Tourists in Kyoto enjoy a ride in a rickshaw in front of Nonomiya Shrine

Tourists visit spots in all prefectures in Japan. Among these quiet national parks, centuries-old Buddhist temples and shrines, and the high-technology shopping areas of Akihabara. These spots can be reached by trains, buses, walking, and taxi. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x638, 284 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Tourism in Japan ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (850x638, 284 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Tourism in Japan ... Kyōto ) (lit. ... Japanese rickshaws c. ... The prefectures of Japan are the countrys 47 sub-national jurisdictions: one metropolis (都 to), Tokyo; one circuit (道 dō), Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures (府 fu), Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures (県 ken). ... Buddhism (also known as Buddha Dharma, the teachings of the awakened one) is a religion, a practical philosophy, and arguably a psychology, focusing on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (Pali: Gotama Buddha), who lived on the Indian subcontinent in or around the fifth century BCE (review article). ... The Angkor Wat Hindu temple in Cambodia is the largest in the world. ... A torii is a gate leading to a jinja. ... Akihabara (秋葉原) is also known as Akihabara Electric Town (Akihabara Denki Gai). ...

Traveling Tips

Customs

There are no stringent religious obligations nor criminal punishments because of them. Most Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples permit photography, though the use of tripods and flash might be restricted both there and at castles, gardens, museums, and elsewhere. Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

Language

This kōban in Ginza is a favorite meeting place.

Major tourist spots and trains have displays in both Japanese and English. The Japan National Tourist Organization provides free travel guides, and books are available on how to travel in Japan. When one gets lost, it would be helpful to find a kōban (police box) or a large store and ask for help. If one is unable to communicate verbally, then it could prove useful to carry a pen and paper around, as Japanese are generally better at reading English than speaking it. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (820x1000, 234 KB) Koban Police Box Ginza Tokyo Japan This photograph shows a koban (police box) in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (820x1000, 234 KB) Koban Police Box Ginza Tokyo Japan This photograph shows a koban (police box) in the Ginza district of Tokyo, Japan. ... The Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan The Wako department store occupies a busy corner in Ginza Ginza (銀座) is a place in Chūō Ward, Tokyo named after the silver coin foundry or Ginza established here in 1612 (Edo period). ... The Japan National Tourist Organization (国際観光振興機構 Kokusai Kankō Shinkō Kikō) or JNTO provides information about Japan to promote travel to and in the country. ... This koban is a landmark in the Ginza district of Tokyo A kōban (交番) is a Japanese police box. ...

Money

The yen is the currency in use throughout the country. Exchange services are available at the airport, larger post offices, and banks. Automatic teller machines in Japanese post offices accept check and debit cards in the Plus and Cirrus networks. Most larger stores and hotels that deal with a lot of foreign tourists accept credit cards, but in smaller stores and in the countryside credit cards are generally not accepted. Tipping is discouraged in Japan. Carrying around large amounts of money is generally safe, as crime rates are low. Few establishments accept personal checks. ISO 4217 Code JPY User(s) Japan Inflation rate -0. ... Addition is one of the basic operations of arithmetic. ... Cirrus can refer to: a type of cloud, cirrus cloud a car produced by DaimlerChrysler, Chrysler Cirrus a German rocket, cirrus (rocket) a trance music group, Cirrus (music group) an interbank network (ATM network) by MasterCard, Cirrus (interbank network) a British aircraft engine company, Cirrus Engine an aircraft company, Cirrus...

Shopping

Major department stores and gift shops wrap items for little or no fees. Electronics are available for Japan's 100 volt electric supply as well as for overseas specifications; buyers should ask sales personnel whether an item can be used in any particular country. Models made for the international market have worldwide warranties; others may have warranties valid only within Japan. The national 5% consumption tax on all products can be waived for large purchases which will be taken out of the country. A sales tax is a tax on consumption. ...

Trouble

Even with a rising crime rate, Japan remains one of the safest countries in the world. There is only a little chance of being a victim and it is generally safe to walk around at night. The emergency telephone numbers are 110 for the police department and 119 for the fire and ambulance services.

Popular sightseeing spots in Japan

Cenotaph and Peace Museum in Hiroshima

The colossal Buddha at Tōdai-ji in Nara towers over the priest in the foreground.

The Fuji Five Lakes have wonderful views of Mount Fuji.

