Shukkei-En is a wonderful garden to feel peace and enjoy nature. This downtown park is a recreation of the garden that existed on the site before the atomic blast. What You Can See There Shukkei-en is itself a small-scale recreation of West Lake in Hangzhou, China. Shukkei-en means “contracted view,” and the garden was designed … Read more
For a completely different taste of Hiroshima, the Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium is a newly completed baseball stadium. Baseball games are quite a different and amazing experience in Japan. What you Can See There Home to the Hiroshima Carps, the Zoom Zoom stadium hosts lively games. Games are rarely sold out but still have a … Read more
The castle grounds were used as army barracks during the war, making it a target for US forces. What remained of the castle (already reduced after the Meiji Restoration) was destroyed in the atomic blast. What You Can See There Today’s castle is a recreation built in 1958. What sets it apart from other recreated … Read more
Most people that go to Hiroshima have plans to visit the Peace Park and Museum. Why would you go to The Former Bank of Japan in Hiroshima? Standing only 380 meters away from where the atomic bomb blast went off, it survived and still holds strong today. What You Can See There From the outside, the … Read more
After a visit to the somber Hiroshima Memorial Museum, the Peace Memorial Park is a literal breath of fresh air. The Park was designed as a prayer for the victims of the atomic blast. What to See There The most iconic monument in the park, the A-Bomb Dome stands strong, providing testament to what happened … Read more
Visiting the Peace Memorial Park, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and the Atomic Bomb Dome is not easy, but it is absolutely essential. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: A Must-Visit Site No matter what your opinion on nuclear weapons or the war is, the Museum will challenge you. Be aware that you will likely find the … Read more
When Is the Best Time to Visit Japan? This complete guide will give you all of the information you need to decide when the best time to visit to Japan is for you. We’ll take a look at the pros and cons of visiting Japan in certain seasons, and other factors (such as cost, weather, … Read more
Osaka Castle: The Most Touristy Castle in Japan? Any of you castle buffs will know that there are hundreds and hundreds of castles to visit in Japan – a tiny number compared to the thousands that used to stand in this country. But when you’re on a short trip to Japan, how do you choose … Read more
One of the largest aquariums in the world, Kaiyukan (Osaka Aquarium) is considered one of the best aquariums in the country. The are eight floors of exhibits to see, many of which circle around a central pool that spans several floors. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan This is the crowning glory of the attraction – I’ll bet … Read more
Naramachi: Shiryokan – A “Monkey Museum” in Nara One of my favorite things to do when I travel is to discover places that are off the beaten track, where other foreigners don’t usually venture. Nara is a popular tourist destination in Japan and the main attractions (such as the big Buddha statue, the shika (deer) … Read more
The Nara National Museum: A Treat for Art Lovers Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 794, and is most famous for the friendly deer which roam the giant Nara Park, and for the large statue of Buddha. Pretty much everything there is to see and do in Nara is either in or … Read more
Ōkōchi Sansō: An Enchanting Japanese Garden Kyoto is a top tourist destination in Japan, and one of the most stunning areas you can visit there is Arashiyama (Storm Mountain in English). It’s only about an hour outside of central Kyoto by public transport, and well worth spending a whole day there. As well as walking … Read more
There are so many amazing things to see in Kyoto. It’s one of the top tourist destinations in Japan, and somewhere you could spend a whole week and still barely scratch the surface of what it has to offer. Iwatayama: See Monkeys Up Close Arashiyama is one charming area where you could easily spend a … Read more
An Easy Hike with Sights Along the Way For hiking enthusiasts and nature lovers, life in Tokyo (as in any big city) can easily get you down. But only an hour away is the quiet town of Kamakura which has a short hiking trail – easy access and an abundance of tourist information online make … Read more
Shokozan Tokeiji Temple: A Refuge for Women Seeking Divorce If you’re heading off on the Kamakura Hiking Trail, the Shokozan Tokeiji Temple is a great place to start. With its stunning garden, peaceful surroundings, and intrinsic quietness, this temple is a great way to plunge yourself into nature and feel the stress of city life … Read more
Hase-dera Temple: Home to One of the Largest Wooden Sculptures in Japan At about an hour outside of Tokyo, Kamakura and its hiking trail are a popular destination for day-trippers. The area is jumbled with temples and other religious sites. With its sea view and fascinating statues, Hase Temple is a popular place to visit. … Read more
Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavillion) is often associated with the similarly named Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion). Kin means gold, and gin means silver. Like Kinkaku-ji, Ginkaku-ji was first the retirement villa of a shogun, later converted into a Buddhist temple. Both have the focus of a beautiful pavilion beside a pond. The similarities stop there. Ginkaku-Ji: Silver Doesn’t … Read more
Niji Castle, also known as Nijo-jo, is nestled in Central Kyoto, hidden from passing pedestrians by its surrounding battlements. What can be glimpsed from the outside resembles a temple rather than the Western image of a castle. Is It Worth Visiting? While you probably won’t spend hours here, the art and experiences you get from … Read more
Gion: Much More than Geisha Unlike Nijo Castle and Ginkakuji, the beautiful Gion district in Kyoto’s Southern Higashiyama doesn’t suffer from having a more famous counterpart. Instead, it’s misunderstood. Is It Worth Visiting? A visit to Gion in Kyoto is something you need to do while you’re in Japan. While there are crowds of tourists, … Read more
One type of attraction in Japan that is popular with both foreign and local tourists is castles. There are more than 100 castles in present day Japan; an impressive number until you learn that in days gone by there are thought to have been more than 5,000. Many Japanese castles have fallen into disrepair or … Read more
Every visitor to Japan should experience an onsen. These uniquely Japanese baths will rejuvenate you after a long journey. The onsen themselves are an attraction, located in areas of great natural beauty or charming historical buildings. Relax and strike up a conversation with a local. Japanese bathers are more likely to chat with a stranger … Read more
Itsukushima, or more commonly known as Miyajima, is home to a giant torii gate which is a world heritage site. It is ranked as one of the three best views in Japan. Miyajima: The Sacred Island Filled with History, Good Food, and Friendly Deer While there are no amusement parks or high-tech attractions on … Read more
There are many places in Japan that I absolutely love, and the Yudanaka and Shibu Onsen area are both at the top of my list. As the title suggests, they are both onsen towns. So if you don’t like onsen, you might not enjoy this place as much as I do. However, there are still … Read more
If you have ever seen a picture of a monkey bathing in an outdoor hot spring surrounded by snow in Japan, it was probably taken at the Jigokudani Monkey Park in Japan. This park is located in Yamanouchi city, in Nagano prefecture. Jigokudani means, “hell valley,” because of the many streams of steam that comes … Read more
Disneyland. The place where dreams come true and magic is made. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney park to be build outside of the United States and was opened in 1983. As of 2013, it was the 2nd most visited theme park in the world. With this much hype, Disneyland should be a must-visit place … Read more