Japan Sites To See - 5 Cities and Attractions

There are many reasons why people choose to visit Japan. You may be planning a trip to this East Asian country with the goal of doing business there. Or, you may have harbored a longtime fascination with the language or culture of Japan.

For someone only planning to stay in Japan for a few days, you will likely want to plan to make only day trips that are within a short distance from your hotel. This is fine, and if you have never been to Japan before you will surely be able to fill up your time by finding local attractions.

However, if you plan to stay in Japan for a week or more, you will probably want to fill up your itinerary with some fun things to do that may require a bit more travel to famous sites. There are plenty of cities and attractions in Japan to visit. Some of the sites reflect the innovation and liveliness of modern Japan, while others are very much historical in nature.

If you are looking for Japan sites to see that will make your trip much more memorable, here are 5 cities and attractions to see in Japan:

1. Kamakura (near Tokyo):

From 1185 to 1333, the city of Kamakura was the location of the Kamakura Bakufu, or shogunate. This was the de-facto capital of Japan, and at one time it was one of the world's most populous cities. Today, Kamakura is a midsize city of about 175,000 people, located just south of Tokyo. If you will be in or near Tokyo and have an interest in ancient Japan - including its temples and shrines - you should greatly enjoy a visit to Kamakura. Given its proximity to Tokyo, it easily makes for a convenient day trip.

2. Miyajima Shrine (near Hiroshima):

If your trip to Japan will be taking you to the Hiroshima area, consider visiting the island of Miyajima. It is famous for a famous torii gate, which belongs to the Itsukushima Shine. The bottom portion of the gate is actually immersed in water during high tide, giving it the appearance of floating on top of the water. It is considered one of the three best views in Japan.

3. Ichinoboh Onsen (in Sendai):

On northern Honshu (the main island of Japan) lies a large city called Sendai. There you will find a wonderful example of Japanese onsen, or hot spring. The Ichinoboh Onsen regularly garners very high ratings from Japanese and foreign tourists alike. If you cannot make it all the way up to Sendai during your visit, be sure to seek out any one of the other thousands of onsen in Japan. Visiting an onsen will make your experience in Japan all the more authentic.

4. Tokyo Imperial Palace East Garden (in Tokyo):

Chances are good that your trip to Japan will take you to Tokyo. If so, take a local train over to Tokyo Station or Otemachi Station and walk to the Tokyo Imperial Palace's East Garden. It is open to the public every day except Mondays and Friday. The garden is kept in wonderful shape. Especially appealing is to visit the Palace during cherry blossom season. Admission is free.

5. National Bunraku Theater (in Osaka):

Bunraku is the Japanese word for a special traditional form of puppet theater. These special puppet shows were started in Osaka in 1684. At a performance, you can see elements of old Japan of the Edo Period combined with modern theater technology. For a taste of traditional Japan through a bunraku show, check out the National Bunraku Theater in Osaka.

Visit one or more of these 5 famous Japanese sites during your next stay in Japan.

Traveling to Japan for pleasure and/or business? Make the most of your trip with tips and recommendations from: Japan Sites To See.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Japan Tourist Attractions & Must See Places in Japan

Identified as the "Land of the Rising Sun", Japan is a country which is comprised of islands . As a travel destination, it offers a fascinating time for the visitors. A wide range of attractions, sights, historical places and natural beauties of the country combine with a colorful cultures in this country. In Japan the past meets the future.

Japan attractions can be visited by dividing the country into regions. Eastern and Central Region, Northern Region, Southern Region and Western Region. In Japan, there are hundreds of cities. Also, these regions are named as Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu and Okinawa.

There are hundreds of cities in Japan each of which has its own aspect. Among top cities in Japan are Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nara, Kyota, Hiroshima, Kamakura, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Sapporo, Chiba, Kawasaki etc. Tokyo is the modern capital and densely populated city of Japan. It is a fabulous city. Some of Tokyo attractions are Imperial Palace, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Sensoji Temple Asakusa, Shibuya, Meiji Jingu Shrine, the Yashukuni-jinja shrine, Ueno Park, Shinjuku Gyoen, Tokyo Disneyland.Hama Rikyu Garden is considered to be the best garden in Tokyo. For sure Tokyo is the must see city of Japan.

The Kyoto Imperial Palace Park, Nijo Castle, Kinkakuji - Golden Pavilion, The Museum of Kyoto, Ryoanji Temple, Gion, Kiyomizu-dera Temple are popular places to see in Kyoto. Hiroshima is a port city which was destroyed by an atom bomb. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Asa Zoological Park are must-see places for the travelers. In Kanazawa, the visitors can see Kenrokuen Park and Honda Museum. Popular sights of Osaka are Osaka Aquarium, Osaka Castle and Universal Studios Japan.Yokohama is Japan's second largest city. Nagasaki Peace Park, Confucian Shrine, Chinatown are popular places to see in Nagasaki. Fukuoka has several beautiful attractions: Hakata Canal City, Tochoji Temple, Sky Dream Fukuoka, Hokozaki Shrine, Ohori-koen Japanese Garden.

