Japan Travel Guide

photo credit: -ratamahatta-

photo credit: w00kie

photo credit: w00kie

Kinugawa-onsen is a hot spring village filled with nature, located along the Kinu-gawa River which runs through Nikko National Park.

Since early times, people have loved this hot spring saying, “Kawaji-onsen for wounds and Kinugawa-onsen for burns.” It is conveniently located and takes only about two hours travel from Asakusa, Tokyo.

There are also a number of theme parks and skiing areas nearby. If you go a little further, you can also enjoy a visit to Nikko to see Nikko-tosho-gu Shrine, a world heritage site, as well as Nikko-Futarasan-jinja Shrine and Rin-o-ji Temple. This is what makes Kinugawa-onsen one of the most popular destinations in Japan.

photo credit: Jake Keup

photo credit: geraldford

Kamakura – The origine of Samurai -

Before the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, civil power in Japan was primarily held by the ruling emperors and their regents, typically appointed from the ranks of the imperial court and the aristocratic clans that vied there. Military affairs were handled under the auspices of the civil government. The system of government he established became formalized as the shogunate.

Kamakura has many historically significant Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, some of them, like Sugimoto-dera, over 1,200 years old. Kotoku-in, with its monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha, is the most famous.

This iconic Daibutsu is arguably amongst the few images which have come to represent Japan in the world’s collective imagination. Kamakura also hosts the so-called Five Great Zen Temples (the Kamakura Gozan).

The architectural heritage of Kamakura is almost unmatched, and the city has proposed some of its historic sites for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list.

Kamakura has many festivals (matsuri) and other events in each of the seasons, usually based on its rich historical heritage. They are often sponsored by private businesses and, unlike those in Kyoto, they are relatively small-scale events attended mostly by locals and a few tourists.

January in particular has many because it’s the first month of the year, so authorities, fishermen, businesses and artisans organize events to pray for their own health and safety, and for a good and prosperous working year. Kamakura’s numerous temples and shrines, first among them city symbols Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu and Kencho-ji, organize many events too, bringing the total to over a hundred

photo credit: y_katsuuu

Do you know Misaki ?

Misaki is a harbor at the extreme south of the Miura Peninsula, in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. It is administratively part of the city of Miura.

Misaki is an important fishing harbor, mainly specializing in the processing of tuna, for which it is the second largest harbour in Japan.

Closing the harbor to the south is the island of Jogashima, connected to the city by a bridge. It is a popular destination for week-end tourism. The lighthouse on top of Jogashima was built by the French engineer Léonce Verny at the end of the 19th century.

Misaki is one of the closest tuna wharf around tokyo, so many Japanese go to have nice tuna and other fresh fish there, you can feel different from fish market.

photo credit: ajari

photo credit: ajari

photo credit: *pb*

Chichibu is in the westernmost part of Saitama. Unlike other parts of the prefecture, it is largely mountainous and the population is concentrated in river terraces along the Arakawa River. It is Saitama’s largest municipality in terms of surface area and shares borders with Tokyo, Yamanashi, Nagano and Gunma prefectures. Most parts of the city belong to Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park.

Because the region is not suitable for growing rice, many people have depended on sericulture farming. Limestone from Mount Buko, which rises south of the city center, is another major source of income for the region. The city is shifting its focus toward sightseeing, taking advantages of its rich natural environment and relative closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The city is also famous for its brewing industry, and you can feel Japanese real country side.

On December 3, Chichibu holds an annual night festival. It attracts crowds from Chichibu, Saitama prefecture, neighboring Tokyo, and the Kantō region. Kawase matsuri is Chichibu shrine’s summer festival. It takes place every July 19 and July 20. Eight groups carrying special dashi floats march along to festival music around the city. Mikoshi (sacred portable shrines) are brought to special places in each neighborhood where they are enshrined. Neighborhood association heads wash the mikoshi in the Arakawa river.

Other attractions of the city include:

photo credit: w00kie

Kawagoe

Spend time wandering through the rows of historical stores in “Little Edo.” Be sure to try the simple, traditional sweets.

Located in the center of Saitama, Kawagoe City flourished as a castle town in the 17th century during the Edo Period. The city has been designated an important preservation district for groups of historic buildings where rows of magnificent merchants’ houses in the traditional storehouse-style stand side-by-side. It is called “Ko-edo,” or “Little Edo,” because of its city architecture. The feudal lord of Kawagoe Castle ordered a bell tolling the time be built in the 17th century. The bell has been rebuilt several times, and the present 4th-generation bell is a symbol of Kawagoe, together with the streets lined with these traditional houses.

