Central America Travel

Central America Vacations & Tourism, Central America Hotels, Central America Attractions - Yahoo! Travel Primary Navigation Overview | Hotels | Things to do | Restaurants | Map | Flights | Cars | Deals | FareChase Central America: Search Travel Travel > Guides > Central America Email this page Print Central America Vacations, Tourism, Hotels View larger map of Central America Top Cities in Central America San Jose Panama City San Salvador Belize City San Pedro Antigua Guatemala Tegucigalpa Tamarindo Caye Caulker Puerto Quepos Managua Guatemala City Roatan San Ignacio Placencia Granada Countries in Central America Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Honduras Nicaragua Panama Popular Central America Cities Belize Belize City San Pedro Caye Caulker San Ignacio Placencia Costa Rica San Jose Tamarindo Puerto Quepos Puntarenas Limon El Salvador San Salvador San Luis Talpa San Miguel San Vicente Santa Ana Nicaragua Managua Granada Leon Montelimar Rivas Guatemala Antigua Guatemala Guatemala City Panajachel Chichicastenango Tikal Natl Park Panama Panama City David Boquete Taboga Island Colon Honduras Tegucigalpa Roatan Tela San Pedro Sula La Ceiba Related Information Popular Attractions in Central America Antigua Guatemala Volcn Arenal Spirogyra Butterfly Garden Mercado Central Ruinas de Ujarrs Parque Nacional Volcn Pos Zoolgico La Aurora Rain Forest Aerial Tram Day Trip Mapa en Relieve Parque Nacional Popular Hotels in Central America Quinta Real Guatemala Casa Santo Domingo Hilton Princess San Salvador Hotel Colonial Grand Tikal Futura Hotel Marriott Guatemala City Bougainvillea Hotel Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica Belize Yacht Club Barcelo Montelimar Beach Popular Cities in Central America San Jose Panama City San Salvador Belize City San Pedro Antigua Guatemala Tegucigalpa Tamarindo Caye Caulker Puerto Quepos Yahoo! FareChase: Search dozens of websites, find a cheap airfare Help get your favorite places listed on Yahoo! Travel: suggest a hotel or suggest an attraction .

Japan Travel

Travel.3Yen.com - Travel in Japan - Japanese Travel Try our toolbar . It's free. travel .3yen.com Traveling to Japan, from Japan, and around Japan Find: with Bookmark 3Yen - Free Toolbar Sections Chubu Kanazawa Mt. Fuji Nagano Nagoya Chugoku Hiroshima Matsue Miyajima Okayama Yamaguchi General Hokkaido Sapporo Kansai Himeji Ise Kobe Kyoto Nara Osaka Kanto Hakone Kamakura Nikko Tokyo Yokohama Kyushu Beppu Fukuoka Kagoshima Nagasaki Okinawa Shikoku Takamatsu Tohoku Other Sites - News on Japan - Travel in Japan Lifestyle - Everyday in Japan - Learn Japanese - Japanese Food - Meet Friends Business - Business in Japan - Work in Japan - Teach in Japan - Japan Legal FAQ Tech and Gadgets - Japanese Gadgets - Keitai/Mobile Phones - Japanese Video Games Entertainment - Japanese Anime - Japanese Cinema - Japanese Commercials - Japanese Fashion - Japanese Manga - Japanese Music - Japanese Wallpapers Free Email User Name: Password: Sign up here: izi.jp Tell your friends You like this page? Send it to a friend! Newsletters Subscribe now to receive FREE news on Japan. Enter your email below. Powered by Yahoo! WE DO NOT SPAM. Contact 3yen Questions? Comments? Suggestions?... Contact us here 3Yen original T-shirts & goodies Join us Passionate about a Japanese topic? Write a column here. Contribute to 3Yen Thanks Domain Names Web Hosting Wordpress Links News on Japan Japan Blog Links Make your blog Link to us Legal Disclaimer Privacy policy -- As seen on: Answers.com Blue's News BNET Boing Boing CNET News.com digg Engadget Fark Fazed Gizmodo Iconfactory iPod Lounge Joystiq KFC Cinema Kotaku Near Near Future Popgadget Russell Beattie Notebook Slashdot Smart Mobs Textually.org Ubergizmo Waxy Wikipedia 8/22/2005 Aichi Expo 2005 review Posted by Yves Yuki went to Aichi Expo 2005 so you don’t have to. Well, I wish I was going, but since it appears I’m not going to, you might as well go read about it one the blog of someone who did. Read her Aichi Expo review at kissui.net . If you found some other good reviews, please let everyone enjoy them and share the links in the comments below. Via Gen Kanai Related entries: General | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 6/24/2005 Visit Japan from above with Google Maps Posted by Yves You live in Japan and you want to show your neighborhood to your family back home? Or you have never been in Japan before and you wish you could get a glimpse? Now you can. Google Maps have finally gone international! The image and the link above are the famous Shibuya crossing, with the world’s busiest Starbucks. If you find some good location or cool pictures, please post the URL in the comments so everyone can enjoy it. (To make the address shorter, you can use doiop ) Related entries: General Tokyo | Comments (3) | Link me! -- 1/1/2005 Travel Japan - Visit Tokyo Posted by Yves Tokyo (??) is the capital of Japan. At over 12 million people, Tokyo is one of the biggest cities in the world. It is also huge and varied in its geography, with over 2,000 square kilometers to explore. Tokyo brings the most modern wonders of technology, commerce and architecture side by side with the old, and has something for everyone. The Tokyo Metropolitan District (??? Tokyo-to) includes 23 central wards (? ku) near the bay and several outlying cities and towns (? shi) to the west. There are even a couple of Pacific islands that are officially part of Tokyo. You will find the biggest crowded high-rise districts, but also shambling old wooden low-rise neighborhoods, and even mountainous parks. The geography of Tokyo is defined by the JR Yamanote Line (see Get around). The center of Tokyo — the former area reserved for the Shogun and his samurai — lies within the loop, while the Edo-era downtown (?? shitamachi) is to the north and east. Sprawling around in all directions and blending seamlessly into Yokohama, Kawasaki and Chiba are Tokyo’s suburbs. Central Tokyo Chiyoda, the seat of Japanese power that includes the Imperial Palace, the electronics mecca of Akihabara and the business center of Akasaka Chuo, including the famed department stores of the Ginza and the fish markets of Tsukiji Minato, the port district (at least in name) which includes the artificial island of Odaiba and the fleshpots of Roppongi Shibuya, the fashionable shopping district which also encompasses the teenybopper haven of Harajuku (also home to the Meiji Shrine) and the nightlife of Ebisu Shinjuku, home to luxury hotels, giant camera stores and Tokyo’s wildest red-light district Downtown Sumida by the river of the same name, including Ryogoku, home of the Edo-Tokyo Museum and Tokyo’s sumo arena Taito and Bunkyo, the heart of downtown Tokyo featuring the temples of Asakusa and the many museums of Ueno Toshima including Ikebukuro, another giant train hub Koto, between the two rivers Sumida and Arakawa, located on just the south of Sumida. It is famous for the former woodland in Kiba, and Kameido Tenjin the shrine worshipping Michizane Sugawara known as a father of study in Kameido. Suburban wards Meguro, a residential area with a few nice parks and museums Nakano Setagaya, an upscale residential area that houses the student drinking spot of Shimokitazawa Shinagawa, a major train hub Suginami Western cities Outside the 23 wards, some cities of (relatively minor) interest include Chofu Fuchu Hachioji Koganei Machida Musashino including Kichijoji Tama Generalities History Over 400 years old, the city of Tokyo grew from the modest fishing village of Edo (??). The former seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Imperial family moved to the city after the Meiji Restoration in 1868. The metropolitan center of the country, Tokyo is the modern destination for business, education, culture, and government. (That’s not to say that rivals such as Osaka won’t dispute those claims.) Language It’s easier than ever for English speakers to navigate their way around Tokyo without speaking any Japanese. Signs at subway and train stations include the station names in romaji (Romanized characters). There are also many districts of Tokyo (such as Roppongi) with establishments that cater specifically to gaijin (foreigners). Once you’ve decided to venture beyond the gaijin scene, however, the language barrier is more likely to become a problem, so it can be helpful to know some tips for ordering in restaurants, shopping in stores, and asking for directions. Cost of Life The cost of living in Tokyo is not as astronomical as it once was. Deflation and market pressures have helped to make costs in Tokyo comparable to most other large cities. Visitors from San Francisco, New York or London will not be at all surprised. Travelers should budget a similar amount of money for their stay in Tokyo as they would for any other great city in Europe or North America. Locals will know the bargains, but experienced cheapskates from anywhere in the world can get by with a little ingenuity. Getting there Send your bags into town before you arrive - Tokyo is crowded. Lugging even a moderately sized suitcase through the subways and up and down stairs can be a nightmare. So, what can you do? Use the ubiquitous delivery services (takkyuubin) which give cheap, dependable, fast service to anywhere. How does it work? At any airport or major station, look for a sign that says “Baggage Delivery” or something similar. The most common company is called Kuroneko. Their black-on-yellow logo of a mother cat carrying a baby cat is easy to spot anywhere. Write your hotel address, pay a small fee based on size and distance, and simply collect your bag the next day at your hotel. This works the same way on departure. Most hotels and even many convenience stores will take care of this for you. The service is extremely dependable. You can send almost any shape or size of bags (even a bicycle) to the airport ahead of time. They are never late and always in good condition. Just pick up your stuff in the airport lobby. It sure makes getting to the airport a breeze. It even makes intercity travel easy if you have a lot of stuff. By plane Narita Airport Tokyo’s main international gateway is Narita Airport (???? NRT), located in the town of Narita nearly 70 kilometers northeast of Tokyo and covered in a separate article. Haneda Airport Most domestic services, as well as the shuttle service to Seoul, fly into Haneda Airport (???? HND). The easiest way from Haneda to the city is the Tokyo Monorail to Hamamatsucho, from where you can connect to almost anywhere in Tokyo on the JR Yamanote line. The other, slightly cheaper alternative is the private Keikyu (??) line to Shinagawa and Yokohama. On December 1st 2004, ANA and Air Do moved to the new Terminal 2, while JAL, Skymark and Skynet will stay in Terminal 1. The Keikyu station is between the two, while the monorail has now has separate stops at both terminals. Services to Seoul use the