You can shop at duty-free shops only in the airports. If you want a tax-fee shopping, that will be available in the urban areas. Tokyo is the best place to shop in Japan. Shopping in this place follows similar molds in cities while the villages and towns sell mainly authentic vases, crafts and jewelry.

The commencing of Roppongi Hill complex saw 10 million visitors in two months. It consists of hotels, movie theaters, and four level shops. The place is known as the “Rodeo drive”. This is a shopping place for the upper-class people. Though it is a well-known place to shop, it is very expensive and considered as a place to sell out your gold card. You can see weekly Japanese block party, vendors selling puppets, numerous art galleries at Ginza. In addition to that, Tsukiji market is famous for the morning market seafood. The market sells wide varieties of seafood.

Department stores open on all holidays. Each store closes one weekday each week. Shopping hours in Japan are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A 5% tax is charged as consumption tax in Japan. It is also fun to visit sales stores which are held in January, July, August, and December.

Kokeshi Dolls: These are popular dolls in north Japan. They are made of wood turners and have a tradition of 200 years. Dogwood or Maple woods are used to make these dolls. They are made of cylinders to which round head is attached and painted with non toxic vegetable dyes.

Some of the interesting shopping spots that you can enjoy shopping are Ginza area, Shinjuku area, Harajuku or Ayonama area, Shibuya area, Tokyo midtown, and Vinusports, Aqua City Odabia, and Decks Tokyo beach.

by Jack

An Oriental asset, Japan is an enticing blend of the east and the west. Referred to as ‘Nippon’ by the locals, Japan welcomes its tourists with a hearty smile and warm reception. With clear blue skies and colorful blossoms, Japan is best visited in spring, during the months of March to May. This is the time when domestic and international tourists throng the major tourist destinations in Japan.

Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fukuoka, Osaka and Yokohama are replete with the best sightseeing attractions and accommodation options of the country. The Daisetsuzan National Park with its volcanoes, lakes, forests and mountains is a spectacular attraction of the country. With an innumerable number of trekking spots, Japan claims to be a favorite amongst hikers.

The Gokuku-ji Temple, the Sensoji Temple, the Yasukuni Shrine, the Tokyo National Museum, Asakura Choso Museum, Fukagawa Edo Period Museum, Aoyama Cemetery, Edo Castle, Hachiko, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Tower, Kabuki Theatre, Mount Takao, Roppongi Hills, Sanrio Puroland theme park and Ginza are a few of the favorite spots in Tokyo. If you are visiting the capital of Japan, you will get a wealth of accommodation options-ranging from luxury hotels to business hotels, three star hotels and cheap hotels. While the Park Hyatt and Four Seasons are some of the best luxury hotel brands, Aizuya Inn Hotel is the best name amongst cheap hotels.

Next in popularity, Kyoto attracts tourists in droves almost throughout the year. Adorned by a variety of temples, beautiful gardens, intriguing Shinto shrines, Kyoto is a must visit on Japan tours. The imperial capital of the country in ancient times, Kyoto is still looked upon as the cultural hub. From luxury to cheap hotels, Kyoto is home to several accommodation options. Holiday Inn Hotel and Court Hotel are some of the popular names amongst the Kyoto Hotels.

If you are in Osaka, you cannot afford to miss a visit to the Osaka Aquarium, Kaiyukan Aquarium, the Tempo-zan harbor Village, Osaka Castle and the Suntory Museum. The Mitsui Urban Bay Tower Hotel and Laforet Shin Hotel are the best accommodation options. Explore more hotel information in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Yokohama and other tourist destinations in Japan through the sites for online hotel booking worldwide. Find out the best discount deals on Japan hotels through the discount hotel booking services online. While you are in Japan, always remember to try out authentic Japanese dishes, the very mention of which tickles the popular imagination.

by David

You must ensure that your hotel is located close to the venue of the Tenjin Matsuri Festival in Osaka, Japan. The festival boasts of a thousand-year old history. It was first observed as an act of purging and the beginning of deification of Michizane Sugawara. The festival is celebrated now with a lot of enthusiasm and zeal. A bunch of enthusiastic people puts in a lot of effort to make proper arrangements, to ensure a successful finale of this big event. Participants get together early morning at the point from where the kicks off. The participants dress in their best costumes and decorate the Mikoshi or holy shrine for the parade towards the river.

