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TopThingsToDo
Japón
TopThingsToDo
Top Things To Do
• Watch some Japanese martial arts – or take part, if you're feeling brave. In terms of ceremonial wrestling, sumo and judo are Japan’s national sports, both drawing huge crowds. There are six sumo tournaments a year, each of which lasts for 15 days. Three of them are held in Tokyo, and the others take place in Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka. Matches by senior wrestlers begin at 1500. Sumo training sessions can be observed between 0500 and 1030 at Kasungo Stable in Tokyo (tel: (3) 3631 1871). Judo enthusiasts can visit the Kodokan Judo Hall, 1-16-30, Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo (tel: (3) 3818 4172), where there is a spectators’ gallery. There are opportunities for the visitor to purchase a costume and learn some of the techniques. There are separate classes for men and women and English is spoken in most large schools. More information can be obtained from the All Japan Judo Federation (website: www.judo.or.jp). Karate, the art of self-defence, is taught at schools in Japan and has become a very popular sport since it was introduced into the country in 1922. For further information, contact the Japan Karatedo Federation (website: www.karatedo.co.jp). Kendo, Japanese fencing, is practised in numerous clubs and college halls. In December, the All-Japan Championships are held in Tokyo. Kyudo, Japanese archery, is one of the oldest martial arts. It is closely associated with Zen Buddhism. Unlike many martial arts, it is pursued by almost as many female students as males. Yabusame, or archery on horseback, which was originally performed by courtiers or imperial guards in the seventh century, is today a Shinto rite for ensuring peace and good harvests. It is staged by horse riders in colourful costumes who gallop down a narrow 250m course shooting at small wooden targets set up at 80m intervals. The best-known events are at Tsurugaoka Hachmagu shrine in Kamakura on the third Sunday in April and on 16 September and at the Shimogano Shrine in Kyoto on 3 May.
• There are dozens of major ski resorts in Japan, especially in the Japanese Alps and on the northern island of Hokkaido. One of the great attractions is the prevalence of hot springs in the skiing areas. Various resorts at Nagana in Central Honshu offer facilities for night-skiing. The southernmost natural ski slope in Japan is the Gokase Highland Ski, in the north Miyazaki prefecture, which offers grass skiing out of season between late-April and late-November. Transport connections are very good, and there are sometimes railway stations within a few minutes' walk of the slopes. During the ski season, it is necessary to reserve seats on trains and buses. Although equipment is easy to hire, it can sometimes be a problem to obtain ski boots in larger sizes; skiers should telephone the resort in advance in order to check on availability.
• For beach resorts, on Shikoku is Inland Sea National Park, whose 600 islands are popular summer destinations, filled with enticing water. The 161 islands that make up Okinawa lie to the far south of Japan, like stepping stones between Kyushu and Taiwan. The subtropical climate, clear turquoise seas and many fine beaches mean that the islands have also long been a holiday favourite among the Japanese. Recently, several of the islands have also started to become well known as eco-destinations. Numerous coral reefs offer excellent diving opportunities, with many resorts catering to enthusiasts. Okinawa Island, the main island of the group, has a number of famous resorts such as Manza Beach and Onna Beach, offering white sands and watersports. The fantastic formations of the Gyokusendo Caves are also a popular attraction. The island retains many reminders of the fierce fighting that took place there during World War II, and the southern coastline is dotted with war memorials. Ishigaki Island has great diving, snorkelling and folkcrafts and is a good base from which to explore the remoter islands.
• Between January and March, take a whale- and/or dolphin-watching tour, departing from the town of Kasasa.
• Cycle through fields during the cherry blossom season in April and May, or October and November when autumnal colours adorn Japan. During this time, flower festivals occur everywhere.
• Sapporo, Hokkaido’s vibrant capital, is famous for its great nightlife and the extraordinary Snow Festival in February, which lasts for seven days, and is marked by huge, elaborate snow and ice sculptures.
• Book a seat to see some bunraku, a unique form of puppet theatre, and the very best in traditional entertainment. Here, the conflicts between established ethical ideas and the reality of love and life amongst ordinary folk is depicted, all performed along with a ballad-chanting joruri, which accompanies three-stringed shamisen instruments. For more traditional forms of theatre, can noh and kabuki are dramatic forms that can be seen in certain towns sporadically, with participants attired in medieval costumes. Kabuki is usually performed on a magnificently colourful stage. Noh is highly stylised theatre, exuding the world of yugen, a deeply aesthetic value based on a profound and refined beauty that goes beyond words and concrete shapes.
• The most fascinating and colourful of Japan’s religious festivals takes place in Kyoto, the old imperial capital. The Gion Festival reaches its climax on 16-17 July. A street parade takes place with the participants dressed in fine costumes and carrying portable shrines. This is the largest festival in Kyoto and dates back to the ninth century. The large floats depict ancient themes. The Aoi (or Hollyhock) Festival on 15 May dates back to the sixth century. The procession, consisting of imperial messengers in oxcarts followed by a retinue of 600 people dressed in traditional costume, leaves at around 1000 from the imperial palace and heads for the Shimogamo-jinja shrine where ceremonies take place. It then proceeds to Kamigamo-jinja shrine. The Jidai Festival (Festival of the Ages) is of more recent origin, though still splendid to watch. More than 2000 people parade through the town dressed in costumes dating from different periods.