Hōryū-ji in Nara Prefecture

• Hiroshima Prefecture:
  • Hiroshima Peace Memorial - The remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Promotion Hall after the atomic bombing.
  • Hiroshima Castle
  • Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, home of the Carp
  • Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site

• Hyogo Prefecture:
  • Himeji Castle - One of the finest surviving 17th century Japanese castles.
  • Kobe - Port, Chinatown, Western influence, cruise on Inland Sea

• Kyoto Prefecture:
  • 1600 Buddhist temples, 400 Shinto shrines
  • Nijo Castle
  • Kyoto Imperial Palace
  • Various Japanese gardens
  • Uji, including the Byōdō-in
  • Amanohashidate, one of the Three Views of Japan

• Nara Prefecture:
  • Tōdai-ji - The world's largest wooden building hosting the world's largest gilded bronze Buddha; part of UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Hōryū-ji - The world's oldest wooden building hosting 115 of the National Treasures and 1,955 of the important cultural properties; the 1st UNESCO World Heritage Site of Japan.
  • Other Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines including Kasuga Shrine
  • The remains of the Heijō Palace

• Traditional towns:
  • Nakasendo - one of the roads from Old Tokyo (Edo) and Kyoto passes through the Nagano prefecture. Some of the post towns (shuku) along this road have been preserved and show the lifestyles of both the commoners and the high ranking officials.
  • Gassho-zukuri are traditional style houses from the mountain region of Gifu prefecture. A visit to Shirakawago and Takayama are well worth the effort. In Takayama be sure to visit Hida No Sato, an outdoor museum that allows you to walk around the inside of the houses, visit the tea house for free tea and senbei, and enjoy walk around the village.

• Tochigi Prefecture:
  • Nikko - Nikkō Tōshō-gū, mausoleum and shrine to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu; other nearby temples and shrines

• Miyagi Prefecture:
  • Matsushima, one of the Three Views of Japan

Other common spots to visit: Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1500x1000, 460 KB) Cenotaph and Peace Museum, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1500x1000, 460 KB) Cenotaph and Peace Museum, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan. ... Image File history File links The bronze Daibutsu of Todai temple in Nara is 16 meters high and weighs 500 tons. ... Image File history File links The bronze Daibutsu of Todai temple in Nara is 16 meters high and weighs 500 tons. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1771x1214, 503 KB) Mount Fuji, boundary of Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1771x1214, 503 KB) Mount Fuji, boundary of Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... View of Mt. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The headquarters of the government of the prefecture are in this building in the city of Hiroshima. ... Citizens of the city pass by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial on their way to a memorial ceremony on August 6, 2004 Hiroshima Peace Memorial, called Gembaku Dome (原爆ドーム), the Atomic Bomb Dome, or the A-Bomb Dome by the Japanese is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Hiroshima, Japan. ... Hiroshima Castle Hiroshima Castle (広島城,Hiroshima-jō), sometimes called Carp Castle (鯉城,Rijō) is a castle in Hiroshima, Japan which was the home of the daimyō (feudal lord) of the Hiroshima han (fief). ... Hiroshima Municipal Stadium is a stadium in Hiroshima, Japan. ... The torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the sites most recognizable landmark, appears to float in the water. ... Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県 Hyōgo-ken) is located in the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... view from Nishi-no-maru Himeji Castle (姫路城; -jō) is a Japanese castle located in Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture. ... Port Tower at night For the basketball star Kobe Bryant go here. ... The Inland Sea and its major straits with the bay of Osaka (dashed) The torii of Itsukushima Shrine is one of the most popular tourist spots of the Inland Sea. ... Kyōto Prefecture (京都府; Kyōto-fu) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Nijō Castle (二条城; -jō) is located in Kyoto, Japan. ... Kyoto Gosho (京都御所), or Kyoto Palace, was the Imperial Palace of Japan for much of its history, from the Heian Period, when the Imperial capital was moved from Nara to Heian-kyo, now called Kyoto, until the Meiji Restoration, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. ... Stone lantern amid plants. ... Byodoin Uji (Japanese: 宇治市; -shi) is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. ... Byodoin Phoenix Hall Built in 998 in the Heian period, Byōdōin (平等院) is a temple in the city of Uji in Kyoto prefecture in Japan. ... Amanohashidate as seen from the west Amanohashidate (天橋立) is one of Japans three scenic views. ... Three Views of Japan (Nihon sankei) 1. ... Nara Prefecture (奈良県; Nara-ken) is part of the Kinki region on Honshu Island, Japan. ... Main hall of Tōdai-ji Tōdai-ji (東大寺), the Eastern Great Temple, is a Buddhist temple in Nara, Japan. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ... Horyu-ji. ... UNESCO logo UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ... Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ... Kasuga Shrine The Kasuga Shrine (Japanese: 春日大社, Kasuga-taisha) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... The restored Suzakumon (gate) of Heijo Palace Heijo Palace ) in Nara, was the Imperial Palace of Japan during the Nara Period (710-784 CE). ... The Nakasendō (中山道) was one of two Tokugawa-era roads connecting Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto in Japan. ... Kyōto ) (lit. ... Minka (born September 7, 1970) is the stage name of a big-bust model, stripper and pornographic actress. ... Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県 Tochigi-ken) is a located in the Kanto region on the island of Honshu, Japan. ... Great Gate, Nikko, circa 1860-1900. ... Nikkō Tōshō-gÅ« (日光東照宮) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line of shoguns in Japan. ... Shogun ) is a military rank and historical title in Japan. ... Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokugawa Ieyasu (previously spelled Iyeyasu); 徳川 家康 (January 31, 1543 – June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. ... Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県; Miyagi-ken) is located in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island, Japan. ... Categories: Japan geography stubs ...

