Travel Japan Miyajima

Travel Japan Miyajima:

Miyajima, known for its famous red 0-torii (large gate) and Itsukushima Shrine, is located seaside of Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan on the shores of the Seto Inland Sea. At high tide the torii and the shrine appear to be floating on the water. In Japan history, these structures were built around the time of Taira Kiyomori, a famous Heike general, and they are monuments of the Heian era in Japan. If you are lucky, you are able to witness the Bugaku, or ancient Heian rite at the Itsukushima Shrine.

A trip on the Shinkansen Kodama and Hikari from Kyoto will take you just shy of 2 hours to arrive at Hiroshima station. Then from Hiroshima station to Miyajima-guchi station will take another 30 minutes. After another short ferry ride, you will arrive at the terminal, and you may be greeted by Japanese deer, another symbol of the island.

A short walk from the terminal is the Itsukushima Shrine and O-torii, and also the Kiyomori Shrine. Along the way, and if you are hungry, you can sample the huge okonomiyaki, or Hiroshima pancake. The ingredients include the batter, with assorted seafood, cabbage, noodles, and an egg binder and sauce. The okonomiyaki is similar to the Osaka okonomiyaki and the Tokyo monjayaki.  The difference of the Osaka or Kansai okonomiyaki lies in the pork and assorted seafood and vegetables and cheese used as toppings, along with the sweeter sauce.  The Tokyo monjayaki is runnier, and is eaten by pulling the pancake toward you with a very small spatula.

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Travel Japan Kanazawa

Travel Japan Kanazawa:

Kanazawa is located on the Sea of Japan, and is the largest city of the Ishikawa Prefecture. The city was the fief of the Maeda clan in feudal Japan. It is perhaps best known for its ornate silk kimonos and its gold lacquer ware and its beautiful Japanese garden - Kenrokuen. Kenrokuen is located next to the castle and is one of the more beautiful gardens in Japan. It is home to some of the oldest living pine and cherry trees, many of which are so large that the branches need to be supported by braces so that they do not break. The garden has waterfalls, lakes and ponds with irises growing in them. The area lacquer ware is inlaid with gold leaf and is truly beautiful. The lacquer ware makes a good souvenir.  The Kaga-Yuzen silk Kimonos are very beautiful too.  It is also known for its famous Kutani ceramics.

The area is also known for its onsen hot springs, and at nearby Yamanaka onsen, the Tawaraya ryokan(inn) has got to be one of this writer's favorite places to stay.  The Tawaraya overlooks a river and a beautiful forest of maple and other trees.  There is even a walkway along the river which can be seen from the tatami room that I stayed in.  The ryokan has several indoor pools and outdoor rotemburo overlooking that river and forest.  The onsen, along with the wonderful seafood dinner of crab, shrimp, fish, and other local delicacies made for an unforgettable experience.
 
Kanazawa is accessible from Tokyo by air, train and bus, the Shinkansen Nozomi or Hikari taking about 4 hours, gives a scenic ride. On Japan Air Lines or All Nippon Airways a flight from Tokyo Haneda to Komatsu Airport and a bus ride will take about 3 ½ hours.  I recommend a leisurely ride on the Shinkansen, to fully appreciate the beautiful countryside from Tokyo.

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Travel Japan-Niigata

Travel Japan-Niigata:

Niigata Prefecture is made up of Echigo and Sado provinces. In the history of Japan, this area was governed by Uesugi Kenshin during the warring era (Sengoku) in feudal Japan. Niigata is known best for its wonderful rice and its world famous sake. As I am a great fan of Japanese sake or nihonshu and of good rice, Niigata is my mecca. The sake breweries in Niigata produce fine premium sakes such as Koshino Kanbai, Hakkaisan, Kikusui, Kubota, and Shimeharitsuru, to mention just a few, mostly made of premium sake rice or sakamai such as Yamadanishiki and Gohyakumangoku and the water from the snow in the area. Niigata’s rice is also world famous, with a sheen and texture and smell and taste that is so unique. A rice like koshihikari which is now being grown in California, is simply not the same, because the rice in Japan must experience the special conditions of the cold winter snow of the Niigata area. Niigata is accessible from Tokyo by train and bus. The Shinkansen Max Toki will take just under 3 hours from Tokyo to Niigata City.

