The Mt. Shosha Ropeway (書写山ロープウェイ, Shoshazan Rōpuwei?) is Japanese aerial lift line in Himeji, Hyōgo, operated by the city government. The actual operation is entrusted to Shinki Bus (神姫バス, Shinki Bus?), a local bus company. Opened in 1958, the line climbs Mount Shosha of Engyō-ji, a famous temple.
Kyoto is an excellent hub to immerse yourself in cultural and artistic exhibitions.
I think main cities in Japan are a melting pot of cultures as evidently seen in the different subcultures in fashion and art – and in the community. Interracial marriages are not uncommon.
It’s a beautiful thing when two individuals from different cultural backgrounds decides to share a life together. All the details and differences between two cultures can create a unique bond and understanding between two people and to all couples who are in an interracial relationship, you would understand how it is being such relationships.
In Japan, it is not uncommon to see two different people in a relationship but is not common to see couples from different backgrounds bring their different cultures together in one show to include the world in the their lives. This Kyoto couple did just that:
An international couple in Kyoto are turning their cross-cultural experiences into creative works: The husband has invented a new literary form–the “poessay”.
Minami (Namba) is one of two largest cities in Osaka. Minami, is “South” for Japanese – most of Osaka’s parts are named after the position of its regions. Minami is home to Namba, Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori shopping districts. The Minami ward, however, is now merged with Chuo ward in Japan.
The city boasts of a life that is a gregarious and outwardly interesting as Tokyo but admittedly smaller and more personable. It offers something for everyone, with attractions such as Amerikamura for the fashion fanatics, the Shinsaibashi Shopping Arcade, Nipponbashi Den Den Town for electronics and manga otakus, and the colorful Dotonbori entertainment district. These popular spots are located near the Namba Station.
Map courtesy of Japan-Guide on how to get to Minami (Namba):
Check out the Namba Walk in this clip:
The video is taken two years ago by some guy, a tourist, or an exchange student but for some reason, people in Namba are still blasting Destiny’s Child’s Survivor song… lol
Hōryū-ji (法隆寺, lit. Temple of the Flourishing Law?) is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Hōryū Gakumonji (法隆学問寺), or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, named as such because the site serves as a seminary as well as a monastery. The temple is widely acknowledged to have some of the oldest wooden buildings existing in the world, and is one of the most celebrated temples in Japan.
In 1993, Hōryū-ji was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Japanese government lists it as a National Treasure.
The temple was originally commissioned by Prince Shotoku; at the time it was called “Ikaruga-dera”(斑鳩寺), a name that is still sometimes used. This first temple is believed to have been completed by 607. Hōryū-ji was dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing and in honor of the prince’s father.
Excavations done in 1939 confirmed that Prince Shotoku’s palace, the Ikaruga-no-miya (斑鳩宮), occupied the eastern part of the current temple complex, where the Tō-in (東院) sits today. Also discovered were the ruins of a temple complex which was southwest of the prince’s palace and not completely within the present temple complex. The original temple, named by modern historians and archaeologists Wakakusa-Garan (若草伽藍), was lost, probably burned to the ground after being hit by lightning in 670. The temple was reconstructed but slightly reoriented in a northwest position, which is believed to have been completed by around 711. The temple has been repaired and reassembled in the early twelfth century, in 1374, and 1603.
Mount Rokkō is 931m high and is the perfect spot for a city’s picturesque view. Various tourist attractions can be found such as a botanical garden and a music box museum. Japan’s first golf course was on top of Mount Rokkō too. There is no single mountain or peak called “Rokkō.” The highest peak of the mountains is called Rokkō-Saikōhō (六甲最高峰, Rokkō-Saikōhō?), literally, the highest peak in Rokkō Mountains.
Top of Rokkō-Saikoho
How to get there?
From central Kobe:
From Sannomiya Station, take the Hankyu Kobe Line to Rokko Station (7 minutes, 180 Yen), from where you can catch the Rokko Cablecar up the mountain (10 minutes, 570 Yen one way, 1000 Yen round trip).
The “Omote Rokko Shuyu Joshaken” ticket consists of a round trip ticket for the Rokko Cablecar and unlimited use of the circular bus line on top of the mountain for 1300 Yen.
