European Vacation (1985) Reviewed

National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) . Review Archive: # | A-C | D-F | G-I | J-L | M-O | P-R | S-U | V-Z | Viewer Ratings | Main WARNER BROS. MOVIE INFO Director: Amy Heckerling Cast: Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill, Jason Lively Screenplay: John Hughes, Robert Klane Tagline: For over two thousand years, Europe has survived many great disasters. Now for the real test. Chevy Chase & his family are coming from America! MPAA: Rated PG-13. DVD DETAILS Presentation: Widescreen 1.85:1/16x9 Audio: English Monoraul French Monoraul Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese Closed-captioned Runtime: 94 min. Price: $19.98 Release Date: 4/2/2002 Bonus: • Audio Commentary With Actor Chevy Chase • Theatrical Trailer PURCHASE • DVD Search Products: EQUIPMENT Sony 36" WEGA KV-36FS12 Monitor; Sony DA333ES Processor/Receiver; Panasonic CV-50 DVD Player using component outputs; Michael Green Revolution Cinema 6i Speakers (all five); Sony SA-WM40 Subwoofer. RELATED REVIEWS National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) Reviewed by Colin Jacobson If you look at a short list of Chevy Chases hit films, youll indeed discover its a very short list. Itd include 1980s Caddyshack , 1983s National Lampoons Vacation , and 1985s Fletch . Interestingly, Chase went on to appear in sequels to all three of these. He was the only original castmember of Caddyshack to come back for its flop 1988 sequel, and he also returned for 1989s Fletch Lives . Neither of those franchises made it past a second iteration, though it appears that Kevin Smiths leading a third Fletch flick that wont star Chase. His most enduring chain is definitely Vacation , which has so far offered three sequels. None of these enjoyed the success or fan popularity of the original. First out of the hopper came 1985s National Lampoons European Vacation . European Vacation assumes you saw the original flick, as it provides very little exposition to establish the characters. At the very start of the film, we re-encounter the Griswald family from the first movie: father Clark (Chase), mother Ellen (Beverly DAngelo), and teen children Audrey (Dana Hill) and Rusty (Jason Lively). They appear on a TV game show called Pig in a Poke where they win the grand prize: an all-expenses-paid two-week trek across Europe. And theres your plot! Essentially, European features no real storyline; it just plops the Griswalds in Europe as an excuse to show them encounter various wacky scenarios. They begin in London and then move to Paris, Germany and Rome before they finally come home. The closest thing to a plot relates to Clarks continued obsessiveness; he wants to complete a happily family vacation no matter what the cost. However, European s Clark lacks the same drive and fervor found in the first film. Sure, he expresses his intent to get his own way and move forward despite many setbacks - and persistent disinterest from his family - but these elements felt lackluster and forced. In Vacation , Chase made Clark a man possessed, but this one did little more than pay lip service to that original attitude. That lackadaisical tone spread to the whole movie. For the most part, European seemed to exist just to be a sequel. The first film had some spark and originality, but European felt obvious and forced. Really, Clarks obsession influenced and united the original movie as he worked toward a nervous breakdown as various societal elements ruined his big family trip. In the sequel, Clark essentially becomes little more than the ugly American. Very few of the problems occur due to external forces; Clark causes most of them, as he seems more and more like a bumbling fool. Despite the lack of focus, European had some entertaining moments. The satirical view of British politeness could be mildly funny, and a case of mistaken identity in Germany also generates a few laughs. However, most of the humor really didnt go anywhere. The gags didnt seem overtly bad for the most part, but they just fell flat. Part of the problem related to the acting. As noted, Chase came across with little of the spark or energy he displayed in the first flick, and that left a big hole at the center. DAngelo was adequate but left without much to do, while the kids created substantial concerns. We found neither of the original actors; Anthony Michael Hall played Rusty the first time, while Dana Barron portrayed Audrey. (Apparently the filmmakers wanted to keep the kids the same age for all the Vacation flicks even as Clark and Ellen