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SkiCentral -Ski Vacation Packages Search by Region Site Map ALSO SEE Regional Guides Travel Companies Travel Guides Ski Insurance Accommodations Resorts Discounts Spas Location: Select a Location California Mammoth Lakes North Shore CA South Shore CA Canada (AB) Banff Canmore Lake Louise Sunshine Village Canada (BC) Vancouver Whistler/Blackcomb Colorado Aspen Avon Beaver Creek Breckenridge Copper Mountain Crested Butte Dillon Fraser Frisco Keystone Silverthorne Snowmass Steamboat Telluride Vail Wildernest Winter Park Idaho Sun Valley Montana Big Sky Nevada North Shore NV South Shore NV Tahoe - State Line Utah Deer Valley Park City Snow Basin - Ogden Snowbird Sundance The Canyons Wyoming Jackson Hole Nights: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Arrival Date: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Bedrooms: Any 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The #1 Search Site for Skiing and Snowboarding Snow Reports Snowcams Ski Packages Home Resorts Travel Lodging Airfare Real-Estate Gear Accessories Skiing Snowboarding Ski Vacation Packages Find ski package details and pricing for 43 tour operators offering ski vacations from major US cities to 67 of the best ski resorts around the world.(Last updated 21-Dec-05. Total of 28656 packages) Custom Ski Vacation Packages by MtnRes.com Mountain Reservations provides the largest ski lodging inventory on the Internet. Find airfare, lodging, lift tickets, and more for all your favorite ski destinations. Win Your Dream Ski Vacation to the Rockies Four nights accommodation, return airfare via Air Canada, vehicle rental, comprehensive trip set-up, travel tools package guidebooks & maps. Ski Alberta, Canadas Rocky Mountain Playground Alaska Alyeska California Mammoth Northstar Squaw Valley Colorado Aspen Beaver Creek Breckenridge Copper Mountain Crested Butte Keystone Purgatory At Durango Snowmass Steamboat Telluride Vail Winter Park Lake Tahoe/Nevada Heavenly Idaho Sun Valley Maine Sugarloaf Sunday River Montana Big Mountain Big Sky New Hampshire New Mexico Taos New York Hunter Mountain Lake Placid Oregon Mt. Bachelor Pennsylvania Montage Seven Springs Utah Alta Brighton Deer Valley Park City Powder Mountain Salt Lake City Snowbasin Snowbird Solitude The Canyons Vermont Killington Mt. Snow Smugglers' Notch Stowe Stratton Sugarbush West Virginia Snowshoe Wyoming Grand Targhee Jackson Hole Western Canada Banff Fernie Alpine Resort Marmot Basin Panorama Red Mountain Whistler Eastern Canada Mont St. Anne Tremblant Austria Innsbruck Kitzbuhel Lech Salzburg St. Anton Italy Bormio Cortina Courmayeur France Chamonix Meribel Switzerland Davos Interlaken St. Moritz Verbier Zermatt Argentina Bariloche Las Lenas Chile Portillo Termas de Chillan Valle Nevado New Zealand Ski Resort Jobs at CoolWorks.com © SkiCentral 1995-2005 Home | About | New Sites | Faqs | Advertising | Contact
Ski Vacation
Discount lodging - ski vacation packages - Copper Mountain, Colorado Skip Navigation Deals Lodging Getting Here Mountain Village Tickets Lessons & Rentals Things To Do Groups and Meetings Real Estate Home > Deals > Copper Savers Deals Copper Savers Copper Savers Lodging Deals Copper Savers offers the best prices on lodging and vacation packages for your trip to Copper Mountain. Enjoy the best winter skiing or summer golf vacations in Colorado. Simply choose the deal that works for you and click "book now." You'll be taken to our online booking engine where you'll get the best discounts on Colorado vacations around. Ski Free, Stay Free Lodging & Tickets Ski Free, Stay Free! Buy three or more nights of lodging and lift tickets, and get an additional night of lodging and one day of lift tickets for FREE! Late Season Getaway Plan ahead and get great deals on 2 -3 day getaway packages. Ski Free, Stay Free Lodging & Tickets Ski Free, Stay Free! Buy three or more nights of lodging and lift tickets, and get an additional night of lodging and one day of lift tickets for FREE! And when you reserve this package, kids 13 and under ski free every day. Rates below are based on quad occupancy in a gold two bedroom. Call 888-219-2441 to book now or