TRENDING DESTINATIONS

T R E N D I N G DESTINATIONS

HIROSHIMA, OKAYAMA, AOMORI, YAMAGATA, NARA, FUKUI, HYOGO, ISHIKAWA

All of Japan’s upcoming destinations are easily accessible by Shinkansen (bullet train) and local trains or cars from Tokyo or Osaka. Upon arriving at international airports with a direct  ight from the middle east, you will surely access many attractive destinations with beautiful nature and tradition.

History and Culture

HIROSHIMA

TIME FOR REFLECTION Believed to date back to 593, Itsukushima Shrine has been revered as a guardian deity of the nation and seafarers for more than 1,400 years. In 1996, this ancient shrine was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and nowadays tourists come from around the world to gaze at the awe-inspiring Grand Torii Gate rising from the sea.

Itsukushima Shrine is said to grant worshippers various kinds of blessings, including tra c safety, good fortune, academic success, and matrimonial bliss. A one-hour ferry ride from Hiroshima Station, this majestic shrine gives you not only breathtaking scenery, but also a still tranquility to soothe your mind.

Hiroshima is well-known throughout the world as one of two Japanese cities to su er catastrophic atomic bombings in the last days of World War II.  e Hiroshima Peace Memorial – commonly known as the “Atomic Bomb Dome” – symbolizes the hope that such a tragedy will never be repeated, and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  e Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was designed by internationally renowned architect TANGE Kenzo.  e monument clock at the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims faces the direction of the atomic blast’s epicentre and is frozen at 8:15, the moment the bomb fell.  ese memorials are sacred places where you can take a moment to re ect and pray for peace at the site of one of the most horri c tragedies in human history.

OKAYAMA

HISTORICAL CHARM TO FEEL Okayama Castle’s long history dates back more than 400 years to the Edo period (1603–1868). Over the

centuries, the town area grew and prospered surrounding Okayama Castle and nearby Okayama Korakuen Garden.

Today, the streetscape is lined with white-walled historical buildings renovated to house modern cafes and shops.  e area is known as the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter: a beautifully preserved historical district. Viewed from the vantage point of a river boat, the historical district exudes the charm of a modern castle town, transporting you back in time. Easy to access, it is located approximately 15 minutes by train from Okayama Station. It is also home to artisans whose beautifully cra ed, uniquely Japanese glass handicra s provide a rich selection of souvenirs that your family and friends are sure to treasure. Here you can experience a sense of a nity for a lifestyle rooted in uniquely Japanese living.

Located within the Bikan Historical District, the Kojima area is famed as the birthplace of Japanese jeans. Here you can purchase jeans with an international reputation for high quality.  e  ne cra smanship evident in the button attachment and sewing gives you a sense of the meticulous artisanal manufacturing spirit so characteristic of products made in Japan. Enjoy selecting whichever denimwear items take your fancy and creating your very own oneof-a-kind “Japan quality” fashion.

Nature and Beauty

AOMORI

SAKURA BEAUTY AT CASTLE Hirosaki Castle is located in Aomori, the northernmost part of Honshu. If you are searching for a sakura (cherry blossom) experience, this is the place. Surrounded by 2,600 cherry trees, and home to Japan’s oldest 130 year-old Somei-yoshino cherry tree, Hirosaki Castle is one of the three most iconic blossom-viewing locations in Japan.

At the end of April, the sakura trees

CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE PAGE:

Itsukushima Shrine; the Kojima area is known as the birthplace of Japanese jeans; Hirosaki Castle; the Hiroshima Peace Memorial

are in full bloom and their petals  ll the air, collecting on the surface of the moat, creating a spring phenomenon called hana-ikada (ra of  owers).

Built in 1610, the castle has lost its main tower, but many of the original structures remain, including the beautiful stone walls and moats.  e current castle tower is three-stories tall, and was reconstructed in 1810. From the castle tower, you can gaze out on Mt. Iwaki, also called Tsugaru Fuji due to its resemblance to Mt. Fuji.  e view from Hirosaki Castle, of cherry blossoms and Mt. Iwaki spreading out below, is a scene that has not changed since ancient times. In addition to cherry blossoms, you can experience seasonal spectacles such as the summer lotus, autumn foliage, or walk through the winter garden.

YAMAGATA

NOSTARGIC ONSEN TOWN Ginzan Onsen (silver mountain springs), located in Yamagata, is a hidden town encompassed by mountains and forest.  e spa town has such a mysterious and evocative atmosphere that you might feel as though you’ve fallen into a Japanese famous animation  lm: Spirited Away. Most of the structures were built during the early 20th century and have a unique nostalgic quality.

As its name suggests, Ginzan Onsen once  ourished as a silver mine during the 17th century. When the production of silver ceased, people moved away, but it was revived as a hot spring in the early 18th century.

At Ginzan Onsen, you can soak in the inn’s private mineral-rich hot spring baths, while admiring scenic views. A erward, an extravagant Japanese banquet, composed of numerous dishes incorporating seasonal foods from the surrounding mountains. You will be spirited away!

ABOVE: Ginzan Onsen is a hidden town encompassed by mountains and forest. BELOW: Nara Park

Tradition and Art

NARA

HEART OF TRADITION Nara Park is most famous among tourists for its friendly herd of over 1,300 wild deer.

