Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown is a complex “city” featuring 6 buildings and wide spaces of greenery. This complex encompasses a variety of shops, restaurants, offices, green spaces, a hotel and a museum.
Tokyo Midtown is a great example of successful urban redevelopment.
Kadoya Hotel
Kadoya Hotel is a long-standing hotel, operating in Nishi-Shinjuku for over half a century. Its location is outstanding, located just about 3 minutes on foot from the west exit of JR Shinjuku Station, the Toei Shinjuku Line’s Shinjuku Station, and the Toei Oedo Line’s Tochomae Station.
It's a quick walk from Shinjuku West Exit, and there are lots of convenience stores nearby. Overall, a really convenient hotel.
Yamashita Park
Yamashita Park is located by the sea, just a short walk from Yokohama Chinatown. It was opened in March of 1930, reclaiming the waterfront using rubble caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake.
The view is nice and the atmosphere is great, but in winter the wind is really strong and it gets super cold.
Kobe Kitano Ijinkan (Former Foreign Residences)
When the port of Kobe opened in 1868, the "Kobe Kitano Ijin-gai (foreign city)" developed as a land of foreign settlement. Located on a hill overlooking the ocean, the town has a unique mix of Western and Japanese style buildings. About 30 Western-style buildings have been preserved in their original state, and 16 are open to the public.
Many of the Western-style buildings charge an entrance fee, and the interiors are pretty similar. Visiting just one is probably enough.
Mount Takao
Mount Takao is a peak with an levation of 599 meters, located in Tokyo’s Hachioji City. With good transportation access, it’s a popular placee to go mountain climbing. While still in the city, it’s like taking a trip to the countryside! From families with small children to the elderly, about 3,000,000 people visit every year. It’s world famous as the mountain boasting the most climbers in the world.
The autumn leaves on Mount Takao are absolutely beautiful. If you’re not in great shape, it’s best to take the cable car both ways.
Kinrin Lake
Kinrin Lake is one of many popular tourist spots in the hot springs town of Yufuin. The lake sits under Mt. Yufu and as such was called takemoto-no-ike (lit. “lake under the mountain”) for years. However, it was renamed to Kinrin, or “golden scales”, by Mori Kuso in 1884 when he saw the golden glimmering scales of fish as they swam at sunset.
Kinrin Lake is actually really small—more like a pond. You can finish your visit and snap some photos in about five minutes. 😓
Shibamata Taishakuten Sando
Katsushika Shibamata has been chosen by the country itself as one of Japan’s iconic scenic spots. It’s also no exaggeration to say that Shibamata Taishakuten and its approach are iconic parts of Tokyo’s shitamachi (old town) areas that possess striking atmosphere and appearance.
I went around dusk and the atmosphere along the approach was really nice. There weren’t many people on the street.
Kappa Bridge
The Kappa Bridge used to be a wooden drawbridge overhanging both banks of the river. In 1910, it became a suspension bridge. The current bridge is the fifth generation of the suspension type, which was renovated in 1997. This beautiful larch tree bridge, 3.1m wide and 36.6m long, has long been a symbol of Kamikochi.
Years ago, I climbed Mount Yari in Japan. On the way down, I took the direct route through Kamikochi and stayed overnight at Hirayu Onsen. It was an unforgettable trip for me.