for information. COPPER OPENS NOVEMBER 4, 2005! Early / Late Season $79* Per person, Per night Check Availability Value: Weekday $113* Per person, Per night Check Availability Value: Weekend $145* Per person, Per night Check Availability Regular $177** Per person, Per night Check Availability *Rate based on quad occupancy in a gold two bedroom, except Regular season is based on double occupancy in a gold one bedroom. Early / Late season is Opening Day - 12/16/05 & 4/2/06 - Closing Day. Value Season is 1/3/06 - 2/16/06. Pre Holiday is 12/17/05 - 12/25/05. Regular season is 2/17/06 - 4/01/06. Other size units may be available at discounted rates. Not valid with any other promotions or offers. Not valid for group or conference stays. Minimum of 4 night stay required. Restrictions apply. **Regular Season based on double occupancy in a gold one bedroom. Late Season Getaway Late Season Getaway Great deals on 2-3 day lodging and lift ticket packages. Call 888-219-2441 to book now or for information. Hotel / Studio $99* Per person, Per night Check Availability *Rate based on double occupancy in a hotel / studio. Late season is 4/2/06 - Closing Day. Not valid with any other promotions or offers. Not valid for group or conference stays. Restrictions apply. Lodging Deposit and Cancellation Policy: A deposit fee of 25% is due at the time of booking, payable by credit card. The Balance is due 30 days from the Arrival Date. We will automatically charge the balance to your credit card. If confirmed within 30 days of arrival the full amount is due. For Winter season (11/1 through 4/30) there is a 21 day cancellation policy. Summer season (5/28 though 10/30) outside of 24 hours, you may cancel and will lose 10% of amount paid. If you cancel within 24 hours, total amount is non-refundable. Please note our lodging is unavailable from the end of ski season thru 5/28/05. Copper recommends purchasing Travel Guard Trip Cancellation Insurance . Book your Colorado vacation packages and lodging at Copper Mountain today! Home > Deals > Copper Savers Intrawest Jobs Contact Us Pass/Card Login About Us Media Room Privacy Site Map Send to Friend Print Copper Savers Lodging Choices Copper Savers Book Online Village Map Virtual Tours Reservation Request Brochure Request Air Travel Ground Travel Directions and Maps Skicarpool.com Road Conditions and Alerts Snow Report Mountain Cams Trail Maps Lift & Trail Status Report Grooming Report Weather Forecast Mountain Statistics Galleries, Forums and More Parks, Pipes and Freeride Videos Dining & Nightlife Shopping Maps The Village at Copper Lift Tickets Season Passes Rentals Lesson Selector Kids Seasonal Programs Ski & Ride Tips Over the Hill Gang Burton Learn to Ride Event Calendar Winter Activities Childcare Racing Snow Tubing Hill The Village at Copper Meetings Leisure Groups Weddings
European Vacation Planning Map
Packing for your European Vacation - Packing Tips You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Europe Travel Planning > Packing Tips Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors > Europe Travel Planning > Packing Tips Packing for your European Vacation - Packing Tips Packing right can make the difference between a great vacation and disaster. If you're traveling by train or in a small car, you'll want to pack light and you'll need to have a use for everything you pack. Is packing light overrated? You've never heard anyone say "geez, my bags weighed a ton and so I had a great vacation," have you? Subtopics Shipping Excess Baggage (3) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Red Oxx Airborne Carry on Ruck Sack - C-Ruck - Review The Red Oxx Airborne Carry on Ruck Sack is a durable and versatile carry-on bag, worth its premium price. Packing Tips - Packing A Suitcase to Thwart Wrinkles Illustrated packing tips from Europe for Visitors. Pack in a way that clothes won't wrinkle. Packing Light: Consider Your Unmentionables! Packing light is the mantra of the diehard wanderer. It allows us to get in all sorts of trouble with our increased mobility. Here are a couple of hints you might use on your next trip-or you can just read it and laugh at my obsessivness over saving weight in my