(9 places must visit in
JAPAN
Create By Ahmar Ridhwan
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SAPPORO
and local government offices,
neo-baroque building known as
A large clock tower and trendy
while to the south is a large un-
“Red Brick� that is lit up after dark;
shopping center. Odori Avenue
derground shopping mall, which
and the poplars outside Hokkaido
Park is the location of a magnifi-
as the city’s main shopping center
University (formerly Hokkaido
cent snow festival.
is always busy. It is connected
Agricultural College).
Sapporo in western Hokkaido is
directly to Sapporo Station, which
Odori Avenue Park is more than
divided up in a grid pattern, and
is the transportation hub for all of
1,400 meters long. In summer it
is the largest city on the island.
Hokkaido and the place to board
is full of beer gardens, while in
Odori Avenue Park stretches from
JR lines, the subway, and both lo-
winter it becomes the location for
east to west in the center of the
cal and tourist buses.
a snow festival. During the festival,
city, and is a symbol of the city -
The city contains many essential
this big park is lined with magnifi-
full of art objects, fountains, lilac
sights: the Sapporo City Clock,
cent snow statues and beautiful
and acacia plants and lots of flow-
which has been marking time
ice statues.
erbeds. To the north stand trading
for over a century; the old Hok-
companies, financial institutions
kaido government building, a 2
TOKYO
One of the most populous cities
residence, Edo Castle. Most of the
where famous shops from around
in the world. A thriving center of
city was devastated by the Great
the world stand side by side,
economy, culture and industry.
Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and
the sleepless Shinjuku that has
Tokyo consists of the southwest-
then again by the bombing in the
become the “new city center of To-
ern part of the Kanto region, the
WWII, however, Tokyo was able to
kyo,� Asakusa which is reminiscent
Izu Islands, and the Ogasawara
achieve a remarkably rapid recov-
of the traditional Edo (the former
Islands. Tokyo is the capital of
ery both times.
name of Tokyo), and Shibuya that
Japan, and the place where over
Tokyo is not only the political and
starts the trends for the young
13 million people live, making it
economical center of Japan, it
people. Other unique areas in-
one of the most populous cities
has also emerged as a center of
clude the computer town Aki-
in the world. When the Shogun
the world economy and culture.
habara, a dense retail area where
Tokugawa Ieyasu established a
There are a number of attrac-
numerous electronic shops com-
government there in the early
tions in Tokyo that should not
pete against each other, attracting
17th century, the area started to
be missed. There are large-scale
many shoppers from Japan and
develop, spreading out around his
downtown areas, including Ginza
overseas, and Tsukiji, an open-air
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wholesale food market catering to
cable car, ropeway, and cruising
Kyoto and Nara, it prospered as an
shops and consumers everywhere
boat, are available to bring you to important point for land and water
in Japan.
these spots.
HAKONE
In addition, Hakone is also home mercial city.
transportation as well as a com-
One of the best international holi- to various museums. The Hakone In the Osaka City is the Osaka Casday resorts. Home of renowned Open Air Museum, the Narukawa tle with a five-layer donjon as its spas and a large historical zone.
Art Museum for modern Japanese
core, on a lawn park that stretches
The town of Hakone is situated in paintings, the Pola Museum of
for about 60,000 square meters.
the southwestern part of Kanaga- Art featuring Western paintings, During the cherry blossom season wa, and is part of Fuji Hakone Izu and the Venetian Glass Museum
in the spring, this park is especial-
National Park. Hakone is an inter- are only a few to mention among ly crowded with hanami (cherry nationally well-known holiday re- many that attract a number of visi- blossom viewing) crowd. Osaka’s sort that includes many renowned tors.
north gate, Umeda, has a gigantic
hot springs. They have about 20
stretch of underground mall that
different qualities, nicknamed “Ha- OSAKA
houses many restaurants, fashion
kone Seventeen Spas.�
Osaka Castle with its huge lawn and sundry goods stores.
A view of Mt. Fuji is not the only park. The bustling Umeda Under- In contrast to Kita with Umeda as view that you can enjoy in Hakone.
ground Mall and Namba are also
its core, Minami is an area with
There are a number of spots to vis- main attractions.
core cities Namba, a popular busi-
it, including O-waku-dani (where Osaka prefecture located in the
ness and shopping district, and
volcanic fumes still bear a trace of center of Kinki region in the Mid- Dotonbori with many restaurants the Hakone Volcano), Lake Ashi-
west Japan covers the smallest on both sides of Dotonbori-gawa
no-ko (created in the crater of the prefecture land area in Japan, but
River. Minami is known as a town
Hakone Volcano), Susuki-sogen boasts of largest population and of public entertainment and has (silver grass field) of Sengokuhara, highest population density sec- many theaters and cinemas. a stone Buddha and stone towers ond only after the capital, Tokyo.
