Agglomerations and other subtleties
Some cities are so large that finding their boundaries sometimes becomes a problem, because there is no standard for this purpose. Therefore, when discussing the largest, experts most often talk about agglomerations. These are clusters of cities that were nearby, but for convenience they merged into one larger one. This is what happened in Japan.
Interesting! “Greater Tokyo” is one of the most urbanized and densely populated places on Earth. About 40 million people live here. The most convenient way to explore its attractions is to rent a car from Rentacars.
Osaka
Osaka in Japan is known less for its historical sights than for its modern architectural forms. Osaka is one of those Japanese cities that amaze with their scale and technological solutions. Here you will find Universal Studios Park, Kayukan Aquarium, Shinsaibashi Shopping Center, Umeda Sky Building Business Center, Dotonbori District, Tsutentaku Tower, Osaka Maritime Museum. All these buildings will surprise you with their non-standard approaches to architecture; in Osaka it’s as if you are entering the world of the future. Some of the city's surviving historical landmarks include Himeiji Castle and Chikiri Castle. Osaka can be reached from both Tokyo and Kyoto by the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train (the journey takes about 2.5 hours).
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Nikko
Nikko is located in the northwestern part of Tochigi Prefecture. Nikko is a region popular with both local and international tourists because it is home to many World Heritage Sites, is blessed with rich natural beauty, and is close to Tokyo (about 1 hour's drive). If you live in Tokyo, you can take a day trip to Nikko for a sightseeing tour, although there are some places worth stopping here, including the Kinugawa Onsen Hot Springs, considered one of the best in Tochigi Prefecture.
A popular attraction in Nikko is the Nikko-Tosho-gu Temple, which has been named a World Heritage Site. Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, is buried here. Every year on May 17th and 18th, Nikko-Toshogu Shrine hosts a festival called Reitaisai. Also worth seeing is the Hyakumono Zoroi Sennin Musageuretsu parade, which recreates the reburial of Tokugawa Ieyasu from the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture. During this festival, people dress up in samurai clothes and armor.
In addition to Nikko-Tosho-gu Temple, the area has shrines and temples such as Nikko-Futarasan and Nikki-San Rinno-ji, which are also World Heritage Sites. Apart from Nikto-Endomura "Edo Wonderland" Street, which has restored the atmosphere of the Edo period, the area as a whole has the feeling of traveling back in time - which is why so many tourists visit this place at any time of the year. There are many other attractions here, such as Kegon Falls, Lake Shuzen-ji, Mount Nanta-san, Ryuzu Falls and Iroha-zaka Falls, where autumn foliage is especially beautiful.
A variety of attractions can be reached by bus or car from Nikko Station. The best way to get to Nikko Station from nearby major cities is by taking the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train - you will need to go to Utsunomiya Station and transfer to the Nikko Line.
Nara
The city of Nara is located in the north of Nara Prefecture. In Nara, where the capital of Japan was founded in 710, many historical buildings and streets have been preserved. Heijo Palace, which served as the residence of the Emperor and the workplace of government officials, is now open to visitors as one of the historical monuments of Eijō-kyū. The area around Heijo Palace became a city, and the old houses of artisans and merchants remain a tourist site known as the "Naramachi District".
Along with the historical buildings, another symbol of the city of Nara is its deer. Nara Park, adjacent to Kasuga-taisha Shrine and designated as an Important National Cultural Site, is home to approximately 1,500 wild deer (as of 2015). Food for deer can be purchased within the park, and visitors are allowed to get up close and interact with these animals.
Sapporo is an important metropolis
It would take a long time to list the interesting features of Sapporo. Located on the island of Hokkaido, the city has industrial, economic, cultural and educational significance. The main university, considered one of the most prestigious universities in the country, is Hokkaido University, which trains specialists in a variety of fields. Some of the best dentists, engineers, veterinarians and literary scholars are trained here.
The main branch of the economy is the service sector. It is gradually replacing the industrial sector, but a large port continues to play an important role, capable of receiving ships transporting liquefied natural gas. The development of the tourism industry has attracted many travelers. First of all, this was made possible by the Snow Festival, which has important cultural significance for the people of Sapporo. For a whole week the city is decorated with sculptures, snowmen are made, and people compete in building ice structures. The central location of the festival is Odori Park. More than 2 million people from all over the country come here every year, and the metropolis is also famous for the Beer Museum, where guides talk in detail about Japanese brewing traditions.
