8 Places To Enjoy Autumn Colors In Kyoto

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

If you are planning an autumn trip to Japan and Kyoto is on your itinerary, Tsunagu Japan has 8 spots they feel will offer spectacular views of the seasonal colors.

I took the above photograph of Kiyomizu-dera in early October last year. The foliage was just beginning to change color, giving it a yellowish tint. The Tsunagu Japan article has a photo of Kiyomizu-dera (number 4 on their list) with the autumn colors in their full glory.

They begin with:

In the autumn season of travel, why not take a trip to Kyoto to enjoy the seasonal colors? Kyoto has countless places where you can go and see the autumn leaves, and whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed, but here are our top eight spots. By the way, going out to see the autumn colors is known as “Momiji Kari” in Japanese.

To read more, go here. 

15 Must-Buy Delicious Souvenirs At Tokyo Station

Above, Tokyo Banana cakes. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Six years ago, while in the shopping mall at Tokyo Station, I picked up a box of Tokyo Banana. They were recommended to me by a client back home. I was not disappointed!

Tsunagu Japan posted a list of 15 delicious  must-buy souvenirs one can buy at Tokyo Station.

They begin with:

Tokyo Station offers so many kinds of souvenirs, that you may not be able to decide what to buy. Let me introduce 15 must-buy delicious souvenirs around Tokyo Station.

Last October, we picked up a couple of boxes of Tokyo Banana to take home. There's a Tokyo Banana on the list that's different than the ones we bought.

To see what they are, go here.  

Tokyo Ryokans

Above, the Hotel Fukudaya, a ryokan I stayed at in 2001. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While strolling around the Redondo Beach Pier in February, I stopped at the Kobe Pearl Co. store. Denise had never bought a pearl oyster before.

During the time were at the store, the Japanese store owner stuck up a conversation.. I told him that we visited Japan in October.

Anyone who visits Japan should at least spend one night in a ryokan (Japanese inn) to get a real Japanese experience. The good thing is, one doesn't have to venture out of Tokyo to do so. I stayed at one in Shibuya during my first trip to Japan in 2001 for the duration of the trip. It was a different, but enjoyable experience for me. Plus, the price was about $50 per night. Since then, I have stayed in ryokans in Sendai and Kumamoto.

An added plus, each ryokan I stayed at had rooms larger than typical Japanese hotels.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of ten ryokans that visitors should consider staying at. Several of them are in the Asakusa-Ueno section of Tokyo.

They begin with:

If you look for traditional Japanese style ryokan in Tokyo, there are not many but some ryokans and alike still remain. Here listed are the accommodations ranging from generously priced ryokan housed in traditional Japanese architecture to a bit pricey but modern facilities with luxury. Why don’t you try one of these for intriguing experience?

To see the ryokans in Tokyo Tsunagu Japan recommends, go here.

30 Must-Buy Souvenirs from Japan [2016 edition]

Above, a great place to buy many of the items on the list is at Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has posted their "2016 edition" of 30 "must-buy" souvenirs from Japan.

Some on the list were bought when Denise, Aiden and I went there last October. I have also purchased some during prior trips. Last October, we purchased cooking knives, yukatas and chopsticks (and we received some as gifts as well).

Not on the list, but are must-buys for Godzilla fans, are Godzilla toys. I did purchase a couple of Bandai 1968 Godzilla toys (one for Aiden and one for myself) while there.

Above, the 1968 Godzilla toy I bought for myself. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The article begins with:

Have you ever wondered what to take home as a Japanese souvenir? Here's a list of 30 Japanese things, including food, traditional crafts, practical everyday items, and fun stuff! Look through the list and look for one that best suits you or the person you are planning to give the souvenir to!

To see the complete list, go here. 

Ten Campgrounds In Japan

Above, number 5 on the list is a campground on Miyajima near Hiroshima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It seems that the "camping bug" has bitten a number of foreign travelers of late.

Tsunagu Japan has posted a list of 10 campgrounds that should be of interest to foreign visitors. Japan does have RV rentals, but like driving a rental car in Japan, one must have a Japanese drivers license or an international drivers license in order to drive there.