• Japan offers the very best of shopping experiences. In Tokyo alone, the Ginza is one of Asia’s shopping paradises. Prices are high but the selection and presentation are superb. There are also plenty of markets for the budget-minded, such as the massive waterfront Tsukiji Fish Market. Cheap eats and bargains galore are also to be found at the raucous Ameyoko Market.
• Go hiking in areas such as the Nikko National Park, full of mountain hot springs, the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, a recreational paradise offering hot spring resorts and good facilities for camping, Honshu Island, known as ‘the Roof of Japan’ and a popular natural playground, and the beautiful, mountainous island of Yakushima, a National Park renowned for its primeval cedar forests and hiking trails.
• At Hakone, take a cable car over volcanic landscapes of boiling mud; look down and see sightseeing boats ply scenic Lake Ashi.
• At Sendai, a lively, modern city, watch the famous Tanabata Star Festival, when numerous bamboo branches are decorated with colourful paper stripes.
• Traverse Sado Island: rural, unspoilt, and home to the world-famous Kodo Drummers. The Kodo Drummers have often been referred to as 'samurai percussionists', since their world-famous troupe is selected on the basis of a rigorous two-year training apprenticeship in a remote area deep in the mountains, and adherence to a strict way of personal conduct.
• Have a night out on the town in Tokyo, especially in Akasaka and Roppongi, playgrounds for the nearby banking and governmental districts which offer vibrant nightlife of every kind, from geisha tea houses to discos. For youth culture, fashion and trendy dining, Harajuku and Shibuya are the places to see and be seen.
• Take part in a Japanese tea ceremony; you can arrange to do so through the tourist information centres in Kyoto and Tokyo. It takes place in a room designed and designated for tea, called a chashitsu. The small number of guests are first led to a water-sprinkled garden devoid of flowers, called a roji. Here, the guests are encouraged to rid themselves of the main dust of the world. No words are spoken as the guests are led, after a short while, through the chumon, a door that signifies the exit from the coarse physical world into the spiritual world of tea. The door is particularly low so that all guests must bow and crouch to enter. Inside the actual teahouse, there is usually little decoration except for a kakemono (scroll painting), which reveals the theme of the ceremony. Once seated, greetings are exchanged and incense and a fire may be lit. A meal called a chakaiseki may be served, often involving sake and grilled foods. Tea is then served, steeped in symbolism long entrenched in the ceremony's traditions. Upon conclusion, guests usually politely express their admiration for their tea and the art of their host.
Tourist Information
Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) in the UK
Heathcoat House, 20 Saville Row, London W1S 3PR, UK
Tel: (020) 7734 9638.
Website: www.seejapan.co.uk
Japan Information and Culture Center in the USA
Lafayette Center III, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 238 6949.
Website: www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc
Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) in the USA
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020, USA
Tel: (212) 757 5640.
Website: www.japantravelinfo.com
• There are dozens of major ski resorts in Japan, especially in the Japanese Alps and on the northern island of Hokkaido. One of the great attractions is the prevalence of hot springs in the skiing areas. Various resorts at Nagana in Central Honshu offer facilities for night-skiing. The southernmost natural ski slope in Japan is the Gokase Highland Ski, in the north Miyazaki prefecture, which offers grass skiing out of season between late-April and late-November. Transport connections are very good, and there are sometimes railway stations within a few minutes' walk of the slopes. During the ski season, it is necessary to reserve seats on trains and buses. Although equipment is easy to hire, it can sometimes be a problem to obtain ski boots in larger sizes; skiers should telephone the resort in advance in order to check on availability.
• For beach resorts, on Shikoku is Inland Sea National Park, whose 600 islands are popular summer destinations, filled with enticing water. The 161 islands that make up Okinawa lie to the far south of Japan, like stepping stones between Kyushu and Taiwan. The subtropical climate, clear turquoise seas and many fine beaches mean that the islands have also long been a holiday favourite among the Japanese. Recently, several of the islands have also started to become well known as eco-destinations. Numerous coral reefs offer excellent diving opportunities, with many resorts catering to enthusiasts. Okinawa Island, the main island of the group, has a number of famous resorts such as Manza Beach and Onna Beach, offering white sands and watersports. The fantastic formations of the Gyokusendo Caves are also a popular attraction. The island retains many reminders of the fierce fighting that took place there during World War II, and the southern coastline is dotted with war memorials. Ishigaki Island has great diving, snorkelling and folkcrafts and is a good base from which to explore the remoter islands.
• Between January and March, take a whale- and/or dolphin-watching tour, departing from the town of Kasasa.
• Cycle through fields during the cherry blossom season in April and May, or October and November when autumnal colours adorn Japan. During this time, flower festivals occur everywhere.
