During the Meiji Restoration (1868–1912), Japan rushed to catch up with the powerful, influential Western countries in order to become equal competitors. The nation saw the need to modernize by following the manner in which the U.S. and Europe ..
Everyone who lives here in Japan—Japanese and foreigners alike—admire the port city of Yokohama. This is mainly due to the marked contrasts of her very pretty face: Yokohama offers a wonderful mix of new and old, hills and bay, elegance and casualness! The brilliant Minato Mirai area, wo..
Odawara is a town situated on Sagami Bay along the Tokaido Line coast, fairly close to Mt. Fuji. It is best know for the beautiful Odawara Castle, and for being the gateway to the Hakone hot springs resort area, and the Fuji-Hakone National Park. It is the western-most point of Kanagawa Prefecture..
Kamakura is pure Japan. Often called “the little Kyoto”, Kamakura has hundreds of temples scattered around the hilly, green city and is only 1 hour from Tokyo by train. Kamakura is also where the first samurai government was established in 1185. The very first shogun, Minamoto-no Yorito..
Yokohama Chinatown, or Chūkagai, is the largest in Japan. It’s located in central Yokohama. A large number of Chinese stores and restaurants can be found in the streets of Chinatown. Various events and festivals such as Chinese New Ye..
Odawara is a beautiful city located just an hour south of Tokyo. The city is nestled between the Hakone mountains and Sagami Bay. The city is a Shinkansen stop and famous for its well kept castle just a few minutes walk from the station. The town'..
Menba Hamatora (麺場浜虎) serves up several varieties of ramen at this hidden gem of a ramen shop just north of Yokohama station. Hamatora tries to set itself apart from your average shop, and a noticeable construction site-esque vibe certainly hammers ..
Yokohama has so much to offer that very few people really know what is actually available. It is a walkable city with something interesting around every corner. One way to discover many of the famous attractions is to find a hotel with a central loc..
Located only a short walk from Kawasaki station and amongst the hustle and bustle of Isago; Hotel on the Marks is the perfect place to base yourself for your stay in Kawasaki. Chic, clean and cheap seems to be the mantra for this boutique style hotel..
For travelers to Hakone who want a truly Japanese experience, but who also want to be taken care of by a very foreigner-friendly staff, the Mount View Hakone is a perfect accommodation choice. This privately owned ryokan-hotel is located in the beau..
Kamakura is one of the most touristy places in Japan. On my first visit, I was guided to such places as Asakusa, Mt. Fuji, and Kamakura. Of course, I took the photos of the main sights, such as the temples, shrines, and statues. But, I was fascinated..
Kamakura is a small coastal town nearly 50 km from Tokyo, and it offers a pleasant stroll through historical sites and a variety of temples and shrines, as well as the view of the second biggest Buddha statue in Japan. Apart from the historical cent..
When people think about Kamakura, the first things that come to mind are probably the Great Buddha, its beaches, the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu and many other shrines and temples. History buffs may also recognize it for being the de facto capital of Japan..
