Otaku Tour: Anime, Manga, Ninja & Food - Cherry Blossoms

The Sensoji Temple located in Asakusa is one of the most popular Buddhist temples to visit. The temple was built and completed in the year 645 and is Tokyo’s oldest temple. The surrounding area offers shopping for souvenirs and food. The Sanja Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals and is held every May at Asakusa Temple.

Akihabara, sometimes shortened to "Akiba" is a district right in central Tokyo which is known across the country as the place to indulge in Japan's otaku culture. Initially it was known for its various electronics shops, and there are still many of them to be found, including big name chain stores like Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera, Sofmap, and LAOX. But over time a great many anime, manga, and otaku-related shops, restaurants, cafes, gaming arcades, and other establishments sprang up here and there around the area. The dense concentration of anime / manga fandom stores has given Akihabara a status as a anime and gamer-nerds' paradise. It is a wonderful place to enjoy a themed cafe. Not only anime-themed cafes, but maid cafes, animal cafes, and manga cafes, where guests can pay for time to read from a vast collection of manga comics. What is more, as more anime are released year after year, the character of Akihabara constantly changes to reflect the latest releases.

Kaiten-zushi, also known as Conveyor Belt Sushi or Sushi Train, is the Japanese word for a special kind of sushi restaurant which send plates of sushi zooming out to customers on a conveyor belt that winds around the restaurant. Some kaiten-zushi places have conveyor belts that run parallel to the tables, allowing the customers to take the plates they want, and others have an easy ordering system that lets you order the sushi you see on display. At the end, payment is calculated based on how many plates they ate. The sushi is served either in roll form or as "nigiri" - two cuts of sushi served atop a bed of rice, and includes popular favorites like tuna, salmon, shrimp, egg, and cucumber rolls. In addition to sushi, kaiten-zushi restaurants serve miso soup, various fried foods, and even dessert. Kaiten- zushi is considered one of the most affordable ways to enjoy sushi in Japan, as each plate starts at about 100 yen. To help the customers understand the pricing, different color plates are often used to distinguish costs of the foods, though there are some kaiten-zushi establishments that serve all their food at a single flat rate.

In recent years, Akihabara has become synonymous with anime fandom, and no matter how much anime you watch, it is an area that will kick your love of anime into overdrive. The sheer number of colorful stores has something to offer even the casual anime fan. Popular stores include Animate Akihabara, which is one of the largest of the Animate stores, focusing on a wide variety of merchandise from anime that is trendy and popular. Akihabara Gamers is a store that, despite the name, features a vast assortment of manga comics. Kotobukiya calls itself a "hobby craft" store, but in reality it features figures and merchandise from anime, games, and even popular films like Star Wars. Yellow Submarine is a store that sells trading card merchandise (like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic: The Gathering), as well as a vast array of anime figurines and build-it- yourself plastic models. Of course, this barely scratches the surface of the broad variety of anime stores to be found in Akihabara - a destination that must be seen to be believed.

Akihabara, being a popular hotspot for all things Anime, features themed cafes that offer a new way for you to immerse yourself in anime (or gaming) culture. While some of the anime cafes are more of a general "anime theme", with drawings of cute non-specific anime characters decorating the cafe space, others are designed to celebrate a particular anime series. One of the finest examples is the Gundam Café, which looks very futuristic and spacey, serving highly colorful drinks and food inspired by the characters and robots from the show. Their cafe latte is especially popular, with 19 different flavors to choose from. Some cafes, rather than being themed to a single anime in particular, celebrate anime culture in general. Good Smile x Animate Cafe is next to a cosplay apparel store and sells cute food and drinks. Some cafes are choose themes connected to popular gaming companies and franchises, such as the Square Enix Cafe, based on the company responsible for Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.

Maid Cafes are a cultural phenomenon originating in Akihabara, where guests can enjoy tea or coffee and something sweet as you are waited on by cute maids who address you as "Master" or "Mistress". There are many maid cafes across Akihabara, each with a slightly different setting and personality. They often will write cute messages in the food, sing a song and dance, and play board games with the guests. And they always try and come up with new ways to make guests feel pampered and welcome. Famous maid cafes of Akihabara include Maidreamin, which have maids chant "spells" over the food to make the food more delicious; Cure Maid Cafe, which appeals to lovers of a more Victorian style of maid, and @Home Cafe, which welcomes guests with a "Welcome Home, Master / Mistress" and decorates the food they bring to your table in a variety of cutesy designs. There are many more maid cafes to explore in Akihabara, and each one makes you feel like a lord / lady of the manor.

