Map of Japan will introduce places in Japan from Japanese peoples eyes.
Basic ifomation are all writen in guide books. Map of Japan will introduce what Japanese people feel, think, and see in that place. Probably my coments in the posts are mosty bias, but thas how we feel. And it is not on the guide book.
Enjoy the Japan guide from Japanese bias!
Yokohama is a port city in Japan. Close enough from Tokyo. It is good place to on a day side trip from Tokyo. 2009 is the 150th anniversary of port opening. Yokohama is also a home of Japanese baseball team Yokohama Bay Stars.
In Yokohama, there is a china town and most of Japanese tourist will visit when they come to Yokohama. Kiyouken’s Shoumai Bento is something you must eat when you go to China town in Yokohama. It is soled every where in Yokohama.
Links to Useful sites and Map of Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Nara is a ancient city of Japan. Its history is much much r than Kyoto. There are gigantic Buda, deer park and historical heritage in Nara.
Probably, many Japanese have visited Nara on school camp. In Japanese overall education curriculum, school camp to historically important place is scheduled on the final grade of school year. Usualy, the 6th grade of elementary school, and the third year of Junior high, and 3rd year of high school. In Japan, we take 6-3-3 style of education system. In my case, I went to Nara in the 6th grade of elementary school, and Hiroshima on the third year of Junior high, and Hokkaido on my 3rd year of high school.
Nara is an ancient city in Japan. So it’s nothing other than historical tuff. It’s not a place popular by a young people. I’ve only visited their once in my life time, on school camp. Nara is never in spot. Kyoto always takes popularity, although Nara is historically older and important. People of Nara tend to hate people of Kyoto because they are more city than Nara, and they walk like as if they are THE center of Japanese culture and history.
Here are some useful links to websites with English map of Osaka, Japan.
1. Handy Access Guide for Trips to the Kansai Area This website is part of Osaka prefecture’s official site. It offers several types of English maps of Osaka, Japan. All the maps on this site is in PDF format, so it is good if you are looking for printable map of Osaka, Japan.
e.g. - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION GUIDEBOOK -Access Guide -Maps of Deboarding Points in Osaka and Umeda -Point-it-Out Japanese Phrase Sheet
2. Osaka-Info Osaka Tourist Guide This web site offers good English map of Osaka Japan. It covers breaf map of Osaka, Japan to Pricice map of Osaka, Japan. There are printable map of Osaka, Japan in PDF format. The best map of Osaka in this website is close up map of main big train station. Location Map Area Map & Guidebook Download
4. Rail road Map of Kansai Aria in Japan.pdf I’m not quite sure what part of which site this is. Ended up in direct URL of a PDF of Rail road Map of Kansai Aria. This map will come in handy if you are willing to take a side trip from Osaka.
5. Osaka Japan Map - Tourist Map of Japan A breaf map of Osaka Japan in English. I would recommend the first one if you are looking for a English map of Japan.
3 big Masruti in Japan is Gion Masturi in Kyoto, Kanda Masturi in Tokyo, and Tenjin Masturi in Osaka.
What is Matsuri? Simply speaking, religious ceremony to thank the god or a festival to celebrate the god. Celebrating god differs by which god the main shrine in the festival worships. There are many gods in Japan. In Japan, there is a word for all the gods in Japan, “Yaoyorozu no kami.” “Yaoyorozu” is spelled “Eight Million” and “Kami” means god. So it is considered that there is eight millon gods in Japan.
Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo was in May, But Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and Tenjin Masturi in Osaka is coming up! I’ve posted several about Gion Matsuri, so I’ll write about Tenjin Masturi in Osaka.
Tenjin Matsutri is a Matsuri held Tenmangu Shrine in Japan. Tenmangu Shrine refers to the entire shrine that worship the god called “Sugawara no Michizane.” Known as the god of study. He is a real existing historical figure in Japan. But the biggest and the most know Tenjin Masturi in Osaka.
Tenjin Masturi in Osaka will start around this weekend. But the climax is the fire works in 25th July. Don’t miss this!
Osaka is known for cheep and junky Japanese food, great sense of humor, great sense of fashion. They speak dialect called “Kansai ben” Maybe some people have heard in Anime. Some Anime character speak “Kansai ben” in Anime but most of them sound weird made up dialect.