aged.) Lively appeared too goofy and grating, and I actively disliked Hill. Honestly, I never could stand her, and her presence remained emotive and fussy. With that dumpling face, she looked like a Cabbage Patch Kid come to life, and her acting followed suit, as she seemed broad and whiny. Frankly, European Vacation wasnt an unpleasant experience, but it appeared bland and unmemorable. The movie rambled through its 94 minutes with little spark or excitement, and some weak acting from the main cast didnt help matters. Ive seen many crummier films than European Vacation , but I still thought this one was lackluster and only sporadically entertaining. Casting note: as I watched European , I marveled at how good DAngelo looked for her age. As it happens, I didnt need to marvel; she was only 30 at the time! Surprisingly, Hill was less than a decade younger than DAngelo; only Chase - who was well into his forties in 1985 - actually could have sired the girl. The DVD Grades: Picture B / Audio B / Bonus C National Lampoons European Vacation appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, single-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. The picture showed a few signs of age, but overall I thought it looked very good. Sharpness consistently appeared solid. One or two wider shots came across as a little soft, but they werent a major issue. The vast majority of the movie seemed crisp and well defined. Jagged edges and moir effects caused no issues, and I saw no signs of edge enhancement. In regard to print flaws, some mild grain caused to most noticeable problem, as it reared its head to a moderate degree during the first half of the film. Most of the second part seemed pretty clean, however, and other defects appeared fairly insubstantial. The film offered a few nicks and occasional speckles, but these didnt provide any significant concerns. Colors usually looked quite good. They seemed generally clear and accurate, with some vivid and bright tones as display. On a few occasions, they came across as a bit heavy, especially when we saw colored lighting, but as a whole, I thought the hues were solid. Black levels appeared reasonably deep and dense, while shadow detail appeared a bit muddy at times, but for the most part, the low-light sequences remained fairly clean. Overall, European Vacation demonstrated some modest issues, but I felt it offered a pleasing image as a whole. Also fairly good was the monaural soundtrack of European Vacation . Speech occasionally came across as somewhat thin and flat, but the lines lacked any edginess and they showed no problems related to intelligibility. Effects also seemed somewhat tinny, but they retained acceptable fidelity and clarity, and they demonstrated no issues related to distortion. Music sounded quite strong, as the songs and score were bright and rich. They featured surprisingly positive bass response and seemed pretty dynamic considering their age. I heard a little hiss and hum at times, but those concerns werent excessive. Overall, I found the track to seem very nice for its period and the restrictions of the monaural format. European Vacation doesnt provide many extras, but we do find one substantial one. In addition to the films theatrical trailer , we get an audio commentary from actor Chevy Chase. He offers a running, screen-specific track, but dont expect much. For the most part, Chase does little more than offer general comments about how much he liked the cast and he tells us when he thinks somethings funny. We learn a few modestly interesting comments, such as which pieces of wardrobe Chase still owns, and at one point he indicates that he previously thought European was a bad movie but this screening changed his mind. Chases commentary isnt a total loss, but it provides little concrete information and features sporadic remarks with many gaps. At least he actually criticizes the film a few times, as he tells us his opinion of how Rusty was depicted. Ive heard worse commentaries, but this was still a rather dull piece. I felt the same about National Lampoons European Vacation as a film. It had a few decent moments and remained watchable for the most part, but it seemed fairly bland and uninvolving as a whole. The DVD offered moderately flawed but generally solid picture and sound plus a fairly flat audio commentary. Fans of the Vacation series should be happy with this release, but those less forgiving will probably prefer to stick with the original film alone. Viewer Film Ratings: 3.7878 Stars Number of Votes: 33 20 1 3 3 6 View Averages for all rated titles.