While Akihabara is known as the chief Anime hub of Tokyo, Ikebukuro has risen as a second center of anime and otaku culture, with especial areas for anime fangirls. It has many popular anime shops including Animate Ikebukuro Honten - the "flagship store" of the Animate retail chain - as well as the "Mandarake" and K-Books" shops. a particular section of Ikebukuro is called Otome Road (Maiden Road), which specializes in anime goods and manga doujinshi (self-published comics) geared towards women. Sunshine City, a "city within a city" in Ikebukuro, amuses visitors with a cinema, an aquarium, an observation deck, and various other shops including One Piece Mugiwara Store and Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, where you can find cute plushies of Pikachu and other favorites like Eevee. It also has a theme park designed by video game company Namco (known for Pac-Man and Taiko no Tatsujin) called Namco Namja Town.

The Ikebukuro Ramen Tour takes you through some of the best ramen restaurants in Ikebukuro - one of Tokyo's biggest ramen districts. As lovers of ramen know, Japanese ramen can take on many forms. Miso, shio (salt), or shoyu base; served hot or chilled; with all matter of toppings, ramen in Japan can be called a culinary artform, and the ramen restaurants at Ikebukuro are dedicated to outdoing each other with their unique and delectable takes on the dish. Ikebukuro is known as the place where the first Tsukemen was invented, and this savory "dipping ramen" may still be found at the original shop. While on the streets of Ikebukuro during the Ramen Tour, you may find strange ramen creations - such as a "green" ramen (made with noodles infused with the microbe Euglena) or a Hawaiian-themed ramen (made with bamboo shoots and yuzu citrus). There are more traditional offerings for those who aren't feeling too adventurous, so any lover of ramen will find something to enjoy.

While Akihabara is known as the chief Anime hub of Tokyo, Ikebukuro has risen as a second center of anime and otaku culture, with especial areas for anime fangirls. It has many popular anime shops including Animate Ikebukuro Honten - the "flagship store" of the Animate retail chain - as well as the "Mandarake" and K-Books" shops. a particular section of Ikebukuro is called Otome Road (Maiden Road), which specializes in anime goods and manga doujinshi (self-published comics) geared towards women. Sunshine City, a "city within a city" in Ikebukuro, amuses visitors with a cinema, an aquarium, an observation deck, and various other shops including One Piece Mugiwara Store and Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, where you can find cute plushies of Pikachu and other favorites like Eevee. It also has a theme park designed by video game company Namco (known for Pac-Man and Taiko no Tatsujin) called Namco Namja Town.

Otome Road (or "Maiden Road") is an area of Ikebukuro that specializes in anime and manga for women. An especial concentration of BL (boys love) doujinshi comics has given the street the alternate name of Fujoshi Street, which refers to girls who like those kind of stories. Located right next to Sunshine City in Ikebukuro, Otome Road includes such stores as the K-Books store, the Ikebukuro Animate Cafe, Comic Toranoana, and Mandarake. These anime and manga retailers feature manga, doujinshi (self- published comics), CDs, posters, and other goods aimed at otaku girls. Otome Road also has cafes and restaurants catering to female fancies, including Swallowtail Cafe - an elegant butler cafe (the for-ladies version of the maid cafe) where customers are waited on and pampered by handsome Japanese men dressed as butlers. There are also shops for girls who like to cosplay, with outfits, wigs, and makeup to make you look just like your favorite anime girl.

Sunshine City, in Ikebukuro, opened in 1079. It is a huge complex that feels like a city within a city. At the center is Sunshine 60, a skyscraper that stands at 240 meters tall. Within Sunshine City is a plethora of restaurants, cafes, and shops. There is even a cinema, making parts of it feel like a grand shopping mall. But in addition to all this, it includes a planetarium, aquarium, convention centre, museums, hotels, and an observatory from Sunshine 60's "Sky Circus". One of the biggest attractions in Sunshine City is Namco Namja Town - an indoor theme park located on Sunshine CIty's second floor. Sponsored by popular video game company Namco, known for headlining character Pac-Man, the wildly popular Tales series of JRPGs, and the Taiko no Tatsujin rhythm game franchise. Among the stores of Sunshine City is the One Piece Mugiwara Store, the Marvel Store, the Disney Store, a Sanrio store (Hello Kitty), and the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo, full of lots of plush Pikachus.

Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is located in Sunshine City, which is a massive entertainment complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. This is a dream shop for fans of the Pokemon Franchise, with a vast assortment of Pokemon toys, games, cards, Pokeballs, and other kinds of Pokemon merchandise, many of which you won't find anywhere else. Of course, Pikachu takes center stage, and with countless plushies of the adorable character - even some toys of his mearing different outfits. Other popular characters are also represented, including Mew and Mew-Two, Charizard, the different starter types, and of course, cutesy furball Eevee. If you had enough time (and money), could very nearly "catch them all" at this store. You can expect the store to be fairly crowded, especially on weekends and holidays, with lines that go outside the store and around the corner.

Shinjuku is one of the busiest towns in Japan, with its train station reportedly handling the largest number of passengers in the world. Department stores, electrical appliance megastores and huge book stores fan out around the station and are constantly filled with customers. In the underground mall, there are dozens of shops where you might find an unexpected bargain. The "Don Quixote" discount store is located along Yasukuni Dori (Ave.) at the east exit, and to the north of this store is the Kabuki-cho bright lights district, crowded with restaurants, adult entertainment spots, arcades and theaters.

Pachinko is a form of arcade game that also doubles as a colorful slot machine. Although cash gambling is, in general, illegal in Japan, a loophole in the interpretation of Japan's gambling laws has allowed the mass proliferation of these low-stakes slots. It plays a bit like a pinball machine, in that players shoot small steel balls into the pachinko machine using a loaded spring. The steel balls are rented to players from the owning establishment for use in the games. The balls flow through a track inside the machine before they are eventually released onto a playing field containing more steel balls, which can be won as a payout from the machine. The object of Pachinko is to win as many of the little steel balls as possible, which are then exchanged for prizes. Some newer pachinko machines are loaded with metal tokens or coins in a fashion more like traditional slots. It can be thrilling to watch the balls careening through the machines as you hope for a large payout!

Join a food tour of Kabukicho and Golden Gai, the "red- light" entertainment districts in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Since its development in the 60s, Kabukicho has become the heart of Tokyo's nightlife - a glittery center for neon lights, pachinko parlors, restaurants, bars, and more adult entertainment like host / hostess clubs and love hotels. Stick with your guide through these blinding avenues to taste the best food and drink that Shinjuku has to offer. It is also one of the best spots just to mingle among the friendly locals. Golden Gai is a small alley next to Kabukicho that is home to over 200 little bars. While the rest of the city focused on becoming more and more modern, Golden Gai continued to maintain the look and feel of post-war Tokyo. Each of these bars has their own character or gimmick, so you will have a different experience at bar. Be sure to stay with your guide, as some of these establishments refuse service to foreigners.

The outer Tsukiji Fish Market offers a variety of freshly prepared food products and ingredients. Travel in between the different stores and taste a few of their dishes, freshly prepared with some of the best ingredients.

The garden connected to the Imperial Palace is one the most beautiful in the cty, and was once the private gardens of the Imperial Family. The only part of the Inner Palace open for public enjoyment, the grounds includes some stone walls and tower foundations of Edo Castle - former home of the Tokugawa Shogun, as well as the Suwano Teahouse, and the Museum of Imperial Collections. Within the garden areas, wide variety of trees and flowers planted there provide visitors with scenes of colorful beauty in any season, including not only seasonal favorites like cherry, plum, or maple trees, but species of flowers from all across Japan.

Nakano Broadway is a shopping mall in the Nakano ward of Tokyo. Opening in 1966, it developed over time into one of the top shopping spots to buy various otaku merchandise, especially anime, manga and video game-related merchandise. Three full floors of the shopping center are dedicated to these kinds of cultural goods, which include popular figurines, pop idol CDs, and other collectables. Stores of note include the Mandarake otaku goods chain, which operates no less than twenty-seven different shops in Nakano Broadway alone, with each store focusing on a different category of merchandise, such as a separate store for cosplay costumes, toy robots, and doujinshi books.

