Genbaku Domu is the last testimony in Hiroshima to the destruction brought by the bomb in 1945. The building used to be an industrial hall, but the impression the spectator gets from the steel construction is that the building was very beautiful. The building brings memories of a bloody past and is a heavy contrast to modern Hiroshima.
Like all other buildings in Hiroshima, the Hiroshima castle is less than 55 years old. Still, the castle fulfils all your fantasies of how an old Japanese medieval castle should be. In the tower you will find an interesting exhibition of arms and armours.
20 km outside Hiroshima lies the fabulous Torii gate. Many people will recognise it from pictures and movies about Japan without knowing it by name. The Torii Gate is 17 metres high and made of red wood. It stands in the middle of the water outside the Shinto Temple Island Miyajima. When going to see the gate you should also take the time to enjoy the island's fabulous nature.
Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. Officially you can only climb the mountain in July and August. In reality you can climb it all year round, even though you need to have some experience to do it during winter. The signposts are good and ensure that you do not get lost.
Karuizawa have health resorts sought after by many Japanese tourists. Karuizawa is an exclusive area with exclusive restaurants, small speciality shops and the like. If you are looking for the authentic Japan this is not the place to explore the Japanese soul. However, if you wish to relax and have a fat wallet the place is an excellent choice.
This impressive temple is situated in one of Tokyo's beautiful parks. The temple is one of the most holy temples in Japan. On New Years Day many Japanese visit the temple dressed in kimonos. The temple is dedicated to the emperor Meijii who opened Japan to the rest of the world. The temple has a lot of the emperor's personal belongings. The park also has a garden full of Iris, which is one of the most beautiful in Japan.
The temple Sanjusangendo in Kyoto is impressively large. The building of the temple was finished in 1266 and the 1001 statues are one of the masterpieces from the Kamukara era. Every year on the 15th of January a contest in archery takes place. This tradition dates as far back as the 16th century.
The famous places to go skiing lie a couple of miles away from Nagano. Many of the best places to ski can be found at the Shiga Plateau or in the national park Joshin-Etsu Kogen Kokuritsu-Koen. In between all these places to ski you will find many lovely health resorts.
Nagano is mostly known because it was the host of the winter Olympic games in 1998. The city is the largest in the area. One of the best sights is the Zenkoji temple, which must been seen if you are visiting The Japanese Alps.
Kinkakuji (the Golden Pavilion) is one of the prime sights in Kyoto. The temple was constructed in the 14th century but had to be reconstructed in 1955 after a crazy temple priest burned it to the ground. The temple is an exact copy of the old Kinkakujii and is covered by gold leaf.
The imperial palace is one of the few sights placed in the centre of Kyoto. The palace was constructed in 1855 as a replacement for the old palace that had been destroyed by a fire. You can only visit the palace as a part of a group. Since the guided tours are very popular it is recommended that you apply to go on a tour a day in advance.
If you like health resorts and hot springs you should go to Hakone. Most health resorts are situated around the Ashinoko Lake. You can also try sailing in the lake or alternatively take the aerial rope or the train to Owakudani, where most of the host springs are located.
Close to Fuji are The Five Lakes. The lakes are famous for their beauty. The lakes also offer good entertainment whether you like water sports or amusement parks. The easiest way to get to the lakes is to take the bus or an aerial rope.
Half an hour by train from Kyoto you will find the city Nara. Nara has the same sort of atmosphere as Kyoto. In 710 the city became the first official capital of Japan. Nara has many well-preserved temples. In Nara Park tame sika deer go around between the temples.
A little north of Osaka lays Senri Expo Park, which housed the Expo exhibition in 1970. Among other things the park has a beautiful landscape garden, which was laid out in time for the Expo exhibition. The park also has an ethnological museum, which displays things and films from all over the world.
One and a half-hour drive from Osaka is Himeji. Himeji probably has the most beautiful castle in Japan, which many probably can remember from the television series "Shogun". The Castle of the White Heron Shirasagi-jo) is a splendid building with white walls and curvy tile roof. The exterior and the interior design of the building embody the mystique of the Far East. Two museums are associated with the castle as well as the famous Nagayama cemetery.
The castle in Osaka has a large collection of weapons and paintings. The castle was first build in the 16th century but has been burned to the ground many times since. Today the castle is restored and lifts have been added inside. Next to the castle you will find the city museum. The city museum's collection is related to the city's history and includes a small collection of ceramics.
Sapporo's brewery offers beer lovers a free tour and a taste of the Japanese art of brewery.
If you want a taste of Hokkaido's beautiful nature you should go to the Nakajima Koen Park. The park offers relaxation in its landscape garden or a visit to its historical teahouse.
Disneyland in Tokyo is an exact copy of Disneyland in California and has all the same attractions. Ever since it opened in 1983 the amusement park has been a tremendous success. If you have not yet experienced Disneyland you should take the opportunity when you are in Tokyo. If you want to avoid the crowds you should go on a weekday.
A little south east of the Imperial Palace lays the Ginza District where the shopaholic can splash out. Here you will find tons of small specialised stores as well as large department stores. It is also the place to go if you want to buy a foreign newspaper or visit duty free shops.
During your stay in Tokyo you must see the imperial palace. The palace houses the imperial family and is not open to the public. Instead you can take a walk in the surrounding park and enjoy the view to the palace.