London Vacation

US Airways Vacations - Destinations : -- US Airways Vacations - London vacation travel package England Bermuda California Canada -- Caribbean Europe Florida Hawaiian Islands Las Vegas Latin America Mexico Ski U.S. Cities Reservations Modify Inquiries -- Retrieve a Reservation Trip Cancellation Waiver Current Specials E-mail Sign-up FAQs Gift Certificates -- Terms & Conditions Codeshare Create Profile -- Manage Your Profile Travel Advisories Plan Your Vacation Now Customer Care Specialists Group Sales Airline Technical Help Who We Are Why Vacation With Us? Home | Destinations | Europe | London Select your Destination -- Caribbean -- Antigua Aruba The Islands of The Bahamas Barbados Dominican Republic Grand Cayman Grenada Jamaica Nevis Palm Island Puerto Rico /dest/sbh.asp"St. Barthelemy -- St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Martin/St. Maarten Turks & Caicos U.S. Virgin Islands -- Bermuda -- -- Mexico -- Cancun Cozumel Mexico City Riviera Mayan -- Latin America -- Belize Costa Rica -- Florida -- Captiva Island Clearwater Ft. Myers Ft. Lauderdale Islamorada Key Largo Key West Marco Island Miami Beach Naples Orlando West Palm Beach Sanibel Island Sarasota St. Petersburg Tampa Universal Orlando Resort Walt Disney World Resort Vero Beach -- -- Las Vegas -- -- Ski -- Colorado Reno/ Lake Tahoe Utah -- U.S. Cities -- Biloxi -- Boston Chicago Myrtle Beach Nashville New Orleans New York City Phoenix/National Parks Seattle Washington D.C. -- Hawaiian Islands -- Hawaii Oahu -- California -- Anaheim/Orange County Los Angeles Palm Springs San Diego San Francisco -- Europe -- Amsterdam Barcelona Budapest Dublin Edinburgh Florence Frankfurt French Riviera German Countryside Glasgow Great Britain Countryside Irish Countryside London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Prague Rome Salzburg Venice Vienna -- Canada -- Montreal Ottawa Toronto Vancouver Victoria -- The British capital is more eclectic and electric than it's been in years. Newsweek hailed London as a "hip compromise between the nonstop newness of Los Angeles and the aspic-preserved beauty of Paris--sharpened to New York's edge." Wine Spectator proclaims more modestly: "The sun is shining brighter in London these days." More... View Hotels London Your Way Optional Features London Hotel Specials Special Hotel Partners -- Video Clips Overview Attractions Landmarks Shopping Snapshot Before You Go Introduction - Best Dining Bets - The Best for Kids Getting to Know - Fast Facts - Neighborhoods in Brief - Getting Around While You're There Dining - Teatime Attractions - Suggested Itineraries - Attractions on the Outskirts - Especially for Kids - Parks & Gardens Nightlife - Bars & Pubs - Casinos - The Club & Music Scene Shopping - Central London Shopping - Street & Flea Markets Side Trips - Cambridge - Canterbury - Oxford - Salisbury & Stonehenge - Stratford-upon-Avon - Windsor & Eton Before You Go Introduction - A Look Back at Vegas: No Tomorrow - Favorite Experiences Planning a Trip - When to Go - Health & Insurance - Money - Tips for Travelers with Special Needs Getting to Know - Fast Facts - Orientation - Getting Around While You're There Dining - Morrocan Restaurants - Some Dining Notes - Sweets - Buffets - Family Friendly Restaurants - Theme Restaurants Attractions - Suggested Itineraries - Top Attractions - Nearby Attractions - Especially for Kids - Getting Married - Sin City Inverted -- -- Departure City: Please Select A City AL - Birmingham AL - Huntsville/Decatur AL - Mobile AL - Montgomery AZ - Phoenix AR - Fayetteville AR - Little Rock CA - Fresno --- CA - Los Angeles CA - Monterey --- CA - Orange County CA - Palm Springs CA - Sacramento --- CA - San Diego CA - San Francisco CA - Santa Barbara --- CO - Denver CO - Vail CT - Bridgeport --- CT - Hartford CT - New Haven CT - New London FL - Ft. Lauderdale FL - Ft. Myers FL - Ft. Walton Beach FL - Gainesville FL - Jacksonville FL - Key West FL - Miami FL - Naples -- FL - Orlando FL - Panama City FL - Pensacola FL - Sarasota FL - Tallahassee FL - Tampa FL - West Palm Beach GA - Athens GA - Atlanta GA - Augusta GA - Columbus GA - Savannah IL - Chicago (Midway) IL - Chicago (O'Hare) IN - Evansville IN - Ft. Wayne IN - Indianapolis IN - South Bend IA - Cedar Rapids IA - Des Moines KS - Dodge City KS - Garden City KS - Great Bend KS - Hays KS - Manhattan KS - Salina KS - Topeka KS - Wichita KY - Lexington KY - Louisville LA - Baton Rouge LA - New Orleans LA - Shreveport ME - Augusta ME - Bangor ME - Bar Harbor ME - Portland ME - Presque Isle ME - Rockland MD - Baltimore MD - Cumberland MD - Hagerstown MD - Salisbury MA - Boston MA - Hyannis MA - Martha's Vineyard MA - Nantucket MA - Worcester MI - Detroit MI - Flint --- MI - Grand Rapids MI - Kalamazoo MI - Lansing MI - Saginaw MN - Minneapolis/ St. Paul MS - Jackson MO - Kansas City MO - Springfield MO - St. Louis NE - Lincoln NE - Omaha NV - Las Vegas NH - Lebanon NH - Manchester NJ - Atlantic City NJ - Newark NY - Albany NY - Binghamton NY - Buffalo NY - Elmira NY - Ithaca NY - Jamestown NY - Long Island (Islip) NY - Massena NY - New York (LaGuardia) NY - Newburgh NY - Ogdensburg NY - Plattsburgh NY - Poughkeepsie --- NY - Rochester NY - Saranac Lake --- NY - Syracuse NY - Utica --- NY - Watertown NY - White Plains NC - Asheville NC - Charlotte NC - Fayetteville NC - Greensboro/ High Point NC - Greenville NC - Hickory NC - Jacksonville NC - Kinston --- NC - New Bern NC - Pinehurst/ Southern Pines NC - Raleigh/Durham NC - Rocky Mount/ Wilson --- NC - Wilmington NC - Winston-Salem (Smith-Reynolds) --- OH - Akron/Canton OH - Cincinnati OH - Cleveland OH - Columbus OH - Dayton OH - Toledo OH - Youngstown PA - Allentown PA - Altoona PA - Bradford PA - Dubois PA - Erie PA - Franklin PA - Harrisburg PA - Johnstown PA - Lancaster PA - Latrobe PA - Philadelphia PA - Pittsburgh PA - Reading PA - State College PA - Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton PA - Williamsport Puerto Rico - San Juan RI - Providence SC - Charleston SC - Columbia SC - Florence SC - Greenville/ Spartanburg SC - Hilton Head Isl. SC - Myrtle Beach TN - Chattanooga TN - Knoxville TN - Memphis TN - Nashville TN - Tri-City TX - Dallas/Ft. Worth TX - Houston VT - Burlington VT - Rutland VA - Charlottesville VA - Lynchburg VA - Newport News/ Williamsburg VA - Norfolk VA - Richmond VA - Roanoke VA - Shenandoah WA - Seattle WV - Beckley WV - Bluefield WV - Charleston WV - Clarksburg WV - Greenbrier WV - Huntington WV - Morgantown WV - Parkersburg WI - Madison WI - Milwaukee Washington, D.C. (Dulles) Washington, D.C. (National) Destination city: Please Select A City Anguilla -- Antigua AZ - Phoenix/ Scottsdale Aruba Bahamas - Nassau/ Cable Beach Bahamas - Paradise Island Bahamas - Grand Bahama Isl Barbados Belize Bermuda CA - Los Angeles CA - Orange County/ Anaheim CA - San Diego CA - San Francisco Canada - Montreal -- Canada - Ottawa -- Canada - Toronto -- Colorado - Denver Colorado - Vail Costa Rica Dominican Republic/ La Romana Punta Cana Santo Domingo FL - Daytona Beach FL - Ft. Lauderdale FL - Ft. Myers/Captiva FL - Marco & Sanibel Islands FL - Jacksonville FL - Key West FL - Miami Beach/ Key Largo FL - Islamorada/ Marathon FL - Naples FL - Orlando FL - Sarasota/ Lido Beach FL - Tampa FL - Clearwater/ St. Pete Beach FL - W. Palm Beach France - Paris/Nice Germany - Frankfurt Germany - Munich Grand Cayman Great Britain - London Great Britain - Manchester Grenada Hawaiian Islands - Honolulu Hawaiian Islands - Kona Ireland - Dublin Ireland - Shannon Italy - Rome/Florence Italy - Milan/Venice Jamaica - Montego Bay Jamaica - Ocho Rios Jamaica - Negril LA - New Orleans MA - Boston Mexico - Cancun Mexico - Cozumel Mexico - Mexico City Mexico - Riviera Maya Netherlands - Amsterdam NV - Las Vegas NV - Reno/Tahoe Nevis NY - New York City Palm Island Puerto Rico - San Juan Scotland - Glasgow SC - Myrtle Beach Spain - Madrid St. Barthelemy -- St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin TN - Nashville Turks & Caicos U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands - St. John U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Thomas UT - Salt Lake City WA - Seattle Washington, D.C. Departure 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 05 06 Adults: Children Ages: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 na 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Promotional Code: London Weather -- Vacation Information Vacation Inclusions Trip Cancellation Waiver Post Departure Travel Protection Proof of Citizenship 2006 Availability Calendar View Europe Brochure -- Destinations | Plan Your Vacation Now | Vacation Savers | Customer Service | Travel Advisories Terms and Conditions | Privacy Policy | Site Map 1998-2005 US Airways, Inc., US Airways Vacations CST 2009218-20

France Travel Guides We

France map, map of France, buy France maps, buy France travel book from Map Town Ltd. Home Maps Canadian Topo Etopo Digital Maps World Maps Wall Maps Maps of Canada Maps of USA Maps by Country Michelin Maps Freytag & Berndt Delorme Maps USA Topo Mexico Topo Aeronautical Maps World Aviation Nautical Charts Digital Maps GPS GPS Units GPS Accessories GPS Software Globes Floor Models Desktop Models Specialty Globes Inflatables Books Alberta and BC Lonely Planet Books by Country Aviation Books Nautical Books Accessories Map Accessories Services Laminating Scanning Reference World Facts Conversions Topofinder Site Map Special Order Feedback How to Search Web Cams France Maps and France Travel Guides We suggest that everyone travelling to this part of Europe take a France map and a France travel guide. Whether it is for an all-inclusive one-week holiday or a three-month on-a-shoestring adventure, your trip planning will be successful using these valuable tools. Map Town carries an excellent selection of maps for the whole region and each individual country. A France travel guide will help you understand the cultures and take advantage of the advice and experience acquired from other travelers who have been there before you. See our detailed Michelin France map section France Maps France Travel Maps France Travel Guides France Travel Guides Information and Online map of France Information and On-Line Map for France Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Lourdes, Toulouse, Grenoble, Mont Blanc, Chamonix, the French Alps .... the placenames excite a multitude of feelings. Imagine sipping red wine high in a wildflower-strewn alpine meadow, gazing down at quaint villages as the mist of a nearby waterfall gently settles on your arms, cooling you off on a hot summer afternoon. For the art lover, France is a dream come true. The Palace of Versailles, the Louvre, the gothic-style Notre Dame Cathedral-- these are just a few of the enticing works of art. France has 27 natural and cultural wonders which have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. With so much to explore and experience, it's worth it to do some research and planning ahead of time. Buy a France travel book and France map to start dreaming of your visit. | Africa | Asia | Atlantic Ocean | Australasia | Caribbean | | Central America | Europe | Indian Ocean | Middle East | | North America | Pacific Ocean | South America | Southeast Asia | Quick Search Search View Thumbnails Text List Products Per Page 10 20 50 100 100 - 400 5 Ave SW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 0L6 Email: maps@maptown.com Ph. #: (403)266-2241 Fax #: (403)266-2356 Toll Free Ph #: (1-877-921-6277) Toll Free Fax #: (1-877-776-2356) Hours of Operation: 8:00am - 6:00pm MST Monday - Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm MST Saturdays

Japan Travel

