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The “Land of Rising Sun”, Japan is believed to be one of the best places for a holiday trip in the extreme eastern part of Asia, as the Tourist Attractions in Japan are of great value! Japan nestles in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea and Russia. Japan not only possesses the charming scenic beauty but its technological progress also draws huge number of corporate travelers. There are number of Tourist Attractions in Japan and each of these is marked for their own importance. With its mountains and volcanoes, colorful people and extremely urbanized cityscape, Japan has emerged as a tourist-magnet. Spending a heavenly time amidst this beautiful island country has always been a great delight for the tourists. Japan comprises four big and islands, namely Hokkaido, Honshu (the main island), Shikoku and Kyushu. However, along with its natural beauty, Japan Tourist Attractions are of an immeasurable worth and you will be mesmerized by these attractions undoubtedly. Remember to keep aside sufficient time for visiting various types of Tourist Attractions of Japan as the places scattered across the country are not to be missed anyhow! Japan's most significant cities are Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto, Fukuoka, Kawasaki and Saitama, and all of these are home to some of the Japan Tourist Attractions. Tourist Attractions in Japan are easily accessible from every part of that particular city. Transportation is extremely advanced in Japan and traveling round the country is not at a hassle for the tourists. These Tourists Attractions in Japan bear the place's rich cultural inheritance. Gardens and shrines are the most beautiful jewelery of Japan, for which tourists come here from everywhere. The beauty of Tourists Attractions in Japan will simply captivate you; you just can’t miss any of those! For more information on Tourists Attractions in Japan, you can visit travel.maps of world.com |
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Japan is a country of over three thousand islands extending along the Pacific coast of Asia. The main islands, running from north to south, are Hokkaidō, Honshū (the main island), Shikoku and Kyūshū. The Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, are a chain of islands south of Kyushū. Together they are often known as the Japanese Archipelago.
About 70% to 80% of the country is forested, mountainous,[52][53] and unsuitable for agricultural, industrial, or residential use. This is because of the generally steep elevations, climate and risk of landslides caused by earthquakes, soft ground and heavy rain. This has resulted in an extremely high population density in the habitable zones that are mainly located in coastal areas. Japan is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.[54]
Its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, at the juncture of three tectonic plates, gives Japan frequent low-intensity tremors and occasional volcanic activity. Destructive earthquakes, often resulting in tsunamis, occur several times each century.[55] The 1923 Tokyo earthquake killed over 140,000.[56] The most recent major quakes are the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake and the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Hot springs are numerous and have been developed as resorts.[57]
The climate of Japan is predominantly temperate, but varies greatly from north to south.[58] Japan's geographical features divide it into six principal climatic zones:
- Hokkaidō: The northernmost zone has a temperate climate with long, cold winters and cool summers. Precipitation is not heavy, but the islands usually develop deep snow banks in the winter.
- Sea of Japan: On Honshū's west coast, the northwest wind in the wintertime brings heavy snowfall. In the summer, the region is cooler than the Pacific area, though it sometimes experiences extremely hot temperatures, because of the foehn wind phenomenon.
- Central Highland: A typical inland climate, with large temperature differences between summer and winter, and between day and night. Precipitation is light.
- Seto Inland Sea: The mountains of the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions shelter the region from the seasonal winds, bringing mild weather throughout the year.
- Pacific Ocean: The east coast experiences cold winters with little snowfall and hot, humid summers because of the southeast seasonal wind.
- Ryukyu Islands: The Ryukyu Islands have a subtropical climate, with warm winters and hot summers. Precipitation is very heavy, especially during the rainy season. Typhoons are common.
The highest temperature ever measured in Japan—40.9 °C (105.6 °F)—was recorded on August 16, 2007.[59]
The main rainy season begins in early May in Okinawa, and the stationary rain front responsible for this gradually works its way north until it dissipates in northern Japan before reaching Hokkaidō in late July. In most of Honshū, the rainy season begins before the middle of June and lasts about six weeks. In late summer and early autumn, typhoons often bring heavy rain.[58]
Japan is home to nine forest ecoregions which reflect the climate and geography of the islands. They range from subtropical moist broadleaf forests in the Ryūkyū and Bonin islands, to temperate broadleaf and mixed forests in the mild climate regions of the main islands, to temperate coniferous forests in the cold, winter portions of the northern islands.[60]
Japan Attractions by Destination
Japan Attractions by Region
Japan Tourist Guides — Attractions
Hiroshima
The name
Hiroshima is synonymous with the horrors of a nuclear holocaust. Although almost totally destroyed by the explosion of the atom bomb by the
United States on August 6, 1945, the city has been fully rebuilt; chilling instances remain as moving reminders of the devastation and loss.
The
Peace Park commemorates the memories of all the victims with a Cenotaph listing all their names. Nearby is a chilling reminder of the devastation - a skeleton of building called the A -Bomb-Dome is one of the few that remained standing. The Atomic Bomb museum, with its macabre photographs of the city and its victims is not for the faint-hearted. A memorial called the Children's Peace Memorial signifies the regeneration of
Hiroshima - where children hand folded paper cranes by the millions in a traditional expression of the desire for a long life and happiness.
