Winter holidays in Japan
Visit. Land of the Rising Sun During the winter holidays, any tourist will be considered a good sign of fate for the coming year.
New Year's fairs, decorated with garlands of windows, Tokyo tower in festive illuminations and crowds of tourists wishing luck to every passer-by in the New Year. Before entering the Aboriginal houses, you can see the Japanese spruce - kadomatsu (in its composition branches of pine, plums, bamboo, entwined with a rope of rice straw).
Artificial Odaiba Island
In the city of the future you can get on an unmanned monorail on the "Rainbow Bridge". The Japanese call it the calling card of Tokyo. The Miraican Museum of the Future will introduce guests to a humanoid robot that can talk to people and move. The six-story pavilion features innovations in medicine, science and space.
Motorists will be able to look into the showroom of the latest Toyota models. You can see different brands of old cars in the “Retro garage”. It will be interesting for children to visit the highest Ferris wheel in the world. From a height of 115 m, an amazing view of all the beauty of Tokyo opens.
You can complete the trip with a walk along the Tokyo Embankment and a hike to one of the largest shopping centers - VenusFort. Winter holidays are a time of sales!
Pos. Hakone
From Tokyo, you can get here by high-speed train or bus. Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is the heart of Japan. On one side is the volcano and Lake Asi, on the other is Mount Fuji and its foothills. Hot springs feeding fonts, volcanic islands, lakes, pine and fir vegetation.
The Temple of the Nine-Headed Dragon is a must-see place. Legend has it that the dragon who lived in this place in ancient times devoured the most beautiful girls. The villain was caught and chained to the trunk of a cedar lying at the bottom of Lake Asi. For hundreds of years, the dragon repented, and his tears fell into the lake, made the water sacred. Since then, unmarried girls come here and ask for love and a successful marriage. Before praying, you need to pass the ritual of ablution.
Those who are expecting offspring should definitely approach cryptomeria (a tree that is over 1,200 years old) and pray for an easy birth. In one part of the temple there are weapons of medieval samurai and historical relics.
After a walk along the cedar alley, it is recommended to overcome the mountain crater lake Asi by ferry. It should be noted that the lake never freezes, so a river walk is relevant at any time of the year. Lovers, do not forget to swim through the gate-toria - "Dragon's Gate" and ask the heavenly patron for family well-being.
“The open-air museum” is considered a “Japanese miracle”, because there are about 300 works by Pablo Picasso and works by Henry Moore, Augustin Rodin and other famous sculptors, artists. Art objects attract with their ease, and under the subtle irony one feels the serious message of the authors.
Tokyo
The religious complex "Senso-ji" (or it is also called "Asakusa") was founded in the 7th century. Legend has it that in the nearby Sumida River, two brothers caught a statue of the Buddhist goddess of mercy and happiness - Kannon. Since then, she has freed all who ask from suffering.
Don't pass by the omikuji stand - it's Japanese divination. You need to shake the metal box, a bamboo stick will fall out of the hole, it has a number on it that you will pick up your prediction. If you fail, then you get rid of it - tie a knot on a special stand, and if you have luck and good luck - take it with you. Behind the gates of the temple is a shopping street - Sin Nakamise.
Shibuya is Tokyo’s most famous shopping and entertainment district. Fashion boutiques, department store corporations, expensive restaurants and modern nightclubs.
It should be noted that tourists go to this area not only for shopping and entertainment, but also their attention is attracted by the monument to the famous dog Hachiko. According to Japanese publications, this monument is of particular importance, because at its opening was attended by the same Hachiko, who waited for his deceased owner for seven years.
Relatively inexpensive shops can be seen on Takeshita Street. Usually tourists go here for souvenirs, buying Japanese paraphernalia as a gift. As a rule, these are fans, kimono, umbrellas, porcelain geishas, copies of samurai swords, statuettes of cats invoking happiness, Japanese sticks, paper lanterns, green tea.
Traditional Japanese dish will bring the desired flavor on the day of the tourist. Of course, a truly Japanese dish will be considered sushi and rolls. For Russian tourists, these dishes have already entered the diet.
We recommend getting acquainted with the "ramen". It's combo one and two together. Ramen is an assortment of wheat or rice porridge seasoned with eggs, green onions, algae, basically chicken or meat broth.
Fans of fast food should try Japanese burger-okonomiyaki. The basis of the cake includes grated cabbage or pumpkin, flour, cheese, egg and water. After baking, the product is soaked in soy sauce and sprinkled with sliced tuna flesh.
The average air temperature in winter is +7, sometimes the thermometer drops to sub-zero temperature.
Pay attention to important details:
Exchange money for local currency - Japanese yen can be in banks, postal offices
offices, in specialized exchange offices, but the most successful exchange can be made at the airport at a favorable rate;
Do not forget that the time difference with Moscow will be 6 hours.
Do not allow ignorance, because in Japan it is not customary to leave a tip, you need to pay strictly on the check, the tip left can be taken as an insult.
This is only a small part of the Japanese culture. In your trip, make time for the temple "Todai-ji" (there is a 15-meter statue of Buddha), the castle "Osaka" (its walls are decorated with gold leaf), the waterfall "Kegon" (a landmark of the National Park "Nikko"), the bamboo forest "Arasiyami" (only there you can hear forest music).
Text: Irina Poplavskaya