UNESCO's World Heritages in Japan
Trip Start
Apr 02, 2006
1
3
6
Trip End
May 17, 2008
Abashiri,
Hokkaido,
Japan
Saturday, April 2, 2005
*The List of World Heritage Sites of Japan I have visited (13 sites as of September 2009): Shirakami-Sanchi beech forest, Yakushima ancient cedar forest, Himeji-jo (Himeji Castle), Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area, Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara, Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, Shiretoko Peninsula, Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, Shrines and Temples of Nikko
*The List of World Heritage Sites of Japan I have never visited (1 site): Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine
@Hiroshima(2006.4.2-3, see "Hiroshima" blog)
@Ise(2006.5.4) The Grand Shrine of Ise
This is the most important shrine in Japan, although it is not a World Hertage Site
The Grand Srine of Ise
. In the past, "the Grand Shrine" meant this shrine. A lot of school children visited the shrine for a shool excursion. But that was my first time to visit there. Two precincts, Naigu Inner Shrine and Gegu Outer Shrine, are separated and Gegu was easy to access on foot from Ise Station. From Gegu, we took a bus to Naigu. Okageyokocho Row was close, where the infamous Akafuku rice cake main shop, which became infamous after deceptive labelling, was located. We walked through the row and up to Isuzugaoka Station. We also visited Sarutahiko shrine, which is much smaller than Ise Grand Shrine and, in my opinion, not worth a visit. @Oirase & Shirakami Mountain Range(2007.10.3-5)
From Tokyo, we took a Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train to Hachinohe and then took a bus. There is a hiking trail along Oirase Mountain Stream. Actually, we expected the autumn leaves on the stream, but the beginning of October was too early. We walked from Ishikado to Nenoguchi on Towadako Lake, the best part of Oirase. After we ate udon noodle soup in a small restaurant beside the bus stop, we headed for Hirosaki. We stayed in Hirosaki Toei Hotel on the day, and the next day we headed for Nishimeya via Nishimeya village hall from Hirosaki Bus Station. The terminal was in front of Aqua Green Village Anmon with some tour buses. Then we tried Tsugaru apples at a stall near the bus terminal, because we had found apple gardens on our way and it reminded us of the specialty of Tsugaru (Aomori). They peeled and cut the apple on the spot with a peeler and the apples were really good. Beyond the bridge, we started hiking to Anmon Waterfalls. Honestly, wild beech forest was not so interesting, but the gorge and waterfalls were beautiful.
@Shirakawa-go(2007.1)
It was unusual to go on a trip with someone except my mother, but this time, I went to Shirakawa-go with a friend from my workplace
The Grand Shrine of Ise 2
. In my original plan, we were supposed to go sightseeing in Kanazawa as well. But the train for Kanazawa was late due to heavy snow. So as soon as we reached Kanazawa, we had to leave for Shirakawa-go. Luckily, we caught a bus immediately then. It is a World Cultural Heritage Site in Gifu Pref. of Central Japan. We stayed in Yosobei Gassho House, had dinner around the fireplace with other guests, and bathed in the cypress bath. It was a wonderful experience in the traditional house of the glittering snow world. I met a British in the guesthouse, but I was a little bit nervous to speak poor English to him in front of my friend. I visited the village in the middle of winter, but it seems that the summer scenary is also good. Hida Beef potato cake was expensive 200 JPY (2 USD), but very tasty. The view from Shiroyama observation point was great. We also visited Wadake farm house it is a must-see in Shirakawa-go.
@Shiretoko(2007.2.11-13)
We joined a tour with a bus from Memanbetsu airport surrounded by snow. Thanks to the tour, we could have visited all the attractions in Doto area without any troubles. On the first day, we headed for Shiretoko. Our hotel was gorgeous Hotel Shiretoko. Moving to Utoro by hotel limsine bus, we watched the Winter Shiretoko Aurora Fantasy Show in Ryuhyo Nature Park beyond the Oronkoiwa Rock. The show lasted only a 20 mins program, but it was fun to walk around Utoro Harbor at night. The Godzillaiwa Rock which looked like Godzilla was also located in the harbor.
In the next morning, we joined a Ryu-Hyo Walk Tour in which we walked on the drift ices in Okhotsuku and also bathed in the sea with a dry suit. It was a good experience
Horyuji Temple
. On our way to Abashiri, we caught a glimpse of Oshinkoshin Waterfall and wild Ogiro hawks. Then a nature guide got on our bus and gave us a guide. However, the main attraction to us for the day was drift ices in Okohtsuku Sea. The amount of drift ices is getting less and less these days, and so we were lucky to see them from Icebreaker Aurora in Abashiri. Actually, the icebreaker scheduled before ours were all cancelled, because there were not enogh ices drifting around the area. The Abashiri Prison Museum was very vast and interesting. I had been to some prison remains in Ausrtralia, but that was the first time to visit a prison of Japan. Come to think of it, there may not be other prison remains in Japan. The other attraction was Okhotsuku Ryu-Hyo museum. It housed some landed drift ices. The ticket included a sled ride and that was rather fun. On our way to Akanko Lake on which our hotel was located, we dropped by Mashuko Lake. Usually, it is misty around there, but luckily it was clear on that day. The area is famous for milk. So we had hot milk in the souvenir shop and bought a box of milk chocolate for a friend.
In Akanko Onsen, the Lake was iced and the Akanko On-Ice festival was held just in front of our hotel, New Akan Hotel, which was one of the most gorgeous hotel I had stayed. I enjoyed the rooftop bath twice in the evening and the next morning. In the festival, a local was explaining how the lake was iced with the ice block cut out of the iced lake
Oirase Valley
. I also enjoyed riding a snow mobile. At the end of the festival, I watched a firework show. Then I entered Aynu Kotan theater for 900 JPY, where Aynu native citizen of the area performed their taraditional dances and music. On the last day in Doto area, we visited Mihoro Pass. We got a splendid view of Kusharoko Lake. The pass was slippery with snow, when we walked up, but the scenary from up there was a must-see.
@Mt.Koya
My mom and I joined a tour to Mt. Koya for 4500 JPY per person. It took 6 hours to reach the temple from the back of the Nagoya Station. The bus seat was too small for me and it was really hard just to sit. The time we spent in Mt. Koya was only 2 hours. In the short time, we visited Okunoin with a guide, passing throgh the huge grave yard including Ieyasu's Tomb. We also visited Kongo-Sanmaiin which had a national treasure pagoda, but I was not sure why it was a tour destination, because it was not so impressive. Still, it seems to be designated as a World Heritage Site. By the way, I already blogged about Kii Mountain Range in another entry, Central Japan. Mt. Koya is just a part of the mountain range and it is impossible to see everything there in a few days.
@Kii Mountain Range(see "My neighbourhood")
@Yakushima Island(see "Kagoshima" blog) : I love this island the best out of the sites listed in this blog entry
Shirakawa-go (from Post Card)
.@Himeji Castle(2008.5.17)
The latest trip in Japan was for Himeji Castle. I visited there, just because I had to go to Osaka to take TOEFL and the castle happened to be close to Osaka. It is very accessible on foot from Himeji train station. It was designated as a World Cultural Heritage Site and a National Treasure of Japan. Considering that there are only four national treasure castles in Japan (Himeji, Inuyama, Hikone, and Matsumoto), Himeji Castle is a must-see. In fact, there were more tourists from overseas in Himeji than I had expected. I felt the castle was well-preserved, and partly well-restored and well-prepared for both domestic and international tourists.
@Nikko (see "Tokyo Hot Spot")