luggage. Your choice. Clothes Compressors - Do They Work? Clothes Compressors take the air out of the stuff you pack and can allow you to get more into the ever shrinking baggage allowance the airlines impose. But do they work as the advertisements say? Well, I've performed some tests and you can see the results in this article. Top 5 Carry-On Bags Here's some ideas for your carry-on luggage. One of these may be your main bag if you pack light. Packing Tips for French Travel Kelby Carr over at France for Visitors has more packing tips and links for you about packing for that vacation of yours. One Bag (all about packing, luggage, and traveling light) Pretty much everything you need to know about packing, luggage and traveling light, including what to pack and what to pack it in. Packing your Bags The guys over at the Brussels Airport have a pretty good list of things to consider when you're packing--including the all-important forbidden items list. Rick Steves' Travel Tips: Packing List Here's the stuff that Rick Steves takes along to Europe, minus the film crew that is. The Travelite FAQ Packing tips for the new age. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Power Adapters Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Visiting Pompeii Italy Guidebooks Naples - Getting There Headlines Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated... North Holland: Noah's Ark Redux A pious north Holland businessman took out a 300 000...
France Travel Cheat Sheets
Free France Travel Cheat Sheets You are here: About > Travel > France for Visitors Travel Go France Essentials New Year's Eve in Paris and France Worst of France 2005 Paris Travel Guide Top French Ski Resorts Best New Year's Eve Champagne Articles & Resources Destinations Trip Planning Transportation Interests & Situations Money, Safety & Issues Things to Do in France Where to Stay in France Staying Connected Blogs Picture Galleries Culture, Language & People Fun, Freebies & Quizes Relocating to France Nudism, Sex & Gay Travel D-Day & Historic Travel Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Sites Selling French Products Before You Buy the Gift of Travel Gifts for the France Fanatic Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the France for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search France for Visitors Stay up to date! Email to a friend Print this page Suggested Reading France by Destination Travel Planning Essentials Relocating to France Related Blogs Dispatches from France Blog Paris Blog French Word-a-Day Blog La Coquette Blog Chroniques dune Fraise Nice Blog Rsidence Les Marronniers Provence Blog L'Oiseau Blog Chocolate and Zucchini Blog Forty Days in Paris Blog Most Popular "Naked City" Christmas in Paris Photo Tour Paris Sex District Top Paris Attractions Christmas in France What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France Related Topics Europe for Visitors French Language French Cuisine Honeymoons / Romantic Getaways Wine Free France Travel Cheat Sheets From Kelby Carr , Your Guide to France for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Print Up a Personalized French Guidebook Why do France the hard way? Get a little assistance with these free France Travel Cheat Sheets, which provide tips on getting around, the French language, the French people, important and emergency numbers, and more. Get a personalized (and free) guidebook for your trip. INSTRUCTIONS : Just click on the link of a cheat sheet below that interests you. Once you get to the sheet, click the "Printer-Friendly Version" button to the top right if it is available, and print. If there is no printer-friendly option, click on "File" in your Web browser, then "Page Setup," then select "Landscape" for the paper, and then print. When you are done with each sheet, click "back" to return to the list, or the "Free France Travel Cheat Sheets" link in the Essentials box at the top left of every page. Feel there are some subjects or topics missing from this list? E-mail me at gofrance.guide@about.com and suggest a topic. Please put "Cheat Sheets" in the subject. Happy cheating! Basics France: Before You Go Top France Travel Guidebooks Packing Packing