Harajuku is known as the center for extreme fashion styles and teenage trends in Japan. The area is located between Shinjuku and Shibuya station on the Yamanote Line. The most famous street in front of Harajuku Station is Takeshita Dori (Takeshita Street). Along that road there are many trendy shops, secondhand clothes store, and fashion boutiques for shopping. While walking along the street you can see fashionistas dressed up. There are also crepe stands and fast food options for people to enjoy while exploring the street. South of Takeshita Street is Omotesando where more of the famous brand name shops are located. Omotesando is twice the length of Takeshita and is popular among urbanites. The Omotesando Hills is a complex where most of those brands are located including the famed Kiddy Land.

Stepping out of Harajuku station in downtown Tokyo, you will see a vibrant, colorful, and crowded street before you - Takeshita Street. For decades Takeshita Street has been at the heart of Tokyo youth culture, and as well as a bellwether for the latest fashions. "Gothic Lolita" fashion and cosplay trends have also been identified with Takeshita Street. Fashionista pop stars including Lady Gaga have been known to shop here, and the Japanese media icon Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has been called an ambassador for the latest kawaii (cute) fashions that come out of Harajuku. But Takeshita Street is so much more than clothes - all the businesses there have a youth appeal. Among the sweet treats you can find there is an incredibly cute multi-colored cotton candy - like a fluffy rainbow cloud. Takeshita Street is synonymous with dessert crepes: thin crepe wraps loaded with a variety of fruit fillings and cream. There are savory crepes too, though the sweet crepes are far more popular. There are little cafes there too, when you need to take a break from shopping.

Omotesando is a fashion boulevard starting at Meiji Shrine running all the way down through Aoyama to Aoyama-dori. It lies south of Harajuku's hip, avant-garde Takeshita Street, and while that street appeals to Tokyo youth and street culture, Omotesando is the street to admire the fashionably chic. This zelkova-lined thoroughfare is lined with the most stylish, upscale boutiques, leading many to refer to it as "Tokyo's Champs Elysees". Top fashion brands like Chanel, Coach, Tod's, Dior, Luis Vuitton, Hugo Boss, Prada, and more all have a presence on Omotesando, and since these stores wanted to stand out, they had the buildings that house their fashion boutiques designed by leading architects of the day. As a result, Omotesando is also a wonderland of modern (and postmodern) architecture. There is also Omotesando Hills (designed by Pritzker prize-winner Tadao Ando), which is an elegant shopping center on the main street. Other places of interest include Kiddy Land - a massive toy store for kids of all ages, and the Oriental Bazaar - the go-to place to buy Japanese souvenirs in the area.

The Shibuya Crossing is a street intersection located near Shibuya Station’s Hachiko exit in Tokyo. The crossing has five major crosswalks covering the immense diamond intersection. The crossing is comparable to New York’s Times Square in terms of foot traffic, having almost 3,000 people crossing at its peak periods. The Shibuya Crossing is also known as the Scramble Crossing, since every crossing light turns green at the same time, leading to a leisurely rush of human traffic. The crosswalk becomes party central for the city on New Year’s Eve. The adjacent Starbucks, offering prime viewing of the crosswalk action from its windows, is one of Japan’s most popular.

One of Tokyo’s most beloved, albeit unofficial landmarks, the Hachiko statue tells the tale of an especially faithful Akita dog named Hachiko. This dog famously went to Shibuya station every day to await the return of his master, a professor at Tokyo University. Hachiko continued to wait, even 10 years following the professor’s untimely passing. The story has since passed into legend, commemorated with the statue near Shibuya station. The statue has become a popular meeting place for local residents, conveniently located just outside one of the station’s main exits, now known as the Hachiko exit.

Lake Ashinoko along with Mount Fuji in the background is the proud symbol of Hakone. One of the best views with the lake and Mount Fuji could be seen from one of the many sightseeing boats. There are a few boat cruises available, but the main two are ran by Hakone Sightseeing Boats and Izuhakone Sightseeing Boats. The best time to come is during the cherry blossom season and when the autumn colors are at its peak.

One of the most popular ways to get around Hakone is by taking the Hakone Ropeway. The ropeway travels between Sounzan and Togendai. The Hakone Ropeway gives visitors a beautiful view of Hakone and on a clear day, it is possible to get a nice view of Mount Fuji as well.

Owakudani is located in Hakone and is an area around a crater where gaseous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers exist. Just like most of Hakone, on a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Fuji as well. There are hiking trails available for guests, but these trails are difficult for inexperience hikers.