But, visitors can tent camp or even rent a cabin at some of the campgrounds listed.

They begin their list with:

When you think of Japan, you think of buildings! People! Cars! If you're the kind of person that has that image of Japan, here is some information for you. 2/3s of Japan is forested, making it 3rd in the world ranking of countries with forestry. Japan is also ranked #6 in length of coastline. Now that you know that, did you know that the numbers of foreign travelers taking advantage of Japan's beautiful campgrounds is increasing? Here are some campgrounds that foreigners can easily enjoy!

To see more, go here. 

20 Reasonably Priced Hotels and Ryokan In Osaka

Above, Osaka Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last October, we traveled to Osaka from Tokyo (with an overnighter at a ryokan in Atami) to visit some of the sights of Osaka and nearby Kyoto.

We stayed at the Toyoko Inn Osaka Umeda Nakatsu No.2. The hotel was conveniently located within walking distance from a subway station that took us to Dotonbori. It was reasonably priced, but nowhere near as reasonably priced as the hotels listed in Tsunagu Japan's list of 20 reasonably priced hotels and ryokan in Osaka. This information would have been very handy during our trip planning process. But, if you are planning a trip to Japan and Osaka is part of your itinerary, you may want to look over the list to find money-saving accommodations.

They begin with:

Here are some lodging establishments in Osaka where you can stay for 3000 yen or cheaper! Even though they're so cheap, these 20 places have plenty of services and amenities to make your stay comfortable. Many of them are also in great locations near train stations, in residential areas, or in business areas!

To see the list, go here. 

Tsunagu Japan: "20 Special Souvenirs To Buy At A Japanese Ryokan"

Above, the front desk at the Atami Shinkadoya ryokan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When staying at a ryokan (Japanese inn) or hotel in Japan, the furthest thing on my mind is purchasing souvenirs at those places. Unless, of course, they happen to have an attractive gift shop that is along one's pathway.

None of the ryokans I've stayed at had a gift shop or stand to make any purchases, at least I didn't notice any.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of S (and hotel). Some of them are very interesting.

In their introduction to their list, they wrote:

To remember and share your travel in Japan, special and unique souvenirs would be a great idea. In this article, we introduce original souvenir items you can find in Ryokan and hotels, so you can pick up your souvenirs comfortably during your stay.

To see the 20 items, go here.

Tsunagu Japan: 38 Tips To Save Money While Traveling In Japan

Above, to save money on food, dining at a Yoshinoya is one of the tips.
This one is located in Chiba Prefecture. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everybody loves to save money, right? Especially saving money during international travel.

Tsunagu Japan has an article with "38 Tips To Save Money While Traveling In Japan."

They begin their article with:

Traveling overseas takes a lot of money. When you’re planning your trip to Japan, don’t  you think about ways to save as much money as possible? 

This article is split up into various categories for money-saving tips: 

• A. Transportation
• B. Food
• C. Lodging
• D. Shopping
• E. Communication and Mail
• F. Miscellaneous 

Please check these tips out and make your trip as affordable as possible!

To see how you can save money while traveling in Japan, go here. 

Tsunagu Japan's "20 Souvenirs You Should Buy In Tokyo"

Above, number one on the list are goods from Asakusa's Nakamise Street. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

No matter where people travel, the purchase of souvenirs for themselves or for friends and family back home is one of the rituals of travel.

If one finds himself/herself in a quandry about what to buy, Tsunagu Japan has a list of "20 Souvenirs You Should Buy In Tokyo."

They start it off with:

In Tokyo, where you can buy souvenirs from each region of Japan, here are some souvenirs that are specifically from Tokyo. You can buy some standard items reflecting Japanese culture to items that are currently trendy, so definitely check out this list for some ideas.

Above, Godzilla toys at the Bandai Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Godzilla and kaiju fans in general, souvenir items featuring Godzilla, Rodan, Gamera, Mothra and others are the "must-get" items.

To see what Tsunagu Japan suggests, go here. 