Checklist Tips on Packing Light How to Get Your Suitcase Closed - a List of Items You Can Take Out Top 10 Packing Must-Haves for Your French Vacation Destination Guides Paris: Before You Go How I Do Paris: Secrets to Really Getting a Feel for This Huge City Carcassonne: Before You Go Disneyland Paris: Before You Go Nice: Before You Go Top Beach Destinations of France Getting Around How to Survive France's Rails Choosing the Right Rail Pass French Culture & Language Avoiding the "Rude" French Survivalist's French Language Course - Learn the Basics on the Plane Ride Over The French Schedule France: The Bad, Ugly & Smelly Safety & Health Issues How to Cope With Travel & Flying Fears Are Americans Safe Traveling to France? Travel Medical Insurance Ins & Outs Being American in Paris During Iraq War Tensions Lodging in France France's Lodging Options Paris Hotel Reviews Camping in France Special interests & Hobbies Band of Brothers Tour Stay at a French Chateau Plan Your Own Cathedral Tour Cap d'Agde's Naturist Quarter: Before You Go How to Get Naked in France Staying in Touch Using Your Cellphone in France Have Laptop, Will Travel - a Guide to Using Your Computer in France Using French Keyboards Money Matters Pinching Centimes - a List of Ways to Stretch That Pricy Euro Getting Euros in France - DOs and DON'Ts Holidays, Events & Festivals Visiting During Cannes Film Festival Christmas Markets of France Celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau's Release Halloween in France Thanksgiving in France Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot New Year's Eve in France Paris Gay Pride Parade Host A France-Themed Party Nice, France Photo Gallery Camping in France
Japan travel discussions ski
::Metropolis Tokyo :: JAPAN TRAVEL - City of Peace Japan Today Specials | Classifieds | Jobfinder | Tokyo Guide | Directory | Forum Friends Home Feature The Small Print Faces & Places The Goods Travel Tech Know Sports Cars & Bikes Arts & Entertainment Music Japan Beat Clubbing Art Stage Books The Agenda Listings TV Movies Dining Out Sake Wine Tastemaker Table Talk Local Flavors International Dining Restaurant Review Bar Review Classifieds Jobfinder Horoscope Mailbox The Last Word Photo of the Week Archive About Us Subscribe Search Distribution Points latest Japan travel discussions ski resorts JR 18 Pass Visa Questions Saving $ to visit Japan.... help me out Travelling to India - Do I really need vaccinations? cheap hotel with rotemburo Going to Okinawa, pls help in recommendations Amita Buddha Nagoya International Airport? More forum topics Trip tips Shinkansen trains connect Tokyo station and Hiroshima (4.5hrs, ¥18,550 one-way), while overnight buses leave from Tokyo Station’s Yaesu south exit (12hrs, ¥21,200 round-trip). Hiroshima’s sites are easily negotiable by foot, but the city’s tram system connects the main JR station with the city center and beyond. Hotel 28 Hiroshima (082-247-2811) is a centrally located, functional business hotel. At ¥4,000 for a small single room, this is possibly the city’s most reasonable offering. For something more upmarket, the ANA Hotel Hiroshima (082-241-1111) offers twin rooms for ¥20,000. Some guidebooks recommend the World Friendship Center (082-503-3191), run by an anti-nuclear NPO (¥3,500/p including breakfast). The Hiroshima City Hotel and Ryokan Union can be contacted at 082-261- 0074. There are two city information desks at the JR Station and another excellent facility at the Rest House inside the Peace Park (082-247-6738). The Hiroshima Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.hiroshima-navi.or.jp The Hiroshima Interpreter and Guide Association at www.urban.ne.jp/home/higa ADVERTISERS : Flight Shop A'cross Travellers Bureau 03-5467-0077 No 1 Travel CAN Tour Four Seasons Travel 03-5907-5220 JAL Story and Beltop Travel Service Just Travel 03-3362-3441 Hit Travel TRAVEL ARCHIVE: 611: City of Sand From crowded markets to placid mosques, Cairos attractions are legion 609: On the edge Hateruma Island offers a primeval slice of sand and surf 607: Land of calm Get a glimpse of unspoiled Asia in the lush countryside of Laos 605: Just like heaven Nokogiri-yama in chiba is as appealing