Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Tokyo Disney Land

Tokyo Disneyland (東京ディズニーランド) is part of a massive Disney complex that also includes Tokyo DisneySea and a number of branded hotels. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States
There are seven themed areas, each complementing each other yet unique in their style. Made up of the World Bazaar, the four classic Disney lands: Adventureland, Westernland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and two mini lands, Critter Country and Mickey’s Toontown. Rides include Big Thunder Mountain in Westernland, a four-minute train ride through a “haunted” mine.
Posted by NJ at 8:30 AM 0 comments
Labels: Tokyo Disneyland
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Tokyo

Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city.
Tokyo is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, but is called a metropolis rather than a prefecture. The metropolis of Tokyo consists of 23 city wards, 26 cities, 5 towns and 8 villages, including the Izu and Ogasawara Islands, several small Pacific Islands in the south of Japan's main island Honshu.
The 23 city wards are the center of Tokyo and make up about one third of the metropolis' area, while housing roughly eight of Tokyo's approximately twelve million residents.
Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities.
With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital were moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital").
Posted by NJ at 11:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: Tokyo
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Yokohama

With a population of over three million people is Yokohama Japan's second largest city. Yokohama is located less than half an hour south of Tokyo by train, and is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture.
Towards the end of the Edo Period (1603-1867), during which Japan maintained a policy of self-isolation, Yokohama's port was one of the first to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. Consequently, Yokohama quickly grew from a small fishing village into one of Japan's major cities.
Until today, Yokohama remains popular among expats, has one of the world's largest chinatowns and preserves some former Western residences in the Yamate district.
Posted by NJ at 11:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Hokkaido

Hokkaido is the second largest, northernmost and least developed of Japan's four main islands.
Hokkaido's weather is harsh in winter with lots of snowfall, below zero temperatures and frozen seas, while in summer, it does not get as hot and humid as in the other parts of the country.
With its unspoiled nature, Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers, including skiers and snowboarders in the colder seasons and hikers, cyclists and campers from June to September.
Posted by NJ at 6:12 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido
Friday, December 4, 2009
Jozankei Onsen Travel Guide

Jozankei Onsen is located inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park between the high cliffs of the Toyohira River. The town is only one hour from Sapporo, making it a popular side trip from the city for both residents and tourists. As a result, Jozankei is very developed compared to other, smaller onsen towns in Hokkaido.
The onsen waters of Jozankei were discovered in 1866 and the town now has dozens of ryokan, restaurants and shops catering to hot spring tourists. A small waterfall called Yunotaki, and the public foot baths in town, are also fed by the hot spring water.


Besides being an onsen destination, Jozankei is a popular fall colors destination. Visitors in the fall come to see the brilliantly colored Mount Asahidake to the east of the town, or to view the autumn leaves from the walking trails along Toyahira River. The best time to see the leaves is usually mid October.
Iwato Kannondo is a unique temple in central Jozankei, as most of the temple is located in a cave. Built for road workers who were killed during the construction of a tunnel, the temple's cave is 120 meters long with 33 statues of Kannon (Japanese Buddhist deity of mercy and compassion) placed at intervals along the way.
Posted by NJ at 8:20 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Yokohama Chinatown

Yokohama Chinatown (横浜中華街) is Japan's largest chinatown, located in central Yokohama.
Yokohama Chinatown quickly developed, after the port of Yokohama had been one of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade in 1859. It became the residence of the many Chinese traders who settled down in the city.
Today, a large number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the narrow and colorful streets of Chinatown, while the number of actual residents has been decreasing.
Four colorful gates stand at the entrances to Chinatown, and five more gates can be found within. The Kanteibyo is a gaudily colored temple in the center of Chinatown. Constructed in 1873 by Chinese residents, it is dedicated to the Chinese god of good business and prosperity.
The main attraction of the Yokohama Chinatown, however, is the cuisine offered at its many restaurants and food stands. Popular favorites include steamed buns (manju), ramen noodles and a wide array of other Chinese dishes, many of which have been Japanized to a certain degree.
Various events and festivals are held in Yokohama Chinatown, such as Chinese New Year around the beginning of February.



Posted by NJ at 5:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Minato Mirai 21

Minato Mirai 21 is a seaside urban area in central Yokohama whose name means "harbor of the future". It has many large high-rises, including Japan's tallest building, the Landmark Tower. Until the 1980s the area was a large shipyard, but the shipyard moved and development began for a new city center.
Minato Mirai is blessed with a great location along the water and has a wealth of attractions. Visitors to the area will be able to find shopping centers, hotels, a convention center, an amusement park, a relaxation center with hot spring baths, museums and park space.