Tsunagu Japan's "30 Must-Buy Souvenirs At Narita Airport"

Above, a box of Tokyo Banana cakes, minus two. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has posted a list of "30 Must-Buy Souvenirs At Narita Airport."

Of the 30 items listed, I purchased one of them: the Tokyo Banana cakes (number four on the list).

Before going into the 30 souvenirs, the post began with:

Some people prefer to travel light in Japan and save their shopping til the airport. Here’s a list of items you can buy at Narita Airport, your final stop in Japan. Sayonara to the burden of souvenir shopping and enjoy your stay!

 To see what the other 29 souvenir items are, go here.

Tsunagu Japan's "47 Tourist Attractions In Japan's 47 Prefectures"

Above, the waterfront of Yokohama's Minato Mirai 21. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The "Japan Travel Information Platform" Tsunagu Japan has posted an interesting list of attractions in Japan that they feel people should visit.

The list consists of "47 Tourist Attractions In Japan's 47 Prefectures."

They begin with:

Japan consist of islands stretched across north and south. And thanks to such geographical trait and difference in climate, each prefecture has its own unique features. We have selected one must-see tourist attraction for each and every prefecture.

I have visited several of the listed attractions at one time or another, such as Matsushima Bay (number 4) and Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama (number 14).

To see these and the other 45 attractions, go here.

50 Things To Do In Fukuoka

Above, Fukuoka Tower. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Fukuoka is well-known to kaiju fans for being featured in three prominent monster movies over the years. The first being Rodan (1956).

Then, the city was featured in two movies in the 1990s: Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) and Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe (1995).

Fukuoka is located on the island of Kyushu, which is about an 8-hour ride on the shinkansen from Tokyo. Flights to Fukuoka can be taken from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. I visited Fukuoka in 2007. I took the shinkansen to get there.

Besides being centers of action in the aforementioned monster movies, there are other things to see in do in Fukuoka. Since we're nearing vacation season, now's the time to start planning for your trip.

Above, Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has a list of 50 things to do in Fukuoka. Two of the items on the list, Fukuoka Tower and Fukuoka Yafuoku! Dome, were featured in two of the movies mentioned above.

Before getting to the list, they wrote:

Don't know what to do in Fukuoka? These spots and activities were recommended by people from Fukuoka themselves, so try to see and do as much of them as you can!

Fukuoka's monster attractions are featured in The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan on page 45.

To see what the other 48 items are on the list, go here.

15 Great Ways To Enjoy Tokyo On A Budget

Above, Shibuya Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Americans wanting to visit Japan, and Tokyo in particular, may have limited resources for visiting. This is especially the case with younger tourists. But there are ways to enjoy Tokyo even while on a limited budget.

Thankfully, Tsunagu Japan has a good list of "15 Great Ways To Enjoy Tokyo On A Budget."

They begin their list with:

When you think of Tokyo, what comes to mind? While you are sure to find some great shopping, sightseeing and cuisine in the capital, in this article, we are going to introduce some places you can enjoy on a budget during your stay.

To see their list, go here. 

50 Things To Do In Harajuku

Above, Harajuku Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Suppose you, as a major Godzilla/kaiju fan, want to go to Japan to buy up all kinds of toys for your collection, but you're married and have daughters and they are balking at making such a trip.

How do you convince them to go along so you can feed your passion?

Well, Tsunagu Japan has a list of 50 things for them to do in Harajuku so that they can shop to their heart's content while you are doing your own shopping (at the Nakano Broadway or other meccas of monster toys). The list may just convince them that they can shop on their own, leaving you in peaceful bliss.

To see the list, go here.

Tsunagu Japan: 10 Must-See Places In Asakusa

Above, Sensoji Temple. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of my favorite places in Tokyo is the Asakusa district. 

It has restaurants, souvenir shops and toy shops. From Asakusa, there are great views of the Asahi Beer Hall and the Tokyo Skytree. It is also a great place for just hanging out.

Tsunagu Japan has an article with the "Ten Must-see Places In Asakusa."

It begins with:

Asakusa is a popular spot among both domestic and international tourists.  

We can’t emphasise enough how attractive the cityscape is. The district is definitely worth a visit when you are in Japan. 