as Nikko or Kamakura, and just as accessible 602: Place your Bets Macau pays its respects to history while keeping a keen eye on the future 598: Bring it on Peak season can’t come soon enough for hotelsin southern Thailand 596: Rhythm City Cuba In the island nation’s largest port, the common language is music 594: City of Peace Sixty years after the infamous attack, Hiroshima is a site of remembrance 592: Big sky country Endless vistas and mysterious shrines await in rural Mongolia 590: Hidden pleasures Kyoto’s little-visited gardens justify a trip all their own 588: Another Country While maintaining its cultural distinction, the Basque homeland of Bayonne offers the best of Spain and France 586: Stepping into the past Beaches, museums—and painted ladies—await visitors in Atami and Ito 584: Getting to the Roots of Kuala Lumpur In quiet parks and bustling markets, Malaysia’s capital reveals its past and future 582: The great outdoors Shinrin Koen in Saitama offers year-round fun for space-deprived Tokyoites 580: Seoul, revisited Ancient and modern worlds collide in the Korean capital, a city of futuristic architecture, tranquil palaces and fiery cuisine 576: Ancient treasures Explore untouched 900-year-old temples in Myanmar’s Bagan region 574: The High Life Squeeze a last bit of fun out of winter in the mountains of Nagano 572: The Other Side of Cape Town Township tours offer a vibrant glimpse of daily life in South Africa 570: White day Yuzawa offers beginners a chance to ski before the snow melts 568: City of spice Take a gastronomic tour through India’s food capital 566: Life Cyclist An around-the-world biker makes a pit stop in Tokyo 564: Forest in the Clouds Rainswept trails and lush beauty await in Costa Rica's Monteverde nature preserve 561-2: Geisha for a day Kyoto's makeover studios offer visitors a new twist on tradition 559: Southern comfort Indonesia’s most vibrant village replenishes heart, mind and soul 557: Show time Nagoya is a city of potential heading into Expo 2005 555: Waterworld Float across the watery heart of Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan 553: Mountain dew A retreat restores the senses in the highlands of Fukushima 551: Turquoise baths Warm, white sand meets an ocean of blues in a remote corner of the South Pacific 549: Sea world A grueling 25-hour boat ride ends in the idyllic island chain of Ogasawara 547: Train spotting The Trans-Siberian Railway is an epic journey that begins right at Japan’s doorstep 545: In praise of slowness Yunishigawa offers a leisurely glimpse into Japan's illustrious past 543: Block party A guide to fun on the fringe at Hong Kong’s nightlife district of Lan Kwai Fong 537: The middle way Andrew McHugh embarks on a timeless pilgrimage in Tokyo’s tranquil backyard. 533: The simple life City slicker Matthew Reiss takes a breather along Shikoku’s Shimanto River. 529: The lost world In search of an ancient civilization swallowed by the sea, Carlo Niederberger plunges into the waters off Yonaguni. 525: Nature trails Hakkakuso in Tateyama offers a jumping-off point for cycling, swimming, and the well-preserved charm of Japanese fishing villages. Steve Trautlein heads to the coast. 521: High tea Cha and music have long been Nagasaki's two great passions. Simon Rowe hops on a tram to sample the Kyushu city's delights. 517: The hill is alive Grab your coats and your wallets for a tour of the best of Osaka with local boy Simon Rowe. 513: A walk in the woods Matt Button heads to Hokkaido and revels in the serenity of Daisetsuzan National Park. 507: Time and again The history of Arima runs as deep as its hot springs. Stephen Mansfield soaks up the local ambience. 503: Riverside retreat The rustic Okayama town of Takahashi offers the casual visitor a release from the world. Stephen Mansfield enjoys the time on his hands. 499: Tropics of interest Urban escapees in search of a little anonymity are drawn to Ishigaki-jima. Simon Rowe finds out why. 495: City by the sea Once a pirate haunt, the port town of Onomichi in the Inland Sea still houses an intriguing array of temples, and a surprising number of cats and cat lovers. Stephen Mansfield goes exploring. 