Japan Travel Guide

photo credit: RachelH_

photo credit: skl8em

photo credit: skl8em

photo credit: ensign_at_e233net

Horyuji
- The oldest wooden building in the world, and where Silk Road culture blends in perfectly -

Horyuji Temple was the first Japanese world heritage site registered back in 1993. Hoki-ji Temple is also registered as a world heritage site.

The core temple, Horyuji, was built in the year 607 by Shotoku Taishi, a politician of that time. Thirty-eight national treasures and 151 important cultural assets are preserved on the temple’s vast premises, and it is a treasure house of Japanese art; at the same time it is also known as the oldest wooden structure in the world. This complex is divided into the Western Precinct centering on the Kondo (main building) and Goju-no-tou (five-story pagoda) and the Eastern Precinct centering on the Yumedono (dream pavilion). The remarkable feature of this temple is you can see patterns everywhere in which the Silk Road culture and unique Japanese culture are subtly and perfectly blended.

The Kondo houses precious sculptures including the “Shaka sanzon-zo” statue designated as a national treasure. The Goju-no-tou standing to the west of the Kondo at 32.6 m high is the oldest wooden tower in the world. It has a Japanese tile roof with a beautifully curved shallow slope. The term “Tou” indicates a tomb in which a relic of Buddha is placed, and a container for a relic rests in this Gojunotou as well. On the wall of the first floor there is a realistic, expressively drawn scene of Buddha on his deathbed.

The Yumedono, the central building in the Eastern Precinct, is an octagonal building constructed in 739 for the purpose of holding a memorial service for Shotoku Taishi. Inside this building stands the Guze Kanon-zo statue, considered to be a life size portrait of Shotoku Taishi. For years, the statue has remained wrapped in white cloth as a secret statue of Buddha withheld from public display for religious reasons and consequently has suffered almost no damage over time. Now it is on public view at certain periods during spring and autumn.

photo credit: midorisyu

• Seibu department is an Ikebukuro’s landmark. Every brands are in there, so first of all, you should go there, and you can find your favorite shops.
• Brand list:
  • Hermes
  • Origins
  • De La Mer
  • Yves Saint Laurent
  • Givenchy
  • Clinique
  • Shiseido
  • Kanebo
  • EST
  • IPSA
  • Kose
  • SK-II
  • Ayura
  • Pola
  • Helena Rubinstein
  • RMK
  • L’occitane
  • Kiehl’s
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Burberry Blue Label
  • Fancl House
  • Sheltter
  • Vingny
  • O.Z.O.C
  • As know as De Base
  • Gelato Pique
  • Brownie Bee
  • P & J
  • Lancome
  • Bobbi Brown
  • Albion
  • Estee Lauder
  • Anna Sui Cosmetics
  • Chanel
  • Christian Dior
  • Clarins
  • Mac
  • Jill Stuart
  • Shu Uemura
  • Guerlain
  • Sonia Rykiel
  • Nars
  • Laura Mercier
  • Fraglance
  • Zucca
  • Ralph Lauren
  • Prada
  • Vivienne Westwood
  • Tomorrow Land
  • Marc Jacobs
• More info : http://www2.seibu.jp/common/images/pdf/100402_010_fg_english.pdf

photo credit: midorisyu

Ikebukuro Shopping Area

If you want to enjoy the shopping at Ikebukuro, best spots are in the buildings connected the Ikebukuro station, so it’s easy to access and enjoy shopping near the station. Check the east and west exits both, and find your best spots what you want to buy!

East

West

Ikebukuro Parco

Amano Hashidate

The scenic Amano Hashidate sand bar is located in the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture, on Miyazu Bay, facing the Sea of Japan. Located on the west coast of the bay, it is a 3-kilometer-long and 40- to 100-meter-wide sand spit, stretching into Miyazu Bay from Ejiri on the Tango-hanto Peninsula. It was formed by sand accumulated by the tides and wind. The over 8,000 pine trees growing on this white sand spit appear like a bridge over the ocean, creating a place of incomparable beauty called “Hakusha-Seisho,” which means “white sand and green trees.” The area is said to be one of the three most beautiful spots in Japan, together with Miyajima in Hiroshima and Matsushima in Miyagi. If you bend over and try to look at the view through your legs, it is said that Amano Hashidate will appear like a bridge to the heavens.

The bridge connecting the area to the Miyazu side is a revolving bridge that turns to let ships pass. The top of the nearby mountain may be reached by a cable car, where you can enjoy the view providing a different perspective from that of the sea. On summer nights, about 170 torches decorate Amano Hashidate, creating the “Bridge of Fire.” The torch flames light up the night like stars in space and reflect on the surface of the sea like fireworks to create a dream-like scene.

Bathing in the Amano Hashidate onsen Hot Spring, which is located in the vicinity, is said to give bathers beautiful skin.

Kyoto gosho & Nijojo Castle

Kyoto Gosho is the former Imperial Palace, located at the center of Kyoto. The large luxurious Kyoto Gyoen National Garden surrounding the palace and the nearby Sento Gosho Palace, the former residence of the retired emperor, is a relaxing spot with rich greenery enjoyed by the people of Kyoto. The park measures 700 meters from east to west and 1,300 meters from north to south. Before the Imperial Palace was moved to Tokyo in the latter half of the 19th century, this vast park was the residential quarters for nobles. Today, it is a public garden with pebbled promenades, green lawns and seasonal trees and flowers.

