Kamakura is home to a number of beautiful temples and shrines with histories that date back centuries as well as beautiful beaches and a giant Buddha Statue know as Daibutsu.

Yokohama is also located in Kanagawa Prefecture and is home to one of the world’s largest Chinatown’s and a thoroughly modern port area, Minato Mirai, where you can shop, eat and get a great view of Yokohama Bay from the Ferris wheel or the Landmark Tower.

Nikko is home to one of Japan’s UNESCO World heritage sites and is approximately a two hour train ride from Tokyo in Tochigi Prefecture.  See the elaborate carvings on the ancient shrines and escape the heat of a a Tokyo summer in the mountains of this stunning landlocked area.

Kawagoe is located in Saitama Prefecture and is nicknamed “Little Edo”.  This town is famous for it’s traditional Japanese warehouses and a quaint old fashioned atmosphere.  You will find over 500 statues of Buddha on the grounds of the Kitain Temple and a candy lane where you can peruse and sample all sorts of Japanese candy.

If you want to be further afield be sure to peruse our regional Japan travel series for inspiration.  From north to south, Hokkaido to Okinawa, you will find great sights to add to your itinerary and events to plan your trip around – if you sample the foods of each area as you travel about hungry our companion regional foods of Japan will help you do just that!

Image Credit:  Flickr, Japan0105.15, Nikko – Toshogu, Mt. Fuji from Yokohama & Kura in Kawagoe

You can’t miss the entrance to Yokohama’s Chinatown, there are 10 colorful gates to choose from that are built based on the Chinese horoscope and are called Pairo! :

1. Zenrin-Mon Gate near Ishikawa-cho
2. Saiyo-Mon Gate near Ishikawa-cho
3. Genbu-Mon Gate (North)
4. Suzaku-Mon Gate (South),
5. Choyo-Mon Gate (East),
6. Enpei-Mon Gate (West).
7. Tencho-Mon Gate on Kanteibyo Street
8. Chikyu-Mon Gate on Kanteibyo Street
9. Ichiba Dori-Mon Gates (2)  on Ichiba Dori Street

If I am not mistaken, the gate pictured above is the Zenrin-Mon Gate as seen from the the steps of a nearby temple.  Access the area from the Motomachi-Chukagai Station (Minatomirai Line), the Ishikawa-cho Station (JR) or the Kannai Station (JR or Yokohama City Subway) and use this map of Yokohama as your guide to the 10 gates of Chinatown in Yokohama.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

Image Credit:  Personal Collection

In his own words:

“This picture of Yokohama’s waterfront was taken from Landmark Tower. The tower has the fastest elevators in the world, reaching 12.5 meters/second as they carry tourists up to the observation deck. This was my first time in Yokohama- I was on a Christmas Eve date, which seems to be the only acceptable way to go out on the 24th. Whether we were on the train, strolling the pier, or waiting in line for the elevator, Yokohama was a sea of young couples. “

Read more about David’s adventures in Japan and see more great photos of Yokohama and his Christmas Eve date on his blog Shack in Japan.

This and other great images of Japan can be found in The Nihon Sun Japan Photo Gallery.

#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