The procession begins from the shrine, which was constructed in the year 949, which witnessed a series of catastrophes, thought to be unleashed by Michizane Sugawara, just after his death. According to popular perception, his spirit assumed the shape of god of thunder Raijin. The shrine was erected to pacify him. Soon after, the calamities ended. This eminent luminary is today revered as a god of learning.

Every group of the procession has a banner and lantern bearer upfront. Dancers and musicians follow the group. Many changes have overcome the Tenjin Matsuri Festival in Osaka, Japan over 1000 years. Originally, a holy spear was made afloat along the shore of the shrine. A purification ceremony took place at the point where the spear finally reached. People from the surrounding towns and villages constructed boats and took part in the celebrations for the new god.

Music is an integral part of the festival. The type of music played and the instruments used in the ancient times have been carried to the present day. These musical tones are regarded as holy, as per the Shinto tradition. The Palanquins, another major part of the festival, were used in the old days to move the rich affluent over the city. Today, palanquins along with the Mikoshi are driven by people with heavy ropes.

As the boats arrive at the Tenjin Bridge, innumerable visitors gear up to go on board. When the shrine or mikoshi is put into the boats, the boats move downstream. On their way, people enjoy Japanese music, arts, theatre and arts. As the festival takes place during the month of July, make sure that you book your hotel for this time from online hotel booking. Whether you are searching for luxury hotels or cheap hotels, online hotel booking services will help you find you the best suitable accommodation.

by David

Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the perfect example of ‘old meets new and remains in perfect harmony’. The city is a glaring collage of ancient temples, kimono-clad women, tall skyscrapers and glowing neon sings at every nook and cranny. Tokyo is virtually a beehive of office culture, with a lot of architectural genius thrown in every now and then. Talking of the thing the country is most famous for, electronics, there are hordes of stores housing some of the most advanced gadgetry known to man. But this city is not al about the sights and sounds of modern living, as there is a pleasant escape to the tree-filled gardens at Meiji-jingu, which give travelers a respite from the constant buzzing modern life.

Kyoto is referred to as the treasure house of Japan, and has the dubious distinction of being one of the few cities to have survived the onslaught of the second World War. It is also the cultural epicenter of Japan, with more than 2,000 temples and shrines, as well as 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The city still hosts many ancient ceremonies and festivals. Despite the fact that it has modernized much like the rest of Japan, one can still see old wooden machiya townhouses, along with undeveloped hills and mountains that surround the city, giving a glimpse of how old Japan must have looked like.

Japan’s third largest city, Osaka, is also a part of Japan’s largest metropolitan region, comprising of Kobe and Kyoto as the other two cities out of the trio. Osaka was twice the imperial capital of Japan in the 7th and 8th centuries, but has ruled the roost more for its economic prowess for many years. Much like Tokyo, Osaka is a bustling new-age city that has offices of numerous international organizations, but is equally popular for its night-life, with many shopping, food and entertainment zones scattered around the city. This is also the reason why Osaka is known as the food capital of Japan.

Nagoya is Japan’s fourth-largest city, and one of the major transport hubs of the country. With a population of 2.2 million, the city has Japan’s main port for international trade, along with an airport. It has been one of Japan’s manufacturing and industrial cities, having been the source for porcelain, ceramics, and lacquer-ware. Besides this, it also has a multitude of museums, fascinating night-life, and Japan’s largest stopover site for migratory birds.

Every time one visits a foreign land, there is a desire to talk with the near and dear ones about the things they have seen and experienced. However, if one uses a regular mobile service, the charges levied would be astronomical, due to the international roaming. Using Matrix international calling cards delivers savings up to 80% compared to regular calling rates, resulting in longer calls with lower bills.

by Matrix

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