small separate International Terminal, which is connected to the main domestic terminals by a free shuttle bus that runs every 5 minutes. By train There is a frequent intercity Shinkansen service to and from Tokyo Station (??? Tokyo-eki) in Chiyoda, from where you can easily connect pretty much anywhere in the city on the JR Yamanote or Metro Marunouchi lines. For all northbound trains, you can also hop on at Ueno, while most (but not all) westbound trains stop at Shinagawa. For non-Shinkansen services, Shibuya and Shinjuku stations offer local connections to the west. Ueno and Ikebukuro stations connect you to the northern suburbs and neighboring prefectures. By car While you can drive into the city, it’s really not recommended as the city can be congested, signs may be confusing and parking fees are astronomical. Hitchhiking into Tokyo is pretty easy, but hitchhiking out is considerably more difficult. It’s definitely possible for determined cheapskates though, see Hitchhiking in Japan for a detailed list of tested escape routes from the city. By bus Highway bus services link Tokyo to other cities, resort areas and the surrounding prefectures. There are JR and private bus companies. Bus service may be cheaper, but the train is probably more convenient. If you have a JR pass, then stick with the trains. By boat One of the great ports of the world, Tokyo also has domestic ferry services to other points in Japan. Get around By train and subway Railway service within Tokyo is provided by JR, the two subway networks, and various private lines. If you are planning to do any train travel in Tokyo, the first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the JR Yamanote Line (???). The Yamanote is a commuter line that runs in a loop around central Tokyo, and effectively defines the geography of the city. Almost all inter-regional JR lines and private lines start at a station on the Yamanote. All of JR’s commuter lines are color-coded, and the Yamanote is green. The JR Chuo (???, orange) and Sobu (???, yellow) lines run side-by-side, bisecting the Yamanote loop from Shinjuku on the west to Tokyo on the east. As they are mainly designed to carry commuters from the suburbs into and across town, they are not very useful for travelers. JR’s other commuter lines, the Saikyo and Keihin-Tohoku, run off the rim of the Yamanote loop to the north and south. Tokyo has an extensive subway network. It is inexpensive (¥160-¥300), frequent, and sometimes practically the only choice for a place like Roppongi (far from nearby JR station). Two companies operate a subway service - the Tokyo Metro, which has a larger network, and Toei, which runs primarily commuter lines. Unfortunately a change of lines between Metro and Toei will require a special transfer ticket (or a fare card). A number of private commuter lines radiate from the Yamanote loop far out into the outlying wards and suburbs, and almost all connect through to subway lines within the loop. The private lines are useful for day trips outside the city, and are slightly cheaper than the JR. Fares and hours All train stations are equipped with automated vending machines. Fares are based on distance, and the minimum fare (1-3 stations) ranges from ¥110-¥170 depending on the line. If you can’t figure out how much it is to the destination, you can buy the cheapest ticket and pay the difference at the end. Most vending machines will let you buy a single ticket that covers a transfer between JR, subway and private lines, all the way to your destination. Prepaid fare cards are extremely convenient, allowing you to slip in and slip out without having to know how much the fare is. Passnet cards can be used on all the subways and private lines in Tokyo. JR has its own fare card system, called IO-Card. Both are sold in denominations of ¥1,000, ¥3,000, and ¥5,000. JR also has a rechargeable contact-less smart card called Suica. As it requires a ¥500 deposit and is designed to be combined with a commuter pass, it is not especially advantageous for travelers. Many of the private lines interoperate with the subways, which can occasionally make a single ride seem unreasonably expensive as you are in essence transferring to another line and fare system, even though you’re still on the same train. It pays to check your route beforehand. All train lines in Tokyo run from around 05:00 to 01:00. During peak hours they run about once every three minutes; even during off-peak hours it’s less than ten minutes between trains. By taxi Taxis are pricey, but may be a value for groups of three compared to the subway. Fares generally start at about ¥600 and can mount rapidly. Do not count on your taxi driver knowing more than the best-known locations. If possible, get a business card, or print out the address in Japanese of any specific places you wish to go. By bus The few areas within Tokyo that aren’t easily accessible by train are served by various bus companies. Buses have a fixed fare regardless of distance (typically ¥200), and fares are not transferrable. Compared to the trains, the buses run much less frequently, carry fewer passengers, and are much slower. This makes them amenable to the elderly residents of Tokyo, but rather inconvenient for travelers, who will also have to deal with complicated routes and lack of information in English. See Tokyo has a vast array of sights, but the first items on the agenda of most visitors are the temples of Asakusa, the gardens of the Imperial Palace (in Chiyoda) and the Meiji Shrine (in Harajuku). If you’re looking for a viewing platform, the Tokyo Tower is the best known choice. It costs money to go up, however. A much better choice - while not quite as high - is the Tokyo City Hall in Shinjuku. Its twin towers have viewing platforms that are absolutely free, and still offer a great view over Tokyo. A recent addition to the viewing platforms around Tokyo is Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills, Roppongi. The city is dotted with museums, large and small, which center on every possible interest from pens to antique clocks to traditional and modern arts. At ¥500 to ¥1,000 or more, entrance fees can add up quickly. Many of the largest museums are clustered around Ueno. Do Take a boat ride on the Sumida River. Enjoy a soak in a local “sento” or public bath. Go to an amusement park such as Tokyo Disneyland or the more Japanese Sanrio Puroland (in Tama), home to more Hello Kittys than you can imagine. Learn The curious can study traditional culture such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, or martial arts such as Karate, Judo, Aikido and Kendo. There are also many language schools to help you work on your Japanese. Several universities in Tokyo cater to international students at the undergraduate or graduate level. Work Teaching English (or to a lesser extent, other foreign languages) is perhaps the easiest way to work in Japan. Tokyo also offers more work options than other areas: everything from restaurant work to IT. Work permits can be hard to come by and will take time. Consult your local Japanese consulate/embassy as far in advance as possible. Buy If it is for sale anywhere in the world, you can probably also buy it in Tokyo - at a price. Items to look for include electronics, funky fashions, antique furniture and kimono, and specialty items like Hello Kitty goods, anime and comics, and their associated paraphernalia. Cameras and electronics Ever since Sony and Nikon became synonymous with high-tech quality, Tokyo has been a favored place for buying electronics and cameras. Though the lines have blurred since the PC revolution, each has its own territory and stores: Akihabara has the electronics stores and Shinjuku has the camera stores, and both now sell mostly computers. There are branches in other major areas, but each side stays out of the other’s traditional territory and products. The discount chains have better prices than small local retailers, but prices basically don’t vary from one to the other. So if you know what you want, don’t waste your time comparison shopping. Selection can vary, though, and one brand might be cheaper than a similar item at a different store. Bargaining for major items is expected, but the salespeople probably have prepared scripts for a week’s worth of “this is normally as low as we can go, but hey, just for you…” Street fashion Shibuya and neighboring Harajuku are the best-known shopping areas for funky, youthful clothes and accessories. Note that, almost without exception, clothes are sized for the petite Japanese frame. Eat Tokyo has more restaurants than you can possibly imagine. Menus are often posted outside, so you can check the prices. Some shops have the famous plastic food in their front windows. Don’t hesitate to drag the waiting staff out to the front to point at what you want. Lunch is generally a great deal. If you want to try some fancy food, or you hear of a really top notch restaurant, try lunchtime. This is one of the best ways to try the same dishes without emptying your wallet. The food is still good, there is plenty of it, but it is cheaper than dinner. Usually lunch sets are 1,000 to 1,500 Yen, even in excellent restaurants. Always carry cash. Many restaurants will not accept plastic. In a city with literally tens of thousands of restaurants representing more or less every cuisine in the world, there aren’t all that many uniquely Tokyo specialities, but the nigirizushi (fish pressed onto rice) known the world around simply as “sushi” in fact originates from Tokyo. Tokyo’s best sushi can be found in Tsukiji, fresh from the famous fish market. Cheap Go to the convenience store. Really, the options may surprise you. Also, look for bento shops. These sell take-out lunch boxes. They range in quality and cost, but most offer good, basic food at a reasonable price. This is what students and office workers often eat. Noodle shops and curry shops are often the best option for people eating on the cheap. They are everywhere. Mid-range Good options for better food that won’t break the bank include okonomiyaki, tempura, and chain “family restaurants” such as Royal Host or Gusto. There are also a myriad of cheap Italian places such as the “To The Herbs” chain. Also, the basement of almost any department store will have a huge array of small shops selling all kinds of prepared take-out food. Go to Mitsukoshi, Matsuzakaya, or Isetan for a delicious picnic that may fall a bit on the pricy side. On the other hand, we’re talking sushi, not ham sandwiches. Drink Hit Roppongi for establishments which specialize in serving foreigners. Visit Shibuya for cool nightclubs, dancing, and live music. Shimokitawaza is full of good bars and restaurants and is popular with students and 20/30-somethings. The Kabukicho red light district in Shinjuku is worth a visit and has some good music in “live houses". You will find good little bars and restaurants everywhere. You will also find that you are never far from a beer vending machine in Tokyo. Most drinking is done in restaurants. Cheaper bar and grill type places are called izakaya (???). You can get all kinds of food and drink. The cheaper chain izakaya usually have picture menus, so ordering is simple. Some popular izakaya chains include Tsubohachi and Shirakiya. If you want a Western-style bar that serves drinks but is not a restaurant, try any of the higher end hotels. This will cost you, though, and you may want to dress up a bit. Sleep There are thousands of hotels in the Tokyo area, ranging from cheap to very expensive. They are distributed throughout the city, with some of the high end and the low end almost everywhere. Cheap Capsule hotels are generally the cheapest option. They may reluctant to play host to foreigners as there are quite a few rules of behavior which may be difficult to explain. 