You will walk away with a better understanding and appreciation for the art forms than you will get from any museum – and you’ll have a great souvenir from your trip too!

The Kyoto Handicraft Center offers a variety of hands on activities such as cloisonne making, dorei (Clay bell) doll or fan painting, Koma spinning top making, woodblock printing (ukiyoe), incense mixing (part of the art of koh-do), drawing with gold powder, damascene accessories (gold & silver inlay) and shichimi (Japanese spice) blending.

Each lesson is conducted by Japanese artisans and English translation is provided.  The cost ranges from Y1,890 to Y3,980 and each session takes about an hour.

The center also offers demonstrations by working crafts people and a shop where you can purchase local Kyoto handicrafts.

Located near the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art and the Heian Jingu Shrine, the Kyoto Handicraft Center is approximately half an hour by bus or fifteen minutes by taxi from Kyoto Station and is open daily from 10AM-5PM except for January 1st – 3rd. (Kyoto Handicraft Center Access Map)

Image Credit: Wikimedia, Fan, Japanese

Banryutei Rock Garden

Image Credit: Flickr, Zen garden / Koya San

The Banryutei Rock Garden (pictured above) is one of the largest gardens of its kind in Japan.  Located within the precincts of the  Koyasan Kongobuji in Wakayama prefecture (part of the Kansai Region of Japan) the garden encompasses more that 2,300 square meters of raked sand and strategically placed rocks that when viewed from a certain angle appear to be two dragons flying amongst the clouds.

Visit Welcome to Koyasan for information on the sights of the area as well as walking and audio guides.

Ginshadan – The Sea of Silver Sand

Image Credit: Flickr, Zen Garden

Located in front of the Abbots quarters (hojo) on the grounds of Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto  is an excellent example of a karesansui garden (dry garden) known as Ginshadan or the Sea of Silver Sand.  The Ginshandan consists of a two foot platform of sand that covers 0.71 hectares (1.75 acres) and is said to represent the sea.

Kogetsudai – The Moon Viewing Platform

Image Credit: Flickr, Grounds of Kinkaku-ji

The distinctive cone shaped mound pictured below is also located on the grounds of Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto.  It reflects the light of the moon in the evenings and was meant to sit on while waiting for the moon to rise from the Higashiyama mountains.

Ryoan-ji Temple Rock Garden

Image Credit:  Flickr, Ryouanji Stones (竜安寺の石）

One of the most celebrated rock gardens in Japan, it is relatively small with only fifteen stones sitting within a seas of pristinely rake white sand.  Located in the grounds of the Ryoan-ji Temple (also in Kyoto) the garden is enclosed by earthen walls and it is impossible to see all of the fifteen stones from any vantage point.

Hashin-tei

Image Credit:  Flickr, The zen rock garden at Kodai-ji

Originally a pond garden, Hashin-tei was redesigned as a karesansui dry garden and the undulating border of moss and stone was once its shoreline.  This garden is also located in Kyoto on the grounds of the Kodai-ji Temple.

Myoshin-ji Temple Gardens

Image Credit: Flickr, black sand and pink sakura

Myoshin-ji Temple itself and three other temples in Kyoto (Taizo-in Temple, Keishun-in Temple & Daishin-in Temple) are home to a number of beautiful Zen gardens that are well know throughout Japan.  The Taizo-in Temple is well known for features such as the karetaki (dry waterfall), horai-san (Sacred mountain), kamejima (island shaped like a turtle) and an ishibashi(stone bridge).

Rocks, raked sand and tranquility – it’s a combination that is well known and recognized worldwide as a Zen Garden.

“The best gardens in Japan incorporate aesthetics that are contradictory in nature but somehow complement each other when employed by a skillful designer”

The Art of The Japanese Garden offers further insight into the design features and qualities deemed essential in a well designed garden.  Be sure to include a visit to one or two gardens of different styles when you plan any trip to Japan – you won’t regret it!

Since 2006, the Kyoto International Manga Museum, in cooperation with Kyoto City and Kyoto Seika University, has taken on the role as conservator and archivist for the vast amount of manga material created every year as well as historical works of the genre.

In 2009, the museum is holding two special

Sugiura Manga Festa

Active in the world of children’s manga from the 1930s through until the 1950s, Sugiura Shigeru was an influential manga artist.  To celebrate 100 yeasrs since his birth the Kyoto International Manga Museum will hold a commemorative exhibition from March 20th – May 24, 2009.

“His well rounded works were known for a cheerful painting style and original fantastic ideas as well as contrary elements such as the depiction of an otherwise classical world through the use of puns and comic stories, and a surreal literary style reminiscent of the Spanish painter Salvador Dali.”

