Tokyo and Kagoshima

Above, a view of Odaiba and the Rainbow Bridge from a Tokyo Bay tour boat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is naturally the big stop for most visitors to Japan since it is the primary "gateway" into the country with its two airports: Narita Airport and Haneda Airport.

There is much to see and do in Tokyo. But visitors should also look into other places in Japan.

That is the subject of an article in The Japan Times, which features both Tokyo and Kagoshima (which is two hours away in Kyushu by plane).

They begin with Tokyo:

One of the most vibrant cities in the world, Tokyo is typically the first stop for most travelers in Japan. However, with so much to see and do, it can be hard to know where to start. 

A great way to get a glimpse of the main landmarks, especially if pushed for time, is to take the two-story open-deck Sky Bus Tokyo. The Odaiba night course, leaving from the Marunouchi South Gate of Tokyo Station, is particularly popular. It travels past Tokyo Tower and several iconic buildings before arriving in the ultramodern entertainment district of Odaiba. 

Going beyond the bright lights and skyscrapers, Tokyo also has a variety of small yet intriguing neighborhoods with colorful shotengai (traditional shopping arcades). A great example is Jizo shopping street in Sugamo, an area known as “Grandma’s Harajuku.” While there, a visit to Soba Ohashiya, a restaurant known for its nutritious buckwheat noodles, is recommended. Another highlight is Koganji Temple which has the Togenuki Jizo statue, said to heal ailments when washed.

And, on Kagoshima, they begin with:

Following a hectic schedule taking in the sights of the capital, it’s then nice to escape from the hustle-and-bustle of city life to somewhere with a more serene atmosphere. That’s something Kagoshima provides. A two-hour flight from Tokyo, the prefecture is famed for Sakurajima, a composite active volcano located near an inhabited town.

To read more, go here.