Sendai: Getting There and Staying

Above, the statue of Date Masamune at the site of Sendai Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sendai, Japan is a city northeast of Tokyo that had some kaiju activity in the movies.

In 1993, Fire Rodan made a flyover the city (specifically, over Sendai Station) and Gamera and Legion had a battle there in 1996. I spent a few days there in 2006 and explored the city and nearby Matsushima Bay. I was drawn there as my dad was briefly stationed there before moving on to Korea during the Korean War.

Above, Sendai Station, "visited" by Fire Rodan, Gamera and Legion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan Info Swap has an article on getting to Sendai and staying there.

They begin with:

Located about 350 km (220 mi) to the northeast of Tokyo, the City of Sendai makes for a very pleasant getaway from the hustle and bustle of the Metropolis and due to its position on the Shinkansen “bullet train” network, along with various air and bus options along with low prices for attractions and hotels compared to their Tokyo and Kyoto counterparts, provides for either a quick day trip all the way to a week-long jaunt for those looking to check out a bit of the Japan “less seen” by the average tourist — both foreign and domestic. Nature, history, culture, and modernity are all on display.

To read more, go here.

8 Popular Attractions Near Mount Fuji

Above, a shinkansen view of Mount Fuji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When visiting Japan, visitors should take a couple of days (at least) to visit the areas around Mount Fuji. There's plenty to see and do.

According to Japan Info Swap:

A visit to Japan won’t be complete without a trip to the one of the most famous natural beauties in the world, Mt. Fuji. It’s majestic cone has its magical allure from all angles that is why crowds are drawn to the different attractions surrounding it so that they can view it from there. And of course, who wouldn’t want to come closer and traverse along the foot of the mountain to experience it’s charm. 

Mt. Fuji also known as Fujisan is the 7th highest peak in the world, the 2nd highest peak of an island that is volcanic in nature in Asia and the highest mountain in all of Japan. It has been the inspiration of numerous photographs, paintings, poetry and art since time immemorial. It is one of the three holy mountains in Japan along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku and was added in the World Heritage List as a Cultural site in 2013. 

This beloved symbol of the country is snow capped for around 5 months every year so there are a wide variety of activities that tourists and locales can enjoy all year round including skiing in the winter and lounging by the lake in the spring. Here’s a list of some of the attractions that you’d surely enjoy when visiting the areas near Mt.Fuji.

To see what the Mount Fuji area has to offer, go here. 

5 Best Buddhist Temples In Kansai

Above, the stage of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you are fascinated by Japan's Buddhist heritage and would like to see some of the best Buddhist temples, Japan Info Swap has a list of the five best ones in Kansai.

They begin with:

If you fancy spending a day or two checking out the beauty and serenity of some of Japan’s finest Buddhist temples, it’s worth heading to the Kansai region. There are over 2000 temples in Kansai, many of them UNESCO listed heritage sites attracting yearly visitors from across the globe. 

The oldest part of Japan, Kansai is rich in history and culture. The earliest people arrived in the region around 10,000 years ago. Buddhism was introduced by Chinese travellers in the 6th century and spread throughout the country. It’s Japan’s second most popular religion after Shinto. 

Here are five of the best temples to visit in Kansai…

Of the five, the first one was also featured in a Godzilla movie in 1993.

To read more, go here.