’s major ports and also has its share of temples, shrines and castles, as well as other places for shopping and entertainment.

Places to see in Nagoya

One of the places that should not be missed during one’s travel to Nagoya is the Atsuta Shrine, one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan, and is believed to be the repository of the Kusanagi no Tsurugi, an ancient sword and one of Japan’s Three Sacred Treasures. Because of the historical importance of these national treasures, their location is not made public. The shrine enjoyed the support of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the Tokugawa family as well as Oda Nobunaga who initiated Japan’s unification. It is a shrine dedicated to Amaterasu, the sun goddess. While there you should sample a local specialty, the kishimen noodles. The temple holds 70 festivals a year so there’s plenty of chances for you to participate in one.

The Nagoya Castle is one of the three castles of the Tokugawas, built when the Edo Period was just starting. It houses a museum that chronicles its history. It is undergoing renovations and will be fully opened by 2013. A short distance from the castle is the Tokugawa Art Museum where you can find treasures from the Owari branch of the Tokugawa ruling family, which is said to be quite opulent and very valuable. In central Nagoya you will see the Osu Kannon Temple. After spending some time in it there are flea markets around that can be a good source of souvenirs.

Sakae is the downtown district of Nagoya where you can find modern buildings. The old Nagoya TV Tower, the first to be built in Japan is still a crowd-drawer particularly when it is lit at night, but more people are not getting drawn to the intriguing Oasis 21 building complex with its water spaceship roof and its Milky Way Square, a public venue. Aside from the various restaurants, entertainment centers and shopping areas, Sakae also has a small park, Nadya Park where a traveler can find a department store, bookstore and restaurants as well as a museum and design center. Above the Nagoya Station is the JR Central Towers, a business and leisure building. One tower holds business offices while the other tower is a hotel. From the top floor of the Office Tower is the Panorama Salon which contains a beauty salon, a health spa, a wine lounge and a café and offers a wonderful view of Nagoya below.

Part of the port of Nagoya has been converted into a very modern Garden Pier, a leisure and amusement center where you can see a museums, parks, shopping mall, the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium that houses marine creatures from the aquatic regions between the Antarctic Ocean and Japan. The Fuji icebreaker that was used by Japan in its exploration of the Antarctic Ocean for 20 years has been converted into a floating public museum.

Things to do in Nagoya

If you love ceramics, you will be delighted to take a tour of the Noritake Garden located on the site of the original porcelain factory. You can view the production process, take a look at the old porcelain pieces in the museum and have the chance to create and glaze your own porcelain dish. It also has a changing exhibit of sculptures, ceramics and paintings. Discounted shopping is also available. Did you know that Toyota started as a weaving plant before it became an automobile giant? A short distance away from the Noritake Garden is the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology. Here you will find demonstrations and displays of the company’s textile and metal processing machinery, automotive technologies and the processes involved in car manufacturing. One hour away is the Toyota Kaikan Museum that showcases Toyota’s latest car models and robot shows and where you can have the chance to go on a plant tour. The Toyota Automobile Museum on the other hand has American, European and Japanese cars from the 1800s up to the 1960s on display.

Nagoya has several handicrafts that you may want to take home as presents or for yourself. It is known for tie-dyed fabrics, hardy candles made from wax taken from the wax tree and painted over a wick of grass and Japanese rice paper called washi. These candles are considered works of art as artists paint them in various patterns. You can also look for some hand-dyed silk fabric and get a pair or more of festival dolls called sekku ningyo. And do find time to sample Nagoya cuisine such as the kishimen noodle soup, miso nikomi udon, hitsumabushi (rice dish with eel or unagi) and tenmusu (rice ball wrapped over tempura).

It is the second largest island of Japan and is located on it northern tip. It closest neighbor is the Honshu with the Tsugaru Strait between them. The two are connected via the Seikan Tunnel, an underground railway. Hokkaido’s capital is Sapporo. Hokkaido has a very large population, at 5.4 million (October 2011). Hokkaido is seismically active and still had six active volcanoes. One of its districts, Okushiri was destroyed by a tsunami in 1993 after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The whole island was also rocked by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck near it on the 25th of September 2003.

Places to see in Hokkaido

Visit the district of Furano in July and be awed by the color when the lavender plants are in full bloom. Furano and its neighboring town of Biei have several flower fields and turns into a ski resort in winter, suitable for downhill and cross country skiing. The city of Sapporo is very organized and patterned after a North American rectangular street system, where a public park, Odori Park runs in the center. Mount Moiwa in Sapporo is a place to visit at night so you can have a nighttime view of the city below, although daytime views are also fine. A café on top of this small hill serves snacks from vending machines. While you are still in Sapporo visit the Historic Village of Hokkaido, an open air museum where you can stroll among 60 buildings taken from different parts of Hokkaido and traces its beginnings. A short distance from there is the Historical of Hokkaido, also tracing the history of Hokkaido’s development on a smaller scale. Mount Hakodate in Hokkaido’s third largest city affords a wonderful view of the southern tip of the island from its peak. You can savor fresh seafood from restaurants around the city.

