Top 7 Tempting Places to Explore in Japan!

Japan is a dream vacation for lots of people. They who want to explore ancient culture and traditions, modern and prehistoric architectures, awesome cuisines and many more, visit Japan. There is no dearth of picturesque locations in the country.

If you, too, are visiting Japan in near future, there are certain places, which you can miss at own peril. Places in and around Tokyo are favourites amongst foreign tourists. According to Japan national Tourist Organisation, seven out of top 10 most frequented tourist places fall in the Tokyo city.

Here is a list of few places to visit in Japan, in Tokyo and beyond the capital city, which you must note down in your bucket list.

KITTE: Originally the Old Tokyo Central Post Office, this commercial building was under renovation since a long time. It was re-launched only few weeks before with a new concept and new name, KITTE. The 7 storied building is situated next to Tokyo station and catching attention from the foreign tourists since the time it was re-opened for the tourists. You have lots of shops, few restaurants and other eye-catching infrastructures built inside the building.

Yushima Tenjin Shrine: During the months of spring, Yushima Tenjin shrine can be seen jam-packed with the foreign tourists. The main attraction of this place is plum festival, which starts at the very beginning of spring season. Many people think that this place offers most unique and beautiful experience of plum festival.

Kanda Myoujin: On the way to Yushima Tenjin shrine, do not forget to discover Kanda Myojin that is painted in red and awesomely decorated. At this shrine, you can find some of the most unique and exclusive statues, which no other shrine in Japan has to offer you.

Museum of Yebisu beer in Ebisu: If you possess a fetish for fresh beer, Yebisu beer is best available option to you. Originally brewed in Tokyo, Yebisu beer has a historic connection in Japan. The first and original Yebisu beer factory was at the place where museum is built today. You can find a lot about this fine quality of beer in the museum.

Niigata: If you have read the novel “Yukiguni”, you will have a fair idea on Niigata. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes distance away from Ueno station in Tokyo, in a bullet train, you will be there at Urasa station, Niigata prefecture. At Niigata, you can experience one of the best snowfalls in Japan.

Ishigaki Island: Not as big market as Naha, but Ishigaki is an ideal market place. You will find most of the shops around Euglena mall. At this marketplace, you can find some of the most discerning gifts and other products.

Tokyo Tower: The new broadcast tower was unveiled in Tokyo a few weeks earlier only. The Tokyo sky tree is considered as world’s tallest broadcasting tower and most interesting aspect is that this tower is free-standing.

Japan has plethora of options available to the site hunters. Whether you are there to soak in the beautiful locations, shopping places or just to explore the culture and tradition of Japan, you will be amazed to find out several choices.

                                 Top 7 amazing places to visit in japan from Pretzel William

Japan: A Perfect Blend of Tradition and Modernization !

Japan, the land of rising sun, the tech-giant nation is also one of the most frequented tourist places in Asia. Last year, an increase of whopping 37 percent was recorded from international tourism in Japan. Certainly, the land of Samurai has something to offer the entire world.

The country is known on the world map as science and technology giant. But, it’s not the only term to describe Japan. The country has other facets, as well, to carve a niche in the tourism sector.

Culture and tradition

Culture and tradition of Japan has been attracting tourists from around the world since ages. Typically, Japanese feel a great pride in their millennia-back traditions. You may call them conservative and orthodox but the truth is, Japanese are attached with their culture, which dates back millennia.

There are innumerable historical monuments in Japan and each tells a different tale. You have several Buddhist temples all around the country. The ancient prefectures say enough of the kingdoms’ rule in Japan.

Among the modern monuments, Tokyo tower, Hiroshima memorial hall, etc, are centre of attraction. Besides, you can always get a wonderful feel after looking at sky-high office complexes around the bustling metropolises of Japan.

Overwhelming fashion trends

If you have been envisaging Japanese people in traditional attires, the notion of yours might get washed out on your trip. It would not be an exaggeration if you say that Japan is the country where tradition meets modernization.

On the choc-a-block streets, you can see Japanese men and women in trendy and fascinating clothes. The fashion trends in Japan are ruled from the streets, which are available with all the latest trends in their collections.

Delicious dishes

The gourmets come to Japan in search of truly delectable dishes. Varieties in Japanese cuisine have successfully attracted visitors from around the globe. You can enjoy some of the most unique and experimental dishes in the country.