Japan.com - Travel - Travel in Japan - Japan Travel Search : on the web in Japan.com Powered by Home News Business Travel Travel Cities Flying to Japan Hotel Japan Overview Airports Climate Weather - Tokyo - Osaka - Other Cities Leisure Technology Living in Japan Study Job in Japan Immigration you@japan.com Login Address Password © 2001 Japan Inc. Communications K.K. All Rights Reserved. webmasters click here SONY Cyber-shot Digital Camera T1 (JE) Newly designed optical 3x zoom. Large 2.5-inch LCD and 5.1-million-pixels CCD. Meet the new, fully flat Cyber-shot with high-performance functions in a compact body : Click here to see more... JAPAN.COM FRIENDS Sign up for FREE and meet ADVERTISEMENT Free Newsletters Email : J@pan Inc Newsletter Wireless Watch Gadget Watch Terrie's Take Music Media Watch More NEWSLETTERS English OK Key Areas: » Kichijoji » Shinjuku » Harajuku » Omotesando » Shibuya » Ebisu » Shinagawa » Roppongi » Azabu » Akasaka Overview Japan, like any country, isn't something you can describe in just a few sentences. Below we have presented just some basic facts about the country, just to get things started. Japan (Nippon or Nihon) The four major islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu, covering a total area of 377,829 square kilometers (or 145,880 square miles). According to the National Census of 2000, the total population of Japan was 126.92 million, and there were ten prefectures with more than 3 million residents. The average size for households is approximately 2.7 persons, with the average life expectancy for males being 77.64 years, and 84.62 years for females. http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/index.html As of 2000, Japan's highly skilled workforce consisted of 64.46 million workers. The number of unemployed individuals, however, had exceeded 3 million per year for two consecutive years, and stood at 3.2 million. http://www.stat.go.jp/english/1.htm NATURAL FEATURES OF JAPAN The chief feature of the Japanese archipelago is its geological instability, resulting in frequent volcanic activity and earthquakes. Another distinctive characteristic of the topography is the fact that the Japanese archipelago is made up almost entirely of steep mountain districts with very few plains. Mountains and hills account for 73% of the land area, making Japan a very mountainous island country. MAJOR MOUNTAINS Mountains m Prefecture 1. *Fuji-san(Kenga-mine) 3776 Yamanashi Shizuoka 2. Kita-dake (Shirane-san) 3192 Yamanashi 3. Okuhotaka-dake 3190 Nagano Gifu An asterisk denotes a volcano. MAJOR LAKES A small number of large rivers, such as the Ishikarigawa, Shinanogawa, Tonegawa, Kisogawa, Yodogawa, and Chikugogawa, have large deltas at their mouths. A lake is defined as having an area of 10 kms2 or more and according to a 1999 survey, the lakes listed below are three of Japan's largest: lakes m Prefecture 1. Biwa-ko 670.3 Shiga 2. Kasumi-gaura 167.6 Ibaragi 3. Saroma-ko 151.9 Hokkaido FACTS IN BRIEF National Symbols Although Japan does not have an official national anthem, "Kimigayo" (His Majesty's Reign) is considered to be the 'de facto' anthem. Similarly, the "Hinomaru" ("the sun disk") has gained worldwide recognition as the 'national flag' of Japan, although it has never been officially designated as such. There is also no national flower of Japan, although many people believe it to be the cherry blossom for its overwhelming popularity or the chrysanthemum for its association with the Imperial Household. Japan has, however, officially recognized national entities such as the national butterfly (oomurasaki), national bird (pheasant), and the national sport (sumo). The national currency of Japan is yen (¥). Japanese language The Japanese language (known as nihongo in Japanese) has a complex writing system, comprised of Kanji and Kana. Kanji is derived from Chinese characters, with each character holding specific meaning, while Kana is a phonetic syllabry of characters, each character containing no inherent meaning in abstract. Hiragana and Katakana, two types of Kana, are used for locally derived Japanese words, and words initially 'imported' from other