The exhibit includes original artwork, publications, supplementary volumes and books introducing the works of Shigeru Sugiura and you can even become on of  his characters in “Photography Corner” where disguises and faceless cardboard cutouts can be tried on for size.

Kyoto Manga Festa 2009

Running simultaneously with the Sugiura Manga Festa, the Kyoto Manga Festa 2009 offers visitors a number of different events that bring the art of manga together with caligraphy and music through a number of special events.

Manga concerts

On Saturday April 11, 2009 from 2-4PM, experience the music of Nodame Cantabile from the animated television series performed on the piano by Iku Miwa. (Nodame Video – YouTube Link)

On Sunday, May 3, 2009 hear anime songs perfromed by the Kyoto Northern Hills Wind Instrument Orchestra at 2 & 4PM.

Manga Club

Monday, May 4, 2009 finds the Kyoto International Manga Museum transformed into a club space when a painter and a DJ collaborate to create a fusion of art and sound inspired by manga.

For more information on these events, admission and access information, visit the Kyoto International Manga Museum website.

Image Credit:  Flickr, Kyoto Manga Museum

Maiko training starts young, between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, and many prospective Geisha don’t complete high school so parental consent is required to enter training.

Are you too tall to be a Geisha? If you stand over 160cm (5 feet 3 inches) you are considered too tall.  Maiko wear okobo (wooden platform shoes) that add 10cm (4 inches) to their height.

You can’t be too skinny to be accepted into Maiko training (shikomi) – The kimono and hair accessories worn by a Maiko can weigh up to 10kg (22 pounds) so those participating in Geisha training must weigh at least 43 kg (95 pounds).

Speaking of hair – you must like wigs or learn how to sleep on a high wooden pillow keep your complicated hairstyle in perfect shape.  A Maiko’s hair is usually only one once a week and is a time consuming process.

You must have a strong desire to live and learn in a highly traditional and structured Japanese lifestyle. In the Geisha world where everything from the language, mannerisms and personal grooming are different from the rest of Japan.  You will learn the fine art of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, how to arrange flowers in the Japanese Style (Ikebana), how to perform ancient Japanese dances and play traditional Japanese musical instruments (shamisen and shakuhachi) with grace and style.

You must love make-up and think the nape of your neck is sexy – during the first three years of Maiko training, traditional heavy white make up highlighted with bright red lips is worm almost constantly.  Putting on the make up is time consuming and difficult to do on your own.

After learning all of the requirements to become a Geisha I have a newfound respect for them and hope you will too!  Geisha and Maiko are not just beautiful Japanese women in ornate kimonos – they are very talented and poised individuals whose company remains sought after in the higher echelons of Japanese society.

Experience the Geisha Lifestyle

• See Maiko and Geisha perform at Gion Corner in Kyoto.
• Book a Maiko Party in Kyoto
• Dress in a Kimono and visit a shrine in Saitama (just outside Tokyo)
• Experience the Japanese Tea Ceremony and Ikebana in Tokyo
• Visit a Kimono Flea Market in Osaka
• Explore The Nihon Sun A Closer Look Series to learn more about how to experience the traditional Japanese lifestyle in various regions of Japan.  You’ll find links to hands on experiences, museums and much more.

Image Credit:  Wikimedia, Geisha-kyoto-2004-11-21

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama in Gifu and Toyama prefectures

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) in Kyoto and Shiga prefectures

Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area in Nara Prefecture

Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) in Hiroshima Prefecture

Himeji-jo in Hyogo Prefecture

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine in Hiroshima Prefecture

Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara in Nara Prefecture

Shrines and Temples of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture

Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in Okinawa Prefecture

Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range in Mie, Nara and Wakayama Prefectures

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine in Shimane Prefecture

Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture

Shirakami-Sanchi in Aomori and Akita Prefectures

Shiretoko in Hokkaido prefecture

Learn more about Japan’s Unesco World Heritage Sites at Web-Japan where you will find details on each site along with it’s cultural or natural significance.

