In large cities there are many shopping
places such as the department store, boutique, jewelry shop, fashion
buiding, etc. Travelers can select any commodity from traditional
to latest style at the reasonable (sometimes expensive) price. In
Japan the consumers must pay the consumption tax of 8 %, but do not
need to pay the chip each time they eat, take a taxi, etc. |
Tokyo (Akihabara /
Ginza / Asakusa / Shinjuku / Shibuya / Harajuku / Roppongi)
Tokyo is the center of plitics and economy in Japan. Many travelers
do shopping of modern and traditional items and eat every kinds
of food in Tokyo. |
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Akihabara
An area crowded with shops that sell various kinds of specialized
electronic parts and PC-related parts as well as consumer electronics.
In recent years, Akihabara has also been known as the mecca of animation
culture attracting people from all over the world and unique maid
cafe where fashionable young ladies serve to clients. |
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Ginza
Famous department stores and high class boutiques are located
along both sides of the main Ginza sreet. The center of the Ginza
is around the crossing at 4-Block, where various shops representative
of the Ginza center on. Department Stores such as Takashomaya, Matsuya,
Mitsukoshi have long history and have been directing the commodity
arrangement to the high class orientation (including popular one).
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Asakusa
It is situated in the suburbs of Tokyo which has very Japanese style
temple and shopping stores. Asakusa is similar to the towns in East
Asian countries. You feel very comfortable at the atmosphere. Then
we visit Skytree Tower, the highest tower in Asia. |
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Shinjuku
Shinjuku has different atmosphere in the eastern and western
side. In the eastern side there are discount camera shops, department
stores and many small stores especially for young people. In front
of the Shinjuku station there is Yodobashi Camera Shop, one of the
largest discount camera shops in Japan. Near the Shinjuku station
there are Kinokuniya bookstore which has every kind of books and Isetan
Department Store which is representative of Shinjuku and keeps many
items of clothing, food and living. In the eastern side there are
many skycrapers like wall street. Takashimaya Times Square near the
Shinjuku station is a large shopping complex which has restaurants,
video game arcades, theaters and so on. |
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Shibuya
Shopping street which is always prosperous with young people.
Shibuya is the shopping town radiated from Shibuya station and there
are many individualistic shops along the street which has fanciful
name like Fire Street, Spain Slope and so on. Parco, Yamaha, Tokyu
Plaza, and Seibu Department Store are famous spots. |
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Harajuku
In Harajuku near Shibuya there are many fashion stores and boutiques
for young people which sell Japanese traditional items and even
modern imported items.
Especially "Takeshita Street" is famous place for sightseeing
because there are many kinds of shops and boutiques. But it is always
crowded by many young people. |
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Roppongi
Roppongi is visited by many international tourists and has cosmopolitan
feeling. There are many exotic shopping stores, boutiques, bars,
etc. where people from overseas visit. Even at midnight many people
wearing fashionable clothes are walking along the street.
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Yokohama (Sankeien / Chukagai
/ Shin ramen musium / Yamashita Park / Ohta nawanoren) |
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Sankeien Garden
Sankeien Garden is one of the highlights of Yokohama, with its many
historic buildings that were brought in from various regions in
the country, and ancient pagodas. Teahouses and pavillions in the
garden are in classic Japanese-style, while the perfectly manicured
gardens feature delectable foliage, streams and ponds.
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Chukagai (Chinatown)
Chinatown is located southwest of Yamashita park in Kan'nai area.
The area is about 500-700 meters square, and there are more than
500 Chinese food restaurants in the area. It is the largest chinatown
in Japan and in the East Asia. Between Zenrin-mon (gate) and Choyo-mon
(the east gate), the main street "Chukagai Odori" runs,
and many visitors gather there.
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Shin ramen musium
This place is the paradise for noodle lovers, but not just because
of the (Japanese-only) exhibits of the history of instant ramen noodles.
The centerpiece here is the basement, which contains a recreation
of 1950s-era Tokyo done in incredible detail, complete with operating
branches of 10 famous ramen joints. With old fashoned street foreign
people feel very exotic.
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Yamashita Park
The first seaside park in Japan. The view of the Minato Mirai area
from the park is beautiful, and you can also see the Osanbashi Yokohama
International Passenger Terminal.
On a clear day, a stroll in the park, feeling the sea breeze, is
something special
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Ohta nawanoren (sukiyaki
restaurant)
Ohta nawanorenis the oldest sukiyaki restaurant in Japan which
was established in 1868. It is a gourmet spot for foreign people
since the superb sukiyaki which is cooked of the highest class Wagyu
steak and Japanese emotion of enlightenment of civilization are
experieinced at the same time. |
Hakone |
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Ashinoko
Ashinoko is a lake which was made in Caldera (hollow) in Hakone
Volcano about 400,000 yeas ago. The inverted Mt. Fuji is seen from
Cedar Avenue in the south coast of the lake. Ashinoko has also prospered
as fishery area from olden times. |
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Ohwakudani
Ohwakudani was made by Mt. Kamiyama's (above sea level 1,438m)
collapse by the eruption about 3,000 years ago.
The trees became decayed, and the rocks got argillated, reddish-brown
surface of themountainis being seen. dynamic activity of the volcano
such as seething boiler and fumarole blowing up white steam are
observed. |
Mt.Fuji |
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The most recognizable and fanous mountain in the world, Mt. Fuji
is one of the symbols of Japan, 3,776m in altitude. Although it has
lain dormant since 1707, it is still classified as an active volcano.
Best viewed in winter or early morning when the air is clea. |