Holiday Destinations - Japan

Japan provides a very large range of attractions, from historical and cultural treasures to modern and futuristic sights and wonderful forests, mountains and sea coasts. The two most famous tourist destinations in modern Japan are its old capital cities, Nara and Kyoto.
Nara, traditionally known as Heijokyo, was based as the capital of Japan in 7th century. Its peculiar checker-board street layout was a design idea imported from the capital city of China, Xian. Nara is situated in the Kinai plain, less than one hour from Kyoto and Osaka.
Kyoto is situated just 30-minutes by train from Nara, is the second historical capital city of Japan. The ancient western and northern parts of the city present unique chances to perceive Japanese cultural heritage.
The Japanese cuisine provides a very large variety of dishes and regional specialties. It is considered as one of the Japan's greatest attractions. The body of Japanese cuisine consists of several elements of taste, cooking techniques, and the use of the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Japan enjoy of an efficient public transportation network, particularly within metropolitan areas and among the large cities. Japanese public transportation is distinguished by its punctuality, its terrific service, and the big crowds of people using it.
apan is a modern and interesting country with a robust heritage; this place has long been famous among travelers. While Japan is one of the most expensive points to live, it is probable for the budget traveler to have a good time as well.
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A classic ski town and one of Japan's leading ski destinations, Furano boasts views of spectacular volcanic scenery, traditional culture and re-built every year, the world's largest snow sculpture.
The ski centre, located 10 minutes from the town, has hosted more than a dozen FIS World Cup races and installed Japan's fastest cable car in 2002. The resort is located at the heart of a network of the country's leading ski centres, all included in a multi-resort lift pass. The ski area also provides great views across the valley to the smouldering volcanoes Mt Tokachi and Mt Asahi, the highest peak on Hokkaido island.
Furano's size means there's lots to do besides skiing, including hot springs, over 100 bars and restaurants, an annual winter festival and weekly traditional Japanese theatre, music and other cultural performances. Furano is even famous for creating the world's largest snow sculpture.

Kyoto is a huge city with several district articles containing sightseeing, restaurant, nightlife and accommodation listings — consider printing them all.

The Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a millennium, and carries a reputation as its most beautiful city. However, visitors may be surprised by how much work they will have to do to see Kyoto's beautiful side. Most first impressions of the city will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station, which is itself an example of a city steeped in tradition colliding with the modern world.

Nonetheless, the persistent visitor will soon discover Kyoto's hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has much more to offer than immediately meets the eye.

Though dwarfed in size by other major Japanese cities, Kyoto is vast in terms of its rich cultural heritage - the material endowment of over a thousand years as the country's imperial capital. The city's numerous palaces, shrines, temples and other landmarks are spread out over the following districts:
Central - Site of Nijo Castle (a former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns) and the stately grounds of the Imperial Palace. The district's southern end is anchored by the massive glass-and-steel building of the city's main gateway, Kyoto Station.
Arashiyama (Western Kyoto) - Set against the beautiful tree-covered hills of Arashiyama, this district is rich in both historic and natural wonders.
Higashiyama (Eastern Kyoto) - Nestled between the Kamo River and the temple-studded mountains of Higashiyama, this area's many attractions include the famed geisha district of Gion and the historic sites strung alongside the well-known Philosopher's Path.
North - Graced with scores of centuries-old shrines and temples, including several World Heritage Sites. One of Kyoto's most famous attractions - the magnificent gilded pavilion of Kinkaku-ji - can be found here.
South - This district covers a large part of Japan's former capital, stretching from the Oharano area in the west to Fushimi-ku, Daigo, and the southern tip of Higashiyama-ku in the east.

Nestled among the mountains of Western Honshu, Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. During its millennium at the center of Japanese power, culture, tradition, and religion, it accumulated an unparalleled collection of palaces, temples and shrines, built for emperors, shoguns, and monks. Kyoto was among the few Japanese cities that escaped the allied bombings of World War II and as a result, Kyoto still has an abundance of prewar buildings, such as the traditional townhouses known as machiya. However the city is continuously undergoing modernization with some of the traditional Kyoto buildings being replaced by newer architecture, such as the Kyoto Station complex.

Kyoto's city planners way back in 794 decided to copy the Chinese capital Chang'an (present-day Xi'an) and adopt a grid pattern, which persists to this day in the city core. West-east streets are numbered, with Ichijo-dori (???, "First Street") up north and Jujo-dori (???, "Tenth Street") down south, but there is no obvious pattern to the names of north-south streets.

Matsumoto belongs to the Nagano Prefecture and is located 235 km. northwest of Tokyo, is a very quiet and peaceful area next in the Japanese Alps, is surrounded by gorgeous mountains and has also suffered fire destructions, nowadays the city has a modern look but it reamins its past with the castles that are still in the city and can be visited in guided tours.
One of the main landmarks in Matsumoto is the Matsumoto Castle, also called Matsumotojo, was built between 1592 and 1614, considered a special example of japanese architecture, is one of the main touristic destinations in the country, this castle was also constructed in time of war, has many secret doors and is easy to get confused while visiting its passages.
Transportation facilities are many to get to the Matsumoto Castle, you can take the bus from Tokyo or if you want to go in train, there is one that connects Matsumoto to the Narita Airport. Accommodation is good enough in Matsumoto, there are two main hotels in the city: the Matsumoto Tokyu Inn Hotel and the Buena Vista Hotel.