Hiroshima today is a modern, industrial city with typical shopping arcades for the tourist. Walking is the best way to get a sense of the city, but a streetcar system also provides a quaint way to get around.
The Shrine of Itsukushima, on the nearby
island of Miyjima, is for those who prefer solitude and scenic beauty. A shrine built on a wooden pier with a huge, stunning orange gate (Torii) is said to have been built in the year 593 in honor of fishing Gods, the Torii was for centuries a sentinel for all boats visiting the island. Best seen at high tide, when it seems as though the Torii is floating over the water, this gate is one of the enduring images of
Japan.
About 80 kilometers west of
Hiroshima, lay the old castle town of
Hagi. Although not much remains of the castle, there are two neighborhoods of Samurai houses that can be visited. Other destinations of interest are the various pottery kilns, which are open to the public - Hagi is famous for its tea-ceremony pottery. The
Aiba Canal, filled with lazily swimming Japanese carp, is another attraction.
In Iwakuni, about 45 kilometers southwest of
Hiroshima, is the spectacular Kitai-kyo or
Brocade Sash Bridge, which is made up of five gracefully arched spans.
Ise-Shima Park
The Ise-Shima Park, which is about 120 kilometers east of
Osaka on
Honshu Island, has various attractions. One of the most revered shrines, the 2000-year-old Grand Shrine of Ise, has two sections, the Naiku - a shrine to the Sun goddess, and Geku- a shrine to the Earth God, where traditionally, the imperial family of
Japan visited to seek advice from the gods. Kongoshuji, a temple distinguished with an elegant bridge, and Jingu Kiakan, a hall where popular Sumo contests are held, are also visited by huge numbers of people.
Kamakura
The ancient city of
Kamakura has eighteen shrines and sixty-five temples, including a giant bronze statue of the Buddha, the Diabatsu. Legend has it until 1452, the statue was placed in a temple about a mile away - and a freak of nature - a giant Tsunami (tidal wave) destroyed the temple and lifted the 90-ton statue and placed it where it now stands today. The Enoden, a tiny, ancient train that chugs its way from
Kamakura to
Fujisawa is a popular, though staid way to get to
Yokohama.
Kamakura also houses two museums - the
Nagao Museum of traditional Japanese art, and a
Modern Art museum.
Kanazawa
The remote sea town of
Kanazawa, about 290 km northwest of
Tokyo, is a historic castle town, with streets of Samurai houses, and two geisha sections. Kenrokuen, one of the country's most famous landscaped garden, was once the Lord of the Castle's private garden.
Koyasan
Koyasan, in South Western Honshu, is a destination for Buddhist pilgrims. It's
Okunoin Cemetery is also the final resting place of over 200,000 of
Japan's dignitaries through the centuries.
Kyoto
The spectacular sight of an eleven-story elevator at the train station, greets visitors to
Kyoto.
Kyoto, once the capital of
Japan, has some of the most significant temples and shrines in
Japan. The spectacular Kinkaku-ji, or literally the Golden Pavilion is covered with gold leaf, is mirrored in the small lake, which is nearby. The 17th century Nijo castl, the
Kiyomizu Temple, and the
Nanzen Temple are places to visit in this town also famed for its pottery. The cherry-tree lined Philosopher's Walk, the Sanjusangendo with its 1000 handed statue of the goddess Kannnon, the statues of the 28 Faithful Followers, the
Ryoanji Temple and the
Imperial Palace are places of interest.
Kyoto is a centre of Japanese craft - the
National Museum has exhibits of porcelain, lacquer ware, swords, and kimonos. The Traditional and Japanese Arts Theater demonstrate the art of flower arranging, court music and the tea ceremony. The mountain trails outside the city are great places for the more adventurous tourist to explore.
Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,774 meters, is a volcanic cone which last erupted in 1707. It has five relatively easy trails leading to the summit. Nearby are the scenic spots of
Fuji Five Lakes,
hot springs at the
Izu Hanto Peninsula, and the Seven Isles of Izu, which have beaches and snorkeling facilities.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki, which was destroyed along with
Hiroshima in World War II, has today an industrial port. Memorials to the nuclear holocaust abound - the
Atomic Bomb Museum, the ruins of what was once Asia's largest church - Urakami Cathedral,
Peace Park and countless others. The Dragon Boat races are an important event during mid-August.
Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the most crowded metropolises in the world. An important economic hub,
Tokyo is a mass of concrete and modernity, with curiously quiet and quant little niches of traditional
Japan. Although
Tokyo has been destroyed many times by floods and earthquakes, it has re-invented and rebuilt itself countless times.
Other cities and places of interest.
Many other cities of
Japan have historic and cultural interest. On the
island of
Honshu is
Nara, the first capital of
Japan, and
Nikko famous for its shrines, both a day trip from
Tokyo. The 7th century capital of
Japan,
Osaka is a cultural centre where most of the country's arts, including the tea ceremony and the arts of Noh and Kabuki originated. Other places of interest are the Ryukyu Islands, where hard fought battles of World War II took place, and
Sapporo - the site of the 1972 Winter Olympics.
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