Sado Island is about 1 hour by jet foil from Niigata Harbor, and is best known for its gold mines. In Japan history, when gold was first discovered in 1601, the Sado gold mine continuously produced gold until its closure in 1989, a period of over 380 years. There is a room in the Sado Museum that has a large plexiglass box containing a solid gold ingot. You are able to stick your hand though a hole in the box and attempt to pull the ingot out of the box. Believe me, it is very difficult to do so. My daughter, who has small hands, was able to get the ingot to the hole, but even she was unable to pull the ingot through. The island which is located in the Sea of Japan, is also a source of hot springs onsens. For an unforgettable experience, take a ride on a tarai bune(wooden bath tub boat)paddled by a Japanese grandma.

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Japan Travel Info - Nagasaki

Japan Travel Info - How to get there

How to Get There:


Nagasaki, Japan, with a population of approximately 1.4 million, is one of the larger cities on the southern island of Kyushu. In Japan history Nagasaki resulted from a combination of Hizen, Tsuhima, and Iki. And Nagasaki was opened to the Portuguese in 1571. Some time after that, the island of Dejima in Nagasaki was home to a Dutch Trading port. Nagasaki is perhaps best known for it being the infamous object of an atomic bomb attack during World War II. Nagasaki is accessible from Tokyo by airplane, by train, and by bus. But recommended transportation mode is either by airplane from Tokyo airport Haneda, or by railways Japan JR train because of time and distance. Because of the sheer distance between Tokyo and Nagasaki I prefer a ride on the Japan Railways Shinkansen bullet train so that you can enjoy the wonderful scenery along the way if you have the time with an overnight stay in Kyoto. A trip on the JR Tokaido Kodama Shinkansen from Shinagawa station in Tokyo to Kyoto, as an example, would take about 4 hours, and by using the 7-day Japan Rail Pass(about $413 currently for a Green reserved car) would save you quite a sum. Use of the Rail pass over long runs really increases your savings over regular fares. Kyoto to Hakata presently takes just under 3 hours, and with a transfer to a LEX train Kamome, you would be in Nagasaki in about 2 hours. Lacking time, a direct flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Nagasaki by airplane on Japan Air Lines or All Nippon Airways will take just over 2 hours.


Japan Travel Info - Where to Stay


There are many hotels and ryokan to stay at in Nagasaki, I always recommend staying at hotels or inns near Nagasaki station which makes it easy for you to access the rail system and bus system for getting around. I personally like to stay at the Hotel New Nagasaki, which is located directly across Nagasaki station.


Japan Travel Info - Things to do:
 
Japan Travel Info - Things to do recommendation: Peace Park - with the Peace Statue, built in 1955, symbolizing world peace. Atomic Bomb Museum, which contains photographs and objects of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945.


Dejima - Visit the former Dutch colony built to isolate the Europeans from the Japanese people and prevent the spread of Christianity in Japan. Dejima served as the only gateway for Japan to Europe for 200 years during the Edo era.

Japan Travel Info - Glover Garden - home of a wealthy Scottish merchant named Thomas Blake Glover. He established Glover & Co. and married a Japanese woman named Tsuru. He helped to introduce modern science and technology to Japan and helped Sakamoto Ryoma, a revolutionary, bring change to the Shogunate Japan government. The home, overlooking Nagasaki, gives a wonderful view of Nagasaki, and the flower garden surrounding the home is outstandingly beautiful.

Nearby is the Oura Catholic Church, built by French missionaries in 1864. It is the oldest church in Japan.

Foods of Japan - Nagasaki is perhaps best known for the ever popular Champon (Chinese) noodles, Kasutera(Castella) pound cake, and Karasumi(dried mullet roe), all a reflection of the foreign influence on the city.

Nagasaki Shopping - Souvenirs and crafts include pearls, coral jewelry, glassware, pottery and china. I recommend a side trip from Nagasaki to Imari Okawachiyama, or “Village of the secret kilns”. This is the home of world famous Imari and Arita ware. During the spring and fall pottery fairs held in the village (Spring: April 1-5; Fall: November 1-5), you can buy these world famous pottery at very low prices. You can walk through the village and compare the different pottery the vendors and selling. Japanese Yen only. Believe me, it is worth your time if you’re in to Japanese pottery marks. Japan Travel Info - Things to do recommendation.

