Announced in 2015, Japan’s much-anticipated Super Nintendo World is currently under construction. It is estimated that the project will cost between $350 and $550 million USD. The park is set to open in February 2021 as part of Universal Studios Japan (USJ) – the tenth “land” of that theme park. This video game inspired theme park is located in Osaka, and Nintendo fans are hungry for pre-grand opening details.
Gotokuji temple (護国寺 in kanji) is well known across Japan as the supposed origin of Maneki-neko, the “beckoning cat” figurine which is said to bring good fortune and success to its owner if kept in their bedroom or place of study. Many people across the world mistakenly believe that this good luck talisman is Chinese in origin due to its popularity among Chinese and Vietnamese communities. However, the birthplace of Maneki-neko is undoubtedly in Japan, and one of the most popular legends links it directly to Gotojuki.
With millions of tourists due to visit Japan in 2020, this page can help travelers to stay up to date with news about travel restrictions to Japan regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Below you’ll find information regarding whether it is currently safe to travel to Japan, essential safety measures, and the Japanese response to coronavirus.
There are a endless number of reasons to visit Japan, as the country has something to entice almost every kind of traveler. Whether you’re dying to explore Japanese history and culture at the variety of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country, indulge in diverse Japanese cuisine, or experience a ride on the lighting-fast Shinkansen trains, a trip to Japanese promises adventure around every corner.
A sturdy stone wall surrounded by a vast moat. Whitewashed buildings with sloping roofs in a historic Japanese style. Elegant and simplistic gardens. Museums brimming with rare artifacts. This is the site of Kōkyo or Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan’s Imperial Family.
To your left and to your right are massive red beams with blackened footings. Above you, too, are red beams with sparklings of sunlight filtering through in between. The color, called shuiro in Japanese, is said to represent the sun. The torii gates tower above you, but lessen in number as you ascend the mountain. When you reach the Yotsutsuji intersection, halfway up the mountain, all of Kyoto sprawls before you in a breathtaking panorama. This is what a trek on the hiking trails of Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine is like.