491: Easy streets Ocean breezes, smiling faces, exotic markets, and a laid-back pace. Catherine Pawasarat finds Japanese-style relaxation on the shores of the Noto Peninsula. 487: Into the wild John McGee plumbs the depths and scales the heights of Tohoku's grandest national park. 483: Green Peace Home to Kyoto-style gardens and the Peace Museum for kamikaze, Chiran offers a healthy dose of history and culture. Stephen Mansfield takes a walk. 479: Walk in the woods Take a step back in time with a leisurely stroll through the forests and towns of the Kiso Valley. Mary King sets the pace. 475: Pilgrim’s progress Simon Rowe braves the storms and heads down to Shikoku’s “Typhoon Ginza,” Cape Ashizuri. 471: Companions of the sea Life in the Seto Inland Sea town of Tomo-no-Ura revolves around its fishing industry. Stephen Mansfield experiences the salty charm. 467: Monuments to history Once a refuge from wars, Yamaguchi has survived the blight of modern urban development, Stephen Mansfield observes. 463: Land of the giants Simon Rowe goes hiking on Yakushima Island, home to tropical beaches, granite hills, and the world's oldest-and largest-cedar trees. 459: Northern exposure Home to king crabs, towering snow sculptures and one of the country's biggest beer companies, Sapporo is the center of life on Hokkaido. Simon Rowe hits the city streets. 456: In from the cold Simon Rowe and Masami Hamada fight off the winter chill in the warm waters of Kinosaki 452: Keeping the peace David Capel visits the quiet hamlet of Matsumoto, home to Japan's oldest existing castle. 448: Past into present Stephen Mansfield takes the road less traveled and turns up in the historic samurai homestead of Obi 444: Chariots of ire The annual Nada Fighting Festival 440: Hook, line and sinker Summertime and the fishin' is easy-in Ichikawa village 436: Peaks and valleys Stephen Mansfield ventures into the picturesque calderas of Kyushu's Aso-Kuju National Park 432: Water's edge Seto Inland Sea the place for epicures and adventurers 428: Block party Renowned for its legendary temples and manicured gardens, Kyoto is one of Japan's top tourist destinations 424: Honshu's holy hotels Simon Rowe seeks serenity and a satisfying meal alongside the monks of Koya-san 420: High Art Since its opening five years ago, a reclusive sect's stunning museum has attracted wide international acclaim. 416: Fire and brimstone Hot water and Japanese hell come together in Oita Prefecture 412: Snowed in Finding peace and a warm bath in the mountains of Gunma 408: Edo elegance Old world artisans keep tradition alive in Honshu's Kurashiki 401: Bird's eye view Mary King mingles with the ghosts of Himeji Castle. 397: It takes a village Feed your spirits in Honshu's seaside town, Amanohashidate 393: Bathing Apes For a scenic dip with rare, furry primates and ready to primp for your pictures, head to Jigokudani Onsen. Mary King gets in to hot water. 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave 356: Yamanashi Hakushu's hidden treasures 355: Waseda Tram Trip A streetcar named... 352/3: Aomori Jesus in Japan 351: Kumamoto Under the volcano in Kyushu 350: Sado Island Explore the forgotten charms of Shukunegi ISSUES 348- ISSUES 298- By Rob Gilhooly City of Peace Sixty years after the infamous attack, Hiroshima is a site of remembrance Photos by Rob Gilhooly There are things we put off: things that are difficult to tackle, troublesome, or unsavory. For 15 years since first coming to Japan, I have put off visiting Hiroshima. Having seen other examples of the terrors of war—Ho Chi Minh’s War Remnants Museum (in those days less ambiguously named the American War Atrocities Museum), for example—I decided Hiroshima could wait. This year, however, marks the 60th anniversary of the bombing, a suitable time, I thought, to stop putting it off and confront the world’s most damning testimony against nuclear warfare. For two days I roamed the city’s broad boulevards and narrow alleyways, crossing the many bridges that link several islands formed by rivers snaking through the city’s heart—a striking geographical feature that helped seal Hiroshima’s fate. For the most part, Hiroshima today is a succinct example of how Japan rose