The area around Saiwai-cho, Moto-machi, and Naka-machi with the Ichibangai or the first street at the center, is one of the oldest towns in the Kanto region, where houses, including a draper’s mansion, the Osawa family, and other palatial houses remain. Kita-in Temple boasts Kyakuden, a reception hall, and a study hall Sho-in, both of which are important cultural properties. You can also see the Gohyakurakan, Buddhist images modeled after 500 Buddha disciples.

Another specialty of Kawagoe is Kashiya-yokocho, a confectionary lane. It is a five-minute walk from the Fudanotsuji bus stop. Shops selling Japanese candies, sweet potato cakes, rice crackers, and other snacks stand in a row on both sides of the stone-paved lane. Their simple, nostalgic taste will satisfy both your tongue and heart.

The Kawagoe-matsuri Festival celebrated in the fall is one of three best festivals in the Kanto region. You will see exquisitely decorated seven-meter tall floats parading the city.

Nikko Edo Mura(Edo Wonderland)

You can feel Edo era not only your cloth, but also everything you can see and thouch. When you are into the Nikko Edo Mura(Edo Wonderland), you might be the person who lives in Edo at Edo era.

Amusement

There are many amusement experiences you can. Since you are in Edo, please recall your childhood and play in the village like a kid.

• Shuriken Dojo
  • Shuriken Dojo is where you can learn to throw Shuriken, one of Ninja’s weapon. You can be Japanese Ninja and become the Shuriken expert.
• Yakata Boat Cruise
  • The boat cruise will take you on a memorable trip through downtown Edo between Nihonbashi and Ryogokubashi. You can feel Edo era, and you can know how different now and Edo era, when you see real Nihonbashi, and Ryogokubashi at Tokyo.
• Edo-Style Kimono and Costumes
  • You can be real Edo citizen. Select what you want in Edo, samurai, ninja, shinsen-gumi, merchant, oiran, town maiden, etc. Once you put on the costumes and wigs, your heart and soul will travel to Edo. You do not need hesitate, and start up a conversation with the fellow Edo citizens you encounter in the streets! Let’s start your edo life!
• Yaba Archery Range
  • The samurais of Edo were experts in Kendo(sword-fighting) but another popular martial arts was Kyudo(Japanese archery), a disciplinary mean of self-improvement of the body and mind. Try your bow and arrow skills here to become the last samurai!

Points of interest

There are many points of interest in Nikko Edo Mura(Edo Wonderland). You can learn history and lifestyle through Nikko Edo Mura(Edo Wonderland). Discover your own points of interest as you walk through the streets of Edo, Japan.

• Nihonbashi
  • Nihonbashi is the famous bridge wher you can have a great view.
• Ninja Karasu Yashiki House
  • Ninjas lived in a secluded cabin away from Edo for secret training. In the Karasu Yashiki, various ninja weapons and tools are on display for you to take a peek into their enigma lifestyle.

Access:

• 15min by bus or 10min by taxi from Kinugawa Onsen Station

• Free bus! time schedule is following
• [Caution] Every wednesday is NOT available!

Information:

The Contents of Tour/Required Time

• Dressing (Dress up in Kimono as Edo residents) 60 minutes
• Terakoya (Calligraphy taught by master) 30 minutes
• Edo Play (Choose 1 from 5 plays) 30 minutes
• Take Tombo (Bamboo Dragonfly) Enjoy making Bamboo Dragonfly on your own, play it, and take it home!
  • Take-Uma (Bamboo Stilts) Be excited and enjoy playing the stilts!
  • Hago-Ita (Japanese Battledore) Be active and enjoy playing Battledore matches!
  • Otedama (Beanbag Tossing) Have fun making the beanmags and tossing them. Also you can take them home to play or as a gift.
  • Tampo-Yari (Cotton Ball Lancer) Be brave and learn how to do the lancer!
• 4. Change back to your clothes (Take home the play toy you make) 30 minutes
  • Total Required Time 290 minutes at minimum

Charge:

• Adults (15 years up) 4,500yen
• Children (7 to 14 years old) 3,000yen

• Above price includes:
  • All theater Entrance Fee
  • Exhibits (except game arcade, Yakata cruising boat, and horse riding)
  • Costume rental Fee
  • Costume Professional Dressing Fee
  • Terakoya Tuition
  • Play of Edo Period

Tour Starting Time

• March 20th to November 30th: 9:00a.m. to 12:00p.m.
• December 1st to March 19th: 9:30a.m. to 12:00p.m.

photo credit: lucamascaro

Nikko Toshogu

Toshogu is where Ieyasu Tokugawa (ruling from 1603 to 1605) is enshrined; he was the first shogun of the Edo Shogunate, which flourished between the 17th and 19th centuries. As many as 127,000 craftsmen were involved in constructing the shrine, using the highest level of technology available at the time. The two-story “Yomei-mon Gate”, decorated with brilliant colors and over 500 sculptures, is particularly famous. It is also called “Higurashi-mon (sunset gate)”, because people spend all day long gazing at its beauty.