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Travel Japan Info - Sakurajima Japan

Travel Japan Info - Sakurajima Japan

Sakurajima, once an island off Kagoshima, is now a part of the mainland after lava joined the island to the mainland with a narrow isthmus, and is an active volcano with a large caldera. There have been 2 major eruptions in 1914 and again in 1947. On my first trip to Kyushu, I caught the ferry from Kagoshima to Sakurajima. The crater reminded me of the volcanoes in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii. Much of the sulfur banks and terrain resembled those in Hawaii.  I imagine that the earthquake in Japan also resemble those in Hawaii.


A truly amazing sight was a radish almost the size of an exercise ball. The white radish had an interior flesh that was pinkish. A pickled version of the radish was available for sale at one of the roadside stands on the island.  It must be that ashen volcanic soil and Japan weather that makes the radishes grow that large.

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Travel Japan Info - Atami

Travel Japan Info - How to get there

How to Get There:

Atami, or “warm sea” is a seaside resort area on the Izu Peninsula. Its name is from a hot spring in Sagami Bay which makes the water warm. It is a very popular hot springs resort town because of its close proximity to Tokyo and its warm climate, even in winter. With a population of approximately 40,000 Atami is a quaint town. With good weather, a sight of Mt.Fuji is possible from Atami. Atami is accessible by rail and bus, and because it is only 1 1/2 hours from Shinagawa station in Tokyo, or 1 hour by Shinkansen Kodama from Tokyo station recommended transportation mode is by rail. With a ride on the Japan Railways Tokaido you can enjoy the wonderful scenery along the way. Use of the Japan Rail Pass over long runs really increases your savings over regular fares.

Travel Japan Info - Where to Stay

There are many hotels and small inns to stay at in Atami, however I recommend staying at hotels or inns near or overlooking the beach for beautiful ocean views. Getting around the town is easy either with taxi or Yu Yu bus. The beach is nice, and there is a boardwalk along the beach lined with cherry trees. Because Atami is quiet and laid back, it is a nice place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. A large hotel that you might consider is the Atami Korakuen Hotel overlooking Sagami Bay, or a medium-sized hotel like the Resorpia almost on the water. The fresh seafood served is excellent.

Travel Japan Info - Things to do:

Travel Japan Info - Things to do recommendation: MOA Art Museum, which is located on a hill overlooking the Sagami Bay. It is about 5 minutes by bus from Atami station. The museum features oriental art, ceramics and lacquer ware.

Shopping - Visit Atami’s many small shops in the town and find interesting souvenirs and food items. The people in the small town are very friendly and glad to help you, but most do not speak English. I’m sure you can get by.

Food - When in Atami be sure to try the Home Run Sushi Restaurant, on a street running parallel to the main street along the beach, and across a Hawaiian store. It opens at 11:30 AM. I was there at 11:00 when I was there and had to wait until they opened, but it was well worth the wait. The assorted sushi and sashimi plates my wife and I ordered were excellent-fresh and delicious.

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Travel Japan - Japan Travel Info - Kumamoto

Japan Travel Info - How to get there

How to Get There:

Kumamoto, with a population of approximately 1.5 million, is one of the larger cities on the southern island of Kyushu. In Japan history Kumamoto, known then as Higo, was ruled by daimyo lord Kato Kiyomasa, who built Kumamoto castle. Today a Shinkansen track and station is being built, and Kumamoto will be linked to Hakata and Kagoshima in Kyushu. Kumamoto is accessible from Tokyo by airplane, by train, and by bus. But recommended transportation mode is either by airplane from Tokyo airport Haneda, or by railways Japan JR train because of time and distance. Because of the sheer distance between Tokyo and Kumamoto city, I prefer a ride on the Japan Railways Shinkansen bullet train so that you can enjoy the wonderful scenery along the way if you have the time with an overnight stay in Kyoto. A trip on the JR Tokaido Kodama Shinkansen from Shinagawa station in Tokyo to Kyoto, as an example, would take about 4 hours, and by using the 7-day Japan Rail Pass(about $413 currently for a Green reserved car) would save you quite a sum. Use of the Japan Rail Pass over long runs really increases your savings over regular fares. Kyoto to Hakata presently takes just under 3 hours, and with a transfer to a LEX train Tsubame, you would be in Kumamoto city in 1 1/4 hours. Lacking time, a direct flight to Kumamoto by airplane on Japan Air Lines or All Nippon Airways will take just about 2 hours.
 