Nara residents have long believed deer to be the messengers of Shinto deities, and have protected the animals, which are now designated National Natural Monuments. Aside from being lovely to watch, the deer love to be fed by hand; some even politely bow when you o er them a Shika-senbei (special deer crackers sold in the park). All across the sprawling parklands, you will  nd deer, relaxed and adding enchantment to the scenery.

But the signi cance of the site extends beyond the deers’ charms, and Nara Park holds a place of great historical and artistic importance in Japan.

In the 8th Century, Nara was the capital of Japan, and it is here that Buddhism was  rst introduced from China. Todaiji Temple’s massive 15-metre-high bronze statue of Buddha, housed in the world’s largest wooden building, was created during this period.

Kofukuji Temple and Nara National Museum exhibit national treasures, Buddhist sculptures, and precious artifacts. Each autumn, the museum also displays collections re ecting the culture of the Middle East imported via the Silk Road. Elegant examples of Japanese indigenous religious architecture can also be found here.

Kasuga Taisha Shrine, painted in a vivid vermillion, is stunningly situated in a green avenue of old cedar trees.  e whole area of Nara Park will take you into the ancient and sacred world. It’s about an hour from Osaka Station and Kyoto Station by train and bus.

With its traditional history, Nara embraces a rich variety of UNESCO World Heritage, such as Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.

FUKUI

SHARP EDGE OF CRAFTS Echizen, located in Fukui, just northeast of Kyoto, is renowned for its highly re ned traditional cra s, including washi paper, traditional wooden

tansu (storage furniture), and also fantastic forged knives. At the Echizen Washi Village and Fukui Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, you can appreciate the sophisticated skills of traditional artisans.

Now designated as an Important Traditional Cra by the Japanese government, blade-forging began in Echizen 700 years ago. A sword cra sman from Kyoto sought out the ideal place for making blades, and chose Echizen for its suitable water supply.  e sword-maker also began utilizing his forging techniques to bene t local farmers, by creating superior sickles, knives, and other tools. Word spread of the quality of these blades, and using the sword maker’s techniques, a successful industry grew.

Japanese swords, unlike everyday tools for farmers, have long been thought objects of worship.  ese iconic accessories are meant to symbolize power and in many cases are more considered elaborate works of art rather than practical weapons.  ey are notable for blades of remarkable strength and sharpness, acquired from a complex process of forging.

Much of the mastery used to make Japanese swords goes into making Echizen knives.

Some cra smen conduct workshops where you can experience the magic of forging your own blade. Masters will guide you through the entire process, from heating the metal, to hammer forging, to attaching the handle to your creation. Japanese knives are

world-renown, but imagine taking home one that you made yourself — a priceless souvenir.

HYOGO

MOSQUES AND MEAT You can  nd Japan’s oldest purposebuilt mosque in Kobe, a major port city in Hyogo. It’s near Osaka. A er Japan’s period of more than nearly 300 years of isolation, only  ve ports were opened to trade in the mid-19th century.

Kobe was one of these  ve, and the port  lled with numerous ships and foreigners. Some visitors stayed, and made their lives in Kobe. During the early 20th century, the population of Muslim settlers in the city grew, and believers of Islam established a fund to build a mosque, the Kobe Muslim Masjid, in 1935.  e mosque’s architecture features a solid three-story structure with basement, which survived both the bombings of World War II and the Great Hanshin Earthquake, and is distinguished by a large dome and two minarets.  anks to the city’s Muslim residents and the local acceptance and respect for diverse cultures, halalcerti cated foods are available in the city.  is means you can safely feast on the city’s world-famous, locally raised Kobe beef at halal restaurants. Kobe beef is characterized by a slightly sweet, lean meat, beautifully marbled with fat.

It is beef that virtually melts in your mouth, and it will leave you with an unforgettably delicious taste of Kobe.

ABOVE: Kenrokuen

BELOW FROM LEFT:

Echizen is renowned for its highly refined traditional crafts; Kobe Muslim Masjid

ISHIKAWA

PERFECT LANDSCAPES AND CONTEMPORARY ARTS Located in the heart of Ishikawa, Kenrokuen is renowned as one of Japan’s most beautiful traditional landscape gardens.  e garden’s long history dates back to 1583, when it was originally built by the rulers of the Kaga Domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture). Over generations, it was carefully sculptured using the gardening techniques of each era, ultimately creating the “perfect” Japanese landscape garden form.

Designed in accordance with Shenxian thought, Kenrokuen features an expansive pond representing the ocean. In the centre of this ‘ocean’ lies an island, the purported home of a wizard possessing the secret to eternal youth and longevity. Embodying the domain lords’ desire for longevity and perpetual prosperity, Kenrokuen will give you a particularly Japanese perspective on nature.

Close by Kenrokuen and approximately 10 minutes by car from Kanazawa Station is the 21st

Century Museum of Contemporary

Art, Kanazawa. Here you can see a comprehensive collection of contemporary artworks by both Japanese and international artists. Designed by SANAA – a Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning Japanese unit – the museum building is transparent, its open ambiance inviting you to experience new encounters.  e museum frequently features works from young Japanese artists, providing a window into current trends.