Japan Travel

Japan Travel Pictures | Japan Travel Photos Japan Travel resources, links and information for Japan. Click on the thumbnails to read stories and see travel pictures. Book your hotel Book a hotel in Japan Book a hostel Book Youth hostels in Japan Fly your way! Book your flight to Japan online - saving 40% or more! Other countries: Azerbaijan Bahrain Brunei Cambodia China Georgia Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Laos Lebanon Macau Malaysia North Korea Oman Pakistan Philippines Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Syria Thailand United Arab Emirates Vietnam Yemen Sometimes apparently western, but not so deep down completely different. Stories and pictures: Niseko Skiing Hiroshima Sapporo Snowfestival Miyajima Mount Fuji Sumo Wrestling Naritasan Tokyo Subway Shakotan National Park Japanese people Sapporo Art Park Daisetsuzan National Park Onsen Sapporo Dome Sounkyo Canyon Path of Philosophy Useful travel links: Book your hotel in Japan Weather Lonely Planet Japanese Guesthouses Travelogues for Japan Currency exchange Many more links on Japan ! Suggest a site Go directly to: Africa Asia Europe North America Oceania South America Join our mailinglist: If you want to be updated about developments at Around the World in 80 Clicks, subscribe! Your E-mail address: Travel Forum Join others in discussions on Asia Also on this site: read and sign the guestbook send us your suggestions ! send this site to a friend read about the background of this site publications on this site meet new friends for travel, dating or just fun! Around the World in 80 Clicks All rights reserved - www.traveladventures.org - 1999-2005 Share your comments

London Vacation Accommodation Date

London Greater London Vacation Accommodation - Flat London Greater London Vacation Accommodation Property Owners Join us VRBO ® is Vacation Rentals by Owner ® Home Europe United Kingdom England Greater London London Edit Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #38680 Luxury 3 BR/2 Full Bath Flat in Kensington Location: London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe (Walk to Kensington/High Street shops and underground) Accommodations: Flat - 3 Bedrooms + Convertible bed(s) - 2 Baths - (Sleeps 6-8) Photo 1 - London, Greater London, England, UK Vacation Rental Accommodations Luxury three bedroom, two full bath with modern, fully equipped kitchen plus washer and dryer. Fully staffed reception area with porters, video entry phones ensure privacy and security. Lovely, large secure garden. Ideal for picnics and children's play area. Business services, including typing, copying, etc. also available. Walk to Kensington/High Street Shops, including Marks and Spencer, Next, Laura Ashley and other unique boutiques and specialty shops. Also walk to Portabello road, home to many elegant antique shops. Short walk to the Kensington/High Street Underground, which can quickly get you to places throughout London and to or from Heathrow. Also close to Holland Park, Kensington Palace, the Olympia Exhibition Hall, Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum. The flat is in an historic Edwardian building which has been renovated to the highest standards with lifts (elevators) to all floors. The Master bedroom has a king-sized bed and en-suite bath. Second bedroom has twin beds. Third bedroom has bunk bed. Sofa Bed in living room sleeps two. Both bathrooms have tubs and showers with heated towel racks. Photo 2 - London, Greater London, England, UK Vacation Rental Accommodations Amenities: Phone, Cable TV, VCR, Full Kitchen, Microwave, Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Cooking Utensils provided, Linens provided, Washer & Dryer Activities (on site or nearby): Fitness Center, Shopping, Restaurants, Live Theater, Cinemas, Museums, Sightseeing Rates (in US Dollars): Personal Currency Assistant ™ Weekly Rate .. $2200/week.Available for rental by the week only for following week:November 19-26Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. Photo 3 - London, Greater London, England, UK Vacation Rental Accommodations Note: Each property is individually owned or managed. Dates available:  November 19-26 Phone: (510) 654-2536 (California, USA) Please say: "I saw your listing #38680 on VRBO" Home Europe United Kingdom England Greater London London Edit Vacation Rentals by Owner Listing #38680 There have been 4083 visitors to this page since the counter was last reset on May 01, 2004 This listing was first published here on May 01, 2004. London Greater London Vacation Accommodation Date last modified - December 16, 2005 VRBO® is Vacation Rentals by Owner® - The largest and most popular vacation rental site. Specializing in BY OWNER vacation rentals, homes, condos, cabins, villas and apartments ALSO privately owned properties offered thru rental agencies and management companies. To report any problems with this site contact webmaster@vrbo.com URL: http://www.vrbo.com/38680 ©1995-2005 by VRBO International LLC - all rights reserved

