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.

So pretty!

In this season there is nothing better than savoring the beautiful display of christmas in your city. Big and small glimmering lights, and trees with mock presents and doves. It would make a perfect postcard picture. In Japan, there are spectacular light shows during this time of the year. And the one that is most popular is the Kobe Luminarie. You can check out the Kobe Luminarie at Dec 6-17, 2007. But below is a list of Luminarie spots in Tokyo, taken from Japan-Guide.com:

Shiodome (more details)
“Caretta Ocean Xmas” is one of Tokyo’s most spectacular illuminations this year. 10 minute shows with music are held every 30 minutes (Nov 30 to Dec 25, 2007; from 17:00 to 23:30). Nearby Nihon TV has its own illuminations.

Roppongi Hills (more details)
The illumination at Roppongi Hills is called “Artelligent Christmas 2007″ and is most spectacular along Roppongi Keyakizaka Street (Nov 8 to Dec 25, 2007; from 17:00 to 23:00). Furthermore, a German style Christmas Market is held (Dec 1-25, 2007; 11:00 to 21:00).

Tokyo Midtown (more details)
Opened in spring 2007, Tokyo Midtown celebrates its “First Christmas” this year with various illuminations (Nov 15 to Dec 25, 16:00 to 0:00).

Odaiba (more details)
“Daiba Memorial Tree” is a large illuminated tree in Odaiba Kaihin Park in front of the Decks shopping center (Nov 10 to Dec 25, 2007 and Jan 1-14, 2008; from 17:00 to 0:00). Several other places on Odaiba, such as Venusfort, have illumination events, as well.

Tokyo Dome City (more details)
“Happy Christmas 2007″ is the name of the beautiful illuminations around Tokyo Dome and adjacent amusement park (Nov 8 to Dec 25, 2007; 17:00 to 1:00).

Ginza (more details)
Christmas trees along Chuo Street and illuminations by many individual stores, including the “Mikimoto Jumbo Christmas Tree”, make the popular shopping and entertainment district even more colorful than it is anyway.

Marunouchi (more details)
Marunouchi’s Naka Dori is lit up (Nov 16, 2007 to Feb 17, 2008; 17:30 to 23:00) and several buildings in the district, including the Marubiru, have their own displays.

Yebisu Garden Place (more details)
The central plaza is illuminated and a huge crystal chandelier will be displayed during the “Baccarat Eternal Lights” event (Nov 3, 2007 to Jan 14, 2008; from 16:00 to 23:00)

Shinjuku Southern Terrace (more details)
“Shinjuku Southern Lights” is the illumination display on the Shinjuku Southern Terrace, south of JR Shinjuku Station (Nov 9, 2007 to Feb 14; from 17:00 to 0:00).

This is the actual Shirakawa stream mentioned in the book, Memoirs of a Geisha, where Sayuri first met the chairman as a little girl crying on the bridge. :) Makes me wanna go there with my book and trace down the whole scene in my head.

Come next year, is another beautiful Winter Festival organized by Kyoto that runs from Dec 2007 to March 2008. Array of activities from New Year events to Setsubun’s can be expected providing of you know the dates. Japan-Guide has put together a calender of events for your references and one of their activities look extremely pleasant to me: Arashiyama Hanatoro. :)

Arashiyama is a district off Kyoto - not exactly very far away - and during this festival, the streets are lighted up with beautiful lanterns. It is a sight to behold. And probably a good idea to bring your gf/bf for a little romantic walk while enjoying the festivities around. So here are the list of events to lookout for from Dec 2007 to March 2008:

December 8-17
Arashiyama Hanatoro

December 31 - January 3
New Year’s Events

February 2-4
Setsubun

Mid February - Mid March
Plum Blossom Viewing

March 14 - 23
Higashiyama Hanatoro

If you’re looking for a hot-spring resort that is in between Kyoto and Osaka, Kinosaki Onsen is a place for you. It’s situated in a beautiful location, by the coastline of Sea of Japan. Needless to say, it has a fantastic view. Lines of weep willows are drawn along the river that runs through the town of Kinosaki, which makes it extremely beautiful and sage-looking come spring time.

Anyway, the hot-springs at Kinosaki was discovered during the 8th century and it’s been a popular spot since then. Kinosaki Onsen is one of the most popular onsen spots in Japan and is definitely a great option to stay in if you’re stopping to take a rest from all the traveling. The little picturesque town also offer historical sites to see while you’re in town. Of the mentionable spots are Konotori no Sato (a sanctuary for endangered storks) and Onsenji Temple. Kinosaki onsen is considered to be an off the beaten tracks gem of Japan.