Things to do in Hokkaido

Visit the Shiroi Koibito Park, created by a local chocolate factory, Ishiya whose famous product and popular souvenir item from Hokkaido is their thin butter cookies with a layer of white chocolate in between. The park is also a museum and exhibit area. For a small entrance fee you can take a peek at the cookie-making process as well as create your own cookies.

Beer in Japan originated in Hokkaido and Sapporo Beer, started in 1877, is the oldest brand in Japan and is the most popular. The Sapporo Breweries has a beer museum where you can trace the history of beer making in Japan and for a small fee have a taste of their famous brew after the tour. The Sapporo Beer Garden has two restaurants. The Garden Grill allows you to have a relaxing meal, with beer of course. If you are a h3 drinker, then head over to the Genghis Khan Hall where you can drink all the beer that you can and eat barbecued mutton all you can. They do serve individual menu items for those with smaller appetites.

If you are after winter sports then visit Hokkaido in winter and have a great time in several ski resorts in the island. You can go to Sapporo which is the site of the Winter Olympics in 1972. Or stay at Niseko and get a Niseko All Mountain Pass so you can have the thrill of your life in the powdery snow in Annupuri, Niseko Village and Hirafu. If you find Niseko too crowded, try the Rusutsu Resort near Lake Toya. The ski area covers three mountains and there’s hot spring baths, pool facilities, pubs and restaurants that cater to tourists.

It may not be very well known as a tourist destination but Asahikawa, the second largest city in Hokkaido has a very popular zoo, the Asahiyama Zoo that features wildlife from around the world as well those that are native to Hokkaido. The unique enclosures allow visitors to view the zoo denizens at different angles. Top attractions are the penguins, and the glass domes that allow visitors to take a look right inside the animal enclosures. Marine Way, a large glass pipe gives visitors the chance to take a look at a passing seal at any angle. Do take plenty of pictures because this is such a rare chance and then try a bowl of Asahikawa ramen, a local noodle favorite with soya-based soup.

While there are various national parks in Hokkaido, it will be a wonderful experience if you can visit the Kushiro Shitsugen National Park, where you can see the almost extinct Japanese cranes. They create quite a spectacle when they dance in pairs, in seemingly-choreographed dipping and jumping.

Do not leave Hokkaido without spending a day at the famous hot spring resort, Nobiribetsu Onsen so that your vitality and general wellness will be restored before you go back home.

Hiroshima is located in western Honshu and is the capital city of the Hiroshima Prefecture. During World War II, it was the first city to be targeted by the atomic bomb, code-named Little Boy, which was dropped on August 6, 1945, killing about 90,000 to 166,000 out of its remaining population of almost 350, 000. Homes, establishments and building within a two-mile radius were destroyed. Today Hiroshima has been rebuilt and is enjoying peace and prosperity, with several attractions for local and international visitors.

Places to see in Hiroshima

In the town of Miyajima on the island of Itsukushima is the Itsukushima Shrine, a Shinto shrine that is built over the water. It was built in 1168 as the family shrine of Taira no Kiyomori’s clan, the most powerful man in Japan when the Heian Period ended. It is a wonderful place to stay overnight. One of its main attractions is the giant vermilion-colored torii gate that is built in the Seto inland sea, and seems to float during high tides. Mount Misen is the highest peak in Hiroshima and a good place to stretch your limbs, if you are physically fit. There are several attractions along the trail up to the top of the mountain. You can also encounter monkeys and friendly deer on your way up. Some of the attractions are Buddhist Temple, Daisho-In at the foot of the mountain and the Reikado Hall, which protects a flame, believed to have been lit by the founder of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, Kobo Daishi. The flame has been lit since hall was built and is the source of the flame that was used to light the Flame of Peace at the Peace Park.

Near the Itsukushima Shrine is a spacious but sparse wooden Senjokaku Hall commissioned by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a place for chanting Buddhist sutras dedicated to soldiers who perished in battles. The pavilion has an area that is equivalent to 1,000 tatami mats.

Not to be outdone is Iwakuni, a castle town that is 45 minutes away by train from the city. It is the site of the Battle of Sekigahara in the 1600s, if you still remember your history lessons. Feel a sense of power as you cross the famed Kintai-kyo, a magnificent arched bridge that can only be crossed by samurais during ancient times. For a fee you can now freely cross the bridge back and forth. At its one end is Kikko Park, famous for its flower gardens and the statue of feudal lord who ordered the building of the bridge, Hiroyoshi Kikkawa. You can also visit two museums while you are in Iwakuni which are dedicated to samurai culture, the Choko-kan and Kikkawa Museum. And if you are not squeamish take a look at the White Snake Museum, where you can see the white snakes that are native to Iwakuni.

