Japan Series: The Big Cities
This series focuses on Japan's bigger cities, of which there are really not that many. Still, I thought it would be cool to discuss each in succession and debate their importance and differences.
Lessons in this Series
5
Visiting Tokyo for the First Time? Here Are Some Popular Places to Visit
Tokyo is an eclectic city of contrasts - ultra modern skyscrapers, residential bedroom towns, and ancient temples and shrines. In this guide I will give you some ideas for things to do while visiting Tokyo. The places mentioned here are not necessarily in any particular order.
First time in Osaka? Here are some places to check out.
Back in the early 1990's we visited Osaka on our way to Kobe. Frankly I remember very little about that trip. Then in 2023 we had a chance to stop in at Osaka for a couple of days, and we made the most of it. I've highlighted some major sights to see if you are planning to spend a day or two in this interesting city.
Nagoya has More to Offer Than I Expected
This past fall we signed up for a bus and ferry tour of Shodo Island and Shimanami Kaido, which you can read about here. To start the tour we had to take the Shinkansen to Nagoya. So, at the end of the tour, we decided to stay an extra couple of days in Nagoya to see the sights. I had always wanted to see Nagoya Castle, so this was my opportunity!
A Night at the Opera, in Sapporo
My wife's cousin Jun composed the music for an opera, and we were invited to attend - in Sapporo! A blend of Japanese history and original music greeted us with this new opera. And while we were in Sapporo, we took a quick tour of the city.
Engaging Yokohama, The City of Harbor Lights
Yokohama's history, compared to other cities in Japan, is rather recent. It was one of the ports opened in 1877, and since has expanded to become Japan's second largest city. In this lesson we'll explore some of the history of Yokohama, and some places in the city worth a visit.