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.

How would you like to visit an Inn where feudal lords from the Edo period visited all the time? The Nijo Jinya Inn used to be a meeting place for Feudal lords and is usually decked up with security so that no attempts on assassination can be plot against them. Even the Inn is built in such a way that it is filled with secret doors, secret alley ways and hidden escape routes in case of an attack. The inn is build like a fortress.

Tours for this place are held only in Japanese unfortunately, so if you don’t understand Japanese, bring a Japanese friend with you. It is advisable to make appointments for this place in advance by calling 075-841-0972. Tour takes about an hour long. Admission fee is 1000yen.

Go to this link to find out more about how to get to Nijo Jinya.

This is the best aquarium in Japan, which showcase aquatic life from the pacific rim. What’s impressive if that every sea creature is organized and displayed according to its habitat and species, the Osaka Aquarium is definitely a place to visit if you are in Osaka for a little knowledge boost about sea life from the Pacific Ocean. Entry fee is 2000 Yen for every person and the tour starts on the 8th floor, which you will then spiral down, aquarium to aquarium of aquatic life from different regions. One of the aquarium’s attraction is the whale shark, one of the largest vegetarian mammals of the sea.

Check out this video clip of the Osaka Aquarium:

Chion’in Temple (知恩院) in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan is the headquarters of the Jodo Shu (Pure Land Sect) founded by Honen (1133-1212), who proclaimed that sentient beings are reborn in Amida Buddha’s Western Paradise (Pure Land) by reciting the nembutsu, Amida Buddha’s name.

The vast compounds of Chion-in include the site where Honen settled to disseminate his teachings and the site where he died.

Chionin temple is filled with serenity amidst the beautiful architecture left by history. The beauty of it is that most of its original structures are still standing. This is definitely a place to visit. Check out the large temple bell engraved with sutras and prayers.

How to get there?

Chionin is located immediately north of Maruyama Park and Yasaka Shrine. The closest subway station is Higashiyama Station on the Tozai Line.

Sometimes, videos speak louder than words.

This is Ginkakuji temple (or Silver Pavilion in English). It’s not exactly plated with silver but during winter, you can imagine that you are in a silver wonderland. The pavilion was built by a shogun named Ashikaga Yoshimasa as a his retirement villa. After his death, the pavilion was converted in a zen temple. This beautiful Zen temple that should not be missed in any case if you are ever dropping by Kyoto.

How to get there?
Ginkakuji can be accessed by direct bus number 5, 17 or 100 from Kyoto Station. Alternatively, you can reach Ginkakuji by foot along the Path of Philosophy from Nanzenji.

For orientation around Kyoto, click here.

Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社, Yasaka-jinja?) holds the biggest matsuri in Japan every year called the Gion Matsuri. Yasaka Shrine, once called Gion Shrine, is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, Japan. Situated at the east end of Shijō-dōri (Fourth Avenue), it was built originally in 656. The shrine includes several buildings, including gates, a main hall and a stage.

In 869 the mikoshi (portable shrines) of Gion Shrine were paraded through the streets of Kyoto to ward off an epidemic that had hit the city. This was the beginning of the Gion Matsuri, an annual festival which has become world famous.

Today, in addition to hosting the Gion Matsuri, Yasaka Shrine welcomes thousands of people every New Year, for traditional Japanese New Year rituals and celebrations. In April, the crowds pass through the temple on their way to Maruyama Park, a popular hanami (cherry blossom viewing) site. Lanterns decorate the stage with the names of festival sponsors.

How do you get to Yasaka Shrine?

Yasaka Shrine can be reached by bus from Kyoto Station in about 20 minutes. Take number 100 and 206 and get off at Gion bus stop. The closest train stations are Shijo Station on the Keihan Line and Kawaramachi Station on the Hankyu Line.

Alternatively, the 20+ minute walk from Kiyomizudera through the narrow lanes of the Higashiyama (”Eastern Mountain”) district to Yasaka Shrine is highly recommended.

Japan Guide