Things to do in Hiroshima

Sample delicious hiroshima-yaki, actually okonomiyaki (omelette-like food made from vegetables, meat or seafood mixed with batter and grilled on a hot plate) and a bottle or glass of draught beer (nama biru) from any of the food stalls located at the second, third and fourth levels of the Shintenchi Plaza Building. There are other places around where you can have different styles of serving Japanese fast food dishes that are light yet filling.

At the center of Hiroshima stands the Peace Monument or the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in memory of the atomic bombing as well as a memorial for all the victims. Near it is the A-Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the skeletal remains of the Industrial Promotion Hall which had survived the devastation created by the atomic bomb blast despite being the closest building to its hypocenter. The building was left how it was at the aftermath of the atomic explosion. A wonderful place to visit which has a poignant story is the Children’s Peace Monument, a memorial to leukemia victim Sadako Sasaki who contracted the disease when she was two years old as a result of the Hiroshima bombing. She decided to fold one thousand cranes, a symbol of happiness and longevity in Japan. It is a local belief that folding 1,000 cranes will make one’s wish come true. Alas, she passed away at age thirteen before she reached her target and her classmates continued her endeavor. Millions of colorful paper cranes can be seen inside the memorial and more are coming from all over the world and you too can offer one when you visit.

Nagasaki was the second city that became a target of the atom bomb, where Fat Boy was dropped on August 9, 1945, which killed about 60,000 to 80,000 residents of Nagasaki in its aftermath. Nagasaki is the capital city of the Nagasaki Prefecture located in Kyushu Island. Its culture was influenced by the Europeans and the Portuguese from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries.

Places to see in Nagasaki

Nagasaki had a number of notable foreigners who contributed to its economy and some of the famous Western residences during the Meiji Period are located at the Glover Garden. In Motomachi you will see the reconstructed Urakami Cathedral. It used to have a pair of Angelus bells from France but one was completely blown away during the atomic bombing. The remnants of the stone statues that survived the blast are placed in the surrounding areas of the church and the bell that withstood the bombing is still working, rang three times a day to announce the hour. A portion of the old Urakami Cathedral that had remained after the bombing still stands today. Teramachi has a wonderful Chinese Buddhist temple of the Obaku sect, the Kofukuji Temple, built by the Chinese merchants from the Ming Dynasty, making it the oldest temple in Japan built in the Chinese style. Equally magnificent is its vermilion-colored San-Mon Gate.

The oldest existing wooden church built in the Gothic style is the Oura Catholic Church, built in 1864 by a French priest Bernard Petitjean of Fier, in honor of the 26 Japanese and European Christians ordered killed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1597 on the hill of Nishizaka. They were hung on crosses, with ropes and chains and then lanced to death for preaching Christianity. All 26 of them were canonized and the church was built 100 years after their canonization. The church, one of Japan’s national treasures, faces the Nishizaka hill.

Also in Oura-machi is the only Confucian temple that the Chinese built outside of their country. It contains over 16,000 characters of “The Analects of Confucius”. What’s fascinating is the fact that these characters are carved into imported marble that came from Taiwan.

At Hirano-machi stands the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum that chronicles the attack and its aftermath. Beside it is the Nagasaki International Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims where they are honored and where prayers are offered for them. It also contains pictures and other memorabilia of the deceased and is a center of cooperation and exchange of learning on medical treatments of nuclear accident victims. The Nagasaki Peace Park is also located near these memorial icons, including the marker for the bomb’s hypocenter and a ten-meter tall Peace Statue created by Japanese sculptor Seibou Kitamura is nearby. There are several symbols of peace donated by different countries that are placed around the Peace Park.

Things to do in Nagasaki

If you are that adventurous and wants to experience different cultural events, be in Nagasaki in time for the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations, usually occurring between the middle of January and the middle of February. The Chinese community in Nagasaki goes all out to celebrate and you will be amazed as you look at more than 20,000 large Chinese lanterns shaped like animals and Chinese mythology figures, particularly when they are lit at night. There will be plenty of fireworks, dragon dances and food available from food stalls along the streets.

Nagasaki celebrates O-Bon by sending off the spirits of their ancestors with much revelry, fireworks and plenty of drinks. You can join in the merrymaking if you happen to be in Nagasaki in August. To sample the healing power of hot springs go to Yasuragi Iojima for a day trip or an overnight stay. The hot spring resort uses natural hot water that springs from 1,180 meters deep into the earth.

When you start shopping for souvenirs, the places you can go to are Youme Saite near the Dejima Wharf, Nishi-Hamanomachi, Seiyu, Amyu Plaza and Chitosepia. You can find a range of items from these shopping areas, including clothes, electronics and handicrafts. After your shopping spree, get a taste of famous local cuisine such as champon, noodles in pork-based soup with vegetables, bacon and seafood and the dry version called saraudon, using crispy friend noodles. For snacks, sample some of Nagasaki’s famous steamed buns – kakuni manju (pork cutlets) and ebichiriman (shrimp fried in chili sauce). Also try the chocolate or chestnut flavored steamed pound cake called marakao.