Images of the old Nakasendo

Here is a selection of woodblock prints of the places that Japan Travelogue's Nakasendo walking tour passes through. These prints date back to the 1830s and form a part of a series of prints published as The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaido. This work was a collaboration between two artists, Ando/Utagawa Hiroshige and Keisai Eisen. Walking along the Nakasendo today it is still possible to see glimpses of Japan as it was during the artists' time.

1. Nihonbashi (Tokyo). Eisen


2. Karuizawa. Hiroshige.


3. Narai. Eisen.


4. Yabuhara. Hiroshige.


5. Kisofukushima. Hiroshige.


6. Nojiri. Eisen.


7. Midono. Hiroshige.


8. Tsumago. Hiroshige.


9. Magome. Eisen.


10. Ochiai. Hiroshige.


11. Nakatsugawa. Hiroshige.


12. Oi. Hiroshige.


13. Okute. Hiroshige.


14. Hosokute. Hiroshige.


15. Mitake. Hiroshige.

Article about Kyoto as seen by a foreigner

A great article by Pico Iyer about discovering Kyoto captures many of the aspects we recognize.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/93348289.html

The Japan Rail Pass option

The Japan Rail Pass can offer a very economical way to travel within Japan. The pass comes in two types: Green (first class) and Ordinary. These passes can be purchased as 7 day, 14 day and 21 day passes. They offer unlimited travel on Japan Rail train, bus and ferry networks for the duration of validity. There are some restrictions, however. Passes are not valid on Nozomi class shinkansen bullet trains on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines.

Before purchasing a Japan Rail pass, find out the approximate cost of your total rail travel in Japan to see if the Japan Rail Pass options offers you a real saving. You can do this by using a convenient journey planner website that also allows you to find out the cost of your journey. Go to http://www.hyperdia.com/ and type in the departure and arrival points (including dates and times). You can choose between reserved seating and unreserved (cheaper) seating ticket prices. Then compare the total cost of all the journeys you plan to make with the price of a corresponding Japan Rail Pass. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy rail tickets individually rather than a Japan Rail Pass. The Japan Rail pass is ideal for people who plan to use the JR train network extensively during their stay in the country.

Japan Rail Pass website: http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en003.html

Street styles in Tokyo

The streets of Tokyo are great for people watching. You can follow street fashion in there at:
http://www.style-arena.jp/en/street/

Summer of Japanese Festivals

Some summer festivals in Japan to check out.

1. Tenjin Matsuri in Osaka held on 24 & 25 July. A 1000 year old tradtion. A festival on land and water in Osaka. Follow the whole festival from beginning to end at the website below.
http://www.osaka-info.jp/tenjin_matsuri/main_en.html

2. Nebuta Matsuri in Aomori held between 2 - 7 August. One of the largest festivals in the region with impressive floats.
http://www.nebuta.jp/english/index_e.htm

3. Akita Kanto Matsuri in Akita city from 3 - 6 August. Impressive balancing of a stack of lanterns hanging from a huge pole is one of the highlights.
http://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/index.htm

4. Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri held in Yamagata from 5 - 7 August. About 10,000 dancers parade with decorated hats and floats.
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/history/traditionalevents/a44_fes_hanagasa.html

5. Awa Odori is one of the largest dance festivals in Japan held in Tokushima from 12 - 15 August.
http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/english/awaodori.html
http://web-japan.org/atlas/festivals/fes19.html