During the Edo era, Asakusa prospered as the food (mainly rice) stocking place, where foods and rice were brought in from all over the country. Such foods were used as rations and wages for both samurai and civilians.  After the Meiji era, various entertainment halls and theaters were built in the district and Asakusa was reknowned as the cultural hub of Tokyo. 

To read more, go here. 

Tsunagu Japan: "50 Things To Do In Tokyo"

Above, yakatabune cruisers (right) moored on the Sumida River in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo is one of the most populous cities in the world. It also has many things for visitors to see and do.

Tsunagu Japan has posted a list of "50 Things To Do In Tokyo." I have probably seen or done about half of them. For you Godzilla fans, they also include shopping at Nakano Broadway at the Mandarake stores (number 41).

They begin with:

Tokyo is where Japan's melting pot sits. While Tokyo has an image of being a huge city, one of its biggest charms is actually that it has plenty of hidden areas. While it's fun going to all the famous sightseeing areas, you can also experience the way Tokyo-ites truly live.

 To see the list (3 pages of them), go here.

13 Cheap Japanese Souvenirs On A Tight Budget

Above, a 100-Yen store in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Suppose you are in Japan and you are near the end of your trip there and spent your money on food, accommodations and other things (like all those Godzilla toys you've been coveting), but you want to buy more things. What can you do?

Tsunagu Japan has 13 suggested items to consider. And, there're relatively cheap.

They begin with:

Souvenirs can be expensive, especially in a country like Japan where prices in general are high. The usual fans and kokeshi’s are nice, but why not try out these 13 relatively cheap Japanese souvenirs? 

Note – you can save quite a bit of money by shopping at stores like 100 yen stores (Daie, Can★Do etc.) or Don Quijote! Products are generally cheaper there!

To find out what the 13 items are, go here. 

20 Coolest Spots In Japan Chosen By TripAdvisor Members

Above, a view from Aqua City in Odaiba. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you've never been to Japan and want to know what other foreign tours say are the places you "must see," then Tsunagu Japan has just what the doctor ordered.

They wrote:

Are you planning your trip to Japan but don’t know where to start? To begin with, perhaps this list of 20 spots recommended by fellow travelers might help you a little.   

TripAdvisor Japan, the famous travel website, released its top 20 coolest spots in Japan a list created based on ratings and comments left by tourists travelling in the country. The result is among its annual surveys conducted in 2013. Let’s find out what foreigners have to say about these top 20 spots voted by TripAdvisor’s members.

To see what they recommend, go here. 

Tokyo Trains: 11 Easy Steps

Above, the hustle and bustle of Tokyo Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tokyo has one of the most extensive train and subway systems in the world. To a newbie, navigating around the city aboard Tokyo's transit system may be intimidating. In actuality, it really isn't. It is really an easy system to master. Once you do, it is a cinch to travel around Tokyo.

To help visitors make use of the train system in Tokyo, Tsunaga Japan has posted "11 Steps On How To Get To Your Destination In Tokyo."

They begin with:

Trains runs like veins through Tokyo. I am rather literally. Walk around the city, and you will find subway entrances, train tracks, trains itself all over the place. You can’t say you’ve experienced an aspect of Tokyo without experiencing a train ride. Here are 11 easy steps on how to get to your destination by train in Tokyo.

To read the 11 easy steps on getting to your destination by Tokyo train, go here. 

Tsunagu Japan: 13 Things That Would Probably Surprise You In Japan

Above, public places like this Shibuya intersection are typically clean, despite
the fact that it is sometimes hard to find a trash can. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tsunagu Japan has another one of those lists of Japan for potential visitors to ponder over.

The latest is "13 Things That Would Probably Surprise You In Japan." Some of the 13 things have been covered in other lists by other people. But there are some that I noticed that haven't been covered.

Before going through the 13 things, they wrote:

As I have mostly spent my childhood overseas, I can say that I was nearly a foreigner when I came to Japan 8 years ago. I lived overseas for 4 years before my arrival. Here are 13 things that surprised me (but are fairly common) at  Japan. 

To see what may surprise you about Japan, go here.