Japan Travel International Travel

Metropolis - Japan Travel: Jesus in Japan JAPAN TODAY | METROPOLIS | CLASSIFIEDS | PERSONALS | JOBS Issue Index Original Features Features Mini Features Cultural Features Life in Japan Big in Japan Rant & Rave Cars & Bikes Health & Beauty Interiors Practical Jobfinder Money Talks Tokyo Tech Web Watch Food & Drink Food & Drink Restaurant Reviews Bar Reviews Word of Mouth Travel Travel Features Japan Travel International Travel Travelogue Style Art Artifacts Fashion Tokyo Talk In Store Buyline Music Japan Beat CD Reviews In Person Concerts Clubbing TRAVEL Jesus in Japan Jesus' supposed resting place Photos by Mary King Mary King hunts down the Messiah in the small village of Herai in the wilds of northern Japan. Church bells will ring out louder this year as millions of Christians across the world join in songs of praise for Jesus Christ's 2000th birthday. While most turn their thoughts to Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem, few know of the important role some claim Japan played in the life of Christ. There are probably very few Christians who have even heard of the small village of Herai that lies tucked away in the northern reaches of Aomori Prefecture, but some here maintain this to be the place where Jesus settled, married and died at the ripe old age of 106. Although it's commonly held that Jesus grew up as a carpenter in the Galilee town of Nazareth, according to the legend of Herai, or Shingo as it's now known, the 11 "missing years" of Christ's life not accounted for in the New Testament of the Bible were spent in Japan. According to the local legend, Christ first came to Japan, aged 21, during the reign of the 11th emperor, Suinin, and landed at the port of Hashidate on the Japan Sea coast. Apparently, he settled in Etchu province where, under the tutelage of a great master, he studied Japanese language, literature and various other subjects. The Legend of Daitenku Taro Jurai (Daitenku Taro Jurai was the name Christ is said to have later taken) claims that at the end of his 11-year stay, Christ returned to Judea, aged 33, where he taught about the "sacred land" of Japan. But, unfortunately, "Christ's teachings about Japan were considered too radical," and he was condemned to death. The New Testament teaches Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, rose from the dead after three days and later ascended into Heaven. However, according to the legend of Herai, Jesus escaped this fate, and instead his brother Isukiri was nailed to the cross and died. Christ, meanwhile, fled with his disciples and went into hiding, carrying locks of the Virgin Mary's hair and his brother's ear. After an arduous journey across Siberia, Christ finally returned to Japan and settled in Herai where he changed his name, married a Japanese woman called Miyuko, fathered three daughters and lived to the age of 106. Devout Christians may insist that the Garden Tomb, which lies not far from Damascus Gate outside the Old City of Jerusalem, is Jesus' true burial site, but the people of Herai have another story to tell-marked by a large wooden cross, Jesus' tomb ( Juraizuka ) sits alongside his brother's ( Judaibo ) in Herai. Isukiri's tomb holds his ear and locks of the Virgin Mary's hair. It's hard to imagine anyone, let alone Christ, would have schlepped out to one of the remotest parts of northern Japan in days of old, as even today it demands a great deal of effort to reach the village. Herai epitomizes the middle of nowhere. The place is little more than a lonely grocery store, a sprinkling of farmhouses and scraggly garlic fields and rice paddies blanketed with snow at this time of year. Most tourists either already know about the tombs, as well as the "pyramids" said to predate those of Egypt, or are so intrigued by the wild talk they hear of Herai while trekking out near Towadako Lake they can't resist coming to check it out. Remains of the Mirror Stone pyramid Pyramid scheme The first pyramid of the "O-Ishigami Pyramid" circle, we are told, was discovered in August, 1935 on Mt Towari, exactly one day after the discovery of Christ's tomb in the village. According to the "history of the Divine Age" found in the documents of the Takenouchi family, there are seven pyramids in Japan, dating back tens of thousands of years and older than the Egyptian pyramids. Legend has it that the largest of these "pyramids," the Mirror Stone, used to stand upright and had writing engraved on it, but fell over during an earthquake in 1857 and became embedded in the ground. Disappointingly, not one of the rocks slightly resembles a pyramid in the