Monday, 27 November 2006

Yokohama

Minato Mirai literally means "the harbor of the future". It is a futuristic, new city area in Central Yokohama consisting of office and residential space, hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, convention centers and public parks. Development of Minato Mirai was started in 1983, and it is still going on.
The Landmark Tower (296 m) is one of Japan's tallest buildings and the symbol of Minato Mirai 21. It was completed in 1993 and houses many offices, a hotel,
restaurants, a shopping center and other community space.
Visitors can access the building's observatory deck, the "Sky Garden" on the 69th floor by means of one of the world's fastest elevators (750 meters per minute). Under good air conditions,
Mount Fuji can be seen from the observatory deck.
Pacifico Yokohama is one of the world's largest convention centers, located a few hundred meters from the Landmark Tower. It includes the roundly shaped Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel, which, together with the nearby Ferris Wheel (of the Yokohama Cosmo World amusement park), makes one of
Yokohama's most typical sights.
Getting there:
The most centrally located station is Minato Mirai Station on the Minato Mirai Line, two stations from Yokohama Station.
Note that trains on the Minato Mirai Line continue to run on the Tokyu Toyoko Line to
Tokyo's Shibuya Station. Limited express trains take about 30 minutes and 440 Yen from Shibuya to Minato Mirai.
Minato Mirai is also conveniently accessed from Sakuragicho Station on the
JR Keihin-Tohoku Line (Negishi Line) and Yokohama Subway Line.

Kobe - Arima Onsen


Arima Onsen is a hot spring town, still located within the city limits of Kobe, but on the opposite side of Mount Rokko from the city center. With a history of over one thousand years, it is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts.
Visitors to Arima Onsen can enjoy
hot spring bathing at public bath houses or at some ryokan (Japanese style inn). Several ryokan open their baths not only to staying guest, but also to daytrippers, typically for an admission fee of between 500 and 1500 Yen and during daytime only.

Getting there:

By Train
From Sannomiya or Shin-Kobe Station, take the subway to Tanigami Station (10 minutes, 520 Yen from Sannomiya; 8 minutes, 350 Yen from Shin-Kobe). Then, take the Kobe Railways Arima Line to Arima Onsen Station with one transfer at Arimaguchi Station (15 minutes, 370 Yen).

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city of the Chugoku Region, the westernmost region on Japan's main island of Honshu. It is home to about one million people.


Places to go:
Peace memorial Park
The Peace Memorial Museum graphically displays the atomic bomb's horrible effects on the city and its inhabitants. A visit is naturally depressing. In the museum's east building, Hiroshima's militarist past and the process leading to the dropping of the bomb are documented. Audio guides are available in more than a dozen languages.
Getting there:
From Hiroshima Station, take streetcar line 2 or 6 to "Genbaku Domu mae (A-Bomb Dome)". The ride takes about 15 minutes.
Shukkeien Garden
Shukkeien is a pleasant Japanese style garden in Hiroshima which was originally constructed for the villa of the local daimyo (feudal lord) in the 17th century.
Shukkeien literally means "shrink scenery garden", as it displays a Chinese scenery in miniaturized form with a pond, small islands, bridges and various plants. Shukkeien is a stroll
garden, best enjoyed by following a circular route.
Getting there:
Shukkeien is a 15 minute walk from Hiroshima Station, located just next to the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum. Streetcar number 9 stops just in front of the garden at "Shukkeien-mae". From Hiroshima Station, take streetcar line 1, 2 or 6 to Hacchobori where transferring to streetcar line 9.

Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan.

Kiyomizudera stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers visitors a nice view over the city from its famous wooden terrace. Below the terrace, you can taste the spring water, which gives the temple its name and which is said to have healing power.
Behind Kyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, a
shrine dedicated to the deity of love. In front of the shrine are two rocks, placed several meters apart from each other. Successfully walk from one to the other rock with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in your love live.
Getting there: Kiyomizudera can be reached from Kyoto Station in about 15 minutes by bus. Take bus number 100 or 206 and get off at Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka, from where it is a 10-15 minute uphill walk to the temple.
Entrance fees: 300 yen
Opening hours : 6am to 6pm

Himeji


Himeji Castle

By shinkansen :
Tokyo and Himeji are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 3 hours to reach Himeji Station from Tokyo, while direct hikari trains require roughly 3.5 hours. The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Himeji is 14,700 Yen by non-reserved seat on any train, around 15,200 Yen by reserved seat on hikari trains and around 15,800 Yen by reserved seat on a nozomi train. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on hikari trains, but not on nozomi trains. Getting there: From Himeji Station, the castle can be reached in a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute bus ride along the broad Otemae-dori Street, which leads in a straight way from the station to the castle.
Entrance Fees: 600 yen
Opening hour : 9:00 to 16:00 (until 17:00 from June to August).

JR map


Saturday, 25 November 2006

Osaka

Osaka


  1. Universal Studio Japan
    JR Transport: Osaka station(JR osaka loop line) -->Kujo(JR line)--> towards Sakurajima --> get off at Universal-city
    Entrance fees: Adult 5500 Yen

2. Namba 難波

  • Sammy Ebisu Plaza 道頓堀極樂商店街
    JR transport: 7 mins walking time from Namba
    Entrance fees : Adult 315 Yen
    Opening time: 11:00 - 23:00
    http://www.doutonbori-gokuraku.com/
  • Super Position (toy store
    Opening time : 11:00- 23:00
  • Gundams (toy store)
    Opening time :10:00-20:00