Hokkaido with its beautiful natural suroundings attract many travelers. Mt. Fuji is one of the must see places in Japan. Kumamotojo has a fame as a Japanese castle. Shikoku -88 Temple Pilgrimage- owns sacred Buddhist temples. Nikko National Park, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and Japan Alps National Park are among popular National parks of Japan.

If what kind of things can be done in Japan is asked, these may be listed:

Attending a Sumo match.

Participating in meditation in a Buddhist temple.

Taking part in a traditional tea ceremony.

Climbing Mount Fuji.

Enjoying and visiting cherry blossom spots.

Fishing.

Tasting sake and sushi.

Attending festivals.

Japan owns hundreds of places to see. The names given above are just some of the travel attractions.

In order to watch videos about Japan and have idea about the sights, Travelovideo will give information with the videos of it.

- Copyright c 2008 Travelovideo: Online Travel Videos -

Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine with the information about author/website info & links is included. (URLs in should be set as hyperlinks)

Gokhan Ozbal is the travel writer for Travelovideo - the place to watch travel videos online for free. Visit Travelovideo to view Japan travel videos and top places to visit in Japan.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Japan Travel Information - 5 Attractions In Japan That You Must See

There are few places in the world that hold as much mystique for Westerners as does Japan. Even with all of the attention that Japan has garnered on the world stage over the past few decades due to its very strong economic success, there is much about this country that remains unknown.

To really get a sense for what Japan is like, of course, you will need to visit there yourself. Just like reading a recipe book about apple pie does not substitute for an actual taste of warm apple pie, there is really no way to really start to understand Japan until you have visited or lived there.

If you are planning on traveling to Japan for the first time - or if you live in Japan and just want to get out and see the country on your next vacation break - a great place to start your journey is with the various attractions that Japan offers.

If you are looking for Japan travel information, 5 attractions in Japan that you must see are the following:

1. Tokyo Tower:

The Tokyo tower is very much a symbol of modern Japan, including Japan's economic success. In fact, the tower was created in 1958 as a symbol for the country's growing economic prominence in Asia and the world. The Tokyo Tower was modeled on the Eiffel Tower in Paris - and in fact is 13 meters taller. This makes it the world's tallest self-supporting steel tower. Today the tower contains TV and radio antennas - as well as a great view of much of Tokyo (and Mt. Fuji!) for visitors to enjoy.

2. The Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Nara:

Now, let's take a little trip to ancient Japan. Buddhism has been an influential force in Japan for well over 2,000 years. One of the most notable single physical symbols of the reverence that many Japanese have held for Buddhism over the years has been the Daibutsu (meaning, literally, Great Buddha) in the city of Nara. Nara is located near Kyoto in Western Japan.

The Daibutsu statue is located in the Todaiji Temple. And, it is really something to behold in person. At 15 meters tall and weighing 250 tons, it is the largest gilt-bronze statue in the world. The statue was completed in A.D. 752, but it has been damaged (and therefore rebuilt) many times over the centuries.

3. Ueno Zoo in Tokyo:

Back in Tokyo: if you love visiting the zoos, you are sure to love the Ueno Zoo (official name: Onshi Ueno Dobutsuen). This is Japan's oldest and most famous zoo and has been in operation since 1882. Today, the zoo houses well over 400 species of animals, making it the zoo with the greatest variety of species anywhere in Japan. Visitors can even ride the monorail located within the park, which connects the eastern and western portions of the zoo.

4. Osaka Aquarium:

Do you like to watch marine life in its natural environment? Then you will love the Osaka Aquarium (Osaka Kaiyukan). It is one of the largest in the world. This aquarium is located in the Minato ward of Osaka, near Osaka Bay (in Western Japan). You can get to Osaka from Tokyo via the shinkansen (bullet train), then take local trains or buses to the aquarium. The Osaka Aquarium features 16 tanks, the largest of which holds 5,400 cubic meters of water.

5. Nagoya Zoo & Botanical Garden (Higashiyama Koen):

Botanical gardens are a wonderful place to view nature in a relaxing, unrushed fashion. If your trip to Japan will bring you to the Nagoya area, be sure to check out the Nagoya Zoo & Botanical Garden (Higashiyama Koen).

This is a large park with well-maintained paths. You can easily spend hours among nature here and forget that you are in the middle of a very large city. If you are a walker or a runner and want a place to exercise, the rolling hills of the Garden await you. A visit to this place can be a great treat after being in the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Consider these 5 attractions in Japan as you look for Japan travel information for your next trip.

Traveling to Japan for pleasure or business? Make the most of your trip with tips and recommendations from: Best Rated Japan Attractions.

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.