Japan Travel Info - Where to Stay
 
There are many hotels and inns to stay at in Kumamoto, however I recommend staying at hotels or ryokan near Kumamoto station which makes it easy for you to access the rail system and bus system for getting around. I personally like to stay at the Kumamoto Hotel Castle, which is located about 2 minutes from the famous Kumamoto Castle. The black walled castle, like the one Matsumoto, is one of a number of Japan tourist attractions.  Japan Travel Info - Where to stay recommended.


Japan Travel Info - Things to do:
 
Japan Travel Info - Things to do recommendation: Kumamoto Castle - a very large and beautiful castle with black donjon(towers) built in the 1600s, destroyed by fire in 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion, and reconstructed by the Kumamoto city in 1960.

Kumamoto Shopping - Visit Kumamoto city’s covered shopping arcades - Shimotori Arcade and Kamitori Arcade, along with Sun Road Shinshigai Arcade. The arcades are covered to protect you from the weather, and have a myriad of shops - clothing to 100 Yen shops, restaurants, knives, etc. in addition to large retailers such as Daiei.

Kumamoto Food - When in Kumamoto try Aoyagi Restaurant, near Shimotori Arcade, close to Daiei. Aoyagi is well-known and gets quite busy. My wife and I were allowed to use the tatami room(private room) and proceeded to have local specialty basashi(raw horse meat)which was very good, also mustard stuffed renkon(lotus root), sushi, and raw horse liver, which actually was quite good. The drinks were quite good too - sake from Niigata, and the local rice shochu(Shiro).

Japan Travel Info - Hitoyoshi Craft Park - area just outside Kumamoto city where you can interact and experience arts and crafts of Hitoyoshi-Kumamoto district. Drink tea and sample sweets in valuable pottery pieces. You can experience making various objects using potter’s wheel(rokuro), painting, and making small boxes (hanatebako). There are displays of various blacksmith-made kitchen knives, sickles, and hoes, which you can purchase. I personally bought a sashimi knife which I use today. Visit a shochu(distilled spirits similar to vodka)museum where the process of making shochu is demonstrated.

Hitoyoshi Spa - Hot spring inns(onsen ryokan)are located next to the Kumagawa. Be sure to stay in one and experience the healing waters of the onsen.

Shooting the Kumagawa rapids. Take a river ride on a boat going down the rapids. it’s a good photo taking opportunity as you go down river.

Aso-Kuju National Park - Nakadake Crater - an active volcano with smoke emanating from the crater. Stay at Uchinomaki Spa with its traditional onsen ryokans and Akamizu Spa with its onsen resort hotels.

Jibiki Ami - A Japanese "hukilau" netting fish. I was involved in hauling in a netful of assorted salt water fish. First the nets were laid out in the water, then the villagers went out in a small boat and hit the water with paddles to drive the fish into the nets. Then the people on the shore pulled in the nets with the fish. A fun activity!

Jibiki Ami - seashore off Kumamoto, Japan

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Travel Japan - Maisen - An Excellent Tonkatsu Restaurant

Maisen Tonkatsu Restaurant in  Omotesando is a little difficult to find, but it is worth the time to find it.  Maisen is located near the Omotesando subway station.  From the station, follow the nice tree-lined boulevard and turn right at the narrow lane by Ito Hospital, follow the lane and turn at the first left, then a quick right and you'll be standing in front of Maisen.   Maisen is one of the most famous tonkatsu Japan restaurants in Tokyo, known for its "hire katsu" (filet) and "rosu" (roast) black pork cutlets.  The tonkatsu is very delicious, not greasy at all, and comes right from the kitchen to the counter.  The shredded cabbage is good too with the vegetable sauce.  My wife and I both opted for set menus and were much impressed with the tonkatsu and the katsudon which cost 1860 Yen.  Open 11:00AM - 10:00PM.  Please click link to go to Travel Japan Home page and read other related articles: http://traveljapan-us.com/.