Japan Photo Guide

Kamakura, in Kanagawa Prefecture, was once the capital of Japan and is a short day trip Tokyo. Kamakura offers a very nice change of pace if you feel like you need to escape the busy streets of Tokyo. Kamakura is perhaps most famous for the Big Buddha, 2nd largest in Japan, but also has other famous temples and shrines such as Engakuji and Hachimangu.

For more information on Kamakura, please see the Japan-Guide.com or the official site of Kamakura. The photo below of the Big Buddha was take by Myriam Ward.

Tetsugaku no michi, or the Philospher’s Path, is on the east side of Kyoto. It is a path that runs from about Nanzenji all the way up to (and kind of passed) Ginkakujin. Along the way are various smaller temples, but the ones that you should make a point in going to are Nanzenji, Honen-in, and Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion).

To be honest, I went there in every season and I was never really impressed until I went in cherry blossom season. During the other seasons it is a nice walk, but when the sakura are in bloom, Tetsugaku no michi really comes to life and makes for a wonderful place to take photos or just go for a stroll. From end to end, without stopping in any of the temples or taking any photographs it takes about 30 minutes.

Tokyo has pretty much everything you can imagine, including beautiful temples, shrines, museums, gardens, parks, sky scrappers, and much more. For a city as dense and urban as Tokyo there is a fair amount of nature and parks, such as Ueno Park and Yoyogi Park. There is so much to see and do and even if you live there for a year you will not be able to see and do it all.

Here is a short list of places you shouldn’t miss (in no order):

• Roppongi Hills–modern shopping and business district, the tower has a great 360 degree view and art musem at the top. I reccomend going just before sunset.
• Yoyogi and Ueno Park–Both really nice parks on opposite sides of Tokyo.
• Harajuku on a Sunday–This is when and where all the goth and cosplay people gather.
• Shinjuku and Shibuya–Two of the very urban areas of Tokyo. Great for neon lights, buildings, and people photographs.
• Ginza–This is the expensive shopping district
• Asakusa–This is where the famous big latern is you have seen in photographs.
• Akihabara–Electric Town but is kind of turning into Anime/Cosplay Town.
• Tsukiji–The largest fish markets in the world, go early and don’t dress up!