Image Credit: Flickr, Horyu-ji IV, Himeji-jo postcard view 1, yakushima_forest_day1_lg, Fujisato Komagatake 藤里駒ケ岳 (秋田), The Golden Pavilion Temple Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto, Japan, Shirakawa, Views of the A-Bomb Dome, miyaJima_DSC_5885, temple_nara2, World Heritage in Nikko, P1010023, Second Lake(Shiretoko Five Lakes), and even buddhas need keeping warm & Wikimedia, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, Shimizudani Refinery Ruins 001

#1 Shinjuku, Tokyo

The New York bar where Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson enjoyed cocktails in the movie Lost in Translation offers great views of the Tokyo skyline from Shinjuku.  Approximately 2 million people move through Shinjuku’s vast train station each day and it is the portal to a busy business area populated by modern skyscrapers and fashionable department stores.  One of Tokyo’s best parks, Shinjuku Gyoen is also located in Shinjukju and you can get a taste for Tokyo’s red-light nightlife in Kabukicho (learn about recently released audio tour of Shinjuku at Ping Mag).

#2 Ginza, Tokyo

Ginza is to Tokyo what 5th Avenue is to New York.  This famous shopping district is famous for it’s grand nightly display of colorful neon and almost every luxury store that you can imagine.  The area is also home to some great western style and modern architecture and the main street in closed to traffic on weekend afternoons which make being seen that much easier – because being seen or saying that you have been to Ginza has a certain cache worldwide. (Ginza map)

#3 Shibuya, Tokyo

Shibuya is full of trendy and cool stores that cater to Tokyo’s younger generation.  The famous Hachiko Crossing is one of the busiest intersections in the world and is home to large video screens, funky billboards and one of Starbucks busiest stores in the world.  Catch the energy of the area with a walk around Shibuya.

#4 Harajuku, Tokyo

Gothic Lolitas and Japanese Princesses will vie for you attention in Harajuku.  Takeshita Dori is home to stores that cater to the areas denizens and also offers insight into trendy Tokyo street fashion. In start contrast, only a short distance away from the cutting edge of the Tokyo youth scene you will find the peaceful confines of the Meiji Jingu Shrine. (Harajuku walking map)

#5 Asakusa, Tokyo

Asakusa’s Senso-ji temple and Nakamise Dori, a shopping street leading up to it are well worth visiting on any trip to Tokyo.  The area is also home to a number of famous tempura restaurants an is a short walk from the Kappabashi wholesale district where you can pick up beautiful Japanese dishes, ceramics, iron tea kettles, knives and even one of the plastic food replicas that you will find in almost every restaurant window in Japan.  Asakusa is also the place where you can embark on a cruise of the Sumida river. (Asakusa area map)

#6 Ueno, Tokyo

Ueno Park is home to a zoo, a number of temples, some of Tokyo’s best museums and is one of city’s most famous areas for viewing the Cherry Blossoms each spring.  Just outside the park is Ameya-yokocho, a bustling street market filled with tiny shops and vendors’ carts – pick up a local snack or souvenir or simply stop for a refreshment after a stroll through the park. (Ueno Walking Map)

#7 The Rest Of Tokyo

There is a lot to see in this city with a population that exceeds 12 million and is divided into 23 separate wards.  Other areas that made this roundup of the most popular sights in Tokyo are the ultra modern cities within the city: Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Midtown and Odaiba.  To get a glimpse of how royalty lives you may also want to consider a visit to the Imperial Palace, home to the Emperor of Japan, and the adjacent gardens.

#8 Yokohama

A beautiful port town about a half an hour outside of Tokyo by train, Yokohama is home to one of the biggest Chinatowns in the world and some great examples of foreign architecture.  The Minato Mirai area is home to a modern shopping area and a Ferris Wheel that offers a stunning view of the bay.  See these and all of the other great tourist spots that Yokohama has to offer.

#9 Kyoto

Kyoto can be described as the cradle of Japanese history and culture. Once the capital, Kyoto has an amazing number of ancient temples, shrines, traditional buildings and excellent museums that are well worth visiting.  Kyoto is one of the most beautiful places in Japan and is well deserving of a spot on this list.

#10 Osaka

Osaka, two-and-a-half hours from Tokyo by shinkansen, is home to traditional architecture and the famous Osaka Castle.  About 40 minutes away is Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site built from the 14th to 17th centuries and nearby Kobe is home to the world famous beef of the same name.  Visit the Osaka and Kobe tourism websites to learn more about theses great cities.

Returning visitors are a bit more adventurous and head for some of the other regions of Japan to enjoy great skiing and hiking in Hokkaido or some of the areas well know for their onsens or spas.  With the slowing of the worldwide economy and an underdeveloped tourism infrastructure Japan has it’s work cut out to increase the number of tourists that visit each year.

I hope that the Visit Japan Campaign is successful as it will allow visitors and foreign residents to learn more about areas of Japan that would otherwise remain undiscovered.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection, Flickr, Sensō-ji Temple (Asakusa, Tokyo) & Japan – May 12th 2007 – Himeji and Osaka Castle 036