from the ashes of war and rebuilt itself to become the economic power it is today. There’s a bustling business zone, ubiquitous nighttime neon and a bubbly soapland district. Red-faced business-folk tumble out of eateries serving okonomiyaki, the savory pancake that locals will tell you is Hiroshima’s contribution to world cuisine, while a few hundred die-hard fans cheer on the local baseball team, the Hiroshima Carp, doing overtime battle with the Yokohama Bay Stars. Yet, there are ample reminders of that tragic morning in 1945 when the Enola Gay off-loaded the “Little Boy” bomb and blew what was then a little-known provincial city straight onto the map of global consciousness. At the entranceway to Fukuro-machi Elementary School, which was recently turned into a museum, an enlarged panoramic photo—the first to be snapped after the bombing—reveals the scale of the destruction. The city, quite simply, is desolate. Inside the school, messages penned on the stairwell by desperate survivors appealing for information about missing relatives are testimony to the anguish they suffered. The authors have been traced, and their heart-wrenching stories imaginatively documented. Across the river, at the city’s main museum, there are copious more reminders of individual tragedies: charred lunchboxes, ripped school uniforms, melted bottles, a step from the entrance of the Bank of Japan, blackened where a vaporized blast victim had been sitting. There’s nothing on the shock scale of Ho Chi Minh’s museum here—no pickled Agent Orange specimen or images of torture and execution—but enough to turn stomachs of those not yet desensitized by “Nuke the f***ers”-style Hollywood flicks or Al Jazeera-style churn-alism. From the second floor, a long glass-fronted corridor affords a panoramic view across the city’s Peace Park and the nearby cenotaph. Under this memorial—a graceful arc of granite that frames the nearby Peace Flame—a chamber houses tomes listing the names of the 230,000-plus victims, many of whom died from radiation-related illnesses. Here I chat at length with Yuriko Anno, 79, who visits weekly from Ninoshima, a nearby island where thousands of hibakusha, as the A-bomb victims are known, are buried, to pray for relatives and friends who perished. Anno survived because she was transporting family belongings to a new home some 30km away when the bomb was detonated. Like many of Hiroshima’s peace proponents, she expresses bitterness over Japan’s continued endeavors in nuclear power development and recent conflicts in which her country has been involved as “peacekeepers.” “Someone once said, ‘The only thing we have learned from history is that we never learn from history,’” she remarks. “Anyone who believes in war as a solution to anything should come right here.” By now we have meandered through the Peace Park, past the Flame of Peace and the Children’s Peace Monument, where a group of school kids are solemnly chanting prayer and draping countless rows of colorful paper cranes in deference to Hiroshima’s most famous child, Sadako Sasaki—the leukemia victim of “1,000 Cranes” fame. We come to a halt by the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which under rather different circumstances would likely have been replaced by a searing shiny structure housing collars and ties. Yet this is the original Ground Zero, now a World Heritage Site and the symbol for which the city is known worldwide. More commonly known as the A-Bomb Dome, it is the only remaining physical evidence of the attack. Its burnt and mangled shell serves as a chilling reminder of the A-bomb’s destructive force. As Anno continues her tale—of how her sister was killed instantly in the grounds of her school—I try to imagine the sight of a 1 million Centigrade force capable of buckling a meter-think iron girder, of wiping out an entire city in a micro-second or imprinting a human shadow on stone. I can’t. So I turn to the only item of comfort at hand, face the music and press the shutter. Would you like to comment on this article? Send a letter to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp . Discuss travel with METROPOLIS readers at http://forum.japantoday.com top