Sea foods from the coastal areas of Japan are considered as finest in the world. Japanese have a unique way to prepare dishes. They put more emphasis on ingredients and prepare it to the best of taste. You can’t leave the restaurant without praising for exceptional quality of food.

Places to visit and shopping hot-spots

When you talk about places to visit, there is umpteenth number of options available with you. It depends upon you, what you want to visit at first. From scenic beauties to state of the art buildings, every place of Japan seems to be luring you.

Last but not the least; a trip to Japan never completes without visiting the markets in high octane cities. You will find most unique concepts that will be enticing you to make a buy and bring home as souvenir.

This time, while on your trip to Japan, do not forget to soak in the glory of spring. The diva in Japan blossoms during the months of spring and entices you to fall in love with this beautiful country.

You can go through any relevant blog about Japan, as these blogs let you know all about current happenings in the country. Most foreign tourists prefer to consult these blogs prior to making a head-start to the Japan.

Plan a Trip to Explore the Wonders of Okinawa Island

If you are planning for a trip, make sure this time you visit Okinawa, a beautiful island in the land of rising sun. The place is a perfect blend of Chinese, Thai and Austronesian culture and you will simply love the trip to this place.

When you are in Okinawa, there are few things which you should not miss out on. The list is long, however some of the important things are mentioned below which will help you in planning an adventurous as well as constructive trip.

Foodstuff:

Yamamoto, a restaurant well known for its quality beef can serve you with best Korean-style barbecue. Make sure, you visit this place early otherwise you will have to satisfy yourself with second best quality beef. Tsubame is a restaurant where you can give a treat to your taste buds with Hakkan food.

Bars around Euglena Mall are the best choice for those who want to try out their hands on experimental coffee rum and tea rum cocktails.

SPAM and snake in the soup are some of the favourite delicacies of people in Okinawa. If you want to taste some out of the box sea foods like porcupine fish and coconut crab visit the place near Kokusai Street in Naha where fish mongers will sell unusual sea products.

SHOPPING:

A trip is incomplete without exploring the market and picking up few souvenir and other interesting things. You will get plenty of boutiques from where you can collect few exclusive Japanese items for your near and dear ones.

One thing which you should not miss out is the chilli oil made by the Pengin family. This oil is so famous among the visitors of Okinawa Island that you need to call and reserve the number of bottles you want to purchase. Once you prepare food from this oil, you are sure to get addicted.

While shopping in Japan, you can also get some cool vintage T-shirts and other knick-knacks. This is the best thing to flaunt in front of your friends and relatives after the tour to Okinawa is complete.

In nutshell, apart from enjoying in the cool and fresh water of the beach you can always make the trip memorable by purchasing the exclusive items sold here and hover over delicious food items prepared in the most unique way. So, pack your bags and get ready for the most beautiful travelling experience in Okinawa Island.

Kitte Mall - Lending a Touch of New to the Old

The Kitte shopping facility has come up as a seven floored shopping facility; connecting people and products on a same platform. Previously known as the JP tower, this shopping mall has been refurbished to grab attention of the traveller’s eye. Located near the Tokyo station, the shopping mall introduces the spectacle of Japanese craftsmanship.

Formerly known as the JP tower this new shopping facility houses seven floors and extends for a sprawling 9400sq meters. It also encompasses a vast open space for visitors to relax and enjoy the multi-shopping environment featuring twenty one restaurants and seventy one shops also including fashion outlets. The ribbon cutting ceremony which was held recently was attended by renowned Japanese actress, Kii Kitano and also the top shot builders who take credit in restructuring the entire building. The refurbished looks of the shopping mall is turning heads of thousands of shoppers who want to relish the goodness of Japanese cuisines and witness the excellence of Japanese craftsmanship.

The revamped historic building is welcoming customers and foodies who are too excited to taste the selection of food offered by a majority of eateries that have been currently homed by the Kitte mall. The shopper’s haven has derived its name from the Japanese word for postage stamp “Kitte”.

Every day, the commercial complex is crowded with tourists and natives who come for shopping and experience the new. Only a few steps away from the Tokyo station, the Kitte mall is considered the first shopping facility to have rented out to around 98 tenants. Can you believe that? The two hundred metre tall commercial arena occupies seven floors; each floor revealing a different theme. While one floor has dedicated its space to put up stores for local dishes from Japan which majorly include confection specialities from Hokkaido, delectable side cuisines from Kagoshima, ox tongue from Miyagi and more; the other floors are dedicated to showcase Japanese aesthetics. There are also floors homing shops that mark the startling merge of the old with new.