If you pass under Yomei-mon, turn right and enter the avenue leading to the shrine at the back, you will see the “Sleeping Cat” overhead, a national treasure created by legendary master Hidari Jingoro. The story behind the carving is that the cat was to ward off mice, because it is situated near the gate leading to the grave of Ieyasu. In the “Shinkyusha (sacred stable)” for the horses serving God, there is a series of 8 carved boards on which the life of a monkey is illustrated, from birth to pregnancy, caricaturing human life. One of the sculptures, the “Three Monkeys”, is famous throughout the world for the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” poses. The carved monkeys covering their eyes, ears and mouth, respectively, were inspired by the Buddhist teaching that if we do not hear, see or speak evil, we ourselves shall be spared from evil, and the theme was chosen here in the belief that the monkeys would protect the horses from disease.

In addition to these carvings, there is also one of an elephant, purely from imagination, in a temple called “Kamijinko”. The Toshogu Three Sculptures are small, but incredibly beautiful, and there is always a crowd of people in front of them.

• Access : 30 min by bus from Nikko station

From Shinjuku,Ikebukuro, Shibuya To Nikko station

• Route to Nikko
  • First, get on “Shonan-Shinjuku Line” from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya to Ohmiya.
  • Second, get on Tohoku Shinkansen from Ohmiya to Utsunomiya.
  • And, you get on JR Nikko Line From Utsunomiya to Nikko.
• Price : ¥4,820 (fare :¥2,520 + shinkansen express fee: ¥2,300)
• Duration : about 2 hours

From Asakusa To Tobu Nikko station

• You can go to Tobu Nikko station directly from Tobu Asakusa Station
• Price : ¥2,620 (fare :¥1,320 + express fee: ¥1,300)
• Duration : about 2 hours

*[Caution] Tobu Asakusa Station is different from Tokyo Metro Asakusa station!

check Tobu Asakusa Station by this map

Hakone is one of the best international holiday resorts. Home of renowned spas and a large historical zone. Maybe Hakone is the best resort not only Japanese but also nonnatives.

The town of Hakone is situated in the southwestern part of Kanagawa, and is part of Fuji Hakone Izu National Park. Hakone is an internationally well-known holiday resort that includes many renowned hot springs. They have about 20 different qualities, nicknamed “Hakone Seventeen Spas.”

A view of Mt. Fuji is not the only view that you can enjoy in Hakone. There are a number of spots to visit, including O-waku-dani (where volcanic fumes still bear a trace of the Hakone Volcano), Lake Ashi-no-ko (created in the crater of the Hakone Volcano), Susuki-sogen (silver grass field) of Sengokuhara, a stone Buddha and stone towers situated in Moto-Hakone, and cedar trees along Kyu-Kaido Street. Various methods of transportation, such as mountain railway, cable car, ropeway, and cruising boat, are available to bring you to these spots.

In addition, Hakone is also home to various museums. The Hakone Open Air Museum, the Narukawa Art Museum for modern Japanese paintings, the Pola Museum of Art featuring Western paintings, and the Venetian Glass Museum are only a few to mention among many that attract a number of visitors.

Check and search more infomation about Hakone : http://www.hakonenavi.jp/english/index.html

Access to Hakone Yumoto station

• from Shinjuku
  • use odakyu Line (From Shinjuku to Hakone Yumoto Directly)
    • Price : ¥2020 (fare¥1150+express fee ¥870)
    • Duration : 1h40min
  • use Shinkansen and Hakone Tozan Line
    • You have to go to Shinagawa station(JR Yamanote Line) and get on Shinkansen.
    • And you should change trains at Odawara from Shinkansen to Hakone Tozan Line.
    • Price : ¥1750 (JR Line’s fare ¥1450 + Hakone Tozan Line’s fare ¥300)
    • Duration : 1h40min
• from Shibuya
  • go to Shinjuku and use odakyu line
  • go to Shinagawa station and use Shinkansen
• from Ikebukuro
  • go to Shinjuku and use odakyu line
  • go to Shinagawa station and use Shinkansen

Hakone’s Train Tips

• Odakyu Line has Odakyu Freepass and Coupon. more info : http://www.odakyu.jp/english/freepass/index.html

Hakone’s Information Office

• Odawara has Hakone’s Information Office.  more info : http://www.odakyu.jp/english/center/index.html