Literally meaning Field of a Thousand Generations, Chiyoda is a  special ward in Tokyo city and houses several important buildings including the Supreme Court and the Imperial Palace among others. Other than being just Tokyo’s administrative center, Chiyoda is also credited for being an important place among tourists. The Imperial Palace, surrounded by moats and high walls is the official residence of the Japanese Imperial family and is the most visited place here along with the Imperial palace East Gardens which are open on all days except Mondays and Fridays.

The Chidoriga-fuchi Moat located to the Northwest side of the Imperial garden is the most prominent cherry-blossom sites attracts thousands of visitors daily. The Yasukuni War temple is one that is dedicated to the people who lost their lives during the second world war and is worth a visit. The Yushukan war memorial with its war memorables is located adjacent the war temple and should not be missed!

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Akihabara, meaning “The Field of Autumn Leaves” is an area in Tokyo, the capital of Japan. The area is also called the Akihabara Electric city as  it is known for a number of electronic gadgets ranging from PC’s to vacuum cleaners all available at a reasonable price. The area is also known for its anime magazines and other goods. Just a five minute away from the Tokyo railway station, the city is well connected and is a must visit for someone who is crazy about electronics or anime.

Akihabara is all about shopping and arcade gaming. The Tokyo animation centre is a place that provides information, demonstration and events that revolve around gaming and animation. Akihabara also has a number of shops that deal with second hand sales of PDA, laptops and even mobile phones and you can get some of them even for rock-bottom prices. There is but one thing you should remember after buying AC-powered devices at Akihabara, you’ll need a step down transformer in your country (as most of the devices operate at 100V! )

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Hiroshima lies in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū , the largest island of Japan. The cosmopolitan city turned calm and soothing for tourists, after it was attacked back in 1945 and has peace memorials all over the city. Peace memorial park is located adjacent to the T-shaped Aioi Bridge, which was the actual target of the nuclear bomb. The chief town of the prefecture has also got great museums which have preserved ancient artifacts and paintings that portray ancient Japan and its glory.

One of the ancient castles, the Hiroshima Castle which was re-built after the disaster, stands tall as a magnificent example of Japanese architecture. Parks and gardens contribute to the beauty of the city and gives it the appearance of a peaceful city and the Hiroshima Botanical Garden is the best among them. A transportation museum showcases the city’s complete transport system and remains a top tourist place.

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The Fuji peak is located to the west of Tokyo on the main island of Honshu and it is one of the Three Holy Mountains of Japan .The most beautiful sight is the mighty sun rising, with its most splendid golden rays that can be seen at dawn. Most of the time, the hills are covered by cold fog. Temperatures are below zero degrees at nights even when Tokyo suffers from 40 degree hot sun shine. The evergreen mountains were formed approximately 100,000 years back off basalt rock. The highest peak is around 3700 meters high and has breathtaking views around all sides. It can be seen from most of the surrounding cities depending upon the climate.

Five lakes which can be seen on the northern slop are collectively called as Fujigoko. It has spectacular views and river banks. There are over ten peaks which are more than 3000 meters tall and a peak on the north part of the mountains called Kitadake is the second highest point of Japan

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Kurashiki, located in the western Honshu near the Inland Sea, is famous for its culture and tradition as well as its sophisticated facilities makes it a city where industry and culture merge. The city houses more than 13 museums, of which the Ohara Museum of Art is the first, has famous collections including pieces by El Greco. The Kurashiki Museum of Folkcraft, the Torajiro Kojima Museum, the Kurabo Memorial Museum and the Ivy Acadamic Hall in Ivy Square are the other most important places of visit.

The gondola-style boat rides are famous in the Kurashiki-Gawa River, where traditional and the old warehouses are remodeled into inns and bars. The historical Bizen area also has the buildings painted in beautiful striking colors. One can never miss to see the willow-fringed canals and stone bridges in the city which adds beauty. The ancient city is also packed with many little temples, where Hanami celebrations light up most evenings.

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Okayama, the capital of the Okayama prefecture is a city in the southern side of the island of Honshu. The city is known for its world famous Korakuen garden and the Okayama castle. Okayama had been the political and the economical seat of the Bizen province in ancient times. There are a number of place to sight see  and one never gets bored when at Okayama.

The Okayama castle or the Black castle is perhaps one of the most important tourist spot and was constructed in the year 1597. Unlike the other castles in the region, the Okayama castle has a stark black exterior hence earning the name U-jo or Crow castle. The Korakuen garden is another important attraction and is one of the official Three Great Gardens of Japan.The garden is a great place to be and offers some amazing panoramic views. Explore the garden fully and you’ll be surprised to find a number of waterfalls , tea houses, lotus ponds, and beautiful orchids. There are also a number of museums in the city that traces back to the history of the place and history lovers will definitely have a great time there!

(Image courtesy of Chaojikazu)