The beautification of the building has been aimed at catching attention of the thousands of shoppers who come to Tokyo to taste the richness of Japanese culture; economists from the country believe that the Kitte facility is all set to urge an economic refurbishment in the area; since in recent years people here have witnessed an experienced a massive commercial development ultimately leading to a betterment of the economic status of the region. To know more, you can search for relevant news from Japan about KITTE Shopping mall.

Go Through Guide Books and Make Your Overseas Tour Fun

Are you planning to spend some good times during your next vacation? A trip to overseas location must be on your mind. After going on holidays to the same spots over and over again, holidaying must have become mundane to you. A holiday plan to foreign location sounds interesting, exciting and full of fun and frolic.

But, for many travellers acclimatising with the weather conditions and other aspects of foreign countries proves as a difficult task. If you do not get immune to the abroad conditions quickly, you might not enjoy to the fullest. So, before you fly out for your vacation, going through travel guide books is a good idea.

In the travel guide books, you will find all the information, needed to you as a tourist, about the country. Provided information in the guide books will have a positive impact on your travel and you can plan out everything beforehand.

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You will find various information, some of which are as follows

• Weather conditions: When planning a trip to foreign country, you must keep the weather conditions of that country on top of your mind. This will help you prepare well for the holiday, as you can bring appropriate clothes and other essential items required during the season.
• Political and social affairs: You must have the knowledge on current affairs, while planning a holiday in certain countries. The travel guide books will make your abreast with all the latest developments in the political and social structures of the country, you are planning to go on vacation.
• Tourist spots: If you know about all the popular holiday destination of the country, you can plan everything in advance. This will not only help you in prior booking of tickets but also save ample amount of time and money.
• Hotels and Restaurants: Knowing about hotels and restaurants in respective cities will cut short your several worries. You can make book the hotel rooms prior to arriving in the city and will not have to wander on the streets in search of restaurants that offer your favourite dishes.
• Transportation: Lots of foreign travellers find it tough to commute to different places. If you have gathered all the information about transportation facilities, your trip will be easier and more fun.

So, if you have planned a trip to Japan, there are lots of travel guide books available online. You will not have to search one in the library or ask from the local magazine vendor to make you available with one. You can just log on to the internet and gather entire information on Japan in relatively quick time and without spending lots of money in buying the travel guide books.

Take a Warm Plunge in the Hot Springs in Japan this Winter

Winters in Japan are extremely cold and chilly. There are various activities that take place in Japan during the winter season. December to February are the winter months in Japan and people who like cold climates and snowfall might want to visit Japan during their Christmas vacation. Usually people from tropical regions come to Japan during winter as they can witness snowfall in the otherwise picturesque country.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of winters is snowboarding and skiing. The ski hills of the highly cultural country have a lot to offer during the winter months. Whether you’re an expert at snow sports or a beginner, you sure are going to love the country during winter. If you are a tourist then don’t think that the snow will stop you from going sightseeing. One of the best ways you can enjoy the snow covered ski areas in Japan is by going snowshoeing.

As the name applies, you can rent snow shoes and get going on a guided snowshoe tour. This is the best way you can ‘savour’ the pristine white snow and leave footprints on the untouched snow. You marvel at the trees and take a look at some Japanese wildlife. You can see Kamoshika (Japanese serow) and hares as you take a look at the beautiful sight of a snow-covered Japan. People in Japan also go cross country skiing in winter in the Land of the Rising Sun.

But one of the places you most definitely should visit is the hot springs at Niigata Prefecture. This is one of best places to visit in Japan during winter. It is a one hour and twenty minute ride from Tokyo and is the ‘snowiest’ place in the country. People usually stay at Ryokans when they come to visit the hot springs in Niigata. A Ryokan is basically a Japanese ‘bed and breakfast’. One of the finest Ryokans is the Jizaikan.

Hot spring baths or onsen is the main attraction of the place. This is a very traditional Japanese way of relaxing over the weekends in Japanese winters. Jizaikan has three private hot spring baths and two big hot spring baths that it shares with two other Ryokans. The warm water of the hot springs feels great to soak in as the snow outside is almost two metres high. If you are thinking of going to Japan this winter, do not give the hot springs in Niigata a miss.