Daily Tribune
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
COUNTRY of contrasts From serene Zen stillness to bustling streets, from steaming bowls to glittering festivals, Japan in January feels like a dream stitched together — delicate as sakura, bright as Tokyo, and unforgettable as the first snowfall.
From samurai to Gundam robots, from rickshaw to bullet trains, from calm Zen meditations to the fireworks of Disneyland, and from the ghost towns of Nikko to the massive work-bound throng of Shibuya, Japan is a land of contrasts and irony — all united under a blanket of snow and winter this January.
Tokyo alone is a one-stop shop for everything Japan has to offer: theme parks like Disneyland and DisneySea; Catholic churches like St. Ignatius in Roppongi and St. Mary’s Cathedral, the center of Catholic Church in Japan, and Buddhist temples like Zojo-ji for the spiritual; Akihabara and DiverCity for anime lovers; high-end sushi restaurants, casual Izakayas and hole-in-the-wall, stand-up ramen stands for foodies; Imperial Palace gardens for nature lovers; and luxury shopping at Takashimaya or bargain hunting at the 24-hour Don Quijote.
It is believed that fortune favors those who could see Mount Fuji even in Tokyo. There are those who have been to Japan many times but were unable to peek at Japan’s tallest peak that is usually shrouded by clouds. For an authentic experience, head on to the Unesco World Heritage Site even as day tour. Build a snowman in one of its snow parks. Cruise over the scenic Lake Kawaguchi. Drink Fuji water from the tap, certified to be among of the cleanest in the world.
Feeling extra adventurous? Head out of Tokyo and go off-beat — everything is connected by train. There’s the whimsical Ghibli Park in Nagoya. Ride Japan’s only steam train, dress up like a samurai, enroll in a ninja school and soak in an onsen previously only reserved for monks and feudal lords at the Unesco World Heritage Site of Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture.
In Japan, wherever you go, whatever you do, you’d be fine by just knowing to say “Konnichiwa” and “Arigato gozaimasu.”
