Japan is filled with historical sites, temples, shrines, natural beauty, and modern cities.
We traveled Osaka to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Tokyo by Shinkansen, the Japanese bullet train. Trains are efficient in Japan - they load and unload passengers in less than two minutes. If you plan to ride the bullet train, you may want to get Japan Rail Pass. These passes give Japan visitors unlimited travel on the bullet trains, Narita Airport Express, some local trains, and the ferry ride to Miyajima Island.
Osaka Castle
The castle was built in the 1580s to serve as the center for unifying Japan. Preserved over the years, the castle serves primarily as a museum and has an observation deck on the top floor.
Kyoto
Fushimi Kandakara Shrine, which sits on Mt Inari. It has several mountain trails, which have rows of Torii gates. We saw some construction workers carry a new Torii gate along the trail.
Tenryuji Temple, which leads to a bamboo forest. One trail in the forest leads to Arashiyama Park Observation Deck overlooking Katsura River.
Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park. A key site is Atomic Bomb Dome, which used to be Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall up to 1945. The steel dome and outer walls withstood the explosion. The building was preserved in its post-bomb state to serve as a cultural heritage site.
Several memorials around the peace park. A key memorial is the Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph, which consists of a tunnel, pool, hands-to-the-sky structure, and burning flame. The flame signals the burning desire for world peace and will remain lit until all nuclear weapons are banished world wide.
Prayer Fountain, which sprays at different levels throughout the day. The fountain lights up at night.
Miyajima Island
Took the ferry to Miyajima Island. The Japan Rail Pass includes the ferry ride. We encounter lots of Japan deer - they love visitors. Warning: do not feed the deers.
Itsukushima Shrine, which sits along the shore. When high tide comes, the shrine looks like it is floating on water. We were there two hours after high tide, so the water receded but water remained under some parts.
Miyajima Ropeway, a cable car up the mountain to Shishiiwa Observatory. Here we had views of the bay and mainland Hiroshima. There is another observatory on Mt Misen for those who enjoy hiking, but Shishiiwa has good enough views.
While waiting for the return ferry, we watched the sunset over the bay, with views of the crescent moon and Venus.
Tokyo
Imperial Palace, the main residence of the emperor of Japan. Only the outer park is open to the public. The palace is next to Ministry of Justice, a beautiful red brick building.
Shibuya Crossing, the Times Square of Tokyo . This scramble crossing is the busiest intersection in Tokyo, and perhaps busiest in Japan. Hundreds of people cross each time, going in several directions with almost no collisions. A great way to see the crossing is on the second floor in a cafe which overlooks the intersection - Starbucks or L'Occitane Cafe.
Tokyo Tower, a broadcasting tower which looks similar to the Eiffel Tower. We visited at night, when the tower is lit up. As a bonus, there was also a Christmas light display with a model of Tokyo Tower. There are two observation decks - one at mid-level and the other closer to the top. However, there is another place with a free observation deck - see below.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which has a free observation deck. It was a sunny day, so we had clear views of Tokyo. We could see the top of Mt Fuji.
Mt Fuji
Mt Fuji is the highest and most famous mountain in Japan. We saw Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi, one of five lakes around the mountain. It was a sunny day, so had clear views of Mt Fuji.
We traveled Osaka to Hiroshima and Hiroshima to Tokyo by Shinkansen, the Japanese bullet train. Trains are efficient in Japan - they load and unload passengers in less than two minutes. If you plan to ride the bullet train, you may want to get Japan Rail Pass. These passes give Japan visitors unlimited travel on the bullet trains, Narita Airport Express, some local trains, and the ferry ride to Miyajima Island.
Osaka Castle
The castle was built in the 1580s to serve as the center for unifying Japan. Preserved over the years, the castle serves primarily as a museum and has an observation deck on the top floor.
Kyoto
Fushimi Kandakara Shrine, which sits on Mt Inari. It has several mountain trails, which have rows of Torii gates. We saw some construction workers carry a new Torii gate along the trail.
Tenryuji Temple, which leads to a bamboo forest. One trail in the forest leads to Arashiyama Park Observation Deck overlooking Katsura River.
Hiroshima
Peace Memorial Park. A key site is Atomic Bomb Dome, which used to be Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall up to 1945. The steel dome and outer walls withstood the explosion. The building was preserved in its post-bomb state to serve as a cultural heritage site.
Several memorials around the peace park. A key memorial is the Hiroshima Victims Memorial Cenotaph, which consists of a tunnel, pool, hands-to-the-sky structure, and burning flame. The flame signals the burning desire for world peace and will remain lit until all nuclear weapons are banished world wide.
Prayer Fountain, which sprays at different levels throughout the day. The fountain lights up at night.
Miyajima Island
Took the ferry to Miyajima Island. The Japan Rail Pass includes the ferry ride. We encounter lots of Japan deer - they love visitors. Warning: do not feed the deers.
Itsukushima Shrine, which sits along the shore. When high tide comes, the shrine looks like it is floating on water. We were there two hours after high tide, so the water receded but water remained under some parts.
Miyajima Ropeway, a cable car up the mountain to Shishiiwa Observatory. Here we had views of the bay and mainland Hiroshima. There is another observatory on Mt Misen for those who enjoy hiking, but Shishiiwa has good enough views.
While waiting for the return ferry, we watched the sunset over the bay, with views of the crescent moon and Venus.
Tokyo
Imperial Palace, the main residence of the emperor of Japan. Only the outer park is open to the public. The palace is next to Ministry of Justice, a beautiful red brick building.
Shibuya Crossing, the Times Square of Tokyo . This scramble crossing is the busiest intersection in Tokyo, and perhaps busiest in Japan. Hundreds of people cross each time, going in several directions with almost no collisions. A great way to see the crossing is on the second floor in a cafe which overlooks the intersection - Starbucks or L'Occitane Cafe.
Tokyo Tower, a broadcasting tower which looks similar to the Eiffel Tower. We visited at night, when the tower is lit up. As a bonus, there was also a Christmas light display with a model of Tokyo Tower. There are two observation decks - one at mid-level and the other closer to the top. However, there is another place with a free observation deck - see below.
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, which has a free observation deck. It was a sunny day, so we had clear views of Tokyo. We could see the top of Mt Fuji.
Mt Fuji
Mt Fuji is the highest and most famous mountain in Japan. We saw Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi, one of five lakes around the mountain. It was a sunny day, so had clear views of Mt Fuji.