24-hour comic book library/internet cafes have become common around Tokyo. This is one of the cheapest ways to crash if you miss your last train and need to wait for the early morning transit service to get started. No bed, but you have a comfy chair and a PC and/or DVDs if you can’t sleep. Mid-range Keep an eye out for what is called a business hotel. Staff may speak minimal English, but it’s not too hard to figure out. The Tokyu Stay chain is one of the best values for money. Rooms start at around 80USD per night. Internet access and breakfast are included at no additional fee. All have a washer/dryer in the room. Kitchenettes are also available. Another option is staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn), which are inexpensive and give you a taste of Japanese culture. The Japanese-style rooms are typically covered by tatami mats with futons to sleep on and a Japanese low table, and the owners can be very friendly. If you are traveling solo, you are out of luck, but Japan’s infamous love hotels can be a reasonable (and interesting) option for couples in Tokyo. Shibuya’s “Love Hotel Hill” offers the widest selection in the city. If you’re really going to spend the night, be sure to check in for a “stay” rather than a “rest". Top End You can spend a fortune on accommodation in Tokyo. Most of the high-end international chains are well represented. Particular concentrations of luxury hotels can be found in western Shinjuku (including the Park Hyatt Tokyo, star of Lost in Translation) and in Akasaka. Internet Good connections are available at Internet cafes everywhere. Expect to pay ¥400-¥500 per hour. “Gera Gera” is a popular chain. Paid WiFi service is also taking off in Tokyo with reasonable coverage - at a price. WiFi services are probably not convenient for those just visiting. Stay safe Tokyo is probably one of the safest cities you will ever visit. Violent crime is rare - even late at night. The police really are a resource you can turn to for help. You will rarely find yourself far from a a local police substation (koban). These are typically staffed by one or two police officers. Don’t hesitate to go to the koban if you are lost, they have great local maps (in Japanese). Some police officers will also speak basic English. Give them a try. Also, if you carry travel insurance, report any thefts or lost items at the koban. They may have forms in English as well as Japanese. Still in a jam? Call Tokyo English Life Line. tel. 03-5774-0992, daily 09:00 - 23:00. Dial 110 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance service. Get out From Tokyo, the entire surrounding Kanto region is your oyster. Particularly popular destinations nearby include: Hakone — for hot springs and views of Mount Fuji Kamakura — home to dozens of small temples and one Big Buddha Nikko — grandiose shrine and burial site of Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu Tokyo Disneyland — just like the ones everywhere else Yokohama — Japan’s second-largest city Related entries: Kanto Tokyo | Comments (1) | Link me! -- 12/30/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Osaka Posted by Yves If Tokyo is Japan’s capital, Osaka (??) might be called its anti-capital. Osaka is the main metropolis of the Kansai region, and its inhabitants exhibit a strong rivalry towards the Kanto region, from baseball, food, popular culture, even to which side they ride escalators (on the left in Tokyo, but on the right in Osaka). Districts Like Tokyo, Osaka is best thought of as a group of cities that have grown together. History Back in the days of the Tokugawa shogunate, Edo (now Tokyo) was the austere seat of military power and Kyoto was the home to the Imperial court and its effete courties, but Osaka was where the merchants made and lost their fortunes. To this day, while unappealing and gruff on the surface, Osaka remains Japan’s best place to eat, drink and party, and Osakans still greet each other with mokarimakka?, “are you making money?". Getting there By plane The main international gateway to Osaka is Kansai International Airport, covered in a separate article. Domestic flights, however, mostly arrive at Osaka’s northern Itami Airport (ITM), connected to the city by the Osaka Monorail. By train Shinkansen trains arrive at Shin-Osaka station to the north of the city center. Connect to the center with the Midosuji subway line. Local trains from Kobe, Kyoto and Nara arrive mostly at the Umeda and Namba stations. By bus Overnight highway buses from Tokyo and other areas can get you to Osaka for significantly less than a Shinkansen ticket. Get around The convenient Kansai Thru Card can be used on just about anything that moves in Osaka (as well as the rest of the Kansai region), with the notable exception of JR trains. By subway Osaka has Japan’s second-most extensive subway network after Tokyo, which makes the underground the natural way to get around. The Midosuji Line is Osaka’s main artery, linking up the massive train stations and shopping complexes of Shin-Osaka, Umeda, Shinsaibashi, Namba and Tennoji. By train True to its name, the JR Osaka Loop Line (??? Kanjo-sen) runs in a loop around Osaka. It’s not quite as convenient or heavily-used as Tokyo’s Yamanote line though. See Osaka Castle is Osaka’s best known sight, although it’s a concrete reconstruction that pales in comparison with, say, Himeji. Still, it’s pretty enough from the outside, especially in the cherry blossom season when Osakans flock to the castle park to picnic and make merry. Open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, adult admission ¥600. The park can be accessed on a number of lines, but the castle is closest to Osaka-jo Koen station on the JR Osaka Loop Line. Eat In a nation of obsessive gourmands Osaka is known as an excellent place to eat, exemplified by the Osakan maxim kuidaore, “eat until you burst". The best place for this is Dotonbori (???), a street that contains nearly nothing but one restaurant after another. Some of the more famous establishments here include: Kuidaore (????), featuring a mechanical clown beating a drum, is one of the contenders for the title of the largest restaurant in the world. Each floor specializes in a type of food. Affordable, but more fun in a group. Kani Doraku (????), easily identifiable by the giant mechanical crab waving its pincers about, specializes in crab. Good but moderately expensive. Sleep The cheapest option is capsule hotels, found near the major train stations . Capsule Inn Osaka. 9-5 Doyamamachi, Kita-ku (in the Higashi-Hankyu shopping arcade off Namba station). Tel. 06-6314-2100, Fax 06-6314-1281. Japan’s first capsule hotel (opened 1977) is still open for business, happy to accommodate foreigners with some semblance of a clue and a steal at ¥1600 for a night. Typical Japanese business hotels are step up from a capsule and can be found everywhere. Examples include: Hotel Nankai Namba , 17-11 Namba-naka 1-chome, Naniwa-ku (Exit 5 from the Midosuji subway line, walk south, and turn right at the McDonald’s), TEL 06-6649-1521 ( namba@hotel-nankai.co.jp , FAX 06-6632-5061). This is a clean and well-run hotel convenient to transport: 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka, good access to Nara on the Kintetsu Line. Rooms have LAN access at no additional cost- some rooms with WiFi, so ask when making a reservation or checking in. 8,400 JPY-18,375 JPY (single-triple). Stay safe The base for Japan’s yakuza gangsters, Osaka has a dangerous reputation (by Japanese standards), but is still remarkably safe for a city of its size. Unless you’re dealing drugs you’re unlikely to get involved with the local mafia, but some districts, particularly Shinsekai, may be a little dodgy at night. Get out The temples and lush greenery of Mount Koya, 90 minutes away by train, are an entirely different world and the perfect getaway when all the concrete starts to get to you. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai Osaka | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/28/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Chubu Posted by Yves Chubu (??) is the central region of Japan’s Honshu island. The region is often further divided into three more areas, namely Tokai (??) for the southern Pacific coast, Koshin’etsu (???) for the northern Sea of Japan coast and Hokuriku (??) for the rest. Prefectures Tokai Aichi — mostly urban sprawl around Nagoya Gifu — home to the northern Japan Alps and many hot springs Shizuoka Koshin’etsu Nagano Niigata Yamanashi Hokuriku Fukui Ishikawa Toyama Cities Hida-Takayama — attractively preserved town and a good starting point for trips to the Japan Alps Nagano — Japan’s winter sports capital Nagoya — Chubu’s largest city by far Niigata — Major port city on the northern coast Toyama Other destinations Gero Onsen — one of Japan’s Three Famous Hot Springs Japan Alps — the largest and tallest mountain chain in Japan Mount Fuji — the iconic Japanese mountain Oku-Hida Onsen Villages — 5 remote hamlets full of stunning scenery and some of Japan’s best hot springs Sado Island — place of exile home to gold mines and the yearly Earth Celebration Sekigahara — the site of the famous battle that ushered in the Tokugawa Shogunate Generalities Chubu means “middle region", accurately reflecting its position straddling the two Japanese poles of Kansai and Kanto. Often ignored by tourists, with de facto capital Nagoya being a byword for boredom, Chubu’s best attractions are in the mountains, particularly the (only slightly hyperbolic) Japan Alps. Talk There are many people who speak in dialect in this area. In Shirone in Niigata prefecture, people speak in a dialect. For example, they use the word “Ra, Ri, Ru, Re and Ro ” at the ending. So they speak like this, “~raro!". Getting there By plane Nagoya’s airport is one of the largest in Japan, with many domestic and international connections. By train The Tokaido Shinkansen bisects Chubu, connecting to Tokyo in the east and Osaka and Kyoto in the west. See In the Oku-Hida region around Takayama, check out the traditional gassho-zukuri houses, with a roof shaped like hands in prayer to protect against snow from accumulating. There are many famous temples in Nagano, notably Zenkoji, considered an official national treasure. In Nagoya, there is Nagoya castle, although it’s just a modern concrete reconstruction. Mount Fuji’s view is great. Do Winter sports. The Koshin’etsu district is also known as Snow Country (?? Yukiguni), since it receives some of the heaviest snowfall in the world. This makes Chubu Japan’s undisputed winter sports capital with attractions like Nagano, site of the 1998 Winter Olympics. Hiking. The Japan Alps have some great hiking. Mount Fuji in Shizuoka is a symbol of Japan and a popular tourist attraction, both for viewing and climbing. Eat Chubu’s regions all have their local specialities. Some include: Hotaru ika (lit. “firefly squid") in Toyama Tempura shrimp in Nagoya Drink Chubu is sake country and Niigata, renowned for its koshihikari rice, produces some of the best in the country including famous labels like Kubota (???), Koshinokanbai (????) and Hakkaisan (???). Shizuoka is famous for green tea and Aichi specializes in, oddly enough, oranges. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Chubu | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/26/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Tohoku Posted by Yves Tohoku (??, literally “East-North") is the northeastern region of Japan’s Honshu island. Generalities Traditionally a poor rural backwater with a harsh climate, today’s Tohoku offers the traveller some of the best scenery in Japan. In winter, the Snow Country (Yukiguni) of the western Japan Sea coast racks up some of the highest snowfall figures in the world, which also means great skiing and lots of hot springs to warm up in. Prefectures and Regions Akita Aomori Fukushima Iwate Miyagi Yamagata Cities Aomori Hiraizumi — historical site with several large temples Hirosaki — the cultural capital of the North Morioka Sendai — capital of Miyagi and the largest city in Tohoku. It enjoys the epithet Mori no Miyako, “The Forest City", due to its dense tree lined thoroughfares and forested public areas. Yamagata Other destinations Dewa Sanzan — three mountains holy to the ascetic cult of Shugendo Lake Towada Kinkazan — small island with a shrine and hiking trails Matsushima — one of Japan’s Three Great Views Mount Bandai Naruko — famous for its hot springs Oirase River Valley Shimokita Peninsula — featuring the scenic Yagen Valley as well as Mount Osore, the mythical entrance to Hell Talk Information in English tends to sparse in rural Tohoku, since foreign travellers are few in these parts; the positive side to this is that people will go out of their way to help you. The rural Tohoku accent, known as zuzu-ben for its characteristic feature of turning all “s” sounds into “z", can be difficult to comprehend at times even if you do understand Japanese. Younger people are, however, universally versed in school-standard hyojungo. Getting there By plane There are no major airports in Tohoku and most travellers arrive via Tokyo. Sendai and Akita airports do field some international flights, mostly to China and Korea. By train The Tohoku Shinkansen connects Tokyo to Mito, Sendai, Morioka and Hachinohe, with spur lines to Akita and Yamagata. It will take 2 hours from Tokyo to Sendai. The line remains under construction and is inching towards Aomori, from where it will eventually tunnel under the sea to Hokkaido. By ferry Ferry services connect ports in northern Tohoku to Hokkaido. Get around Tohoku is large and mountainous and getting around in the boondocks can be time-consuming. By train Rural train services in Tohoku, known as donko, are slow and infrequent — it’s not unusual to have waits of 2 or even 4 hours between trains. The scenery along the twisty mountain routes can be stunning though. See & Do Most visitors come to Tohoku for hiking, history and hot springs, not necessarily in that order. Highlights include the temples of Hiraizumi, the holy mountains of Dewa Sanzan and the secluded hot springs of the Shimokita Peninsula. Eat & Drink Tohoku has not made very many contributions to the Japanese culinary scene, although (as always in Japan) even the smallest hamlet will boast something it claims to be famous for. But in mountain regions you will certainly have a chance to sample sansai-ryori, prepared from herbs and plants harvested from the forests and hillsides. Unlike the shochu-swilling south, Tohoku is sake country and manufactures some fine rice wines. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Tohoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/24/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kyoto Posted by Yves Nestled among mountains in Western Honshu, Kyoto (??) has a reputation worldwide as Japan’s most beautiful city, boasting more World Heritage Sites per square inch than any other city. However, visitors will be surprised how much work they will have to do to see its beautiful side. Most visitors’ first impressions will be of the urban sprawl of central Kyoto, around the ultra-modern glass-and-steel train station. Nonetheless, the persistent tourist will soon discover Kyoto’s hidden beauty in the temples and parks which ring the city center, and find that the city has even more than meets the eye. Generalities Kyoto was the capital of Japan and the residence of the Emperor from 794 until the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo. During its millennium at the center of Japanese power, culture, tradition, and religion, it accumulated an unparalleled collection of palaces, temples and shrines, built for emperors, shoguns, geishas and monks. Almost alone among Japanese cities, Kyoto escaped the Allied bombings of World War II, although it could be argued that the concrete redevelopment that turned 95% of Kyoto into an ordinary Japanese city did just as thorough a job. Getting there By plane Kyoto does not have its own airport. The nearest international gateway is Kansai International Airport, 73 minutes away by the fastest train. Most domestic flights land at Osaka’s Itami Airport, one hour away by bus. By train Most visitors arrive at JR Kyoto station by Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo, 2 hours and 14 minutes away. For connections to nearby cities, you can also take the private Hankyu or Keihan lines to Osaka, or the Kintetsu line to Nara. By bus The cheapest way of traveling from Tokyo or other distant points to Kyoto is by night bus, which terminate at Kyoto station. Get around The sheer size of the city of Kyoto, and the distribution of tourist attractions around the periphery of the city, make the city’s public transport system invaluable. The Kansai Thru Pass (Surutto Kansai) stored-value card can be used on all means of transportation in Kyoto (and the rest of the Kansai region), with the notable exception of JR trains. You can purchase the cards in denominations starting at ¥1000 at any train or subway station. By train The Keihan train line can be useful for traveling in eastern Kyoto, while the two Keifuku tram lines are an attractive way of traveling in the northwest. By subway Kyoto’s subway network has two subway lines, the north-south Karasuma Line and the west-east Tozai Line. Both are useful for travel in the city center but not really suitable for temple-hopping. By bus The bus network is the only practical way of reaching many attractions. City buses have a fixed fare of ¥220. See Kyoto offers an incredible number of attractions for tourists, and visitors will probably need to plan an itinerary in advance in order to visit as many as possible. North-western Kyoto Visiting the vast temple complexes of north-western Kyoto can take the better part of a day. A suggested itinerary is to take the subway (Karasuma line) to Kitaoji station, and walk west along Kitaoji-dori. Daitokuji, Kinkakuji, Ryoanji and Ninnaji Temples are all on Kitaoji-dori, and about 15-30 minutes’ walk apart. En route, you will see the giant “dai” (?) symbol burned on the hill overlooking the city. Hirano Shrine is a short walk south along Nishioji-dori from Kinkakuji. If you still have time left at the end of the day, take the pleasant electric railway (Keifuku Kitano line) from Omuro to Katabiranotsuji, then take the JR Sagano line from nearby Uzumasa station back to central Kyoto. Daitokuji Temple is a small and understated temple complex, boasting several small, secluded subtemples. Daitokuji is the quietest of the temples in north-western Kyoto, and if you visit it at the start of the day, you could virtually have it to yourself. Eight of the twenty-four subtemples open to the public (most days 9am-5pm), and each charges an admission fee (around ¥400). The highlight of the subtemples is Daisen-in, located on the northern side of the temple complex, which has a beautiful Zen garden without the crowds of Ryoanji Temple. Koto-in is particularly noted for its maple trees, which are beautiful in autumn. Nearest bus stop: Daitokuji-mae. Kinkakuji Temple (the Golden Pavilion ) is the most popular tourist attraction in Kyoto, and the crowds that constantly surround it reflect this. The pavilion was originally built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 12th century, and converted into a temple by his son. However, the pavilion was burnt down in 1950, by a young monk who had become obsessed with it. The pavilion was rebuilt in the Fifties to look even more tacky than before - extending the gold leaf covering it to the lower floor. Visitors follow a path through the moss garden surrounding the pavilion, before emerging into a square crowded with gift shops. Open daily 9am-5pm, admission ¥400. Nearest bus stop: Kinkakuji-michi. Hirano Shrine is a small shrine, which goes into overdrive during the cherry blossom viewing season, setting up amusement and food stalls. A small park of cherry trees next to the shrine is hung with lanterns and drawings by local schoolchildren. Sufficiently far off the tourist trail to be worth a look. Admission is free. Nearest bus stop: Waratenjin-mae. Ryoanji Temple is notable for its large Zen garden, which is considered to be one of the most notable examples of the “dry-landscape” style. The raked gravel is permanently surrounded by vast numbers of tourists contemplating their existence. The rest of the grounds are worth a look too - particularly the large pond. Open daily 8am-5pm (Mar-Nov), 8.30am-4.30pm (Dec-Feb). Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ryoanji-mae. Ninnaji Temple is another large temple complex which is often overlooked by tourists. Admission to the grounds is free, allowing visitors to view the 17th century five-storey pagoda, and the plantation of dwarf cherry trees (which are always the last to bloom in Kyoto, in early-mid April). However, visitors shouldn’t miss the temple itself, which demands an admission fee of ¥500, and features some beautifully painted screen walls, and a beautiful walled garden. In the hills behind the temple, there is a delightful miniature version of the renowned 88-temple walk in Shikoku, which takes an hour or two (rather than a month or two). This can provide a delightful end to a day of looking at tourist attractions. Open daily 9am-4.30pm. Nearest bus stop: Omuro Ninnaji. Western Kyoto The Arashiyama area to the west of the city is dismissed in most Western guidebooks in a brief paragraph suggesting “other attractions". However, the area is rightfully very popular with Japanese tourists, and is well worth a visit. To get here, take the JR Sagano line from Kyoto station to Saga Arashiyama. The walk through a forest of bamboo to Nonomiya Shrine and Okochi Sanso (a traditional house, previously occupied by a Japanese silent screen legend), is a real highlight of a visit to Kyoto. No admission fee for the shrine, ¥1000 for Okochi Sanso (price includes a cup of matcha (traditional Japanese tea, in the tea garden). Feeding the macaque monkeys atop the mountain in Iwatayama Monkey Park, to the south of the river, is worth the entrance fee (and the demanding climb!). ¥500 admission fee to enter the park. Just outside Saga Arashiyama station is the 19th Century Hall - a museum covering the unlikely combination of steam locomotives and pianos. Probably best to look at it from the outside, and listen to the amusing tinny music it blasts out. Central Kyoto Nijo Castle is certainly one of the highlights of Kyoto. The series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru complex is particularly impressive, and known for its “nightingale floors” - wooden flooring which makes bird-like squeaking sounds when stepped on. From the donjon of the inner castle, you can get good views over the castle layout, and the rest of the city. Open daily, 8.45am-5pm, with last admission at 4pm. Admission ¥600. Nearest bus stop: Nijojo-mae. Nearest subway station: Nijojo-mae. The Imperial Park is a large, peaceful area in the centre of Kyoto, centred around the Imperial Palace. The Palace itself is only open to visitors on pre-booked guided tours - English tours take place at 10am and 2pm Monday-Friday, and bookings must be made at the Imperial Household Agency, located to the west of the palace complex. The park is home to 50,000 trees, including cherry, plum and peach tree orchards. The Museum of Kyoto is particularly worthwhile if you have a burning interest in ancient pottery, otherwise not really worth a visit. Open daily 10am-8.30pm. Admission ¥500. Located on Takakura-dori. Nearest bus stop: Shijo Karasuma. Nearest subway station: Karasuma Oike. Nishi Honganji Temple Toji Temple , an oasis of calm near central Kyoto, its pagoda is the tallest wooden structure in Japan. Kyoto Tower Pontocho Alley Eastern Kyoto Some of the most picturesque parts of Kyoto, and the older areas of the city, are located in the eastern region of the city, across the Kamo River. Visiting the main tourist attractions of eastern Kyoto will fill a full day - a suggested itinerary is to work north from Kiyomizu Temple to Ginkakuji Temple, passing through Gion, and visiting Yasaka Shrine and Nanzenji Temple before following the Philosopher’s Walk to Ginkakuji. Kiyomizu Temple . This temple complex, built overlooking the city is a deservedly popular attraction in the city, approached by either of two tourist-filled souvenir-shop-lined streets, Kiyomizu-zaka or Chawan-zaka. Admission ¥300. Open daily, 6am-6pm. Nearest bus stop: Kiyomizu-michi or Gojo-zaka. Highlights of the temple complex include; The main hall ’s wooden veranda, supported by hundreds of pillars and offering incredible views over the city, Jishu-jinja , the love-themed shrine selling countless charms to help you snag the one you love, and featuring two “love stones” positioned around 18m apart which the lovelorn must walk between with eyes closed to confirm their loved one’s affection, and Otowa-no-taki the temple’s waterfall, which gives it its name (Kiyomizu literally means ‘pure water’). Visitors stand beneath the waterfall, and collect water to drink by holding out little tin cups. Gion district . The flagstone-paved streets and traditional buildings of the Gion district, located to the north-west of Kiyomizu Temple, are where you’re most likely to see geisha in Kyoto, scurrying between buildings. The area just to the north of Shijo-dori, to the west of Yasaka Shrine, is particularly photogenic - particularly around Shinbashi-dori and Hanami-koji. Sannen-zaka ("three-year-slope") and Ninen-zaka ("two-year-slope"), two stepped streets leading off from Kiyomizu-zaka, are also very picturesque - but watch your step, slipping over on these streets brings three or two years’ bad luck respectively. At the northern end of Ninen-zaka is Ryozen Kannon, a memorial to the unknown Japanese soldiers who died in World War II, with a 24-meter-tall statue of Kannon. Admission is ¥200, including a lit incense stick to place in front of the shrine. Yasaka Shrine at the eastern end of Shijo-dori, at the edge of Gion, is the shrine responsible for Kyoto’s main festival - the Gion Matsuri, which takes place in July. The shrine is small, in comparison with many in Kyoto, but it boasts an impressive display of lanterns. Admission is free. Nearest bus stop: Gion. Maruyama Park is the main center for cherry blossom viewing in Kyoto, and can get extremely crowded at that time of year. The park’s star attraction is a weeping cherry tree (shidarezakura). Main entrance to the park is through Yasaka Shrine. Admission is free. Nanzenji Temple , with its distinctive two-storey entrance gate (sanmon) and aqueduct, is another popular temple in Kyoto, but its larger size means that it doesn’t seem as crowded as many of the others. Nearest bus stop: Nanzenji, Eikando-michi. Nearest subway station: Keage. Open daily, 8.30am-5pm. Walking around the temple complex and along the aqueduct is free, but there are three regions of Nanzenji that you can pay to enter; Sanmon - the two-storey main gate to Nanzenji Temple charges ¥500 for admission, and offers pleasant views over the surrounding area of the city. Nanzen-in Zen Temple - a small, but relaxing temple and moss garden behind the aqueduct, dating back to the 13th century, charges ¥300 for admission, and is probably only worth it if you have a particular interest in Zen buddhism. Hojo - the abbot’s quarters, is a more interesting building, with a small raked gravel garden and some impressive paintings on the sliding doors of the buildings. Admission is ¥500. The Philosopher’s Walk is the name given to a 2km-long path through north-eastern Kyoto, along which a philosophy professor, Kitaro Nishida, used to frequently walk. It is a surprisingly pleasant and relaxing walk even today, though you will undoubtedly share it with more tourists than Kitaro did. The walk runs south from Ginkakuji Temple beside a river to Nyakuoji Shrine, many guidebooks suggest that the walk continues further south from there to Nanzenji Temple, but this southerly section of the walk is less insistently signposted. The route passes several temples en route, notably Honen-in, a beautiful secluded temple with a thatched gate. Ginkakuji Temple (the Silver Pavilion ), at the northern end of the Philosopher’s Walk, is approached along a street lined with shops selling tacky souvenirs. Much like its golden counterpart, the Silver Pavilion is often choked with tourists, shuffling past a scrupulously-maintained dry landscape Zen garden and the surrounding moss garden, before viewing the Pavilion across a pond. Be sure not to miss the display of Very Important Mosses! Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ginkakuji-michi. Southern Kyoto About twenty-minutes to the south of Kyoto is Fushimi Inari Shrine, another of Kyoto’s often-overlooked jewels. Dedicated to the fox spirit, Inari, this Shinto temple has miles of red torii (gates) stretching up onto the hill behind it. A visitor could easily spend several hours walking up the hillside, taking in the beautiful views of the city of Kyoto and walking through the thousands of gates. Admission is free. Be warned, the shrine is located close to Fushimi Inari and Inari stations, but is nowhere near Fushimi station! The easiest way to get here is to take the JR Nara line from Kyoto station to Inari station, which exits immediately opposite the entrance to the shrine. Buy Currently, Kyoto is enjoying even more popularity than usual with Japanese tourists due to the success of Japanese TV broadcaster NHK’s series ‘Shinsengumi!’ (???!), a historic drama following a group of samurai who kept peace in the city in the 1860s. Consequently, among the most popular souvenirs from the city at the moment are the distinctive blue and white happi (shirts) worn by this group. There is a nice selection of reassuringly non-tacky traditional souvenir shops around Arashiyama station in Western Kyoto, selling fans and traditional sweets. More tacky stores can be found in Gion and the approach to Kiyomizu Temple, selling keyrings, cuddly toys, and garish ornaments. Other traditional souvenirs from Kyoto include parasols and carved wooden dolls. A more unconventional but colorful (and relatively cheap) souvenir are the wooden votive tablets produced by temples, which bear an image relevant to the temple on the reverse. Visitors to the temples write their prayers on the tablets, and hang them up within the temple. Manga and anime enthusiasts should visit Teramachi Street, a covered shopping street off the main Shijo-dori, which boasts a large manga store on two floors, as well as a two-storey branch of Gamers (a chain of anime stores), and a small two-storey anime and collectables store. Eat Pontocho (???) is a narrow lane running from Shijo-dori to Sanjo-dori, one block west of the Kamo River. One of Kyoto’s most traditional nightlife districts, the restaurants here run the gamut for super-exclusive geisha houses to common yakitori bars. Many have pleasant open-air riverside terraces. Rule of thumb is, any establishment with a menu and prices outside is OK, but others are best skipped. Sleep Kyoto has a wide range of accommodation, much of it geared towards foreign visitors. Ryokan Hiraiwa (????). Tel. 075-351-6748. A self-proclaimed ryokan (really a minshuku) catering almost entirely to the foreign market, in an old Japanese house plastered with English signs, warnings and tips. All rooms Japanese style. But it’s cheap (¥4200 for a single, ¥8400 for a double, breakfast not included) and reasonably friendly. Slightly inconveniently located halfway between the station and the center of town (it’s bit of a hike to either), take bus #17 or #205* from Kyoto Station pier A2 to Kawaramachi-Shomen (the third stop). Get out Mount Hiei - an ancient hilltop temple complex that traditionally guarded (and occasionally raided) Kyoto. Nara - less than an hour’s journey by train on the JR Nara line from Kyoto station, this former capital has several temples and tame deer. Osaka - about half an hour by Shinkansen west of Kyoto, this bustling city offers more retail opportunities and a central castle. Himeji - about an hour by Shinkansen west of Kyoto, Himeji boasts a spectacular traditional castle. