Top Japan hotels
Asakusa Tokyo
158 Reviews Sensoji Temple is believed to be the first temple ever built in the Tokyo area and was originally founded by a fisherman, Haji Nakatomo, who is said to have built the temple after finding a statue of...
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Gion (Geisha district) Kyoto
64 Reviews It's not a long walk but it really holds a historical look. building looks new but in the old japanese style. Restaurants there are little above the average price wise. at the end of the road you will...
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Universal studio Osaka
26 Reviews in japanese that ture but still loads for fun for those who have never been to universal stuido of usa. just access the site of universal sutio and you will understand everthing , it is a very...
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Nagoya Castle Nagoya
28 Reviews With its famed golden shachi dolphin roof decorations, Nagoya Castle is the de-facto symbol of the city. Built in 1612, the main edifice was reconstructed in 1959 on its original foundation after...
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12 Reviews Kobe is home to one of Japan's three most famous Chinatowns (Yokohama and Nagasaki being the other two), so when the Chinese New Year arrives (setsubun), the Chinatowns are great places to visit, and...
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Peace Park and Memorial Museum Hiroshima
128 Reviews I once stayed with a friend who lived a stone's throw away from the Peace Museum in Nagasaki and since then, I have always wondered what it was like to live near a building charged with so much...
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Todaiji Temple Nara
75 Reviews Todai-ji ("Great Eastern Temple") is reputedly the largest wooden structure in the world, and it houses what must be one of the largest bronze statues of Buddha around, the Daibutsu or Great Buddha....
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Snow Monkey Park Nagano
4 Reviews Without a doubt, one of the coolest spectacles in all of Japan is to watch the wild snow monkeys of the Japanese Alps sit out a snowy winter day soaking in the hot waters of a naturally-heated onsen....
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Itsukushima Shrine Miyajima
30 Reviews If you are in the Hiroshima city, you must visit Itsukushima-Jinjya in Miyajima. It's the shrine (not a temple) with famous red torii (gate) in the water, but has lots more than just the...
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Korakuen Garden Okayama
12 Reviews Korakuen Garden is considered to be one of the three best gardens in Japan since the Edo Period. It was constructed by Tsuda Nagatada by orders of the daimyo Ikeda Tsunamasa and took thirteen years to...
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Shinjuku Tokyo
72 Reviews This was a stunning experience with all the different varieties of cherry trees in full blossom. Incredibly beautiful! The garden is run by the Ministry of the environment now but it has a long...
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Kiyomizu Temple Kyoto
98 Reviews I really loved the short visit I made to this place. i like the atmosphere of this narrow streets with souvenirs shops along your way up the hill to the temple. the temple is realllllly huge and you...
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castle Osaka
62 Reviews Visit the Castle... its very interesting. Its a fairly long walk from the Rail Station, but its an interesting walk and the Castle is quite unusual which is why it should be seen. Pity to go all the...
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Shrines & Temples Nagoya
12 Reviews 1900-year-old shrine with lush evergreen forest is best known by one of the three Imperial Regalia, Kusanagi sword. The shrine saw the modification after the Meiji Restoration. It is a nice place to...
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Meriken Park & Harborland Kobe
24 Reviews in this area, you can do a lot. there is the mosaic mall just on the other side from kobe tower, all the cafe and restaurants there have the sea view. i wrote a review about the aswome fisherman...
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Miyajima Hiroshima
33 Reviews I was skeptical about the appeal of Mt. Misen since one round trip ticket costed me 1800 yen, which was by far the most expensive ropeway I had ever used. "No view is worth this much, " I remember...
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Nara Park Nara
33 Reviews There is around 1000 Deers rooming Nara , they eat somthing called Shika Senbei which is rice crackers specially made for them. they costs 150 en and sold every where. But take cares they are...
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Zenkoji Temple Nagano
5 Reviews The main hall is typical Buddhist architecture from the mid Edo Period. The principle image is enshrined inside the altar in the innermost temple. Admission to the inner temple is 500 Yen, and...
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Five-Tiered Pagoda Miyajima
8 Reviews The beautiful curved roofs of the Goju-no-to Pagoda and strinking vermilion colouring are a familiar sight on the island of Miyajima. Standing on a hill overlooking the bay and Itsukushima Shrine, the...
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Kibiji District (Kibi Plains) Okayama
6 Reviews Saijo Inari is known as one of the three great Inari Shrines in Japan (Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Toyokawa Inari in Aichi being the other two). It is unique, because the complex is composed of a...
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Imperial Palace Tokyo
61 Reviews this is the second of the famed double bridge in the Imperial Palace Front plaza area. There are two bridges over a moat separating the Kokyo Gaien and the Imperial Palace - these are called...
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Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) Kyoto
102 Reviews Three-storey Zen Buddhist temple. Each floor was done in different architectural style - the ground floor is Heian imperial architecture, the second floor typifies warrior aristocracy and the top...
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Dotombori Osaka
22 Reviews Dotombori is a street in Namba alligned with eateries, arcades, and shopping centers. Many people do come for food and shopping, but the area itself is actually an attraction of sorts. The restaurants...