languages, respectively. It is not uncommon for students of the language to reach a level of fluency in spoken and written Japanese only after several years of dedicated study. World Heritage Sites in Japan In addition to Yakushima and Shirakami-Sanchi, which were both awarded World Natural Heritage status in December 1992, Japan also boasts nine World Cultural Heritage landmarks, including several well-known temples and shrines (see below). World Cultural Heritage Sites Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (listed in Dec. 1993) Himeji-jo (Dec. 1993) Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities: Dec. 1994) Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (Dec. 1995) Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome: Dec. 1996) Itsukushima Shinto Shrine (Dec. 1996) Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara (Dec. 1998) Shrines and Temples of Nikko (Dec. 1999) Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu (Dec. 2000) J@pan Inc Magazine Get all the news on the Business - Technology and People in Japan. Aims to tell the real story of Japan's move... http://www.japaninc.com

Hotel Travel

Yahoo! Travel Destination Guides Primary Navigation Home | Travel Guides | Hotels | Flights | Cars | Vacations | Cruises | Deals | FareChase Search Travel Travel > Guides Email this page Print Travel Guides, Reviews & Maps Click a Region Search for a Hotel City: (required) Hotel: Price per Night: Show All Less than $50 $50 - $99.99 $100 - $199.99 $200 - $499.99 More than $500 Class: Any Rating 2+ Stars 3+ Stars 4+ Stars 5 Stars Plan your perfect trip Research 500,000 places to stay and things to do in over 40,000 cities worldwide with candid user reviews , photos, maps and more. Ask questions and swap travel stories on the message boards . Save your favorite places into a custom trip plan . Get great travel deals . Browse Travel Guides United States Las Vegas New York City San Francisco Seattle Chicago San Diego Los Angeles Orlando Atlanta Honolulu All cities in US United Kingdom London Edinburgh Glasgow Oxford York Nottingham Bath Belfast Bristol Liverpool All cities in UK France Paris Nice Bordeaux St. Tropez Cannes Aix-en-Provence Lyon Chamonix Marseille Toulouse All cities in France Italy Rome Florence Venice Milan Naples Siena Sorrento Genoa Palermo Verona All cities in Italy Spain Barcelona Madrid Valencia Bilbao Malaga Ibiza Seville San Sebastian Marbella Salamanca All cities in Spain Asia Bangkok Kuala Lumpur Shanghai Hong Kong Tokyo Manila Singapore Delhi Phuket Seoul All cities in Asia Caribbean San Juan Punta Cana Santo Domingo Nassau Ocho Rios Montego Bay Varadero Grand Cayman Island Negril Havana All Caribbean cities Mexico Cancun Puerto Vallarta Cabo San Lucas Playa del Carmen Cozumel Mexico City San Miguel de Allende Acapulco Guadalajara Ixtapa All cities in Mexico Canada Montreal Toronto Vancouver Quebec Niagara Falls Victoria Winnipeg Calgary Mississauga Ottawa All cities in Canada Interest Guides National & State Parks Yellowstone , Yosemite , White Mountains Ski & Snow Aspen , Squaw Valley , Vail Top Beaches Miami , Myrtle Beach , Panama City Top Romantic Getaways Hawaii , New York City , San Francisco Related Information Popular Attractions Las Vegas Attractions New York City Attractions San Francisco Attractions Seattle Attractions Chicago Attractions San Diego Attractions Los Angeles Attractions Orlando Attractions Atlanta Attractions Honolulu Attractions Popular Cities Las Vegas Tourism New York City Tourism San Francisco Tourism Seattle Tourism Chicago Tourism San Diego Tourism Los Angeles Tourism Orlando Tourism Atlanta Tourism Honolulu Tourism Popular Hotels Las Vegas Hotels New York City Hotels San Francisco Hotels Seattle Hotels Chicago Hotels San Diego Hotels Los Angeles Hotels Orlando Hotels Atlanta Hotels Honolulu Hotels Yahoo! Travel: Your best choice for cheap plane tickets and other great deals! Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .