Flower Parks in Japan are worth a visit

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When you visit Japan it is not necessary that you wait for the cherry blossom season to observe the beauty of nature captured in flowers. Even if you plan your vacation after the cherry blossom or ‘sakura’ season you will be able to view wonderful fields of colourful flowers. These fields of blossoming flowers, namely, moss pink or phlox moss and shibazakura, and wisteria or fuji, in the northern Kanto region are extremely popular and have parks full of them.

If you want to soak in the beauty of these flowers then you can check out the following parks:

• Ota Hokubu Sports Park
• Chichibu Hitsujiyama Park
• Ashikaga Flower Park
• The Treasure Garden Tatebayashi
• Takasaki Misato Shibazakura Park

Ota Hokubu Sports Park

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This public park overlooks the Ota City and can be reached by a train from Tokyo. Many sports fields are built on the hillside and the slopes are covered with Moss Pink or Shibazakura. These flowers blossom in spring and look like blankets of pink, white and lavender on the slopes. On the eastern slopes you will spot baby blue eyes and crimson clovers. A yearly Shibazakura Matsuri is held in this park that carries on till the mid of May.

Ashikaga Flower Park

 

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This park is in the Tochigi Prefecture. This park is famous for hanging wisterias. These flowers bloom early in May and form clusters of pink and purple. This park is crowded at all times, even on weekends.

Chichibu Hitsujiyama Park

 

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Chichibu is at the Saitama Prefecture, and is 90 minutes from Tokyo. The park is famous for its moss pink fields. The flowers are planted in way that they form designs of pink, white and lavender. Entry to the park is open from eight in the morning to five in the evening for an entry fee.

The Treasure Garden Tatebayashi

 

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This garden displays seasonal flowers along with nemophila, shibazakura, and poppies. This park also has an exquisite rose garden. The park is quite far from Tokyo as is takes over an hour to reach the place even by train.

Takasaki Misato Shibazakura Park

 

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The shibazakura fields that cover the slopes are the main attraction of this park. However, the only downside is that very few public transports go directly to the park. The slopes are beautiful and extremely colourful.

So, if you want to visit Japan to view its picturesque side, you must visit these flower parks to experience the wonders of nature.

4 Best Places to Go for Shopping in Tokyo

From traditional crafts to trendy fashion, vivid anime goods, branded goods and cutting-edge electronics items, you have a shop in Tokyo practically for anything and everything. However, you may not get the goods at the price range of your desire.

Tokyo’s varied cityscapes also serve as the shopping districts with their own specialities and characteristics. So, if you are in Tokyo, the first thing you need to do is to familiarise with different shopping places and prepare yourself for a shopping spree in this ever energetic and bustling city.

Followings are some of the most popular places for shopping in Tokyo Japan, take a look:

Shinjuku – Probably Tokyo’s Largest Shopping and Entertainment District

In the vicinity of Shinjuku Station, which is a major transportation hub and world’s busiest train station, this district houses major department stores and flagship stores of big companies. You could also walk in the outlets of Japan’s major electronics retailers and many other shops and boutiques. Most shops are along the streets and underground shopping arcades.

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Shibuya – Hub of Youth Fashion

Next to Shibuya Station, this shopping district is the place where youth fashion trends in Japan origin from. There are many celebrated and trend-setting apparel stores such as Shibuya 109 and other small fashion stores along the streets. You can find several small boutiques and high fashion and designer brands through Aoyama and Daikanyama. The atmosphere in here is quiet and passive in comparison with Shibuya’s electric brightness.

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Harajaku – Youth Trends vs High Fashion and Street Culture

This fashion district caters to the needs of different kind of shoppers. At the Omotesando, famous as Tokyo’s Champs-Elysees, there are upscale boutiques, cafes and a host of top designer outlets along its tree lined avenue. Then there is Takeshita Dori, a hub of youth fashion and street culture. Most shops are crammed along a narrow street and target teenage and younger crowd.

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Ginza – Tokyo’s Leading Upscale Shopping District

The Ginza is the home to upscale department stores, art galleries, boutiques and designer brand stores. You can find almost every top international and native brand showing a presence here. The major electronics brands such as Sony and Apple also have a presence in the Ginza. The shopping district stretches to Yurakucho area with more boutiques, electronic retailers and department stores.

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You can find different varieties of products at different price range at these shopping centres. So, if you are visiting Tokyo, do not forget to walk in to these world famous shopping places.

Stay Healthy by Cooking Food Japanese Way

Japan cuisines have evolved over the last decade. The traditional Japanese diet is known for their health benefits. The basic ingredients of Japanese diet are vegetables, tofu and fish whereas rice is the main staple. However, if you are eating out the restaurants and banquet meals, rice is eaten at the end with pickles and soup. Many households also practice this.

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Usually, rice is not served with the alcohol and Japanese people enjoy their cocktail drinks at leisure with small quantities of different varieties of foods. Meal along with rice is consumed only once the people have finished their drinks. As rice is served after drinks, people consume a reasonable amount of rice, usually only one small bowl. Again, during the lunch time, Japanese people eat less quantity of rice. This is the secret of healthy living in Japan.

However, this is not the only secret of healthy living of Japanese people. A lot depend upon how they cook their foods. Many people want to know how to cook Japanese food; the key is including healthy and quality ingredients.

Healthy Way of Cooking Food

Unlike Chinese cooking, where oil is used to stir-fry the food at high temperature, Japanese usually use water, and not oil, while cooking. The predominant techniques of cooking include raw, simmered and grilled whereas frying is occasional. For the healthy balance of meal, they generally eat only a few pieces of fried food, like tempura, along with other dishes.

