The Hakone area with Lake Ashi is absolutely gorgeous and filled with historic tourist attractions. Two of those on the southern side of Lake Ashi are the old Tokaido Hakone Checkpoint and the imperial detached palace and gardens.
Great Buddha Kotokuin Temple : Kamakura Japan
Continuing the temple tour of the magical Kamakura area, a daytrip from Tokyo, is Japan’s second tallest Buddha statue at the Kotoku-in Temple. A somewhat humble temple compared to others in the area (e.g. Hasedera or Tsurugaoka Hachimangu), it still
Hasedera Temple : Kamakura – Japan
Wrapping up my temple tour in Kamakura was a charming little temple with a lot of history, odd worshiping caves and some fantastic views of the Kamakura Hase beach-side. Actually, if you were to have to choose one temple in
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine : Kamakora Japan
Kamakora, a daytrip away from Tokyo, is a magical town filled with temples and shrines. Of all the shrines in the city the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine is said to be the most important Shinto shrine, dating back to the 11th
2121 Design Sight museum : Rippongi Tokyo
One of the nicest discoveries of my recent visit to Tokyo was realizing that Tokyo is filled with culture and arts. In the Rippongi area there are a number of world-class art museums, with top notch exhibitions with some of
Visiting Doraemon at the Asahi TV Tower : Rippongi – Tokyo
It’s not a grand attraction, definitely not for people my age, but if you’re in Rippongi, this a place for you to get a glimpse of Japanese animation mania. You can take photos with some of the cartoon celebrities and
Owakudani Hell Valley : Hakone
What does hell look like? Up on the mountains of Hakone by a tram and a cable car, a daytrip away from Tokyo, is the Owakaduni Hell Valley. Boiling steam comes up from the mountain to create an atmosphere that
Golden Gai Tiny Bars Area : Shinjuku – Tokyo
My strangest experience in Tokyo goes, hands down, to my visit to the Shinjuku Golden Gai bar area. If you’re anything like me – having a strong preference for the casual-small-quiet bars/pubs rather than the full-blown noisy-party-dress-up bar/clubs – then
Lake Ashinoko: Hakone – Japan
Up the Hakone mountains by an old railway, followed by a a series of trams and cable cars, and you’ll find yourself in a gorgeous scenic crater lake, with Mount Fuji hiding between the mountains on a clear day. As
Hakone Open-Air Museum : Japan
My recent visit to Japan brought many unexpected pleasures and surprises. I can generally say that almost everything I’ve seen in Japan impressed me to my very core. The Japanese have a way of doing things that appeals to my
