Travel to Japan! Where To Go, What To Do

Known as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is one of the world’s destination countries. People from around the world come for its food, culture, and the arts. Found east of Asia, the country grew from an island nation to one of Asia’s most progressive nations.  Recently, Japan has shared good news and has opened its doors to Filipinos who would like to visit their country for business purposes or cultural and intellectual interaction. Beginning August 1, Japan relaxes multiple-entry visa requirements for Filipinos.

According to Inquirer, the Embassy says “The above-mentioned relaxation of visa requirements is expected to contribute to the improvement of convenience for tourists and increase in repeat visitors as well as further advancement of people-to-people exchanges between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines.”

Japan’s way of inviting people to their country is something that everyone should learn from. It does not only allow tourists to indulge in Japan’s rich country, but it also profits Japan’s tourism and economy. For a full list of eligible applicants for the VISA, you can check details here.

Japan: Konnichiwa Everyone!

Since Japan is an “open-country” due to its recent news on multi-entry VISA policy, you might as well take the chance to explore the country. To help you, here are some location suggestions that you can check out and visit.

1. Harajuku

Harajuku refers to the neighborhood around the Harajuku Station. It stands between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. Its highlights include Japan’s most-eccentric fashion, teenage culture, and historical landmarks. In Takeshita Dori, which means Takeshita Street, is where most of Japan’s fashion starts. It is a long line of side stalls and shops where people shop for clothes and other things. For those not into fashion and style, there are landmarks in Harajuku that you can visit too. Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s major shrines, stands in this area. It is a shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken.

2. Osaka

Before Tokyo was Japan’s center for political power, there was Osaka. Known as Naniwa in the past, it housed Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s castle which made it Japan’s center. After Hideyoshi’s death, the center became Edo (Tokyo) since then. Osaka is one of Japan’s biggest metropolitan areas next to Tokyo. For starters, Universal Studios Japan sits in this area. You can also go around to the Museum of History and Osaka Aquariums.

3. Shibuya

Shibuya is home to Japan’s shopping center. With over a dozen department stores in the area, Shibuya is a place that caters to a wide variety of consumers. Be it teenagers to the working class, there will always be something in store from the Shibuya. One of its famous landmarks is Hachiko’s statue located near Shibuya Station. Hachiko is an Akita dog which showed love for his owner by waiting for his arrival at the station. But ittle does Hachiko know that his owner died but he still waited for him in the same place for years before he died too.

4. Kyoto

Kyoto served as Japan’s center for over a thousand years. It is one of Japan’s largest cities with a whopping 1.5 million residents. Through its historical value, Kyoto became an exception to atomic bombing during the world war. Today, Kyoto is where you would find a couple of shrines and temples that withstood the test of time. Since Japan is a country that can be traveled through trains, a museum dedicated to trains stands in Kyoto. Fushimi Inari Shrine, one of the most photographed places in Japan, you can walk through a tunnel of red posts which they call torii gates.

5. Tokyo

Tokyo’s rich history involves renaming and bombing of the city. From the time people call it Edo until today that it is Japan’s most progressive cities, Tokyo is one of the top tourist destinations of the country. In the present time, Tokyo serves as a central district for shopping, tourist attractions, and the entertainment scene. Akihabara is Tokyo’s center for technology and electronics. You can find electronic items for a lesser price compared to other places. But if that is not enough, you can go see Tsukiji Market and eat fresh seafood at an affordable price. After which, see the National Museum of Tokyo, also located around the area.