Egyptian or Mexican sense, but apparently Japanese pyramids are different from those found elsewhere. They were triangular rocks situated on the top of mountains and used for sun-worship in ancient times. A local standing by what may be Jesus' grave Tomb of the unknown Savior The "pyramids" are a five-minute drive from the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan (Village of Christ Legend Museum; Tel: 0178-78-3741), where you can read about the history and customs of Herai, and catch the audio-visual show of the Kirisuto Matsuri (Christ Festival) held in the early summer. The museum is open from April to October. Contact the Shingo Business and Tourist Section at Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111) for visits during other times of the year. The present museum, open for the past five years, also records the uncanny circumstances surrounding the tombs of "Christ and his brother Isukiri" as well as old folk songs and customs that resemble ancient Judaic-Christian ones and various theories that either support or quash links between the Japanese and Christians of Jewish descent. Even the name of the village, Herai, is said to be derived from the word Hebrai (Hebrew). It sounds like a tall tale, but no stranger than stories of burning bushes, the parting of the Red Sea and water being turned into wine. For the people of Herai too, the revelation that Christ is buried in their village came as a shock when documents claiming Jesus had resided in Japan were discovered in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1935. Said to be Christ's will and testament and the proof that he had lived and died in Japan, the "Takenouchi documents" later proved to be fake. For years, many villagers felt that the shroud of mystery surrounding the large ancient tombs in a bamboo thicket had finally been lifted. The documents explained some of the village's customs, such as marking a cross on the forehead of a child when it first leaves the home and why Sanjiro Sawaguchi, a village elder, had "blue eyes like a foreigner." The museum explains mysterious local customs The tombs are located close to the Kirisuto no Sato Denshokan, marked by two large wooden crosses and are sitting on a small hill overlooking those of the Sawaguchi family-local garlic farmers who are said to be the descendants of Christ and who, to this day, care for their great ancestor's tombs. "Somebody special lies there but I don't really believe it's the tomb of Christ. It's probably the tomb of a foreigner who settled in the village at some point. It's certainly interesting that some of the old customs in this village are said to be similar to those of ancient Judea, and it may explain why some people in the village have blue eyes. But this village has always been Buddhist and the Shinto shrine in the village is more than 1000 years old, so I really don't think that there are any ancient links between Japanese and Jews or Christians of Jewish descent," said Yoshiteru Ogasawara, who runs Nobara Pension (Tel: 0178-78-2484). Regardless of what you believe, Herai makes an interesting-if somewhat barren-destination, and you're guaranteed a great travel story to share with friends. Getting there: From JR Ueno stn, take the Tohoku shinkansen to Morioka stn and change to the express train for Hachinohe. From Hachinohe, take a bus to Gonohe, where you can change to a bus for Shingo (Herai). For information on the local bus service, contact the tourist section of the Shingo Village Office (Tel: 0178-78-2111; Fax: 0178-78-2118). Getting around: Those seriously thinking of venturing out to this part of the world to see the tombs and the "pyramids" should consider hiring a car or taxi from Hachinohe or Gonohe as the local bus service is irregular, and getting around Herai on foot is nigh-on impossible, especially during the winter months. TRAVELOGUE WORLD TRAVEL TRAVEL FEATURES JAPAN TRAVEL: SEPTEMBER 389: God speed The mother of all Shinto temples, Ise Grand Shrine AUGUST 385: Hattoji Highland hamlet JULY 380: Nagasaki Remembrance of things past 378: Kawagoe From modern Tokyo to "Little Edo" 376: Tottori Tottori's stunning landscapes JUNE 375: Kyushu Bed and bath under the volcano 373: Ryogoku Land of the giants 372: Osaka Universal Studios Japan MAY 371: Osaka Amerika-mura: Osaka's funky town 369: Mie Mikimoto Pearl Island 368: Takarazuka Hyogo-ken's all women theater group APRIL 365: Kawasaki Kawasaki's annual fertility festival 364: Aomori A day on Fear Mountain MARCH 362: Nagano Chill out snowboarding 361: Asuka One foot in the grave FEBRUARY 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- TOP