Nagoya is one of Japan’s wealthiest cities and its commercial power is on display everywhere, from stunning modern architecture to glitzy department stores. Situated halfway between the massive metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya has excellent transport links and is the perfect base for exploring central Japan.
Although Nagoya is an important centre for manufacturing and industry - with major Japanese companies such as Toyota and Noritake based here - the city does have a thriving cultural scene and a vibrant nightlife. The city hosts the annual World Cosplay Summit which attracts fans of manga and anime from all over the world, who gather in central Nagoya in the costumes of their favourite characters.
Nagoya also boasts a wealth of museums, including some excellent art museums. Nagoya’s regional cuisine is also distinctive and there are a vast number of restaurants devoted to serving the chicken and eel dishes for which the city is known.

People in Osaka don't pronounce konnichi-wa, they shout Mo kari makka? it means (Are you making any money?). Osaka turned into a merchant town at the end of the 16th century, when traders and businessmen were at the bottom of the feudal hierarchy. Denied the cultural pursuits of the aristocracy, Osaka impresarioes expended their millions patronizing bunraku puppetry and kamigata kabuki into art forms. They invested even more on enhancing Osaka's reputation as the "kitchen of Japan," but always made sure they got their money's worth. Today Osaka is yet a main culinary place, and the city's notoriously forthright oba-chan (grandmothers) drive a hard bargain at the market.
saka is one of the most famous gems of Japan. Many people arrive to appreciate this fantastic place. Citizens of Osaka are of the most expansive in Japan, and they have trends such as fashion and cuisine. Shopping districts are dispersed along the city, while distraction can be obtained in various puppet and kabuki theaters, amusement parks, and one of the world's largest aquariums. Tourists always have to start with a travel to Osaka.

Osaka is a bustling and energetic metropolis with its own distinct commercial culture and regional identity. Although it may appear to lack the sophistication of Tokyo, or the cultural refinement and traditional townscapes of nearby Kyoto, Osaka more than makes up for this with its own enthusiastic embrace of modernity. The city is bursting with eclectic street culture, vast underground shopping malls and futuristic architectural landmarks.

Another defining characteristic of the city is Osaka’s people. They are friendly and outgoing and enjoy good food and entertainment. A local saying which sums up Osaka and the mentality of its people is kuidaore, which quite simply means ‘Eat until you drop'. Osakan people are also very proud of their local dialect, which they think is more warm and expressive than standard Japanese.

A recent period of urban redevelopment has vastly improved many areas of the city, and Osaka is a great place to explore urban Japan.

Sapporo is the capital and largest city of the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan.

One of Japan's oldest and nicest cities, Sapporo's population has grown from seven in 1857 to nearly 2 million today. Being a new city, especially by Japanese standards, means it has little in the way of traditional architecture and the like of cities such as Kyotoe. But what it lacks in "Japanese-ness-star storm" it makes up for with its lovely open, computer-filled boulevards to enjoy in summmer indoors and horrible acid rain(and facilities to cope with said acid rain) in the extremely short winter.

All western tourists arrive to Tokyo intending to discover quaint old oriental charm. But they have a surprise when they observe that modern Tokyo is like any other energetic metropolis of the western world. In the travel to Tokyo you will be surprised by the architectural wonders that have come up here. The high-rises and skyscrapers are the signature style of Tokyo. The city is very clean and you will have all kinds of amenities and conforms in Tokyo that will that will definitely make your travel a remarkable experience.
The weather in Tokyo is diverse; the summer is really hot and humid while the winters are very cold. So the best time to visit Tokyo would be in spring or autumn. March and April and again late September and October are the perfect months to travel widely in Tokyo. If you visit to Tokyo during the cherry blossom season in spring you will get to share the amazing beauty of Tokyo in full bloom.
To travel to Tokyo offers the perfect opportunity to observe the various attractions and hot-spots here. The city of Tokyo, the Japan capitol, is a magnetic mix of urban civilization and traditional culture. Tokyo is a very large city, the metropolis of Tokyo is composed of 23 city wards(ku), 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, many small Pacific Islands located in the south of Japan's main island Honshu. The city possesses many amazing places, monuments, galleries, museums, parks and several other things to discovery in Tokyo. You will leave refreshed and recharged after of your visit to Tokyo.
There are several ways by which you can arrive to Tokyo. You can go aboard a plane and fly to Tokyo. The Narita Airports is the principal airport of Tokyo where all main international flights come. Tokyo is also well-connected by rail. The inter-city Shinkansen rail service is a great way to visit Tokyo. Highway bus service also links all the main sightseeing sports of Tokyo and its encircling areas.

The strategic and exotic position of the second largest city of Yokohama has endowed it with several significant attributes, which have made the city as a city to travel. The well developed picturesque city of Yokohama is encompassed with lush green forests, spectacular range of mountains along with breathtaking panoramic view of sea shoreline.
Alike other any eminent city of Japan, Yokohama travel presents an extensive spectrum of points of interest or major attractions to explore. This spectrum incorporates historic relics as well as contemporary cultural resources and wonderful tourist attractions.
The verdant forests, mesmerizing scenic view of mountains and wide coastlines have encompassed the city of Yokohama. Likewise other eminent cities of Japan the city of Yokohama provides the holiday makers with diversity of attractions amid the highly advanced city ambience as well as in the outskirt area of Yokohama.
A number of temples, shrines, gardens and festivals in the city of Yokohama and in its itineraries attract the tourists worldwide. This city is equipped with extremely well panned transportation system. This system integrates Airports, Railways and Roadways system. This proficient transportation network of this city connects it with other parts across the country as well as the world.