Tenpo-zan Harbor Village, which
situated in Moto-Hakone, and ce- Mountains surround three sides of has a 112 meter-high Ferris dar trees along Kyu-Kaido Street.
the prefecture and the west faces wheel, shopping mall and Kai-
Various methods of transporta- the arc-shaped Osaka Bay. Since it yukan Aquarium, one of the bigtion, such as mountain railway, is close to former capitals of Japan gest aquarium in the world, and 4
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ATC(Asia Pacific Trade Center), Ja- Mountain villa built on a cliff fills
est and river scenery from Tomis-
pan’s largest outlet mall, are also one with harmonious feelings
uyama Mountain and Hiji River.
popular. Suntory Museum Tempo- A local treasure and famous place
Within this, Garyu-in is the main
zan will close thier doors on Dec. Garyu Sanso is on a beautiful site
wing of the villa, and together with
2010.
above the Hiji River on the east
the Furo (Perrenial youth) tea room
Oita
edge of Ozu City in Ehime Prefec- and Chishian (Knowledge stop) tea
Nakane-tei (Site of Old Samurai
ture. The mountain villa stands
Residence)
above the Garyu depth in the riv- building site filled with elegance.
It is located Minami-dai (South hill)
er. This sightseeing spot is popu- Viewing the graceful scenery of
room building, they form a three
in the center area of Kitsuki-city. Na- lar among local people. Around
the garden and Garyu Sanso, you
kane-tei was constructed in 1862
1897, the trader Torajiro Kawauchi
can sense the spirit of Japan. On
by Nakane Genemon, who was a
took 10 years to plan and 4 years Sundays and holidays from April to
chief of the Kitsuki clan. Nowadays
to build this famous building in October, one can enjoy tea at 400
this samurai residence is a kimono
the Sukiya-zukuri style (Japanese
yen per person. We hope you can
rental service shop called “Waraku traditional architectural style). In come and experience the spirit of an” . “Waraku an” has more than 1985, it was designated as a Tan- Japan. 130 kinds of Kimono and 50 kinds gible Cultural Property Designated Miyazaki of Obi (belt). So you will surely find
by Ehime Prefecture.
Beautiful coastline facing the Pa-
one that you like. The rental ser-
cific Ocean. Miyazaki boasts many
vice costs 2,000yen; tabi (kimono The building is impressive, but you
shrines involved with the myth of
socks) are an additional 100yen.
should also see the garden. “Bor- the birth of Japan.
Kitsuki received Japan’s first certifi- rowed scenery (meaning it bor- Situated in the southeastern part cate as a “Historic Cityscape with rows colors from the scenery)” is
of Kyushu, Miyazaki faces the Sea
Kimono”. If you go sightseeing in a
one of Japan’s landscaping tech- of Hyuga in the Pacific Ocean in the
kimono in Kitsuki, entrance is free
niques. Scenery formed from bor- east and is surrounded by moun-
of charge at seven facilities (Kitsuki rowed scenery creates a spectacle
tains on the other three sides.
Castle, the five samurai residences,
filled with a lively feeling as if na- The north-to-west area border-
one museum).
ture outside the garden is incorpo- ing Oita and Kumamoto contains
Ehime
rated in part of the garden. Garyu
Garyu Sanso (Mountain Villa)
Sanso incorporates mountain, for- south area bordering Kagoshima 6
the Kyushu Mountains, while the
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has the Kirishima Mountains and
An ancient capital with excellent
su-den (Great Buddha Hall). Other
the Wanitsuka Mountains. These examples of traditional architec- famous temples include Yakushi-ji mountains create a barrier against
ture. Buddhist statues abound at Temple, which has wonderful old
the winter wind, which, with the Horyu-ji Temple, a World Cultural
wooden architecture and statues
effect of the warm Pacific current, Heritage Site.
of Buddha, and Toshodai-ji Temple
keeps the climate of Miyazaki
Nara Prefecture is situated in the which was founded by the Chinese
mild The prefecture boasts many
west central section of Honshu.