What is this building? This is a head office of Japanese beverage company ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD. The taller building supposed to look like a glass of beer with bubbles, called Asahi beer tower. The building with a golden dog poop on top is called super dry hall. It was designed by a well known French designer Philippe Starck. The dog shit looking object is a flame that symbolize prospering ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD. But known as poop building.
Here are useful links of English Map of Kyoto, Japan.
1. Map of Kyoto (in Englihs) I think this is the BEST Map of Kyoto, Japan on the web. When you click on the map, it will give you a close up of the detailed map.
2. Welcome to Kyoto World Heritage Map (of Kyoto Japan in English) Picture bellow is the map introduced in this website. The icons of world heritage in Kyoto, Japan on the map is linked to the introductory pages. I think it comes in handy to get the general ideas where they are, but it is not detailed enough.
4. English version of BasuNavi This is a print able map of Kyoto, Japan. It is in the PDF style. This is a map of bus stop by Kyoto Transportation Bureau. The was published 1st of April 2009, so it is the newest
A little icon spread out on the map is the place where you can see “Hoko” and “Yama.”
What is “Hoko” “Hoko” literally means spear. In Gion Matsuri, it refers to a big decorated spear. It has wheals at the bottom and goes around Kyoto on Yoiyama.
What is Yoiyama? Yoiyama is the climax of Gion Matsuri. Hoko and Yama goes around Kyoto. Yoiyama this year will be 14 to 17 of July 2009.
What is “Yama” Similar to “Hoko.” Literally means mountain, but in Gion Matsuri, it refers to a decorative wagon.
Decoration of Hoko and Yama is tradidionally passed downed. I’ve never seen one but it is said that some of the decoration has picture of pyramid and camel.
Gion Matsuri Festival, one of the biggest and famous Masturi in Japan, is going to start from 1st of July 2009. Preparation for the Gion Matsuri is done every where in Kyoto.
In Japan, there is a concept of gods having two souls, Aratama (brutal soul of god) and Nigitama (merciful soul of god). Sometime, two souls are too strong, they are depicted as two deferent gods. The main God in Gion Masturi, Susanowo no mikoto has two soul. Aratama (brutal soul of god) is dedicated in Ayato Kuninaka Shrine, and the Nigitama (merciful soul of god) is dedicated in Yasaka Shrine. The child will lead the wagon with Aratama (brutal soul of god) of Susanowo no mikoto, to Yasaka Shrine. At Yasaka Shrine, the two soul will come together and the becomes the incarnation of Susanowo no mikoto. The incarnate child may not put his foots on the ground until his mission as the incarnation of Susanowo no mikoto is complete.
Like I’ve been writing. Gion Matusri Festival is coming up in Kyoto! It is chance for you to lean about Kyoto and Japanese tradition.
What is Yasaka Shrine? Yasaka Shrine takes the main part of Gion Masturi. Gion Masturi is a festival to celebrate and appease gods believed in this shrine.This is THE Shrine you should go in Japan.
Printable, guide of Kyoto Japan. Has printable map of Kyoto city inside.
Gion Matsuri is one of the big three Masturi Festibal in Japan. It will be held in Kyoto, Japan.
Where is Japan? Where is Kyoto in Japan?
Gion Masturi is a month long festival, many people come and see it from all over Japan and all over the world. It starts from July. It is the time to get ready to visit Kyoto! It is probably the time when you can experience the traditional Japan.
On June 14 2009, Exchange student participated tin Chimaki making for Gion Masturi.
What is Chimaki? Chimaki is usually a food, it is a sticky rice raped in bamboo leaves. But this one is for Gion Masturi so it is not a food. It is a purifying charm, it will exorcise the evil spirit. This will be made by the people the in the area. 31 different Chimaki will be sold near the Yamaboko. When you buy it, usually people will tacke back to there home and place it in frond of the entrance door.
Ukai Event will start today, (12th of June) in Kyoto Japan.
What is Ukai? Ukai is a Japanese traditional fishing method by using bird called U. The fisher man ties rope around birds throat, and releases the bird to swim around and eat fish. When the bird swallows fish, the fisherman make the bird come back to the boat, then chokes the bird by pulling the rope and gets the fish.
This way of fishing is not common today. It is an old traditional method of fishing. There are several places where still uses this method. The most famous one is the one at Nagara river in Gifu. Ukai at Ujigawa Kyoto is also famous.