The Hakone Yumoto Evangelion Shop is located in Hakone, in Kanagawa Prefecture. This region of Japan is known for beautiful landscape and onsen hot springs, and recognizable by fans of Neon Genesis Evangelion as the real-life setting of Tokyo-3. The shop has a traditional Japanese look to it, with Japan- style decoration connected to the anime, including a statue of Rei in a stylish kimono. The appeal of the shop is not only in the setting and design; Hakone Yumoto EVA Shop sells a wide range of Evangelion merchandise featuring Rei, Asuka, Shinji, and other characters from the anime. Specialty items include hand-crafted tableware, figurines, and apparel. The shop also sells NERV-stamped baked goods, sweets, and drinks.

The shinkansen (or "bullet train") is a type of high speed train that travels between most of the major cities in Japan. By taking the shinkansen, trips between destinations that might take almost a full day by car can be reached in a few hours. The bullet trains can run up to 320 kilometers per hour (close to 200 miles per hour), and are known to be generally on time, comfortable and safe.

Ghibli Park is a new amusement park planned to open just outside Nagoya on the grounds of the Aichi Earth Expo Memorial Park on November 1, 2022. This theme park intends to create a park where both children and adults can imagine themselves within the imaginative settings of the popular Studio Ghibli Films. Intentionally created without rollercoasters or other standard amusement park rides, Ghibli Park is the sort of place that invites you to roam and lose yourself in the wonder of its whimsical worlds. At opening, Ghibli Park will feature three different regions for visitors to explore. The first is "Ghibli Grand Warehouse", which is a exhibition space that showcases items and displays from the Studio Ghibli films, as well as exhibits that depict the processes behind filmmaking at Studio Ghibli. The park entrance is located on the "Hill of Youth", which features such movie locations as the World Emporium from Whisper of the Heart. Finally, explore "Dondoko Forest, which is a scene reminiscent of the forest from My Neighbor Totoro, including Satsuki and Mei's House. Planned additions include the "Valley of Witches" (think "Kiki's Delivery Service"), and "Mononoke Village".

Located in the heart of downtown Nagoya, Sakae is the city's principal commercial and entertainment district., with a good variety of places to spend money and time. Big name Japanese department stores like Mitsukoshi, and Matsuzakaya have an outpost here, and the Sunshine Sakae shopping complex has become popular for the large Ferris Wheel SKY BOAT built directly adjacent to the building. The central fixture of the area is undoubtedly MIRAI Tower, which stands 180 meters tall, and is Japan's oldest TV Tower. Visitors can ascend to an observation deck for a broad view of the Nagoya cityscape. Next to the Tower is Oasis 21: an entertainment complex topped by a large glass oval like a flying saucer. Also in Sakae is Hisaya Odori Park - a long green space in the center of Sakae that serves as the ideal place to relax and take a break from this vibrant district. In October, the park comes to life as the center of the Nagoya Festival, which honors the Three Heroes of Nagoya: Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

In the heart of Nagoya is an old-fashioned set of covered shopping arcades called the Osu Shopping District. Within Osu, visitors will find any fulfillment for any sort of shopping they might desire. With over 1800 stores on the 8 shopping streets, you can find clothing (including traditional kimono tailors), shoes, fresh produce, sweets, electronics, video games, anime merchandise, and much more. It is a popular place for bargain hunting, as much of its wares are at discount prices. It has gained a reputation over the years as a pop culture center, especially as regards anime, manga, music, gaming, and especially cosplay. Every year, Osu hosts part of the World Cosplay Summit, when thousands of avid cosplayers descend on the shopping district in the guise of their favorite characters to celebrate the cultural world of Japanese cosplay. Other cultural festivals are held here throughout the year, including the Setsubun Festival (held at nearby Osu Kannon Temple), the Osu Summer Festival, and the Osu Street Performers' Festival.

Iga Ninja Museum showcases the history and artifacts of ninja in the Iga area. The museum can be found in Mie prefecture near the Iga Ueno Castle. It was first established in 1964 and the current honorary director of the facility is Jinichi Kawakami, the proclaimed 21st head of Iga-ryu ninjutsu. Iga Ninja Museum is comprised of two exhibitions, ninja residence, and stage. All the areas combined provide a comprehensive understanding of the ninja culture in Iga.