• Three Views of Japan - Japan's most famous scenic spots.
• Tokyo:
  • See Tourism in Tokyo
• Kanagawa Prefecture:
  • Yokohama - The first city that opened to foreigners in the Edo period.
• Mount Fuji

Famous events in Japan: Three Views of Japan (Nihon sankei) 1. ... Tokyo , literally eastern capital) is the capital of Japan and one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. ... Tokyo has many tourist attractions. ... Kanagawa Prefecture ) is a prefecture located in the southern Kanto region of Honshu, Japan. ... Yokohama ) is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture and Japans largest incorporated city,[1] with a population of 3. ... Mount Fuji Mount Fuji , IPA: ) is the highest mountain in Japan. ...

• Hokkaido
  • Sapporo Snow Festival

For the dog breed, see Hokkaido (dog). ... A palace entirely made of snow The Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり Sapporo Yuki-matsuri) is a famous yearly festival held in Sapporo, Japan over seven days in February. ...

Sports

A sumo match

Professional, company, university, and amateur athletes compete in sports throughout Japan. Sumo match at the Kokugikan sumo arena (Ozeki Kaio vs. ... Sumo match at the Kokugikan sumo arena (Ozeki Kaio vs. ...

• Sumo, especially six annual Grand Sumo tournaments at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan and in Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka
• Baseball at stadiums such as the Tokyo Dome
• Soccer, especially the professional J. League

Sumo ) is a competition contact sport where two wrestlers or rikishi face off in a circular area. ... Nagoya Castle Nagoya (名古屋市; -shi) is the fourth largest (third largest metropolitan region) and the third most prosperous city in Japan. ... Osaka ) is the capital of Osaka Prefecture and the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... Fukuoka City Hall Mayor Hirotaro Yamasaki Address 〒810-8620 Fukuoka-shi, Chuo-ku, Tenjin 1-8-1 Phone number 092-711-4111 Official website: Fukuoka City Fukuoka (福岡市; -shi) is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan, across... Koshien Stadium (in 1992) Baseball has been a popular sport in Japan for over a century since its introduction in 1872. ... Tōkyō Dome (東京ドーム Tōkyō Dōmu, TYO: 9681 ) is a 55,000-seat stadium located in Bunkyo Ward of Tokyo, Japan. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Japan Professional Football League ), or J. League ), is the top professional soccer league in Japan, and the most successful professional football league in Asia. ...

Japan National Tourist Organization

The Japan National Tourist Organization, or JNTO, is provided so that visitors who do not speak Japanese can enjoy traveling in Japan more easily. The Japan National Tourist Organization (国際観光振興機構 Kokusai Kankō Shinkō Kikō) or JNTO provides information about Japan to promote travel to and in the country. ...

See also

• World Heritage Sites in Japan
• National treasures of Japan

This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Asia, Australia and the Pacific (Australasia). ... Jomon vessel with flame-like ornamentation, a national treasure of Japan. ...

References

• Japan National Tourist Organization

External links

• Open Directory Project Japan Tourism Guide
• The Japan FAQ
• Townpage Route Search - Rail fare calculator
• Japan-Guide travel guide