Located right in the heart of America Mura is Mitsu Park. Commonly known as Sankaku Park (triangle park) because of its shape, this spot is a magnet for young people all day long and doubles as a convenient meeting place.
This museum is linked to the Yotsuya Fire Department. Here you can see exhibits of actual equipment, including the first fire engine introduced to Japan in 1917, as well as the helitack first brought into the Tokyo Fire Department. In addition, you can sit in the helitack set up outside. Why not try considering some disaster prevention?
The Tokyo Central Post Office was one of the first postal offices established in Japan in 1871. In 2012, it was moved to the current location that is now the bottom layer building of JP Tower, and has been drawing attention as one of Japan’s tourist spots. The products such as the clear document holders, masking tapes and postcards with the motif of Tokyo Marunouchi Station Building which can only be bought at the Tokyo Central Post Office is popular as a new Tokyo souvenir. If you post a postcard in the mailbox set around various places in Tokyo Station, they will seal it with the date stamp which has the scenery of Tokyo station.
This museum conserves and exhibits arts collected by the Sumitomo family, with its main building located in Shishiga-tani, Kyoto. The collection is composed of various and diverse items, such as modern Japanese and Western paintings, modern pottery and chinaware, tea utensils, and Noh masks and costumes collected from the middle of the Meiji era to Taisho era. Despite being in the middle of Roppongi, it is surrounded by greenery and is a quiet environment, which lets you forget about time and appreciate the arts to your heart's content.
Experience the intriguing allure of Kabukicho, a pulsating locale situated in the heart of Tokyo's Shinjuku, celebrated by LIVE JAPAN readers. An acclaimed adult-oriented nightlife hub, Kabukicho brims with diverse entertainment avenues. Crossing under the iconic "Kabukicho Ichibangai Arch" transports you into a thrilling world of izakayas, snack bars, and clubs, each mirroring the city's vibrant nocturnal spirit. Explore the nighttime wonders of Kabukicho and experience the unique vitality of Tokyo's after-dark scene.
If you come to Shibamata, the Tora-san Museum is an absolute must-visit. As explained earlier, it is all about the film series Otoko wa Tsurai yo that revolves around the wandering salesman Tora-san and his sheer eternal story of his unsuccessful love life. Running between 1969 and 1995, it holds the world record for the world’s longest-running movie series starring a single actor. As such, Otoko wa Tsurai yo and its endearing main protagonist, played by Kiyoshi Atsumi, has a large fandom not only in Japan. The museum itself was opened in 1997. Even if you have never heard of this show up until now, the Tora-san Museum is well-worth the visit. The dumpling store and print shop of the series have been faithfully recreated, offering not only a nostalgic paradise for fans of Otoko wa Tsurai yo but also a very authentic glimpse into Tokyo’s 60s and 70s. Other parts of the museum take you even further back: beautiful dioramas show how Shibamata has looked back in the 1930s when Tora-san was a child. There even is a life-sized wagon of a man-powered tramway as it was used decades ago! For fans of Otoko wa Tsurai yo, we highly recommend also visiting the Yoji Yamada Museum, dedicated to the director of the series and many other movie masterpieces – it’s right next to the Tora-san Museum.
A Brilliant Firework Festival with an Ever-changing Theme
Zushi Beach is a beach facing Sagami Bay that is popular among many people, young and old, and is full of bathers in the summer.
The place along the beach where Omiya-no Matsu (pine tree of Omiya) and a statue of Kanichi and Omiya are situated is the most photographed place in Atami. The bronze statue is based on the novel, Konjiki Yasha (The Golden Demon), written by Koyo Ozaki, which gained popularity in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The novel greatly helped make the name of Atami known throughout Japan.
Built in 1919 as a private villa, the former Japanese inn Kiunkaku is one of the Three Great Villas of Atami. Around thirty years later, in 1947, it was turned into a ryokan, meaning a traditional Japanese inn, highly valued and loved by many creative minds such as novelists Osamu Dazai and Junichiro Tanizaki. Nowadays, it is open to the public as one of Atami’s designated tangible cultural assets. The main building in the lush and vast garden is built in a distinctive Japanese style, while mosaics on the walls and stained glass windows are reminiscent of Western aesthetics, creating a wonderful, historical fusion between East and West.
Built in 1933, this large museum is the second old municipal art museum in Japan. The collection extends to about 3,300 pieces centered on Kyoto artists from the modern to contemporary period. The museum holds art exhibitions such as Nitten (the largest competition art exhibition in Japan) as well as events organized by fine art associations.
Haibara is a washi shop in Nihonbashi that has been around for over 200 years. They sell various types of washi, from letters sets to kazari fans and paper products. The shop is also for the fact that Takehisa Yumeji, an artist famous for drawing beautiful women in the Taisho period (1912 - 1926) designed many of the patterns for this shop's letter writing sets, envelopes and uchiwas. The ”Jabara (rickrack/zigzag) letter writing set” is the shop's most popular item, with dotted lines at every folding point, and you can just tear off the part you need to use.
Towering about 700 meters high, Mt. Maya lies in the central part of Rokko mountain range. The night view of Kobe seen from Kikuseidai near the mountaintop is famous as one of new three best night views in Japan. Legend has it that the name comes from the fact that Kobo-Daishi enshrined the statue of Shaka’s mother, Maya, on the mountain.
Located just north of Hokke-do in the Todai-ji Temple complex, Nigatsu-do is known as a place where Shuni-e (Omizu-tori or Sacred Water-drawing Festival) takes place every March. Nigatsu-do was named so since Shuni-e was held in February (nigatsu in Japanese) in the old calendar. Fire destroyed it in 1667, but two years later the current building was reconstructed exactly as it was before the fire. The building's design features a cascading style of architecture, and provides a commanding view of the roof of the Great Buddha Hall and Nara city. The principal image is the Juichimen Kannon, which is never shown to the public.
Nikkotei Oyu is a time-honored inn, which is popular among one-day tourists to enjoy hot spring bathing. There is an open-air bath surrounded by bamboo trees, which is large enough to accommodate some 20 people. There is also a room for up to five people, which is recommended for a family.
This is a natural pond in the premises of Ueno Park, with a circumference of about two kilometers. In the summer, beautiful lotuses are in full bloom. You can also enjoy boating.
This is Japan's major video community site Niconico Douga's showroom. Niconico allows individual users to host live broadcasts, and they also provide various anime and gaming shows catering to die-hard fans streamed live over the internet. The Niconico main office's studio is the one responsible for these live broadcasts. Aside from being able to watch public live broadcasts of some of the programs, they also have cafes and event spaces with electricity and Wi-Fi, as well as shops which sell original merchandise. Try to get a peek at their internet broadcasting office.
This open-air bath is right next to Shirahama Beach. Since you can wear a swimsuit while soaking in this pool-like bathtub, it's convenient to visit after a day at the beach. The hot water that springs from its own source is constantly replenished, ensuring the water is always fresh. During the non-summer seasons, it's used as a footbath instead.