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Hikone Volunteer Guide
Hikone City in Shiga Prefecture has a volunteer guide program. Most are retired businessmen who want to practice their English skills and share their town with guests, but everyone in the program must be certified with the city. Guides in Chinese are also available. There are sev
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Day Trip to Hikone and the Hikone Caste
I wanted to see a real castle on my trip to Japan. Not one that was burnt down and rebuilt with ferroconcrete, interior details stripped and replaced with elevators, display cases and museums. I was looking for the real thing like it was five hundred years ago. Like in the samura
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Rinno
Rinno-ji is an impressive Tendai Buddhist temple. Established in 766 in the mountains of Nikko, it attracted many monks wanting solitude for prayer. At its height, there were over 500 buildings in the complex, but today that number has been reduced to 15. Set in the lush forest, they are now
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Toshogu Shrine 東照宮 in Nikko
Set in a forest of cedar trees on the mountain above Nikko, the Toshogu Shrine is an impressive monument to the shogun who ended the warring states period and brought about a period of peace which lasted 250 years. Tokugawa Ieyasu, posthumously named Tosho Daigongen, asked to be
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Shinkyo Bridge 神橋 in Nikko
One of the classic images of Nikko is the beautiful vermilion arch of Shinkyo Bridge. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Nikko, and belongs to the Futarasan Shrine. The current bridge was built in 1636 and underwent major renovation in the early 2000’s. However
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Taiyuin 大猷院 Shrine in Nikko
Tokugawa Iemitsu is the third of the Tokugawa Shoguns. He had deep respect for Tokugawa Ieyasu, and upon Iemitsu’s death in 1651 said he would continue to serve his grandfather in the afterlife. Taiyuin is the shrine in Nikko where he is entombed. It is less ornate than Toshogu Shrine, and t
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Yuba, healthy and delicious!
The regional food specialty of Nikko in Toshigi Prefecture is yuba, the curd-like skim that forms on the top of soymilk when it is boiled. You can find it in many forms: rolled and sliced, dried, fried, and served in broth with soba noodles. It has a slightly nutty taste and is v
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Yubatei Masudaya Restaurant ゆば亭 ますだや in Nikko
Try the local specialty of Nikko, yuba, at the Yubatei Masudaya Restaurant. It is about a 10 minute walk along the main road from the train stations in the direction of Toshogu Shrine, in a white building with black wood trim on the left hand side of the road. There are several f
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Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park in Nikko
The beautifully restored Tamozawa Imperial Villa Memorial Park formerly known as Nikkō Tamozawa Imperial Villa (日光田母沢御用邸記念公園) has a Zen-like feel of simplicity. This 4500 square meter, 106-room residence in the city of Nikko was built in 1899 for the purpose of the Emperor of Taisho’s
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Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art in Nikko
The Kosugi Hoan Museum of Art in Nikko was opened in 1997. The basic theme is “Affection for the Nature.” Main exhibition is of Hoan Kosugi’s exhibition of his works including Japanese paintings, oil paintings, and watercolor paintings as well as rough sketches of animals a
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Celestine Hotel Review, Tokyo
For a luxurious and relaxing stay, try the Celestine Hotel in the Shiba area of Tokyo. The 243 guest rooms are located on the 14th through 17th floors of a medium-sized skyscraper, and feature elegant and understated details to make your stay a memorable one.
Celestine Hotel lobb
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Oak Hotel Review, Tokyo
If you are traveling on a tight budget but are reluctant to share a room or showers in a guest house, then the Oak Hotel in the Taito-ku area of Tokyo might be the perfect choice. It is highly recommended by guests from around the world, and what the hotel lacks in facilities, it
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2013 Photo Collection of Nikko in the Mountains of Tochigi Prefecture
Nikko is a small town in the mountains in Tochigi Prefecture close to Tokyo. The name Nikko (日光市) Nikkō-shi, literally means “sunlight”. Nikko is a very popular tourist destination, most famous is the Toshogu Shrine, burial site of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu.
For more inf
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Tokyo Disneyland Christmas
Christmas is a magical time at Tokyo Disneyland. Enjoy seasonal displays throughout the park that fit the theme “Disney’s Santa Village.” A gorgeous 15- meter tall (almost 50 feet) Christmas tree welcomes guests as they enter the World Bazaar, and the plaza in front of Cinderella Cast
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Tokyo DisneySea Christmas
Romance is in the air during the holidays at Tokyo DisneySea. Between November 7 and December 25, 2013, the entire park is decorated with banners, snowflakes, and other ornaments that fit the theme “Christmas Wishes.” There is a themed Christmas tree at every port, and a special 15-me
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Museum of Yebisu Beer in Ebisu, Tokyo
In 1887 a brewing company named Yebisu Beer was founded that specialized in German brewing methods. The name of the beer later became the name of the train station and the name of the town Tokyo neighborhood of Ebisu. The pronunciations of both “Yebisu” and “Ebisu” a
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Nikko Day Trip from Tokyo
Taking a 13-year old boy on a vacation anywhere can be a challenge. Originally Bryan was against the whole idea of visiting Japan, but warmed up when we included a visit to Akihabara so he could enjoy the anime scene watch all the other teens dressed up in strange costumes like t
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Meiji Mura Museum 博物館明治村 in Inuyama, near Nagoya
Though called a museum, Meiji Mura in Inuyama, near Nagoya in Aichi prefecture, is a large complex with over 60 historical buildings carefully moved, restored, and assembled into a town on the border of Lake Iruka. It is an interesting glimpse into life during the Meiji Era (1868
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Yebisu Garden Place in Ebisu, Tokyo
Though there are no gardens in Yebisu Garden Place, it is an interesting enclave in Tokyo. Built on the site of a former brewery, it is now a thriving pocket of restaurants, businesses, and residences. Be sure to visit the Yebisu Beer Museum, which explains the history of the are
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Roman Meiji Western
Located next to Meiji Mura’s Kanazawa Prison, the Roman Meiji Western-Style Omurice and Grill Restaurant 明治の洋食屋 オムライス＆グリル浪漫亭 is an excellent choice for the whole family. Even if you are not adventurous about food, the omurice omelets filled with fried rice and hamburger patties
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