Cultural sightseeing in Japan

Japan is an amazing country of contrasts, in which traditional Eastern culture is closely intertwined with some elements of Western influences. Ancient monuments of cultural heritage can be seen alongside skyscrapers and modern business centers. The best example of Japanese castle architecture which also is the most visited architectural tourist site is Himeji snow-white castle, which amazes with ease and grace. The architecture of this Castle reflects various historical periods. This is due to numerous attempts to strengthen the structure in the era of Feudalism and also the subsequent reconstructions it underwent at different times. The Castle survived the Second World War miraculously avoiding bombing raids.

A colossal monument of Japan’s cultural heritage is a bronze statue of the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The statue is 13 meters in height, and weighs 93 tons. It was erected in the middle of the 13th century and initially stood in a small wooden Buddhist temple. After the temple was destroyed by a tsunami wave in the 15th century, the Buddha statue was taken to an open square. Fans of palace-park complexes should visit the Imperial Palaces in Tokyo and Kyoto. The former still serves as the residence of the emperor of Japan, with some of its rooms and territories used as a museum. The palace stands on the ruins of an old castle which was burnt in a fire. The new building is surrounded by typical Japanese gardens and contains many majestic halls which are open for tourists to visit.

Fans of museum expositions should visit the Tokyo National Museum. Their large-scale collection includes more than 100 thousand exhibits representing the whole history of Japan. Among them are National clothes, weapons of Samurai, and artworks of Japanese Masters. The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, known simply as the Miraikan, houses an astonishing display of scientific achievements such as robotics and other technologies. All the exhibits of the museum can be touched and tested in the practice. The exhibition center Toyota Mega Web will be interesting not only to motorists, but also to other tourists. This building houses the leading museum of automotive equipment, an amusement park and an exhibition of the most remarkable cars in history. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most famous cultural and historical attractions is the silver temple Ginkaku-ji and its golden “brother” Kinkaku-ji, otherwise known as twin-temples. Silver Ginkaku-ji was built more than 5 centuries ago and became a dedication to the Goddess of Mercy “Kannon”. The territory of the temple is surrounded by a beautiful sand garden. The golden temple of Kinkaku-ji was built at sunset in the 14th century. Although, it has been destroyed by numerous fire incidents, each time it has also undergone restoration. The twin-temples are one of the most popular tourist sites in the country. Many visitors from all over the world visit them every year.

The National Bunraku Theater in Osaka is an amazing phenomenon of Japanese culture. In this theatre, you can see amazing puppet performances which are distinguished by a peculiar perception of this genre. You will never find such a unique kind of Puppet Theater as this anywhere else in the world. The repertoire includes a variety of performances. The Kabukiza Theater is another subject of national pride. The Japanese deeply revere the traditional aspect of their lives. The theater absorbed all elements of Japanese culture. Performances in Kabukiza highlight the rich decoration of costumes, unusual shades of make-up, depth and elaborate nature of the concept.

The Nagoya Castle is one of the central monuments of Japanese history. It was built in the 17th century and for several centuries played the role of the administrative and political capital of the principality of Owari. During the Second World War, the castle was destroyed and turned into ruins. Following the end of the hostilities, the City’s residents personally took up its restoration. Now the symbol of the city has been reconstructed and receives visitors. For all those who want to enjoy the view, it is worth visiting the tower of Kyoto – the best overview site of the country. It is located on the roof of a hotel building which is nine stories high. The tower was built as a tourist site before the start of the 1964 Olympics. It has the appearance of a Japanese candle and is painted in the familiar Japanese white color. Among tourists, there are many assumptions as to its “true” purpose. But in fact, it was planned to serve for the observation and subsequent appreciation of the scenery.