From Arima Onsen:
The Rokko Arima Ropeway connects Arima Onsen with the top of Mount Rokko. The one way trip takes 12 minutes and costs 980 Yen. A round trip ticket costs 1770 Yen.
The “Ura Rokko Shuyu Joshaken” ticket consists of a round trip ticket for the Rokko Arima Ropeway and unlimited use of the circular bus line on top of the mountain for 1900 Yen.
From Kobe to Arima or the other way around:
The “Rokko Arima Katamichi Joshaken” ticket provides a one way trip between Rokko Station and Arima Onsen using cablecar, bus and ropeway plus unlimited use of the circular bus line on Mount Rokko for 1700 Yen. It is a nice way to access Arima Onsen from Kobe.
More info on how to get to Mount Rokko: Travel Guide Japan
Here’s a geisha performance in Pontocho, Kyoto. Add that into your list of things to see when you visit Kyoto.
If you’re visiting Nara, you’ll want to find a place to hold up for the night before you continue the next day. Nara is a wonderful place, rich with history. It used to be the capital of Japan for a while before political and religious threat moved the capital to Nagaoka in 784. But today, you’ll find remnants of a colorful past in its temples, museums and beautiful parks.
To put up a few days in Nara there are plenty of accommodations to choose from. But today, i’m going to list several budget accommodations that is quite popular and value for money.
No. 1
Yougendo Guest House – http://www.yougendo.com
Rates start at 6500 Yen to 20000 Yen, depending on the number of people and room type.
Known for great quality service and the host speaks English.
No. 2
Seikan-So – http://www.jpinn.com/inn/10-6.html
Rates start at 4500 Yen to 12600 Yen, depending on the number of people and room type.
Close to local attractions and public transportations. Accepts all major credit cards.
No. 3
Tempyo Ryokan – http://narashikanko.jp/english/e_map/e_hotelselect.php?ID=42
Rate starts at 5000 Yen to 18000yen/room depending on season and inclusion of meals.
I thought this video to be quite useful especially for first timers visiting Kyoto. It’s also quite entertaining and funny as well.
I’ve written about Kyoto before prior to this but never exactly about the city itself. Despite it being a part of Memoirs of a Geisha, the city has pretty much a lot to offer in terms of travel and places to visit. Shopping is also another place to check out in Kyoto because despite Tokyo’s Harajuku district, or any other shopping district around, Kyoto has some to beat it with.
Anyway here’s a very interesting video about Kyoto filmed by one of its tourists, of course. But nonetheless, check it out!
The Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge (明石海峡大橋, Akashi Kaikyō Ō-hashi?), also known as Pearl Bridge in Japan was completed in 1998 and is the world’s longest suspension bridge (measure by the length of the centre span of 1,991 metres (6,532 ft). It links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshū to Iwaya on Awaji Island by crossing the busy Akashi Strait. It carries the part of the Honshū-Shikoku Highway.
It was planned to be one of three Honshū-Shikoku connecting bridges, annexing two borders of the Inland Sea.
Before the Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge was built, ferries carried passengers across the Akashi Strait in Japan. This dangerous waterway often experiences severe storms, and in 1955, two ferries sank in the strait during a storm, killing 168 children. The ensuing shock and public outrage convinced the Japanese government to develop plans for a suspension bridge to cross the strait. The original plan called for a mixed railway-road bridge, but when construction on the bridge began in April 1986, the construction was restricted to road only, with six lanes. Actual construction did not begin until May 1986, and the bridge was opened for traffic on April 5, 1998. The Akashi Strait is an international waterway and required a 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) wide shipping lane.
The bridge has three spans. The central span is 1,991 meters (6,532 ft), with the two other sections each 960 meters (3,150 ft). The bridge is 3,911 meters (12,831 ft) long overall. The central span was originally only 1,990 meters (6,529 ft), but the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995 moved the two towers sufficiently so that it had to be increased by 1 meter (only the towers had been erected at the time).
The bridge was designed with a two-hinged stiffening girder system, allowing the structure to withstand winds of 286 kilometers per hour (178 mph), earthquakes measuring to 8.5 on the Richter scale, and harsh sea currents. The bridge also contains pendulums which are designed to operate at the resonance frequency of the bridge to damp forces. The two main supporting towers are 298 meters (978 ft) above sea level, and the bridge can expand up to two meters in one day.
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