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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With any luck and clear weather, you will be able to see Mt. Fuji. My first glimpse was through a window on the 19th floor ofthe Yokosuka Prince Hotel in Yokosuka City. I will never forget it, because one of my priorities in Japan was to see Mt. Fuji. Even though it appeared so small, it was breathtaking!If you go to Hakone, you will get a much better view!
In northern Japan (near Sendai) is Matsushima Bay. Many small islands, connected with cute old-fashioned bridges gives you a real "Japan-Feeling".You can wander around this small archipel in a half day.
In Kamakura is the famous 13 m Buddha Statue. Completely bronze, made from former melted bronze coins. Inside it is hollow, so you walk around inside a stairs!Around is really interesting cemetery with thousands of dressed small puppets, unique in Japan.
Check out one of Japan's many festivals while you're here. Festivals, or matsuri in Japanese, are held year round. I've been to several festivals where the townspeople carry portable shrines and chant as they march all over town. It's pretty amazing to see them in action.
The Tokyo Emperors Palace near Ginza qurter is really worth a visit.Unfortunately you can't go inside, only on the Emperor's birthday! Then thousands of people queue up in long lines. So check it out before you go....maybe you are one of the lucky guys who can see the interior...it's only once a year.
The Kiyomizo Temple is one of the most famous temples in all of Japan and certain must see if you are in Kyoto. What is so notable about the Kiyomizo Temple is the wonderful Main Hall that sits on a wooden veranda on the slopes of a hill that looks over the city of Kyoto. The veranda is 49 feet high and made of 139 pillars and for some reason that I cannot fathom now, I did not take a picture of it. Maybe I ran out of film? I do not remember. Anyway I got some photos of the torii gate and pagoda. The temple was initially constructed in 798 but has been rebuilt many times, the last being in 1633.Like many of the great temples of Kyoto, the Kiyomizo temple is very crowded with tourists, as you might notice by this photograph. Normally I would recommend that you visit early in the morning but this photo was taken at around 10:30. So go really, really early. Although it was raining when I...
The Meiji Jingo Shrine is considered to be one of Tokyo's most venerated shrines. The shrine is in honour of Emperor Meiji and his wife who were responsible in bringing Japan up to speed with the rest of the world in the 19th century. Although in my eyes the architecture here does not seem that remarkable, the landscaping of the garden grounds is stunning. Most noteworthy is the Iris Garden which is an absolute delight if you catch the irises in bloom as I did. This usually occurs in late May and June.
Matsumoto's 500 year old castle is one of the most important castles in all of Japan. The keep or donjun is actually about 400 years old and is the oldest such structure in all of the country. The castle is black in colour and is frequently refered to as the Crow's Castle. The castle grounds are quite pleasant to stroll around on with it's moat with swans and cherry trees. The interior of the castle, I also found to be very interesting with a good display of weaponry from the Edo Period.
I like outdoor museums and take them in when ever I have the chance. One of the surprising pleasures that I had while touring Japan was the Hida Folklore Museum on the outskirts of Takayama. This outdoor museum features several 200 year old houses and various outlying farm buildings. In all there about 20 buildings in all. A tour of the complex will give you a good idea of what life might of been like in Japan centuries ago.Each building has marvelously weaved thatched roofs. Some of the buildings also have demonstrations on various folk skills such as weaving and wood carving. I found the location of the museum to be quite pleasant also. It sits in the foothills of the Japanese Alps with a mountain backdrop.
When you are in Japan, naturally you've to take a good look of the Japanese! Depending on which are you go, chances are you're gonna encounter a wide variety of people; the conservative, the fashionable, the 9 to 9 & the young & trendy. This is a country where there is a "class" system in its society & yet the ordinary & "extra-ordinary" coexist amicably! It's amazing considering how populated the country is. Tolerance is a word practised to perfection here :-)))
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
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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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