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai Kyoto | Comments (1) | Link me! -- 12/22/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Okinawa Posted by Yves Okinawa (??) is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. It is itself an island chain consisting of 41 inhabited islands and 16 uninhabited islands. Okinawa is the only sub-tropical climate in Japan and as such is a major tourist destination for the Japanese, but not many foreign visitors make it to these shores. Quick Facts Prefectural Capital: Naha City Government: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government Currency: yen (JPY) Area: 2,267.48 sq km Population: 1,355,216 ( Aug. 2004 est. - from Okinawa Prefecture website ) Language: Japanese Religion: observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%) Islands From the northern end of the chain near Kyushu to the southern end near Taiwan, Okinawa’s major islands are: Okinawa Island (Okinawa Honto) — the largest island, featuring administrative capital Naha Kume Kerama Miyako Yaeyama Islands Ishigaki — hub of the remote Yaeyama Islands Iriomote — jungles and the mysterious Iriomote wild cat Yonaguni — the westernmost point of Japan Generalities Once the independent Ryukyu Kingdom, the islands were annexed by Japan during the Meiji Restoration in the late 1800s and savaged during fierce fighting during World War II. They remained under U.S. occupation until 1972. With their own language and customs, Okinawans still regard themselves as different from the mainland Japanese. In recent years Okinawan culture has become quite popular throughout Japan thanks to popular musicians and local foods. Okinawan folk music is quite distinctive, and the twangy sound of the sanshin and pentatonic melodies are instantly recognizable. Talk The local language Ryukyuan is a relative of Japanese, but it is not used much these days. All Okinawans speak Japanese, and not a few understand English as well, particularly on the main island which has several large (and controversial) US military bases. Getting there By air Most visitors arrive in Naha, the capital of Okinawa and the only airport that receives international flights. Domestic flights do connect major Japanese cities to practically all Okinawan islands, but prices can be steep and using an airpass may allow considerable savings. By ship There are weekly ferries to Tokyo and some other Japanese cities. One weekly ferry links Kaohsiung and Keelung to Miyako and Ishigaki (16-19 hours), but note that the exact route changes weekly. Get around Ferry and air connections links the islands together, but many of them are simply so small in population that scheduled services may be infrequent and prices high. If traveling by boat in late summer, note that the area around Okinawa is known as Typhoon Alley for a reason. See Most people comes to Okinawa for the sun and beaches. Even in midwinter, when mainland Japan teeters around the freezing point, temperatures rarely dip below 20°C in Okinawa. Do Scuba diving and other watersports are very popular in Okinawa. Eat Okinawan cuisine bears notable Taiwanese influences. Notable ingredients include a heavy reliance on pork (including Spam, courtesy of the US Army!) and some vegetables rarely seen on the Japanese mainland, including bitter gourd (goya). Some dishes worth trying: Goya champuru is a dish made from goya mixed with meat and tofu, served with rice. Rafti is a side dish consisting of very fatty cubes of stewed pork. Taco rice is a hybrid originating from the American presence in Okinawa – spiced Mexican-style taco meat with cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, but instead of being in a tortillas, it’s on rice. Drink The local brew of choice is awamori, a notoriously strong rice liquor that can contain up to 60% alcohol. Okinawa’s beer label Orion is a safer alternative (at least in small quantities). (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Okinawa | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/20/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Shikoku Posted by Yves Shikoku (??) is an oft-forgotten island in Japan. The smallest of Japan’s Big 4, it lies to the south of Honshu. The island remains a rural backwater with few must-see attractions, but particularly the mountainous inner regions offer some good hiking and a glimpse of the elusive Real Japan. Regions Shikoku literally means “four lands", and it indeed consists of four prefectures, conveniently arranged around the compass points. Each prefecture also has an old provincial name, still often found in place names and listed in parenthesis below. Ehime (Iyo) — to the west Kagawa (Sanuki) — to the north Kochi (Tosa) — to the south, home of the actress, Ryoko Hirosue, known abroad for her turn alongside Jean Reno in the 2001 movie Wasabi. Tokushima (Awa) — to the east Cities Takamatsu — the largest city in Shikoku Matsuyama — better known for neighboring Dogo Onsen Tokushima — home of the Awa Odori festival in August Uwajima — (barely) on the tourist map due to an interesting fertility shrine and wrestling bulls Other destinations Cape Ashizuri — a scenic cape at the southernmost point of Shikoku Dogo Onsen — Japan’s oldest hot spring Iya Valley — a remote but beautiful mountain valley Kotohira — the site of the Kompira-san shrine Mount Ishizuchi — the tallest peak in Shikoku Generalities Shikoku is a primarily agricultural island, renowned for its citrus fruits. Talk Shikoku is far enough off the beaten track that some Japanese ability, while not absolutely necessary, will come in handy. Some of Shikoku’s dialects, notably Tosa-ben spoken in Kochi, are famously incomprehensible to outsiders. Getting there By plane Prefectural capitals Takamatsu, Matsuyama, Kochi and Tokushima all have small regional airports. Takamatsu fields a few flights a week to Seoul, but for any other international destinations, you will have to connect via Tokyo or Kansai. By train Shikoku is not connected to the Shinkansen network, but there are frequent connections from Okayama on Honshu to Takamatsu and from there on throughout the island. By bus If coming from Kansai or eastern parts of Japan, buses through Awaji Island are the fastest way of getting to Shikoku. Get around By train The JR train network connects the larger towns together fairly well, but regular trains are slow and expresses are expensive. The main lines are: JR Yosan Line (???) on the west coast, from Okayama to Takamatsu and Uwajima via Matsuyama JR Dosan Line (???) across the center of the island, from Okayama and Takamatsu to Kubokawa via the Oboke gorge (near Iya Valley) and Kochi JR Kotoku Line (???) on the east coast, from Takamatsu to Tokushima There are some other minor lines with infrequent trains. Some parts of the JR network, notably the southern segment from Kubokawa to Sukumo, have been split off to the private Tosa Kuroshio Railway company. By bus Buses fill in the gaps in the train network and are the only means of transport in areas like Cape Ashizuri and the Iya Valley. Schedules are sparse and prices are high. On foot Serious pilgrims may choose to complete the 88 Temple Circuit (see Do) on foot. Do Shikoku is known for the 88 Temple Pilgrimage (??????? hachijuhakkasho-meguri), a circuit around the entire island through 88 temples and across 1,647 kilometers, plus an optional 20 “unnumbered” (?? bangai) temples. All the temples are said to have been founded by monk and scholar Kukai (??), better known by his posthumous title Kobo Daishi (????), who among his many achievements is said to have created the kana syllabary, brought the tantric teachings of Esoteric Buddhism from China, developed it into the uniquely Japanese Shingon sect and founded Shingon’s headquarters on Mount Koya near Osaka. While most modern-day pilgrims (an estimated 100,000 yearly) travel by bus, a minority still set out the old-fashioned way on foot, a journey which takes about 60 days to complete. Pilgrims, known as o-henro-san (?????) in Japanese, can be spotted in the temples and roadsides of Shikoku clad in a white jacket emblazoned with the characters Dogyo Ninin (????), meaning “two traveling together” — the other being the spirit of Kobo Daishi. Most (but not all) temples offer basic but affordable lodging for pilgrims. It is traditional to prepare by visiting Mount Koya, but the route itself starts at Ryozenji, near Tokushima, and you also have to return here in order to complete your pilgrimage. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Shikoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/18/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Chugoku Posted by Yves Chugoku (??) is the westernmost part of the main Japanese island Honshu. Cities Hiroshima — site of the infamous nuclear bomb attack Okayama — featuring one of Japan’s Top 3 Parks and a brooding black castle Onomichi — hillside town with pleasant paths connecting dozens of small temples Other Destinations Bizen — home to Japan’s oldest and most respected style of pottery Miyajima — one of the most beautiful islands in all Japan Getting there By plane Hiroshima has a fairly large airport, with domestic and some international connections. By train The San’yo Shinkansen line links Hiroshima, Okayama and other major towns to Kyushu in the southwest and Kansai (Osaka) to the east. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Chugoku | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/16/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kyushu Posted by Yves Kyushu (??) is the southernmost of the 4 main islands of Japan. The climate is slightly warmer and more tropical than Honshu, and the southern and eastern coasts are regularly battered by typhoons each year. The terrain is generally mountainous with very fertile valleys much like the rest of Japan, except for the wide plain area at the top of the island - the location of the largest city area of Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Regions There are 7 prefectures on Kyushu, plus nearby Okinawa: Fukuoka – Home of Fukuoka city, the “Capital” of Kyushu Saga – Small and rustic, famous for pottery and pre-historic village ruins Nagasaki – Hilly city with more than it’s fair share of history - major “foreigners port” during the closed-Japan period, and victim of the 2nd US atomic weapon attack during World War II Oita – Rural area well known for abundant onsen hot springs especially Beppu Kumamoto – Center of the isle of Kyushu, location of the Aso caldera, largest in the world, and the beautiful Amakusa chain of islands Miyazaki – The surfers’ destination of Japan - big beaches, big waves Kagoshima – Dominated by the Sakurajima volcano, hot enough to grow sugarcane, get buried on hot-sands beaches, two famous islands of Yakushima and Tanegashima Okinawa – corals and fish! about 1 hour flight from main land Kyushu. Once an independent Kingdom leading the South-Asian sea-trade. Once governed by US. the island has a mixed culture between the West, Japan and Okinawa. Very different from the rest of the country. One of the most popular destinations for summer vacation in Japan. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kyushu | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/14/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kansai Posted by Yves Kansai (??) is the western region of the main Japanese island of Honshu, second only to Tokyo’s Kanto in population. The area is also known as Kinki (??), literally “near the capital” (referring to former capital Kyoto). Generalities Differences between Kansai and Kanto (the eastern region dominated by Tokyo) are slight but numerous. Kansai people speak a distinctive dialect of Japanese, use less dark soy in their cooking, ride on the other side of escalators and are renowned for humor and their love of food. Prefectures Hyogo — the largest prefecture in Kansai, stretching from coast to coast and covering Kobe and Himeji Kyoto — synonymous with the city Mie — eastern prefecture with one leg in Chubu, best known for the Ise shrine Nara — Japan’s oldest capital Nara and its surroundings Osaka — synonymous with the city Wakayama — mountainous terrain and the southern coast Shiga — rural backwater dominated by Lake Biwa Cities Himeji — small town famed for its beautiful castle Kobe — maritime city known for its beef Kyoto — Japan’s ancient capital, with temples and geisha Nara — Kyoto without the modern urban sprawl Osaka — ugly but famed for its food Islands Awaji Island — the gateway to Shikoku Other attractions Hikone — castle and garden town off the beaten track Horyuji — temple complex housing some of the oldest wooden buildings in the world Ise — home to the eponymous Ise Shrine, the holiest in all Japan Lake Biwa — placid marshy lake nice for a quick getaway Mount Hiei — headquarters of Tendai and protector of Kyoto Mount Koya — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect Talk The Kansai dialect (??? Kansai-ben) is Japan’s largest and liveliest dialect group after Kanto’s standard Japanese. There are many subdialects, ranging from the effete Kyo-kotoba (???) of Kyoto’s courtiers to the gruff but imaginative gangster slang of Osaka, much favored by Japanese comedians. Some notable features include the negative ending -hen instead of the normal -nai and the use of akan instead of dame for “No way!". That said, most Kansaites are perfectly conversant in standard Japanese, so knowledge of the local dialect is by no means necessary — but even a few words will be appreciated. Getting there By plane International flights to the Kansai region land at Kansai International Airport. The primary domestic airport is Osaka’s Itami Airport, although a new airport will be opening in Kobe in 2005. By train The Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) line from Tokyo serves Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. The San’yo Shinkansen connects to Okayama, Hiroshima and Hakata. Get around Most of Kansai’s regional transportation companies have tied up to offer the Kansai Thru Pass (http://www.surutto.com/conts/ticket/3dayeng/index.html) (?????? Surutto Kansai), which can be used on pretty much any train, subway, monorail, cable car or bus in the region, except JR trains. The Nankai trains from Kansai Airport are also included, and you can buy your card or pass at the airport’s train station. * Normal Kansai Thru cards are single-use stored-value cards available in denominations ranging from 1000 to 5000 yen. Slide them in the ticket gate when entering and leaving, and the fare will be deducted automatically. * 2-day and 3-day passes are also available for ¥3800 and ¥5000 respectively. In addition to free transport, these offer a series of discounts to temples, museums and other attractions in the region, but figuring that an hour on a train would normally cost you ¥1000, you’ll have to travel quite a lot to make these pay off. Eat Kansai cooking is subtly different from the Kanto style, although the average short-term visitor is unlikely to spot many differences. Perhaps the most visible difference is a tendency to use light-colored soy instead of dark, especially in soups, and to prefer thick wheat udon noodles over the buckwheat soba favored in Tokyo. Some classic Kansai dishes include sobameshi (???), a concoction of fried rice and noodles mixed together, and okonomiyaki (?????), variously described as Japanese pizza or pancakes (although Hiroshima also makes a strong claim for this). Drink Kansai is sake country, with Nada (in Kobe) and Fushimi (in Kyoto) alone accounting for 45% of the country’s production. Kobe in particular is a good place to tour sake breweries, many of which are open to visitors. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kansai | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/12/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Kanto Posted by Yves The Kanto (??) region of Japan, on the eastern side of the main island Honshu, is a broad plain dominated by and nearly synonymous with the megalopolis of Tokyo and its suburbs. Generalities In feudal times, Kanto was the home of the Tokugawa shogunate and Edo (modern Tokyo) the military seat of power, while the western region of Kansai represented commerce (Osaka) and culture (Kyoto). But the pendulum shifted decisively in Tokyo’s favor after the 1869 Meiji Restoration when the Emperor moved to Tokyo, and today Kanto sets the pace that the rest of Japan tries to follow. Prefectures Chiba — suburban sprawl to the east and the site of Narita of airport fame Gunma — mountains and hot springs to the north of Tokyo Ibaraki — coastal prefecture containing the hometown of natto, Mito Kanagawa — suburban sprawl to the south containing Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city, and Kawasaki Saitama — suburban sprawl to the north containing very little Tochigi — popular escape known for historical site Nikko and many hot springs Tokyo — the largest city in the world Yamanashi — at the foothills of Mount Fuji Cities Chiba — another Tokyo offshoot to the east Kawasaki — suburb sandwiched between Tokyo and Yokohama Tokyo — capital of Japan, largest city in the world Yokohama — officially Japan’s 2nd largest city, in practice a giant Tokyo suburb National parks Chichibu-Tama National Park — mountain hiking within easy striking distance of Tokyo Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park — for hot springs and views of Fuji Other attractions Atami — coastal hot spring resort a short Shinkansen hop from Tokyo Enoshima — Japan’s surfing paradise in style and attitude (a shame there isn’t much in the way of waves) Kamakura — temple town within easy striking distance of Tokyo Kinugawa — former hot spring boomtown fallen on hard times Mount Fuji — although it’s in neighboring Chubu, the tallest mountain in Japan is accessible from Tokyo Nikko — the grandiose mausoleum of the Tokugawa shoguns Get in Most visitors arrive in the Kanto region via Tokyo, and most of those arrive via Narita Airport, Japan’s main international gateway. Talk The Kanto dialect is the base of the standard Japanese taught in schools and spoken on TV. Eat Compared with their western cousins in Kansai, the people of Kanto prefer dark soy to light soy, thin buckwheat soba noodles to fat wheat udon and think that the odoriferous fermented bean product natto is actually edible. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Kanto | Comments (0) | Link me! -- 12/11/2004 Travel Japan - Visit Hokkaido Posted by Yves Hokkaido (???) is the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands. Generalities Home to Japan’s aboriginal Ainu race, Hokkaido continues to represent the untamed wilderness with many great national parks. For many visitors the scenery resembles northern Europe, with rice paddies and concrete warrens replaced by rolling fields and faux-German cottages. Regions Alone among the main Japanese islands Hokkaido is not divided into multiple prefectures. Instead, there are four circuits, imaginatively named as follows: Central Circuit, with capital Sapporo and much of the mountainous interior Eastern Circuit, the largest and remotest part of the island Northern Circuit, covering the northern peninsula Southern Circuit, centered on Hakodate Note that the Central Circuit is also sometimes referred to as the “western part” (?? seibu) of Hokkaido. Cities Abashiri, northern fishing port home to Japan’s most infamous prison Asahikawa, the coldest city in Japan (literally) Hakodate, historical city and the capital of the short-lived Ezo Republic Otaru, Hokkaido’s largest port Sapporo, the capital and by far the largest city in Hokkaido Other destinations Niseko, trendy ski destination Noboribetsu, Hokkaido’s largest hot spring resort National Parks Akan National Park, known for its mysterious lakes Onuma Quasi-National Park, peaceful lake in southern Hokkaido Shiretoko National Park, where bears roam in the wilderness and bathe in hot waterfalls Daisetsuzan National Park, the Holy Grail of extreme hikers Kushiro Marshlands National Park Shikotsu-Toya National Park, two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons Rishiri-Rebun-Sarobetsu National Park, covering the small islands off the northern tip Getting there By plane Hokkaido’s sole international gateway of significance is Sapporo’s Chitose Airport. The route to Tokyo is, in terms of capacity and planes flown daily, the busiest in the world. By train Hokkaido is linked to the Shinkansen high speed network, and night sleeper trains from Tokyo are also a popular option. By ferry Ferries from Hakodate link to northern ports in Tohoku, including the Shimokita Peninsula. Get around Hokkaido is vast in size, so allow plenty of time to get around and don’t try to do too much if your time is limited. Many Japanese maps (including the generally excellent Japan Road Atlas) show Hokkaido with a larger scale than the rest of the country, which may make distances appear deceptively small. The train network is (by Japanese standards) limited. Access to many of the more interesting sites will require either relying on infrequent and expensive buses, renting your own car, or trying your luck and hitchhiking. See & Do For most visitors Hokkaido’s many national parks are number one on the agenda, offering near-unlimited hiking opportunities. Eat Much of Hokkaido’s population lives by the sea, and consequently seafood figures heavily in Hokkaido fare. Check out the hairy crabs (?? kegani) and sushi. More unexpectedly, Hokkaido produces most of Japan’s dairy products and particularly in the east you will run into many, umm, creative uses for them. Ever had cream cheese in your curry or butter in your noodle soup? In Hokkaido, you will. Drink Hokkaido is home to some of Japan’s finest sakes, the most famous of the bunch being Asahikawa’s Otokoyama (??). Beer is also big in Hokkaido, the most famous brand being Sapporo Beer (naturally from Sapporo), but the many microbrews found in nearly every town are also worth sampling. Sleep Hokkaido is one of Japan’s best places for camping, but beware of the nighttime chill — even in the summer months you’ll need a good sleeping bag. Many of Hokkaido’s cheaper accommodations slap on an extra fee for winter heating (???? toki danbo), as Japanese houses even here in the north are notoriously poorly insulated and chew up vast quantities of fuel when the temperatures fall. This shouldn’t be more than ¥500 or so. (Source: Wikitravel ) Related entries: Hokkaido | Comments (0) | Link me! -- Advertisement Rare things from Japan domain names SPONSOR US 3Yen is always FREE, but your donations help us keep it growing. Thanks! YOUR BLOG Start you blog in 2 min. No HTML. And it's FREE! Support 3Yen Free Calls Worldwide Shopping Japanese Gadgets Japanese Electronics Books on Japan Learn Japanese Japanese Movies Video Games Japanese Food Japanese Kitchenware Japanese Watches Japanese Audio-Video KILL BILL 1 & 2 Japanese Limited Edition