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Aquarium Nagoya
7 Reviews The most interesting thing for me in this Aquarium is the dolphins performance. They really brilliant. Cool !! Beside that you can see the big whales and you can find nemo and dory also in here...
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Mount Rokko Kobe
7 Reviews A highland pasture spread on the peak of Mt. Rokko. Sheep, donkeys and ponies are free to graze, and visitors can come in close contact with the animals. Children can learn and try to take milk from...
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In Kanazawa you can visit old Samurai-Houses, Geisha Houses and an old Ninja-Temple. One of the most famaous Japanese Gardens is in Kanazawa: Kerouken-Garden. But I was mainly fascinated by the old houses.
Kenrokuen Garden is the finest of the gardens that I visited during my journey through Japan. It is considered to be one of the three major gardens in Japan. The Kenrokuen Garden is the best example that I saw of the granduer of Japanese landscaping. The garden was at one time outside of the Kanazawa Castle, which has since been largely destroyed. It was begun back in 1670 but had been rebuilt several times, the latest incarnation being 1820. The garden is full of ponds, streams, footpaths, various kinds of trees and rocks all elegantly landscaped. One pond, that has a footbridge over it, has metre long orange carp swimming about. It is a great place to stroll about and ponder life.
Japanese gardens are a delight and Korakuen Garden is considered to be one of the most important in all of Japan. The construction of gardens, and landscaping in general, is considered a major artform in Japan. Therefore to help you to really get to know Japan and its people it is important to visit these lovely gardens.The Korakuen is a superbly landscaped ground with ponds, running streams and numerous plum and cherry trees. It must be all the more beautiful in the Spring when the blossoms are in bloom. There are also teahouses and shrines here and there. Unlide the other major gardens in Japan, the Korakuen has large open spaces where you can stroll around.
"We walk and talk english, ok?" Especially if you're alone, everyone will want to talk to you, practice their english and find out all about your travels. Japan rail is SO expensive, most people never seem to get out of their own city. They're also intensely curious about other's impressions of their culture. I was adopted by so many people along the way, I was NEVER alone.. by students and families alike. traveling solo, many of the mothers were afraid for me; not because they thought i was in any physical danger, but perhaps that I would get lonely or sad. I was invited into several homes, some of which I accepted, and it was a great way to get know the people and the culture, and share some of yours as well. it made for some very memorable, cute (if i can say that without being racist) and FUN experiences.
Kamakura is a great day trip out of Tokyo, easily accesible by train. It boasts a number of Zen temples and a very very large Buddah. Between and within temples there are some very nice hikes. Not advised on a drizzly day; you'll get quite muddy.
the city of Himeji may not have much to offer than than blocks and blocks of shopping malls, but it has one of THE best single sights on my trip.. Himeji Castle. Walk around the walls, walk within the walls, walk through and up the castle. Spend a whole day doing this, you will NOT be sorry.
Folks with more time could easily spend longer here, but is possible to do both as a day trip. Get up early, walk past the A bomb dome, across the bridge to Peace Park and the Memorial. Spend an hour or two going thru the Museum. After you come out wondering how there can be so much evil in the world (and boatloads of guilt and self hatred if you're american), head back to the central train station and catch a train headed towards Miyajima, home of the "floating temple", Itsukushima shrine. Hop a ferry (included in the JR pass) and walk past the touristy stuff to the beach. Grab some food and sit along the wall and watch the sun go down. Watch out for the deer, they'll eat anything, but maps seem to be their favorite.
Hard to give this as one as a single tip. Spend at least three days here. Walk the LP's walks. At the very least see these temples: the Golden Temple (Kinkaku-ji) and Ryoanji and it's beautiful gardens (within walking distance of each other), Choinin, Kiyomizu. From Kiyomizu walk throught the wonderful old, twisty streets and keep your eyes open for geisha!Stay at the Uno house for 16,000 yen per night.. it's dingy looking but clean, and you'll meet a multitude of travelers from all over the world. Kyoto is a good base to do trips from, since it's centrally located, on the shinkansen, as has a cheap hostel.
This is the day the goths come out to play affording lots of interesting people watching. And further into the park you can watch kids of all shapes and sizes who have pulled up a piece of sidewalk to have their band play, perform breakdancing moves and even dosome of the worst miming i've ever seen..the Japanese youth are not shy when it comes to artistic expression.
The ancient capital of Japan, Nara, is great to visit because it is small enough to enjoy on foot, but large enough to offer much to see and do. This pic is of the largest wooden building in the world. The buddha inside is huge, but difficult to capture on film.
Park Hyatt Tokyo Tokyo
7 Reviews and 525 Opinions Most memorable
Hotel Granvia Kyoto Kyoto
6 Reviews and 740 Opinions We stayed 3 nights at Kyoto Granvia Hotel from Feb. 27 to Mar 1, 2008. We paid Yen 17,600 per night,...
The Ritz-Carlton Osaka Osaka
1 Review and 351 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Japan attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Japan sightseeing.
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Q: Hello, I'm going to Japan next week and wanted to get some suggestions on hotels in Tokyo. I would like to stay somewhere close...
A: Take a look at my Tokyo page for some answers to your questions: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d6834/ Shinbashi is convenient to Yokohama as well. You don't...
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