Shirakawago and Gokayama villages: Travel Guide

Picture a quaint village embanked in snow. Icy whiteness covers the ground and clings to the roofs of the traditional Japanese farmhouses like icing on a gingerbread house. Streets and windows become golden torches as the sun begins to set.

The Historic Villages of Shirakawago and its neighboring village, Gokayama are one of central Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  They hold a serene natural beauty as well as a unique architecture.

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Ueno Station Travel Guide

Located in the Taito ward of Tokyo, Ueno Station is a key transport hub for travelers visiting the capital. It’s used by local commuters and also for long distance trips from northern parts of Japan.

It was constructed in 1883 and its design inspired a pre-1912 poem by the young Ishikawa Takuboku. A memorial plate concerning the poem can be viewed inside the station.

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Shinjuku’s Golden Gai: Best bars and how to get there

The Golden Gai comprises six alleys in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho red-light district that are lined with over 200 tightly packed independent bars and is an ideal location to experience authentic Tokyo nightlife.

Just a short walk from Shinjuku Station, Golden Gai offers the chance to meet and share a drink with friendly locals, as well as to experience some of Tokyo’s forgotten architectural heritage.

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