Ukai at Ujigawa Kyoto starts from today (12th of June) till 27th of September. Boat Fee for Adult 1900 Yen (approx. 20 USD) Boat Fee for Children under twelve 900 Yen (approx. 10 USD)
Japan in world map Outline Map of Japan Blank Map of Japan with prefecture border Language: Japanese Capital: Tokyo Emperor: Akihito 125th Emperor (11/06/2009) Prime Minister: Tarou Asou (11/06/2009) Land: 377,835 km2 Population: 127,156,000 (year 2008) Flag: Emperial Seal: Government Seal:
One of the 3 biggest Matsuri is coming up! Get ready! Here is the map of "Yamaboko Flow Route"
Gion Matsuri is one of the three biggest Matsuri in Japan. It takes place in Kyoto. It is a month long event, and it starts from 1st to 31st of July.
Schedule is here
01/07/09 Start of Gion Matsuri
02/07/09 "kujiiri" Event to choose which a pike goes first.
10/07/09 "Omukae Chouchin" Event of volunteers, usually kids, walk around Kyoto with Japanese lantern Chouchin. Starts around 4 in the evening til 9.
10/07/09-14/07/09 "Yamaboko" will be built and displayed.
13/07/09 "Chigo" a secrete child will visit Yasaka Shrine. Chigo is the only one who goes on the Hoko. Chigo for this year was elected. Chigo will be elected from the wealthy family in Kyoto, because it will costs 20thousand Yen(200tousand USD). Movie of Chigo election.
14/07/09-16/07/09 The light up of "Yamaboko" and music will be played all over in kyoto
17/07/09 The climax of Gionmaturi. The Flow of "Yamaboko".
17/07/09 From 4 in the evening, ceremony at Yasaka shrine.
17/07/09 4 god's wagon will come back to Shijou after going around Kyoto.
24/07/09 Parade.
24/07/09 4 god's wagon will go back to Yasaka shrine
28/07/09 Takes one of the main god's wagon and baptize with holy water.
This is how Gion Matsuri will go. If your are planing to visit Kyoto this summer, it is probably the best to visit on 17th on July. It is the climax of Gion Matsuri. But you should be aware of enormous crows of people. Many people form Japan and oversea comes to this event.
Here is a someones My google map. It has marks on a place with nice night view. Japanese girls love night views. Places with great night views is THE dating spot. Really, trust me, most of the girls like these places. Take her on a drive to suberb and enjoy nature there, have nice dinner, go to the nigh view spot and there you go!
Matsuri is a Japanese traditional music and dance summer event where many people wear Yukata. What they celebrate in Matsturi differs in the places and the kind of Matsuri. But it doesn't matter at all, as long as you enjoy it! This Matsuri Map in Japan will surely come in handy when you visit Japan!
First, pic the reagion you are looking for. Then it will give you choices and visit the event. This map will recomend you not only Matsuri but also any kinds of event heald in that reagion.
Find a hot spring that suites your request with this Hot Spring Map of Japan. First select an area and prefecture in Japan. Then choose the palace you want to go.
Three Big Hot Spring in Japan in Kusatsu at Gunma prefecture, Arima at Hyougo prefecture, and Gero at Gifu prefecture. I've heard that Arima is suffering from the big damageof the new flew. It is not that, there are many people dieing at Arima, but the Hyougo prefecture was the first place to find inflected people. That is why there are little people visiting Arima at the moment.
Hot Spring Map of Japan
2009/06/04
Checked Shellfish Hunting Map in Japan?
In Japan, from spring to summer, many family goes to Shellfish hunting. Shellfish hunting is a Japanese family leisure time activity. I used to go when I was a kid. Do you go shellfish hunting in your country? I didn't notice until now, but I think this is a Japanese culture.
Best time to go shellfish hunting is spring, because tide goes on the further ebb. The best season differs on the places you go, so check on this shellfish hunting map in Japan. What kind of shellfish can you get. Of course it differs on the places you go, but here are the example
Asari
Kagamigai
Shiofuki
Bakagai
Hamaguri
Mategai This shellfish, Mategai is little bit different from the other. In order to get, first you but salt in its hole, then wait until it come out, and pull it out. Here is a video from You Tube of Mategai Hunting.
Seems like Mategai is called Razor clam in english. Video of Razor clam oversea. It is much bigger than Japanese.
Hi, I'm Hiroshi! I live in Japan. I will introduce useful map tool of Japan and cool places to go in Japan. There are many nice places to go in Japan but not all of them is on the tour guide book. I will introduse places like that!
