Best ryokans in Japan: Travel guide

Ryokan and onsen are common concepts in Japan. To many city dwellers, these terms signify a getaway, a break from the hustle and bustle of life. What are onsen and ryokan?

An onsen is a hot spring, touted for its healing capabilities. Onsen may feed public or private baths where people go to relax. Ryokans are traditional Japanese inns, which developed to house travelers during the Edo period, especially on the route between Tokyo and Kyoto. Visitors to ryokan today still wear yukata robes and get sandals, and are treated to traditional multi-course dinners and breakfasts.

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Tokyo 2020 Olympics Tickets: How to buy

Will there be any more sought-after tickets next year than than those for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics? Probably not. The most anticipated sporting event of next year is approaching quickly and sports fans are already jostling to get their hands on tickets!

How can you buy Tokyo 2020 tickets? Tickets will be sold online through official ticket sales channels in every country and through ticket outlets in Japan. Tokyo 2020 will go on general in autumn 2019.

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Visiting Nara: How to get there

Nara is an ancient city located in the Kansai region of Japan’s main island of Honshu. It was the first “real” capital of Japan, remaining such for less than a century. This historic location is home to a nearly unmatched eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including numerous Buddhist temples. The city was founded in the year 710 C.E. and originally known as Heijo.

Among its attractions are the oldest and largest wooden buildings in the world, the Nara Deer Park whose tame deer delight in entertaining visitors, fantastic cherry blossom viewing spots, and ninjas.

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Byodoin Temple: The Pure Land Paradise

Byodoin is a stunning Buddhist temple located in the small city of Uji. There is an incredible amount to see at the UNESCO World Heritage site which has drawn visitors for over 1000 years.

It’s such an iconic landmark in Japan that it appears on the 10 yen coin.
Along with its garden, the temple represents the “Pure Land Paradise” and its design was highly influential on subsequent temple construction.

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UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan

Japan is well known as a nation of long standing culture. Its rich history plays across its modern landscape in both its structures and its people. Fittingly, Japan is home to 26 of the more than 1,000 World Heritage Sites as described by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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How to get to Roppongi and what to do

Roppongi, meaning “six trees,” is a neighborhood of contradictions. It is home to head offices of huge companies such as Google and Goldman Sachs. It offers all-inclusive living spaces that include apartments, parks, shopping, and office space.

Enormous game-changing skyscrapers enclose luxury hotels, such as the Ritz-Carlton. The neighborhood is considered a hive of fine art and architecture. Roppongi and the surrounding districts host a large expat community and several foreign embassies. But that’s not all.

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