In the museum’s collection you can see ninjutsu (art of stealth) tools that were used and learn about their use. There are also ancient Ninjutsu writings that have been scientifically analyzed. The 400 ninja tools that are on display show the types of weapons used during the time when ninjas were active. At the stage area of the museum there are ninja shows that demonstrate the use of real weapons. They showcase actual ninja skills, but the show is only in Japanese. Also part of the Iga Ninja Museum is a residence that Iga ninjas once used. Even though it looks normal from the outside, the inside vastly differs. There are revolving walls, hidden compartments, and trap doors that the Iga ninja utilize when there were intruders present.

The Kiyomizu-Dera Temple is located only 15 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station to the eastern side of Kyoto. This temple is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto and is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple features a large wooden terrace that offers a fantastic view of the cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn colors during the fall season with the city of Kyoto in the background.

Japan is a very unique cultural experience because much of Japan’s history is still preserved, protected, and celebrated. One of the best ways to experience a visit to Japan would be to explore it while wearing a kimono. The kimono is one of Japan’s most oldest and traditional pieces of clothing. There are many places available in Japan to rent a kimono to wear and explore this beautiful country.

Located only 20 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station, is the Gion Geisha District. The Gion Geisha District is one of the most famous and popular destinations for tourist visiting Kyoto. This area is filled with restaurants, teahouses, shops, and other attractions to entertain guests. The machiya merchant houses along with river and the occasional geisha walking around, brings visitors from everywhere to experience everything that this area has to offer.

Kozanji is a Shingon Buddhist temple tucked away in the mountains of western Kyoto. It is a beautiful temple to visit, especially in the autumn, when the nearby forest is dappled with bright orange and red leaves. The temple was founded by the Buddhist monk Myoe, who collected a number of relics and artifacts that have since been named by Japan as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. One of the most famous of these is the Choju-Jinbutsu-Giga" (Animal-person Caricatures), which are a collection of scrolls depicting drawings of animals playing games like people. Usually shortened to "Choju-Giga", this collection of drawings is considered Japan's oldest manga. Although the originals are on display in Tokyo and Kyoto museums, Kosanji maintains copies for visitors to view. Kosanji is also famous for Sekisui-in Hall - an old building from the Kamakura Period. You will also find the oldest tea field in Japan, and visitors can sit in a tearoom to enjoy a delicious cup of green tea.

Arashiyama is located on the western outskirts of Kyoto and is a well-known destination for both the cherry blossoms and fall colors seasons. North of the famous Togetsukyo Bridge is Sagano, and together they make this place a nice little getaway from temples and shrines to enjoy nature. Popular destinations include the Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama.

One of the most popular and well-known spots for visitors is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. A nice walking path takes visitors through the groves of bamboos. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is also one of the most famous and photographed places in all of Kyoto and brings many visitors every year during the autumn color season.

The famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Temple is located in northern Kyoto and is most known for the building covered in gold leaf. This famous building is the number one most popular destination for tourist visiting Kyoto. The Golden Pavilion sits overlooking a large pond and various small attractions and shops are available for visitors.

The Fushimi Inari-Taisha Grand Shrine is located in southern Kyoto and is one of the most famous and visited shrines in Kyoto. This shrine is only five minutes away from Kyoto Station by train, and features over a thousand vermillion colored torii gates that brings many tourist to this shrine every year.

The Fushimi Sake District is a traditional sake brewing district located in Kyoto. It originally sprang up near old Fushimi Castle (now the Mausoleum of Emperor Meiji), during the Aizuchi-Momoyama Period (1573 - 1603), when it first established itself as the sake production center that it is today. Underground springs of pure water are what enabled the Fushimi District to become such a success. Prominent sake brewers in the area include Gekkeikan - an internationally popular maker of Japanese sake, with a local museum that explains their history and production processes (in English!) and offers free sake tastings. There are other activities to enjoy in the Fushimi Sake District when you need to take a break from the sake. You will see little boats on the nearby river ferrying cruise passengers. Some of the buildings are worth seeing for their place in Japanese history - especially Teradaya Inn, which was frequented by samurai Ryoma Sakamoto in the days leading up to the Meiji Restoration, before he was assassinated.

Located in the center of the city of Osaka lies Osaka Castle Park which holds the city’s most popular attraction, Osaka Castle. This castle was originally built in the 16th century, but has been destroyed and rebuilt many times before. Visitors will have to go through Osaka Castle Park to reach the castle, which including walking through impressive gates, and walking up on stone stairs. This area is also one of the most popular cherry blossom season location in the city.

