Japan Tourist Guides — Attractions

Hiroshima
The name Hiroshima is synonymous with the horrors of a nuclear holocaust. Although almost totally destroyed by the explosion of the atom bomb by the United States on August 6, 1945, the city has been fully rebuilt; chilling instances remain as moving reminders of the devastation and loss.

The Peace Park commemorates the memories of all the victims with a Cenotaph listing all their names. Nearby is a chilling reminder of the devastation - a skeleton of building called the A -Bomb-Dome is one of the few that remained standing. The Atomic Bomb museum, with its macabre photographs of the city and its victims is not for the faint-hearted. A memorial called the Children's Peace Memorial signifies the regeneration of Hiroshima - where children hand folded paper cranes by the millions in a traditional expression of the desire for a long life and happiness.

Hiroshima today is a modern, industrial city with typical shopping arcades for the tourist. Walking is the best way to get a sense of the city, but a streetcar system also provides a quaint way to get around.

The Shrine of Itsukushima, on the nearby island of Miyjima, is for those who prefer solitude and scenic beauty. A shrine built on a wooden pier with a huge, stunning orange gate (Torii) is said to have been built in the year 593 in honor of fishing Gods, the Torii was for centuries a sentinel for all boats visiting the island. Best seen at high tide, when it seems as though the Torii is floating over the water, this gate is one of the enduring images of Japan.

About 80 kilometers west of Hiroshima, lay the old castle town of Hagi. Although not much remains of the castle, there are two neighborhoods of Samurai houses that can be visited. Other destinations of interest are the various pottery kilns, which are open to the public - Hagi is famous for its tea-ceremony pottery. The Aiba Canal, filled with lazily swimming Japanese carp, is another attraction.

In Iwakuni, about 45 kilometers southwest of Hiroshima, is the spectacular Kitai-kyo or Brocade Sash Bridge, which is made up of five gracefully arched spans.

Ise-Shima Park
The Ise-Shima Park, which is about 120 kilometers east of Osaka on Honshu Island, has various attractions. One of the most revered shrines, the 2000-year-old Grand Shrine of Ise, has two sections, the Naiku - a shrine to the Sun goddess, and Geku- a shrine to the Earth God, where traditionally, the imperial family of Japan visited to seek advice from the gods. Kongoshuji, a temple distinguished with an elegant bridge, and Jingu Kiakan, a hall where popular Sumo contests are held, are also visited by huge numbers of people.

Kamakura
The ancient city of Kamakura has eighteen shrines and sixty-five temples, including a giant bronze statue of the Buddha, the Diabatsu. Legend has it until 1452, the statue was placed in a temple about a mile away - and a freak of nature - a giant Tsunami (tidal wave) destroyed the temple and lifted the 90-ton statue and placed it where it now stands today. The Enoden, a tiny, ancient train that chugs its way from Kamakura to Fujisawa is a popular, though staid way to get to Yokohama. Kamakura also houses two museums - the Nagao Museum of traditional Japanese art, and a Modern Art museum.

Kanazawa
The remote sea town of Kanazawa, about 290 km northwest of Tokyo, is a historic castle town, with streets of Samurai houses, and two geisha sections. Kenrokuen, one of the country's most famous landscaped garden, was once the Lord of the Castle's private garden.

Koyasan
Koyasan, in South Western Honshu, is a destination for Buddhist pilgrims. It's Okunoin Cemetery is also the final resting place of over 200,000 of Japan's dignitaries through the centuries.

Kyoto
The spectacular sight of an eleven-story elevator at the train station, greets visitors to Kyoto. Kyoto, once the capital of Japan, has some of the most significant temples and shrines in Japan. The spectacular Kinkaku-ji, or literally the Golden Pavilion is covered with gold leaf, is mirrored in the small lake, which is nearby. The 17th century Nijo castl, the Kiyomizu Temple, and the Nanzen Temple are places to visit in this town also famed for its pottery. The cherry-tree lined Philosopher's Walk, the Sanjusangendo with its 1000 handed statue of the goddess Kannnon, the statues of the 28 Faithful Followers, the Ryoanji Temple and the Imperial Palace are places of interest.

Kyoto is a centre of Japanese craft - the National Museum has exhibits of porcelain, lacquer ware, swords, and kimonos. The Traditional and Japanese Arts Theater demonstrate the art of flower arranging, court music and the tea ceremony. The mountain trails outside the city are great places for the more adventurous tourist to explore.

Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji, Japan's highest peak at 3,774 meters, is a volcanic cone which last erupted in 1707. It has five relatively easy trails leading to the summit. Nearby are the scenic spots of Fuji Five Lakes, hot springs at the Izu Hanto Peninsula, and the Seven Isles of Izu, which have beaches and snorkeling facilities.

Nagasaki
Nagasaki, which was destroyed along with Hiroshima in World War II, has today an industrial port. Memorials to the nuclear holocaust abound - the Atomic Bomb Museum, the ruins of what was once Asia's largest church - Urakami Cathedral, Peace Park and countless others. The Dragon Boat races are an important event during mid-August.

Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the most crowded metropolises in the world. An important economic hub, Tokyo is a mass of concrete and modernity, with curiously quiet and quant little niches of traditional Japan. Although Tokyo has been destroyed many times by floods and earthquakes, it has re-invented and rebuilt itself countless times.

Other cities and places of interest.
Many other cities of Japan have historic and cultural interest. On the island of Honshu is Nara, the first capital of Japan, and Nikko famous for its shrines, both a day trip from Tokyo. The 7th century capital of Japan, Osaka is a cultural centre where most of the country's arts, including the tea ceremony and the arts of Noh and Kabuki originated. Other places of interest are the Ryukyu Islands, where hard fought battles of World War II took place, and Sapporo - the site of the 1972 Winter Olympics.

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