• Sapporo, Hokkaido’s vibrant capital, is famous for its great nightlife and the extraordinary Snow Festival in February, which lasts for seven days, and is marked by huge, elaborate snow and ice sculptures.
• Book a seat to see some bunraku, a unique form of puppet theatre, and the very best in traditional entertainment. Here, the conflicts between established ethical ideas and the reality of love and life amongst ordinary folk is depicted, all performed along with a ballad-chanting joruri, which accompanies three-stringed shamisen instruments. For more traditional forms of theatre, can noh and kabuki are dramatic forms that can be seen in certain towns sporadically, with participants attired in medieval costumes. Kabuki is usually performed on a magnificently colourful stage. Noh is highly stylised theatre, exuding the world of yugen, a deeply aesthetic value based on a profound and refined beauty that goes beyond words and concrete shapes.
• The most fascinating and colourful of Japan’s religious festivals takes place in Kyoto, the old imperial capital. The Gion Festival reaches its climax on 16-17 July. A street parade takes place with the participants dressed in fine costumes and carrying portable shrines. This is the largest festival in Kyoto and dates back to the ninth century. The large floats depict ancient themes. The Aoi (or Hollyhock) Festival on 15 May dates back to the sixth century. The procession, consisting of imperial messengers in oxcarts followed by a retinue of 600 people dressed in traditional costume, leaves at around 1000 from the imperial palace and heads for the Shimogamo-jinja shrine where ceremonies take place. It then proceeds to Kamigamo-jinja shrine. The Jidai Festival (Festival of the Ages) is of more recent origin, though still splendid to watch. More than 2000 people parade through the town dressed in costumes dating from different periods.
• Japan offers the very best of shopping experiences. In Tokyo alone, the Ginza is one of Asia’s shopping paradises. Prices are high but the selection and presentation are superb. There are also plenty of markets for the budget-minded, such as the massive waterfront Tsukiji Fish Market. Cheap eats and bargains galore are also to be found at the raucous Ameyoko Market.
• Go hiking in areas such as the Nikko National Park, full of mountain hot springs, the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, a recreational paradise offering hot spring resorts and good facilities for camping, Honshu Island, known as ‘the Roof of Japan’ and a popular natural playground, and the beautiful, mountainous island of Yakushima, a National Park renowned for its primeval cedar forests and hiking trails.
• At Hakone, take a cable car over volcanic landscapes of boiling mud; look down and see sightseeing boats ply scenic Lake Ashi.
• At Sendai, a lively, modern city, watch the famous Tanabata Star Festival, when numerous bamboo branches are decorated with colourful paper stripes.
• Traverse Sado Island: rural, unspoilt, and home to the world-famous Kodo Drummers. The Kodo Drummers have often been referred to as 'samurai percussionists', since their world-famous troupe is selected on the basis of a rigorous two-year training apprenticeship in a remote area deep in the mountains, and adherence to a strict way of personal conduct.
• Have a night out on the town in Tokyo, especially in Akasaka and Roppongi, playgrounds for the nearby banking and governmental districts which offer vibrant nightlife of every kind, from geisha tea houses to discos. For youth culture, fashion and trendy dining, Harajuku and Shibuya are the places to see and be seen.
• Take part in a Japanese tea ceremony; you can arrange to do so through the tourist information centres in Kyoto and Tokyo. It takes place in a room designed and designated for tea, called a chashitsu. The small number of guests are first led to a water-sprinkled garden devoid of flowers, called a roji. Here, the guests are encouraged to rid themselves of the main dust of the world. No words are spoken as the guests are led, after a short while, through the chumon, a door that signifies the exit from the coarse physical world into the spiritual world of tea. The door is particularly low so that all guests must bow and crouch to enter. Inside the actual teahouse, there is usually little decoration except for a kakemono (scroll painting), which reveals the theme of the ceremony. Once seated, greetings are exchanged and incense and a fire may be lit. A meal called a chakaiseki may be served, often involving sake and grilled foods. Tea is then served, steeped in symbolism long entrenched in the ceremony's traditions. Upon conclusion, guests usually politely express their admiration for their tea and the art of their host.
Heathcoat House, 20 Saville Row, London W1S 3PR, UK
Tel: (020) 7734 9638.
Website: www.seejapan.co.uk
Japan Information and Culture Center in the USA
Lafayette Center III, 1155 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: (202) 238 6949.
Website: www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc
Japan National Tourist Organisation (JNTO) in the USA
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1250, New York, NY 10020, USA
Tel: (212) 757 5640.
Website: www.japantravelinfo.com
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Inscrita en el R.M. de Madrid Tomo 15.973, F. 206, Sec. 8, Hoja M-270179 . C.I.F. B82826991 Gran Vía, 22 Dcdo. 4º Madrid, 28013 Spain.
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Inscrita en el R.M. de Madrid Tomo 15.973, F. 206, Sec. 8, Hoja M-270179 . C.I.F. B82826991 Gran Vía, 22 Dcdo. 4º Madrid, 28013 Spain.
Tel. (+34) 913 605 670 Fax: (+34) 902 196 339