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Located at the
Maihama district is the most famous theme park
in Japan, the Tokyo Disneyland. The journey to
Tokyo Disneyland by train from Tokyo Station
takes only about seventeen minutes. It has
developed into the all-embracing Tokyo Disney
Resort due to the recent additions of the
IKSPIARI shopping complex as well as 'Disney
Sea' which offers plenty of sea-related
attractions which can both be enjoyed by
children and adults.
One of the first
Japanese cities that opened up to foreign
residents during the Meiji Restoration which is
now a bustling port city with many historic
buildings and the spacious Sankei-en Garden is
Yokohama, Japan's second largest city. The trip
by rail takes only thirty minutes from Tokyo.
The 'Minato Mirai 21' district on the
waterfront, highly popular among the young
people, offers enjoyable shopping and amazing
gourmet experience. Yokohama's Chinatown is
well known for its delicious food as shown by
the many excellent Chinese restaurants.
Traveling one hour
from Tokyo by train will take you to Kamakura, a
small quiet coastal town with tranquil temples.
Once the seat of the feudal government set up in
1192, the town still manages to preserve much of
its ancient and historical heritage. The giant
bronze Great Buddha is the most well known
tourist attraction in Kamakura. This
extraordinary 'Daibutsu' is 11.4 meters high and
weighs 122 tons and is located in open-air. Near
the Kamakura Station is the Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu Shrine. Many other Buddhist temples
can also be found in this area. A leisurely
stroll here takes you back to the 12th
century Kamakura period. Tourists will be
greeted by beautiful flowers and blossoms of the
season here.
One and a half hour
from Tokyo's Shinjuku Railway Station will bring
you to Hakone. Hakone is a popular hot spring
resort area set in the beautiful mountains which
comprise the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. A
major attraction here is the Open-Air Museum
which displays hundred of sculptures. Relaxing
in one of the many hot springs here or cruising
around Lake Ashi to view Mount Fuji (Mt. Fuji) is
simply a once in a lifetime experience. In
Owakudani, steam and sulfurous fumes rise from
crevices in the rocks. It is a wonderful place
to take photos here to show your friends back at
home.
Mt. Fuji is Japan's
tallest mountain at 3,776 m. It also represents
one of Japan's famous icon. In addition to being
a favored climbing site during the months of
July and August, Mt. Fuji is the center of a
wide-ranging natural recreation zone which
includes the Fuji Five Lakes district to the
north, which provides extensive opportunities
for boating, camping, fishing, hiking and
picnicking.
The Izu Peninsula,
located south of Hakone, is an important
recreational area known for its hot spring
resorts. The peninsula's scenic background is
formed by the hot spring and waterfall-rich
Amagi Mountain Range. The Seven Islands of Izu
collectively form a fantastic resort area
combining striking seascape attractions and hot
springs as well as impressive volcanic
topography. Oshima Island, a popular resort, is
slightly more than two hours speed boat ride
from Tokyo, thus even allowing for a day trip.
Nikko, which can be
reached by a two hour train journey from Tokyo,
is both a gem of natural beauty and home to one
of the must-sees of Japanese architectures.
Nikko's most famous place of interest is the
Toshogu Shrine which houses the mausoleum of the
founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. The complex
is unusual among Japanese architectural gems for
its display of opulence and decorative
complexity. The shrines and temples of Nikko is
classified under the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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