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It’s because of the prevalence of water to sustain seafood and grow vegetables that Japan is available with plenty of seasonal products. Japanese have a belief that it’s healthy to include foods of different colours in every meal. In spite of using high amount of sugar in the foods, you will find that Japanese meal do not include desserts regularly. And, even if there is a dessert in the course of menu, it will consist of small pieces of fresh fruits.

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At the last, presentation is very important in Japanese culture. They tend to serve foods in small amount and more attention is given to the tableware. Wasting food is considered rude in Japan, So, if you are dining out at restaurants or have been invited to a party, order the right amount of food, neither too much nor too little.

Must-visit Tourist Attractions in Tokyo

You will fall in love with Tokyo, if you spend a few days in the city. This city has everything to attract you. Tokyo is one of the most civilised and well organised cities in the world. You can reach to the Tokyo’s tourist destinations by subway or train. It is advised to get a Japan Rail Pass for commuting by the trains.

Not only in Asia but worldwide, Tokyo is a completely different place for the foreign tourists. Tokyo does not only represent peak of civilisation, law and order and fashion but the city stands out in many good ways.

Following are some of the most frequented tourist places to visit in Tokyo Japan, take a look:

Shibuya 109 and Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya is the Mecca of fashionistas in Japan. If you are looking for fashionable clothes and accessories, Shibuya is the point zero of fashion. You will be amazed to see the high pedigree of fashion sense followed by girls in Shibuya. The young girls sporting contact lenses, lace, ruffles, colourful socks and ribbons along with highly fashionable clothes make unique fashion statements at the streets of Shibuya. The boutiques at Shibuya 109 are available with a large number of trendy outfits, in different designs.

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At couple of minutes of distance from Shibuya 109 is one of the busiest places in the world, Shibuya crossing. It’s a sight to see the function of traffic signals at the busy crossing. You can experience an ultimate example of civilisation by looking at the people crossing the road at the crossing.

Meiji Shrine

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This is a Shinto shrine situated at the Shibuya Ward, in the midst of a beautiful forest. The Meiji Shrine is very near to the Harajaku Station on the JR Yamanote Line. This shrine is dedicated to the sacred spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife. The Meiji Shrine nowadays is a favourite place for wedding ceremonies.

Yoyogi Park on a Sunday

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This park is the best place to watch people in Tokyo. Popular with young Japanese people, you could spot the wacky aspect of an otherwise reserved nation on Sundays. You can spot classy girls to shy Lolitas enjoying their red wine drinks from crystal glasses. The Yoyogi Park is very much popular with couples in love and lots of club meetings and teenagers rehearsing plays are organised there on the Sundays.

Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky-tree

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Tokyo Tower holds lots of similarity with the Eiffel Tower and draws many tourists because of that. The Tokyo Sky-tree, on the other hand, is relatively a new kid in the town. Tokyo Sky-tree is 634m tall while Tokyo Tower is 333m of height. Both the artificial structures are favourites among tourists.

There are many other tourist destinations in Tokyo. You can get to know about them on blogs from Japan.

Know about Tourism in Japan on Blog from Japan

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Japan is globally famous for the technological advancements it has made over the years. Besides ultra-modern cityscapes, there are several landscapes, temples and shrines in the country. Japan houses some of the world’s most beautiful places, where cherry and plum blossom during the spring and maple trees covers the entire land with fiery red hues in autumn. Spring and autumn seasons are the most magical times to visit this country.

The highlights of Japan tour are liveliness of cities, serenity and charm of temples, shrines, museums and gardens, the demonstration of technology with a journey in lightning bullet trains and the courteous and polite hospitality of the Japanese.

So, if you are planning a holiday in Japan, you need to know about the tourism in this country in detail. The best way to collect information about Japan is to visit blog from Japan, wherein real-time visitors share their holidaying experience in Japan.

Japanese Tourism Industry is at its Peak

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Meanwhile, tourism in Japan is at its peak. The government’s goal of attracting about 10 million visitors each year is in the sight. According a report, the visitor count in the month of July alone reached up to more than 1 million, which is a record in itself. (Source: goo.gl/8zxeQ2)

Lots of efforts are being made in public as well as private sectors to draw foreign tourists but there are still some challenges being faced by the authorities. Language related problems are the most pertinent, as most staff members are unable to communicate with tourists in English or other foreign languages.

The Reasons Behind the Strong Rise in Tourists Number

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However, the strong rise in the number of tourists is recorded basically because of availability of low-cost airlines and weakening of the yen. The visa waivers policy introduced in July for the citizens of some countries is also being thought as a potential reason for such strong rise in Japanese tourism sector.

Encouraged with the increasing visitor count, which reached 5.96 million in the period between January-July, a JNTO official was quoted saying, “Achieving 10 million visitors is possible if this pace continues.” (Source: goo.gl/hrjoSk)

Hotels are Filled and Revenues for Retailers have Increased

The surge in the foreign visitors has noticeably made a positive impact on the economy, as hotel rooms are filled and revenues for retailers have pushed up.

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The Imperial Hotel in Tokyo recorded an increase of over 20 percent between the period April and July, whereas the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo said that sells figure of duty-free goods reached at a record high in the July month.

Foreign tourists have a huge impact on the economy of Japan; therefore, the government is planning to target more than 30 million foreign tourists each year by 2030.