Japan, One of the Best Destinations in Asia by Thanakit K
Copyright (c) 2008 Thanakit K
Japan is notably one of the best destinations in Asia, if not one of the better know. Japanese culture has found its way throughout the world and common cultural items are recognized just about everywhere. Getting to vacation where these popular trends came from is like a dream come true. The wealth of cultural diversity is almost dizzying and its not hard to find something for every type of traveler.
Tokyo is the capital of Japan. Most tours of Japan start or end in Tokyo if they ever leave. Tokyo is a very large, and very expensive city but well worth the time. There are many great sites to be visited among its crowded streets. Among the must-visit wonders are Akihabara, Tsukiji, and the Imperial Palace. Akihabara is the electronic gadget lover’s paradise. Many goodies are found here in the wall to wall electronic shops, and may never see the mass market. Tsukiji is the world’s largest open air fish market. It reportedly sells hundreds of different types of fish each day. The Imperial Palace is not generally open to the public except twice a year, and then only the outer areas. The gardens and grounds around the palace are open and a wonderful place to get glimpses of the Palace. The Tokyo National Museum is also a great stop to view a large suppository of Japanese Antiques and artifacts.Some other things to take into account while traveling in Tokyo is the transit system during peak times might be a little uncomfortable to the average traveler who isn’t use to packing into a subway car like a sardine.
Another city of interest is Hiroshima. Hiroshima is the site of the world’s first atom bond detonation used in war. The Peace Memorial Museum is located here which houses a large collection that includes artifacts from its militaristic past, the events leading to the dropping of the bomb as well as the fallout afterward and Hiroshima’s anti-nuclear movement. Living in the shadow of great tragedy has allowed a great place for wisdom to flourish.
Another great city is Kyoto and its famous geisha houses. You can easily tour some lovely historic structures as many made it through the war, and the basic grid structure makes it easy to navigate. There are numerous walking tours, including one by a native English speaker, Peter Macintosh, who helps the crew of Memoirs of a Geisha scout locations. There are plenty of Japanese cultural events you can participate in no matter what city you are in. What trip to Japan would be complete without attending a Traditional Tea Ceremony? While it is usually not in English, several hotels in Tokyo offer it in English to accommodate tourists. Attending a sumo match is also great cultural events. Even if you can’t actually attend one, they are highly televised during the tournaments. After a long day of touring the wonders of Japan, a shiatsu massage is a great treat. They are available at most first class hotels and many others as well. If massage isn’t your thing you can also go to a hot springs. While not very common in some countries they are incredibly popular and can be found in all parts of the country.
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Japanese Farmer’s Antique Collection
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Lodge Logic LPGI3 Pro 20-by-10-7/16-Inch Cast-Iron Grill/Griddle $40.29 The American-based company Lodge has been fine-tuning its construction of rugged, cast-iron cookware for more than a century. No other metal is as long-lasting and works as well for spreading and retaining heat evenly during cooking. Lodge’s Logic line of cookware comes factory pre-seasoned with the company’s vegetable oil formula, and is ready to use right out of the box. This professional-size … |
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RSVP Endurance® Salt Server with Spoon $17.99 Dinner is served..with style ! Keeps salt fresh and handy. Brand new in box |
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Norton 24336 Japanese-Style Combination Waterstone 4000/8000 Grit, 8-Inch by 3-Inch by 1-Inch $64.99 Introducing Nortons premier system for sharpening woodworking tools, knives, cutlery and other blades. Their synthetic waterstones can produce a surface that is almost unbelievably bright and chrome-like while putting a legendary edge on cutting tools. Coarser grit stones are used to remove nicks and for first step sharpening of badly dulled tools. Mid-range grits, 1000 and 4000 take that shaped … |
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Etna [SHM- CD][Japanese Mini Lp] $49.99 Italian progressive rock- japanese mini lp cd, related to “Flea- Goblin- L’uovo di colombo”…. |
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A Vindication of the Decorated Pottery of Japan $21.49 Used – Publisher: Printed for private circulation, not for sale Publication date: 1891 Description: A response to a review of Bowes’ book, Japanese Pottery. Subjects: Pottery Pottery, Japanese Antiques |
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A guide to Japanese antiques $1.41 Used |
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Chinese, Corean And Japanese Potteries; Descriptive Catalogue Of Loan Exhibition Of Selected Examples $21.19 The book has no illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from the publisher’s website (GeneralBooksClub.com). You can also preview excerpts of the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Original Publisher: New York : Japan Society; Publication date: 1914; Subjects: Pottery craft; Pottery; Pottery, Chinese; Pottery, Korean; Pottery, Japanese; Antiques |
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Collecting Japanese Antiques $62.15 New – A beautifully produced, comprehensive guide for collectors |
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Collecting Japanese Antiques $15.21 Used – A beautifully produced, comprehensive guide for collectors |
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Collecting Japanese Antiques $15.21 New – “Collecting Japanese Antiques” shows what makes Japanese aesthetics so different from other countries. Antique hunters will benefit from the practical and cautionary advice in this book; newcomers will appreciate information on the basics of collecting; while other sections might reawaken interest in experienced collectors. Striking photographs highlight the beauty and craftsmanship of items such as solid wood chests and elegant prints and ceramics. A glossary explains antique-related Japa |
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Collecting Japanese Antiques $34.95 An excellent overview of the Japanese aesthetic |
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Collecting Japanese Antiques $23.37 Used – Aimed at readers fascinated by historical Japanese art and artifacts, this book will appeal to anyone who appreciates the beauty and value of Japanese woodblock prints, decorative metalwork, and sculpture. “Collecting Japanese Antiques provides background information on what makes Japanese aesthetics and art so different from other countries. Antique hunters will benefit from the practical and cautionary advice on evaluation, purchase, restoration, and price trends. Newcomers will appreci |
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Eastern Sentiments $45 The Confucian gentleman scholars of the Choson dynasty (1392-1910) often published short anecdotes exemplifying their values and aesthetic concerns. In modern Seoul one scholar in particular would excel at adapting this style to a contemporary readership: Yi T’aejun.Yi T’aejun was a prolific and influential writer of colonial Korea and an acknowledged master of the short story and essay. He also wrote numerous novels and was an influential editor of cultural news. Born in northern Korea in 1904, Yi T’aejun settled in Seoul after a restless youth that included several years of study in Japan. In 1946, he moved to Soviet-occupied northern Korea, but by 1956, a purge of southern communists forced him into exile. His subsequent whereabouts cannot be confirmed, though rumors claim Yi returned to Pyongyang, only to be exiled once more. It is believed Yi T’aejun passed away between 1960 and 1980, but his works were not made available until 1988, when South Korean censorship laws concerning authors who had sided with the north were eased. The essays in this collection reflect Yi’s distinct voice and lyrical expression, revealing thoughts on a variety of subjects, from gardens to immigrant villages in Manchuria, from antiques to colonial assimilation, and from fishing to the recovery of Korea’s past. Yi laments the passing of tradition with keen sensibility yet, at the same time, celebrates human perseverance in the face of loss and change. Most important, his essays recount the author’s attempt to re-experience the past and keep it alive against absorption into the Japanese nation. Janet Poole faithfully reproduces Yi’s complex craft, retaining his idiosyncratic tone and narrative. A brilliant introduction to a remarkable prose stylist, Eastern Sentiments eloquently complicates the historical, political, and aesthetic concerns of Orientalism. |
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