priest Ganjin, who came to Japan
shrines involved with the myth of
The formation of an ancient nation
after difficult journeys and spread
the birth of Japan, such as Miyaza- started around mid-3rd century,
the principles of Buddhism. Horyu-
ki Shrine sacred to Emperor Jinmu,
with the Yamato district as its cen- ji Temple, which is said to have
supposedly the first Emperor of
ter, and was completed by the late
been built in the early 7th cen-
Japan, and Amanoiwato Shrine 6th century. The capital was placed
tury, is known as the oldest exist-
and Takachiho Shrine, known for in Asuka, in the southern part of the ing Buddhist temple in Japan. The the Takachiho Yokagura. At the Yo- Nara Basin, located in the north- temple boasts of the world’s oldest kagura, from November to Febru- western part of present-day Nara
wooden architecture, and there
ary, thirty-three nocturnal Shinto
Prefecture, and it prospered as the are many paintings and sculptures
music performances and dances
political and economic center of
in its possession. The temple is also
are performed as thanksgiving for Japan until the early 8th century. inscribed as a World Cultural Herithe fall’s harvest and prayers for After the capital was relocated to
tage Site. Tourists visit Nara Prefec-
the next year’s abundant crop. The Heijo-kyo (now Nara City) in 710, ture throughout the year to see Nichinan Coast, facing the Pacific
many temples and shrines were
scenic spots such as Yoshinoyama,
Ocean with a beautiful coastline, built there under the direction of
known as the best cherry blossom
contains places of natural beauty
the imperial family and aristocrats, viewing point in Japan, and Nara
such as Aoshima and Cape Toi. On and temple towns soon developed. Park, with its friendly deer which Hitotsuba Beach in Miyazaki City is Such temples and shrines include have been treasured as messenthe Miyazaki Sea Gaia, a compre- Todai-ji Temple, which has the
gers from the gods.
hensive resort complex complete Daibutsu, the world’s largest Bud- Nagasaki with a wildlife park, golf courses, dha statue, made of copper and Five peninsulas, 971 islands and and a hotel.
Nara
gold. It is enshrined in the world’s many exotic streets. A diverse, exlargest wooden structure, Daibut- citing and pulsating area of varied 8
cultural and topographical differ- the center of the Shimabara-hanto
was built south of the current city
ences.
Peninsula. Huis Ten Bosch, a resi- center during the Edo Period in or-
Nagasaki Prefecture lies in the
dential-style resort modeled after
der to accommodate Portuguese
northwestern part of Kyushu, the
a mediaeval 17th century Dutch
Christian missionaries and prevent
third-largest island of Japan and town, is also known as a popular the propagation of their religion. most southwesterly of its four tourist spot. Nagasaki City, which It also used to be the residential main islands, and consists of five is the heart of the Nagasaki-hanto
quarters of the Dutch, the only for-
peninsulas and numerous islands. Peninsula, is a port city that de- eigners allowed to trade in Japan With the sea in between, it stands
veloped all the way up along the
during the Sakoku (Isolation) Peri-
face-to-face with a continent, part
steep slope of a mountain, while
od, and a Dutch Trading House op-
of which is China, and the Korean it also stretched out horizontally, erated on the island. For 200 years, Peninsula. It has therefore long
hugging Nagasaki Bay. The line until Japan reopened the country
been an important transporta- of visitors attracted to its many
in the 19th century, Dejima was
tion point facing the continent of
its only window to the world. Na-
tourist spots never ends. Such
Asia. Ports for trade with Portugal spots include Peace Park which gasaki City has been advancing an and Holland were also established
tells of the facts and memories of ambitious restoration plan since
there in the 16th century. In addi- the horrible damage that was in- 1996, and is working to restore Detion, since it was once the center flicted by the atomic bomb and
jima. Japan’s first Protestant Semi-
of Christian propagation, there are continues to appeal to the world nary, built in the 19th century, was many exotic historical ruins and with its wish for peace, and the
renovated in 1998, becoming the
buildings that still remain within nation’s oldest wooden Christian Nagasaki Dejima Museum of Histhe prefecture. Almost half of the
church, O-ura Tenshu-do, which tory. Inside the museum the cul-
total land area of the prefecture
even today exudes an exotic atmo- ture of Dejima during the Isolation
consists of 971 inhabited and unin- sphere. The sole trading spot with Period, including such examples as habited islands. The prefecture has foreign countries from the 17th to Japan’s trade with Portugal, Engmany scenic spots, such as the Ku- the 19th centuries. An island with land and Holland and the eating juku-shima Islands, a part of Saikai a 400-year history of Dutch trade. habits seen at the Dutch Trading National Park, and Fugen-dake, the Dejima was an artificial island built House, is displayed in models and principal peak of the volcano Un- in the shape of a fan with an area graphics. Currently some 10 buildzen-dake, which is situated right in of about 13,000 square meters. It 9
ings throughout the area have
been restored, and you can expe- of Dejima is the Nagasaki Shinchi ing you to enjoy a bit of Chinese rience life as it was at that time at Chinatown. There you will find flavor in Nagasaki. During the Chithis newly enclosed fan-shaped four gates facing in four different nese New Year this place serves as “Dejima.� There is also a miniature
directions: the Seiryu-mon; Byak- the center of the Nagasaki Lantern
model of Dejima which was repro- ko-mon; Suzaku-mon; and Genbu- Festival, which is the feature winduced on a scale of 1/15 to show
mon. There are many Chinese res- ter event in Nagasaki. The whole
what the area was like before be- taurants and stores selling Chinese area is decorated with many Chiing reclaimed in 1904. Southeast
goods throughout the area, allow- nese lanterns, drawing crowds of
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