The casual Californian-style Farm Grill in Ginza attracts mainly foreigners with its tasty American favourite dishes and a continuous ‘all you can drink’ special on soft drinks and beer. Lunch and dinner buffets are available. The menu features popular platters like Caesar salad and rotisserie chicken, a wide range of sandwiches and pastas and some deliciously rich desserts.
Whenever you think of Japans most famous shrines, such as Meijij Shrine in Tokyo, you may have wondered exactly why these shrines are so famous and why so many tourists flock to them. For a Western tourist, just the fact that a site is famous is enough to want to go visit it. The Japanese, however, have different reasons for visiting these places: to pray to the gods at those shrines. It’s considered good form to occasionally visit the gods. Here is a guide to the most famous Shinto gods in Japan and what they are worshipped for.
Although there is no doubt behind the purpose of love hotels in Japan, there is nothing that bars casual travelers, friends or same sex couples from staying in them. As a matter of fact, in true Japanese fashion, even the check-in process is automated, so you will likely never have to come in contact with a human being. Since love hotels are often rented by the hour, there is a high turnover and you can almost always find a room in any city, even when the regular hotels are all booked out for festivals or special events.
Love Hotels are easily recognized by their Disney style exteriors that exude romance–usually castles or palaces. There will almost always be a sign outside posting the hours and prices. There are daytime prices (by the hour) and night time prices (by the hour or all night). A typical deluxe room will typically cost 10,000 yen for the night for two people. There is no need to take towels or toiletries as all are provided, as well as a yukata robe and slippers.
Some small love hotels are family-run and have a manned front desk. These smaller places sometimes will not accept two women sleeping in the same room together, although I’ve heard that two men is no problem!
You are not expected to leave the hotel once you have checked in, so buy all your snacks and drinks to take inside beforehand.
You cannot leave your luggage at a love hotel.
Come here to pay respects to the man who made Edo the seat of his government and thus elevated the small village to the most important city in the country. The only shrine in Tokyo that’s been designated a National Treasure, Toshogu Shrine was erected in 1651 and is dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Like Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, it was built by Ieyasu’s grandson, Iemitsu, and boasts some of the same richly carved, ornate design favored by the Tokugawas.
Remarkably, it survived the civil war of 1868, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, and even World War II. The pathway to the shrine is lined with massive stone lanterns. Inside the shrine, you’ll see some exquisite art, including murals by a famous Edo artist, Kano Tan-yu, and samurai armor worn by Ieyasu. On a more somber note, a display on the grounds appeals for world peace, with graphic photos of Hiroshima following its destruction by the atomic bomb and of victims dead and alive.
There are two basic types of Japanese garden. These are "Tsukiyama" and "Karesansui". In Tsukiyama, small hills and stones represent mountains and the pond represents the sea. In "Karesansui" white sand symbolises the sea, and the stones represent hills.
Shinjuku Gyoen is regarded as being one of the most important gardens in Japan. Established on the site of an old Edo Era mansion house in 1906 (Meiji Era), it incorporates examples of Japanese, French and English landscaping. From the French garden there’s a virtually uninterrupted view of Tokyo Tower. In the Japanese garden you can take part in the tea ceremony.
I`ve just came from Amsterdam. Tired, but happy as new things, sights inspire me very much. Amsterdam is so different to Tokyo.
I was amazed the City during the day, but in the evening it seems to me as a kitschy place. We spent few days with our friends and see the most important attractions:) Our evenings were mostly chilling out:)
Design Festa is ogranized in early December. It`s considered the largest oriental art event in Asia fills the Tokyo Big Sight, at 3-21-1 Ariake koto ku, with thousands of artists, booths and visitors.