Kuromon Ichiba, or "Black Gate Market" is a major produce and seafood market in the city of Osaka. It sells not only seafood, fruit, and vegetables, but also sweets, picked foods (or "tsukemono"), meat, and even clothing. This large outdoor covered market dates back to the Edo period, and has since become a top destination for visiting tourists to browse and sample some of Osaka's famous street food. Some of those stores have been in business for a very long time, including a tea shop that opened in 1937. While you can find a good assortment of street food, including Osaka's famed Takoyaki, and delectable sweets like strawberry daifuku (strawberries covered in mochi), the reason why Kuromon is so popular is that many of the produce sellers will cook the fresh seafood you want right there in front of you. As the market can become busy and packed with visitors, all the shop owners ask is that visitors be patient and respectful of others.

While walking through Shinsekai, you will be treated to a fascinating time-capsule of Osaka in the 1980s. Initially constructed following the Industrial Exposition of 1903, which had led to millions of new people coming to the area, Shinsekai was created to be Osaka's "city of tomorrow". Considered at the time to be a model of what new cities should be, Shinsekai is a mix of Western influences: one part Paris and one part New York City, with Tsutenkaku Tower at its center - the tallest tower in Asia in its day. It even boasted a Coney Island-style amusement park that connected by tram straight to the tower. But after a few decades (and a couple of World Wars), the neighborhood was neglected, and Tsutenkaku Tower burned down. Though the tower was eventually reconstructed, Shinsekai never regained its old splendor, and today is a fascinating destination for visitors looking to experience a time-locked Osaka. Trying the famous local dish, Kushikatsu, is a must - breaded and deep-fried meat and vegetables on a stick adds yet another layer to that sense of nostalgia you'll feel when visiting Shinsekai.

Nipponbashi Den Den Town is a special shopping district of Osaka city known for catering to various anime, gaming, and otaku interests – Osaka’s answer to Tokyo’s Akihabara. The name of the town comes from its many low-price electronics shops, although popular anime/gamer merchandise outlets such as Super Potato and Animate also have shops there. There are also excellent hobby stores, especially for those who enjoy making models. Many visitors prefer Den Den Town to Akihabara as it is often less crowded and, on the whole, easier to navigate. Like Akihabara, they also include some excellent themed cafes – especially maid cafes – for visitors to immerse themselves in cuteness.

Dotonbori is a district of Osaka, popular among locals and visiting tourists as the best place to go for food. The street runs parallel to the Dotonbori Canals, and is lined with some of the city’s top eateries. The district is the perfect representation of the Osaka motto of “Kuidaore”, a proverb which means to “ruin oneself with extravagant food”. Visitors touring the district should be on the lookout for Kinryu Ramen – a notable restaurant chain known for a massive golden dragon on their storefront signage, as well as Kani Doraku – a crab seafood restaurant with a moving king crab billboard. The top landmark of the area, however, is the enormous Glico “Running Man” sign, which advertises the Glico candy brand.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Ikebukuro Higashiguchi features air-conditioned rooms with satellite flat-screen TV in the Toshima Ward district of Tokyo. The property is around a 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Parco Shopping Mall, 900 feet from Ikefukurou Statue and a 4-minute walk from Metropolitan Plaza. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with an electric tea pot. The rooms come with a private bathroom, a bidet and slippers.

Itoen Hotel Hakone Yumoto features authentic Japanese- style guestrooms. It is in a location that affords an unbroken view of Hakone's expansive natural landscape from your window.

Offering massage services and modern rooms, Hotel Sunroute Plaza is just a 5-minute walk from JR Nagoya Station. The hotel features a restaurant, a café and free WiFi throughout the entire property.

Hotel Keihan Kyoto Hachijoguchi features free WiFi and rooms with air conditioning in Kyoto. The hotel is located a 7 minute walk from Kyoto Station and a short distance from attractions such as Tofuku-ji Temple. The hotel features a restaurant and shared lounge, and Kiyomizu- dera Temple is 1.6 mi away. All units are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, fridge, a kettle, a bath and a desk. Each room has a private bathroom with a bidet.

Featuring a bar, ibis Osaka Umeda offers accommodations in Osaka, a 3-minute walk from Taiyū-ji Temple and 900 feet from Hankyu Men's Osaka. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi. The property is close to popular attractions like EST Osaka - Umeda, Osaka Station City and E-ma. The rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, an electric tea pot, a bidet and slippers.