Ultra-modern Yokohama
Yokohama is the second largest city in Japan with a population of 3.7 million people and the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture. It's hard to believe that today's crowded and cosmopolitan metropolis was once just an insignificant fishing village. Today Yokohama is Japan's largest port, the center of the country's foreign trade transactions and the headquarters of many world-famous banks and companies.
Yokohama is home to numerous amusement parks, 24-hour shopping centers and business districts.
The architecture of the city is distinguished by the abundance of ultra-modern high-rise buildings, the main of which and at the same time the symbol of the city is considered
Landmark Tower is a 300 m high tower with the world's fastest elevator, listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Taking a ride on the Ferris wheel, you can see fantastic views of the metropolis shining with millions of lights, the seaport and the 860 m long bridge, built in 1989. Other popular attractions in the city are:
- Yamashita Park with the Sea Tower - the world's tallest lighthouse and at the same time a museum dedicated to the sea.
- Sankeien is a museum of traditional wooden structures.
- Chinatown surrounded by four gates built according to Feng Shui. Inside there are about 500 restaurants and shops, and there are also spectacular costume parades and celebrations.
- Ramen Museum. A real amusement park dedicated to Japan's favorite ramen noodles. Here you can get acquainted with the history and intricacies of the production of the dish and try its various types.
The Many Faces of Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital and largest city on the map of the Land of the Rising Sun, its political, economic and industrial center and at the same time one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. The most important national institutions, such as the royal palace and parliament, are concentrated here.
Despite its small size, Tokyo is the most densely populated city - the number of Tokyo residents exceeds 8.9 million people: during rush hours, people here seem to merge into a single water stream, filling the streets, subways, underground passages and public transport. Thanks to the very complex layout of the neighborhoods and the intricate metro network, Tokyo is a real jungle in which it is easy for an inexperienced tourist to get lost. The most convenient way to travel is by train. Tokyo has a huge railway network.
The main distinguishing feature of the city is its diversity . Everything is here. Modern neighborhoods alternate with old business centers, shining skyscrapers next to ancient temples, fashionable boutiques and restaurants give way to colorful markets with the freshest seafood and fish, political life is in full swing in the parliament building and the royal palace, and cosplayers and young people in fancy costumes gather in the Harajuku quarter favorite anime characters. Tokyo is a center for various events, including:
- Kanda Matsuri. One of the largest festivals. The festivities last a whole week and are accompanied by a parade with a colorful costumed procession and a procession of two hundred portable temples.
- Hanami is a cherry blossom viewing festival.
- Sumida River Fireworks Festival, etc.
In addition, the metropolis has a huge number of churches, museums, beautiful parks, gardens, ponds, cozy squares and other places that will leave an unforgettable impression of visiting the capital.
Kanazawa
Kanazawa is a city located in the central part of Ishikawa Prefecture. Kanazawa has many historical sites, including the Higashi-Chaya and Nishi-Chaya districts, which have remained largely unchanged since the Edo period (1603-1868). Kanazawa Castle, which was built by the Maeda family, which ruled the region now known as Kanazawa, is also very popular with tourists. The park next to Kanazawa Castle is a famous place to admire the cherry blossoms. In close proximity to the park are the Kenroku-en Garden, which is the hallmark of Japan, and the Museum of Contemporary Art of the 21st Century, which displays many works by contemporary authors - these places are also worth a visit.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima City is the center of Hiroshima Prefecture, which includes the cities of Hiroshima, Kure, Higashihiroshima and Miyoshi. The city of Hiroshima became infamous throughout the world after the atomic bomb was dropped on it. The city has many sites dedicated to this terrible event, including the symbolic Genbaku Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which was built in the hope of eternal peace on Earth, and the Hiroshima Memorial Museum displays numerous materials related to the atomic bomb. Every year on August 6, the anniversary of the fall of the atomic bomb, a memorial ceremony is held here in memory of all those who died. You can get to the Genbaku Dome from Hiroshima Station by tram or bus in about 20 minutes.
What you must try in Hiroshima are okonomiyaki, oysters and sake. To the east of Hiroshima is the city of Higashihiroshima, which is the center of the Saijo region, which is famous throughout Japan for the production of sake. You can stroll along Sakagura-dori, surrounded by charming cityscapes and home to many cellars. In the southeast of Hiroshima is the city of Kure, home to the Yamato Museum with a huge collection related to the Japanese Navy, including a 1/10 scale replica of the battleship Yamato.