Argentina Travel Guide Travel

Travel to Argentina. Argentinian travel and tourism destination guide. Travel Argentina Argentinian travel and tourism destination guide. Home Destinations Latin America South America Argentina Travel Guide Travel Directory Search Travel Directory Notes From the Editor Travel Blog Travel Photography Travel Photos Destination Guides Africa Asia Europe Latin America CARIBBEAN • Antigua and Barbuda • Aruba • Bahamas • Barbados • British Virgin Islands • Cayman Islands • Cuba • Dominica • Dominican Republic • Grenada • Guadeloupe • Haiti • Jamaica • Martinique • Netherlands Antilles • Puerto Rico • ST. Kitts & Nevis • ST. Lucia • ST. Vincent & Gren. • Trinidad & Tobago • U.S Virgin Islands CENTRAL AMERICA • Belize • Costa Rica • El Salvador • Guatemala • Honduras • Nicaragua • Panama SOUTH AMERICA • Argentina • Bolivia • Brazil • Chile • Colombia • Ecuador • French Guiana • Guyana • Paraguay • Peru • Suriname • Uruguay • Venezuela Middle East North America Oceania TRAVEL ARGENTINA DESTINATION GUIDE OFFICIAL TRAVEL SITES sectur.gov.ar State Secretariat of Tourism and Sports. www.sectur.gov.ar INDEPENDENT TRAVEL SITES allaboutar.com Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Bariloche, Iguazu, Peninsula Valdes and El Calafate travel and tourism. All About AAR is the complete Argentina Travel Guide. AllAboutAR Argentina Travel Guide alojargentina.com Argentina Tourism and Travel. Argentina travel Agency. Argentina Travel and Tourism argentinacafe.com Indepedent travel advice about Argentina, including highlights, practicalities, background, and more. Argentina Cafe Travel Guide argentinacontact.com Travel and Hotel directory of Argentina. Argentina Contact argentinaonview.com Argentina on View inargentinatourism.com.ar Tourism in Argentina - prices, information, booking, travel and tour holidays. Tourism Argentina Airfares | Car Rental | Hotels | Rail Europe | Travel Insurance Home | About us | Contact us | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Add a travel site

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Central and South American Travel Schedule Travel Lifelong Learning UW Libraries Resources On Wisconsin Career Mentoring On the Road Founders' Day HOME GET CONNECTED LEARN & DISCOVER ALUMNI BENEFITS JOIN/RENEW ABOUT WAA UW-MADISON Central/South American Travel Schedule Get travel information sent to your home - with no obligation. Just check the box next to the trip(s) that interest you, then fill out the mailing information at the bottom of the page. A brochure for the indicated packages(s) will arrive shortly thereafter. Brochures are printed about eight months in advance. If you are interested in being added to our travel mailing list, but do not want any information at this time, click here . 2006 Jan. 27-Feb. 7 Cruise the Panama Canal March 9-19 Amazon March 27-April 9 Treasures of South America June 24-July 3 Galapagos Islands Voyage SOLD OUT July 19-28 Costa Rica Family Adventure Nov. 5-12 Mayan Splendor in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula To finish, just fill out the mailing information below, click the submit button, and WAA will send you more information on the indicated travel package(s). Asking for a brochure in no way obligates you to purchasing a travel package. IMPORTANT: To ensure that you receive all the information you requested, please take a moment to make sure that all the trips you want information about are still properly checked. Mailing Information (please double check to make sure everything is correct) First name Last name Address City State/Province Zip/Postal code Country Phone E-mail address WAA Membership number (Can be found on your membership card or on the label of the most recent copy of On Wisconsin Magazine) Check this box if you are not interested in receiving specific trip information at this time, but would like to be added to the general WAA travel mailing list. To receive information on future tours related to particular areas of interest, check all that apply: Astronomy Adventure/Rafting Family Athletic Service/Volunteer Educational Young Alumni All Please make sure you provide a complete and up-to-date mailing address so that all materials arrive promptly. Schedules Full 2005 Calendar Full 2006 Calendar Family Travel Athletic Travel Adventure Travel Service and Learning Tours by Location United States/Canada Central/South America Europe Africa Asia Australia/New Zealand Request a Tour Brochure Other Links Frequently Asked Questions Travel Scrapbooks and Diaries Travel Insurance Our Travel Suppliers Athletic Travel Travel Tips WUD Travel Adventure Film Series Contact WAA Travel For more information about WAA's travel opportunities, contact Director of Alumni Travel Sheri Hicks by e-mail or call toll-free 888-WAA-TRAVEL. Personal Vacation Club Not seeing just the right tour? WAA is pleased to recommend additional travel options through the Personal Vacation Club . Site Map | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | About uwalumni.com

RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE |

Russia Travel Guide: Russian Customs TRAVEL IN RUSSIA | TOUR GUIDES | ESCORTED TOURS | SHORE EXCURSIONS | VISAS | CLIENTS | RUSSIA TRAVEL GUIDE | HOTELS The State Hermitage Museum St. Petersburg City of St. Petersburg Russia Travel Tips | St. Petersburg Travel Guide | Moscow Travel Guide City of Moscow Cultural capital of Russia Peter and Paul Fortress Kanal Griboedova Kazan Cathedral Headquarters' Arch Michael's Castle Intro Russian Visa Russian Embassies Money Customs Things to Bring Laptop to Russia FAQ's Russia Customs Regulations Russian customs regulations are complicated and highly discretionary. 30% duty is required to export personal item(s) worth over US $10,000. Moreover, additional export duties apply to any items determined by customs officials to be of commercial use. Certain items, such as caviar, medications, jewelry, precious or semi-precious stones, or metals and fuel may be exported duty-free in limited amounts . As computers' hard-drives may be scanned by customs officials, it is recommended to present your laptops to customs at least 1,5 hours prior to you departure. The same goes for recordable storage media such as CDs, DVD-RWs, etc. Buying and Exporting Antiques All items which are of historical or cultural value - icons , antiques , paintings , coins , etc. - may be taken out of Russia only with prior written approval of the Ministry of Culture and payment of 100% duty. The process of getting the official approval may last from one to several weeks. When you are purchasing an antique item be sure to enquire from the retailer about the export status of your purchase. In all cases get an official receipt proving the fact of purchase and clearly indicating price, date and place of purchase. This receipt will later be handy when dealing with the customs official. Bear in mind that payment of the duty does not automatically make your goods eligible for export, and in most cases antique pieces may either be confiscated at the border or you may be asked to return them to your accompanying person. It is best to ask someone you know in Russia to accompany you to the airport. This way should your antique items not be allowed to be taken out of Russia you will be able to leave them with someone you know. This person may later try to get a refund from the unscrupulous retailer. Taking Money out of Russia You can bring as much money as you want to Russia. However, taking it out of the country can be tricky. You can take home only US $3,000 (or equivalent in other currencies) without any permission. For any amount over US $3,000 a special export permission is required. It can be obtained at any official currency exchange office unless you had the amount declared when entering Russia and can present your original signed declaration to the customs officer. A convenient way for taking money home is purchasing travelers' checks (like American Express, Thomas Cook, Visa, etc.). Russian Customs Declaration When first entering Russia be sure to fill out a customs declaration form . You will need to declare the amount of currency you are bringing into the country, as well as all valuable items you carry (jewelry, icons, art collections, laptops, cell phones, etc.). Make sure that the declaration is officially stamped and signed by a customs officer on entry to prevent difficulties when taking your currency and valuables after your travel to Russia is over. Remember that a signature by a customs official is not sufficient - you need to get a stamp on your declaration for it to be valid. Otherwise you will not be able to prove that you possessed that diamond ring or a cellular phone prior to your visit. Keep your stamped customs declaration for the entire duration of your stay in Russia - you will need it to prove how much money and what valuables you had with you when arriving in Russia. Additional Information For additional advice on Russian customs regulations, visit our Travel in Russia: Frequently Asked Questions section. Official website of the Russian Federal Customs Service : www.customs.ru/en/ Official capital of Russia Red Square Grand Kremlin Palace Ivan the Great Tower Christ the Savior Kremlin Towers 2005 Optima , B. Konyushennaya St., 9 suite 9. St. Petersburg 191186 Russia. Tel/fax: +1 253 5507816 E-mail SITE MAP | TERMS | FAQ's | GLOBAL RESOURCES