Japan is a mecca for shopping addicts, with a range of unique items for tourists of all budgets. But what are the best Japanese souvenirs to take home? Here we look at the best ways to spend your yen. Ceramics are one of Japan’s oldest art forms, so a tea ceremony bowl or glazed vase […]
Japan
Most of us spend money on lavish hotel suites when all we really need is a soft place to sleep. Capsule hotels, which are springing up around Asia, help tourists save cash by only charging for the essentials. The busy Asian country of Japan opened its first capsule hotel, the Capsule Inn, in Osaka in […]
Japan once had a reputation as an expensive vacation destination, but the country’s economic downturn has put it back on the radar of bargain-seeking tourists. With careful planning and a little know-how, your Japanese yen can go further in the Land of the Rising Sun. Buying individual tickets on the Japanese rail system can be […]
There are many wonderful but weird things in Japan, and they don’t get much weirder than the Cosplay culture of Tokyo’s Akihabara district. Every Sunday the main street is closed to cars and taken over by the wildly dressed locals. Cosplay, or Costume Play, brings together fans of the Japanese comics and animations known as […]
When many people think of Asia they think of shopping up a storm in the cities and discovering the continent’s cultural heritage in temples and museums. But some of Asia’s most interesting attractions are actually outdoors. Just outside Kunming in China you’ll find the Shilin Stone Forest, a forest which really isn’t a forest at […]
When international travelers think of Asia they think of technological innovation, a bustling lifestyle, and all that delicious food. While Asia’s cities buzz, its national parks are a real draw card for tourists looking to get back to nature. The following parks, many of which are UNESCO World and Natural Heritage sites, are amongst Asia’s […]
Once associated with sleazy extramarital affairs and one night stands, Japan’s love hotels have a brand new reputation. These days the Asian country’s approximately 30, 000 hotels are being utilized by couples simply looking for a little private time together. Many of the couples that frequent these hotels live with their parents or flatmates, and […]
For a hiking experience with a difference, consider taking the spiritual path of Kumano Kodo in the Kii Mountains near Osaka, Japan. The walking trail has the awesome views all explorers crave, and a cavalcade of sacred sites to boot. The track has been walked by Japanese emperors since the 10th century. In 2004 it […]
In Japan, sumo wrestlers earn the respect of Hollywood actors and rock stars. The sport is the oldest martial art in the country. It was originally a form of ritual dedication which asked the gods for a prosperous harvest, although in time it developed as a form of combat. Modern-day tourists can get a glimpse […]
Forget the fried rice and dim sum in Hong Kong. If you really want to live on the edge while visiting Asia, you’ll need to try some of the continent’s deadly dishes. Deadly may be overstating the point a little, but the following meals definitely have an element of danger that entices thrill seeking diners! […]