To the southwest of the palace stands Nijojo Castle, built in the early 17th century. Ninomaru-goten, renovated in 1626, is a building renowned as a priceless example of the architectural style of that period. The best known section of the splendid interior, with its murals and carvings on the walls, is the Happo-nirami-no-Shishi-zu, in which the eyes of the painted lion appear to look straight at viewers no matter where they are standing in the room. Some of its interesting devices used in defense against enemies are also worth a look. They include the Uguisubari-no-roka corridor, where the planks make a sound like a nightingale’s song when walked upon, and the Musha-kakushi, special doors designed to hide guards, both must-see attractions. Mannequins have been placed throughout the palace, making the period come to life.

Gion Summary

The Gion District, with wooden lattice windows and ‘maiko’ dancers.

Gion is one of the main districts of Kyoto, and for many people it is Gion that comes to mind when they think of the city. The area developed as a town for Yasaka-jinja Shrine, and is now considered the most prestigious downtown area in Japan. Wooden lattice windows made of thin wooden beams in a grid pattern create a lace effect that is in perfect harmony with the elegant ‘maiko’ (apprentice geisha) dancers, who can often be seen taking a stroll through the area. The streets boast of stores selling traditional Kyoto crafts, such as ‘kanzashi’ (ornamental hairpins), incense and kimono accessories. The area is also home to Chinese and Italian restaurants built inside traditional Japanese buildings. The much-loved Gion is a lively district that preserves tradition, while incorporating new trends and fashions.

Held each summer, the Gion-matsuri Festival attracts more than a million visitors. The festival is famous for its procession of magnificent festival floats on which musicians play Gion-bayashi, festival music featuring Japanese flutes, bells and drums.

Sagano and Arashiyama Summary

The Sagano and Arashiyama districts are located in the western part of Kyoto City. In the 8th century, aristocrats often came to this area of rice fields and bamboo woods to enjoy the colored leaves, or to go boating. The landscape today is still reminiscent of that period. Tenryuji Temple, a World Cultural Heritage Site, was erected in the 14th century by the then shogun, Ashikaga Takauji, in a gesture of mourning for the Emperor. It is one of the Kyoto-gozan (Five Major Temples of Kyoto), and the garden located there is designated as a special national scenic spot.

The Sagano area has a number of temples such as: Daikakuji Temple (national treasure); Jojakkoji Temple with its Taho-to Tower; Nisonin Temple with a standing statue of Buddha Shaka-nyorai and a statue of Buddha Amida-nyorai; Jikishian with a standing statue of Buddha Shaka-nyorai (national treasure); Seiryoji Temple with a statue of Buddha Shaka-nyorai (national treasure); and the Adashi-no-Nenbutsuji Temple, famous for the Sento-Kuyo, or the Thousand Lantern Memorial Service, held there every August.

Togetsu-kyo Bridge spans the Hozu-gawa River at the foot of Mt. Arashiyama. It is 250 meters long and still retains its 17th century appearance, despite renovations made using steel. In the summer evening, people write their wishes on ‘toro’ lanterns and let them float away on the Hozu-gawa River. This beautiful sight is called “Manto-Nagashi,” or the floating of ten-thousand lanterns.

photo credit: imgdive

photo credit: imgdive

Ohara Summary

Ohara is located in the north of Sakyo-ku, in a small basin at the western foot of the Mt. Hiei-zan.

The most famous place in Ohara is Sanzen-in Temple, which is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms, autumn colors and moss. It has two beautiful gardens, called Juheki-en and Yusei-en, that are said to be the best sights in the Rakuhoku area, a northern part of Kyoto. The main temple, Ojo-Gokuraku-in, is famous for its ‘funazoko’ (boat bottom) ceiling that will make you feel like you are inside an upside-down boat. The bright gold Amida-Nyorai Sanson-zo, the image of a principal Buddha, found there symbolizes paradise.

Another famous temple is Jakko-in. It is a convent where Kenreimon-in Tokuko, a daughter from a powerful clan and later an empress, spent the late years of her life performing memorial rites for her son Emperor Antoku, who had been killed at the age of two after a defeat in a battle over power during a war, and for her clan that had been overthrown in battles in the 12th century.

Ohara is also known for “Oharame,” female peddlers who carry brushwood, firewood and flowers on their heads along the streets of Kyoto. They wear a towel on their ornately arranged hair, an indigo blue kimono, a Gosho-zome dyed ‘obi’ (sash), an apron, white hand covers and gaiters on their legs. This unique costume of Oharame is believed to have already attracted the attention of people in Kyoto around the 12th century, just as it continues to do so today.

Kurama Summary

Kurama-dera, a temple designated to protect the northern part of Kyoto.

Kurama is located in the central to western part of Sakyo-ku in Kyoto City. It thrived as a temple town for Kurama-dera Temple, as well as a post town for travelers along the Kurama Highway that connected Kyoto and Wakasa. Kurama-dera Temple was founded in the Nara Period, during the 8th century. During the 9th century, the Emperor designated it as the temple giving protection to the northern part of the country’s then capital, a duty which it still performs today.

Kurama-dera Temple has an approach way that runs for about one kilometer from the San-mon Gate to the main temple. You can take a cable car to Taho-to Tower, halfway up the mountain. The Takekiri-eshiki (bamboo-cutting ceremony), held each year in early summer, is a ceremony where priests compete by using hatchets to cut four pieces of bamboo, representing large snakes, in front of the main temple, a ritual which is said to forecast whether the harvest will be good or bad that year.

Along the approach to the temple is Yuki-jinja Shrine, which sits on a winding slope called Tsuzuraori. This shrine is famous for the Kurama Fire Festival held in fall, where the residents of Kurama parade through the area with torches, one of three particularly curious festivals of Kyoto.

Along the Kurama Highway you will find the preserved homes of common people from the 17th century, as well as the Kurama-onsen Hot Spring with its natural sulfurous water.