Mexico Travel

Mexico Hotels, Hotels in Mexico with Different World Mexico call toll free: 888 903 9512 Mon-Fri 8AM-4PM EST/EDT HURRICANE WILMA Resort Status Click here for latest news about any damage to our hotels and planned re-opening times. -- News about Hurricane Wilma -- -- -- Welcome to the Best Hotels in Mexico If you're looking for special hotels in Mexico you've just found them.Here at Different World we've done all the hard work for you.We've traveled the length and breadth of Mexico looking for the very best hotelsfor vacation travelers. And because we stay at each hotel before we offer it,you can be sure that the information we provide is accurate, up-to-date and unbiased. We're very selective about the hotels we include. Our quality goal is simple:if we wouldn't stay there ourselves, we won't offer it to you. And we revisit our hotelsregularly to make sure that our standards are maintained. No single page hotel descriptions here! Instead you'll find detailed informationabout each hotel, with lots of photos, plus hints and tips about what to see and do duringyour stay. And if you have any questions, our travel experts are just an email or phone call away. We're confident that whichever hotel you choose, you'll be enjoying the very best accommodationthat Mexico has to offer. Have a great vacation! Your Comments Comments go here. Citation goes here About Us Different World is a leading Mexican travel agency that has been selling Mexicanhotel accommodation online since 1997. For more details click here :: deal of the week m a j a h u i t a s r e s o r t n e a r p u e r t o v a l l a r t a Free night offer December 1 - 20 click here :: choice s u e n o s t u l u m t u l u m New cabana hotel on a stunning beach click here :: what's new Check out some of our latest discoveries click here hotels in mexico Acapulco Hotels Alamos Hotels Campeche Hotels Cancun Hotels Celestun Hotels Chetumal Hotels Chichen Itza Hotels Colima Hotels Cozumel Hotels Guadalajara Hotels Guanajuato Hotels Holbox Hotels Huatulco Hotels Isla Mujeres Hotels Manzanillo Hotels Merida Hotels Mexico City Hotels Morelia Hotels Oaxaca Hotels Patzcuaro Hotels Playa del Carmen Hotels Puebla Hotels Puerto Escondido Hotels Puerto Morelos Hotels Puerto Vallarta Hotels San Jose del Cabo Hotels San Miguel de Allende Hotels Todos Santos Hotels Tulum Hotels Uxmal Hotels Valladolid Hotels Zacatecas Hotels Zihuatanejo Hotels category search hotels by city hotels by region hotels by name mexico vacation exotic beaches hideaways colonial cities historical sites mexico for lovers mexico journeys expreso maya about mexico sights history food climate travel planning getting here before you go karen brown buses need help? site map contact us useful links trip planner Want a dream holiday in Mexico? Let our experts help you planthe perfect trip! Click here top 5 :: plunge pools 1. La Casa que Canta 2. Ikal del Mar 3. Las Brisas 4. El Tamarindo 5. Quinta Real Huatulco top 5 :: colonial luxury 1. The Villa @ Merida 2. Hacienda San Jose 3. Camino Real Oaxaca 4. Casa de Sierra Nevada 5. Quinta Real Zacatecas top 5 :: away from it all 1. Hotelito Desconcido 2. Las Alamandas 3. Majahuitas 4. El Tamarindo 5. Eco Paraiso Xixim privacy security site map legal © Different World 1997-2005. All rights reserved

Air Travel Passenger Rail

TSA | Transportation Security Administration | A MUST read for anyone traveling by air... Home | FAQs | Sitemap | Contact Us Travelers & Consumers Employment Business Opportunities Industry Partners Law & Policy Security & Law Enforcement About TSA Briefing Room Site Search Travelers & Consumers Air Travel Passenger Rail Passenger Vessels Highway Travel Mass Transit TSA Partner Programs Persons with Disabilities & Medical Conditions TSA Customer Service Signup for Homeland Security Alerts Passenger Resources Travel Tips Travelers & Consumers Printable Version Travel Tips A MUST read for anyone traveling by air... Following these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint. Before the Airport Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Read the Permitted and Prohibited Items list. Place valuables such as jewelry, cash and laptop computers in carry-on baggage only. Tape your business card to the bottom of your laptop. Avoid wearing clothing, jewelry and accessories that contain metal. Metal items may set off the alarm on the metal detector. Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal or have thick soles or heels. Many types of footwear will require additional screening even if the metal detector does not alarm. Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. Declare firearms & ammunition to your airline and place them in your checked baggage. If you wish to lock your baggage, use a TSA-recognized lock . Do not bring lighters or prohibited matches to the airport. Do not pack wrapped gifts and do not bring wrapped gifts to the checkpoint. Wrap on arrival or ship your gifts prior to your departure. TSA may have to unwrap packages for security reasons. At the Airport Each adult traveler needs to keep available his/her airline boarding pass and government-issued photo ID until exiting the security checkpoint. Due to different airport configurations, at many airports you will be required to display these documents more than once. Place the following items IN your carry-on baggage or in a plastic bag prior to entering the screening checkpoint: Mobile phones Keys Loose change Money clips PDA's (personal data assistants) Large amounts of jewelry Metal hair decorations Large belt buckles Take your laptop and video cameras with cassettes OUT of their cases and place them in a bin provided at the checkpoint. Take OFF all outer coats, suit coats, jackets and blazers. Transportation Security Administration Internet Privacy Policy : Terms of Use : Accessibility : FOIA : FirstGov