Located along the waterfront, the buildings of the Minato Mirai Chuo district ("central district") form the distinctive skyline of Yokohama. At 296 meters, the Landmark Tower is the most recognizable feature. The three Queen's Towers are located beside, each one being a little shorter than the next, followed by the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Pacifico convention center, one of the largest in Japan, which includes the rounded Intercontinental Hotel. The district extends inland, where redevelopment is still ongoing.
Connected to the Chuo district, across from the Pacifico, is a large man made island which constitutes the Minato Mirai Shinko District ("new harbor district"). The most recognizable feature of the island is the Cosmo World Ferris Wheel, which displays the time and was for a period the world's largest clock.
Posted by NJ at 5:39 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Minato Mirai 21 , Museum
There are several museums in the Minato Mirai district, including the municipal art gallery and museums on the port of Yokohama, shipping, industry and technology.

Nippon Maru and Yokohama Port Museum
Built in 1930, Nippon Maru is a retired sailing ship that is permanently docked at Minato Mirai and is open to the public. Across from the ship is the Yokohama Port Museum, a recently remodeled museum that has a History Zone illustrating the port's entire history and a Rediscovery Zone which illustrates broader marine topics.

Yokohama Museum of Art
The Museum has seven galleries; three for displaying works from the permanent collection, one for photography, and three for special exhibitions (four per year). The museum focuses on contemporary art as well as Yokohama itself, the city, its role as a port, and its artists.

Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum
The museum has six zones: space, ocean, transportation, daily life discovery, environment and technology quest. The present and future of each zone's theme is presented, with many interactive elements like computer simulators. The museum seems generally geared towards kids.
Posted by NJ at 5:37 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Minato Mirai 21 , Shopping
Minato Mirai offers a wide range of shopping opportunities to visitors. The Landmark Plaza and Queen's Towers have many floors filled with the typical sorts of shops and restaurants that one would expect to find at shopping malls. On the man made island in the Shinko district, shoppers will find a more unique selection of goods at the World Porters Mall and Red Brick Warehouses.

Queen's Square
Queen's Square is located in the lower floors of the three Queen's Towers. They offer a variety of shops and restaurants, including various well known brand stores. The Minato Mirai Station is located in the basement.

Landmark Plaza
The Landmark Plaza is located just beside Queen's Square and is located adjacent to the Landmark Tower. The five floors of the Landmark Plaza feature a similar variety of shops and restaurants to those found in the Queen's Towers, including a Pokemon Center on the 4th floor.

World Porters
The World Porters Mall has six floors, with each one dedicated to a certain theme. From the ground floor up, they are food, fashion, sports and hobby, home and living, broadway (cinema), relaxation and interiors. The broadway floor has a movie theater and amusement center. The food floor includes an extensive supermarket.

Red Brick Warehouses
The Red Brick Warehouses (akarenga soko in Japanese) used to serve the area when it was a port, but have since been converted. They now offer a unique atmosphere for shopping. The two buildings have a number of shops that offer interesting products, as well as some restaurants and floorspace dedicated to events and exhibitions.
Posted by NJ at 5:29 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Minato Mirai 21 , Entertainment

Entertainment
There are many options for entertainment in the area. The Landmark Tower has an observatory on its 69th floor called the Sky Garden. The Cosmo World amusement park is spread out along the waterfront beside the Queen's Towers and on the man made island of the Shinko District, and offers both exciting roller coasters and attractions for kids. For more sedate entertainment there is the Manyo Club, a great place for relaxation.

Sky Garden Observatory
Located 273 meters in the air, the Landmark Tower's Sky Garden is the highest observatory in the country. The elevator that takes visitors up to the observatory was the fastest in the world when it was built. There is a bar at the observatory with impressive views of the surrounding area.

Cosmo World
The Cosmo World amusement park has a handful of roller coaster rides, carnival attractions, a kid's zone and a large Ferris wheel that doubles as a clock. In the evening the park is illuminated, and adds to the night view of the city.

Manyo Club
The Manyo Club is a spa and relaxation center, offering hot spring baths with water brought in daily by truck from the Izu Peninsula. Paid services include acupuncture, foot pressure therapy and various styles of massage. Other services include restaurants, internet access and relaxation rooms.
Posted by NJ at 5:24 PM 0 comments
Labels: Yokohama
Rishiri and Rebun

Rishiri is a round island with the 1721 meter tall Mount Rishiri at its center. Due to its appearance, the dormant volcano is also known as Rishiri-Fuji. Rebun is longer and flatter than Rishiri and most famous for its wealth of alpine flowers found at sea level due to the harsh climate
Posted by NJ at 8:26 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Rusutsu SkI Resort

Rusutsu Resort is considered one of the best ski resorts in Hokkaido. It has a large ski area that covers three mountains, each having a variety of long runs with a good mix of groomed trails, great powder and tree runs. It is located close to Lake Toya (Toyako) and is just on the other side of Mount Yotei from Niseko.
A large hotel complex sits at the center of the resort, consisting of the highrise Rusutsu Tower, the North and South Wings, the Highland Lodge and several trailside log cabins. A monorail connects the buildings with each other. A few independently run pensions can also be found in the nearby town center of Rusutsu.
Besides skiing, Rusutsu Resort offers numerous other attractions, including restaurants and shops, pool facilities and hot spring baths, as well as places catering to foreigners such as the Cricket Pub sports bar. Summer activities include golf and an amusement park with over 60 attractions and 8 roller coasters.

Posted by NJ at 7:51 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido
Sappora Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival was started in 1950, when high school students built a few snow statues in Odori Park. It has since developed into a large, commercialized event, featuring spectacular snow and ice sculptures and attracting more than two million visitors from Japan and across the world.


The Snow Festival is staged on three sites across Sapporo City: the Odori Site, Susukino Site and Tsudome Site.
The main site is the Odori Site in Sapporo's centrally located 1.5 kilometer long Odori Park. The festival's famous large snow sculptures, some more than 15 meters tall and 25 meters wide, are exhibited there. They are lit up daily until 22:00.
Besides about a dozen large snow sculptures, the Odori Site exhibits more than one hundred smaller snow and ice statues and hosts several concerts and events, many of which use the sculptures as their stage.

A great view over Odori Park can be enjoyed from the Sapporo TV Tower, which stands at the eastern end of the park and is opened from 9:00 to 22:30 during the festival (from 8:30 on the weekend). Admission to the top observatory deck costs 700 Yen per adult.
The Susukino Site, located in and named after Sapporo's largest entertainment district, exhibits about one hundred ice sculptures. Susukino is located only one subway stop south of Odori Park. The ice sculptures are lit up daily until midnight (until 22:00 on the festival's final day).

The less centrally located Tsudome Site is a family oriented site with snow slides, snow rafting, snow golf and more snow sculptures. Inside the dome, there are many food stands and a stage for events. The Tsudome Site replaces the Sato Land Site, which was used in the previous three years.

Posted by NJ at 7:45 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido
Sapporo , Hokkaido

Sapporo (札幌市) is the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth largest city. Sapporo is also one of the nation's youngest major cities. In 1857, the city's population stood at just seven people.
In the beginning of the Meiji Period, when the development of Hokkaido was started on a large scale, Sapporo was chosen as the island's administrative center and enlarged according to the advice of foreign specialists. Consequently, Sapporo was built based on a North American style rectangular street system.
Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Today, the city is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February.
Posted by NJ at 7:40 AM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido
Friday, November 13, 2009
Noboribetsu , Hot Spring Bath , Hokkaido
Noboribetsu is Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort, offering as many as eleven different kinds of waters, that are considered among Japan's best and most effective.
The resort town consists of numerous ryokan and hotels with hot spring baths. Several of them open their baths during daytime to non-staying guests for typically 700 to 1500 yen. But the best baths are found at Noboribetsu's oldest hotel, the Daiichi Takimotokan. Established in 1858 and located just below to the Jigokudani, the Takimotokan now consists of more than half a dozen modern buildings and includes one of Japan's finest indoor baths.

Posted by NJ at 6:21 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Hot Spring Bath
Posted by NJ at 6:31 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The Beautiful Skin Spa

This contains sulfur and is also one of the best sulfurous springs in Noboribetsu. The particular smell comes from hydrogen sulfide. It will expand blood vessels, improve circulation and control skin. It is thought to ease hardening of arteries, high blood pressure, chronic skin diseases, chronic gynecological diseases and cuts.
Posted by NJ at 6:27 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath
The Beauty Spa

This bath contains sodium, calcium and magnesium and a less stimulant alkaline bath. When you take this one, it washes away the sebum, making your skin smooth. It is also good for cuts, burns, chronic skin diseases, neuralgia, and anemia. Since this prevents inflammation and allergies, it is good for nettle rash and atopic dermatitis
Posted by NJ at 6:25 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath
The Panacea Spa

This acidic bath contains sulfur and iron oxides. This is one of the most remarkable hot springs in Noboribetsu. It is good for skin diseases including athlete's foot, or those caused by germs. It also improves both blood formation and circulation by expanding vessels. This bath can improve symptoms related to rheumatism and the menopause. But since this bath is rather acid, those with sensitive skins should wash with pure hot water when they get out
Posted by NJ at 6:13 PM 0 comments
Labels: Hokkaido, Hot Spring Bath