Shirasagijo (White Heron Castle)

Himeji is most famous for its magnificent castle, Himeji Castle, widely considered to be Japan's most beautiful surviving feudal castle.

The main donjon consists of seven floors, five of which are visible. The tower is strengthened by two wood columns that run from the fifteen meter stone foundation to the roof. The eastern and western towers consists of four floors, three of which are visible. The northwestern tower has five floors, only three of which are visible from outside.



In fact it derives it name White Heron Castle partly from the fact that it appears as a bird ready for flight. The craftsmen, particularly those under Terumasa's reign, were able to transform the basic elements of nature -- stone, wood, and water -- into a refined and elegant structure.

The architects of Himeji also employed contemporary castle technology so as to make Himeji near impenetrable. The fifteen-meter sloping stone walls make it impossible for the approaching enemy to view the castle directly from the base of the walls. The wandering passages of the castle are intended to confuse an enemy unfamiliar with the layout. The 84 gates are very heavily fortified by wood and stone as well as very small so as to make it difficult to move a great many men through at one time. There are openings (ishiotoshi) in the walls of the main complex for throwing stones and scalding water. There are also holes (sama) from which rifles and arrows can be shot. Passages connecting the four towers allow easy access and mobility. There is a residence for the lord of the castle, as well as a kitchen and a storehouse for supplies. The integration of nature and technology in Himeji Castle creates a physical and psychological barrier designed to confuse and exhaust the enemy.

Kiyomizu

Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan.
Kiyomizudera stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers visitors a nice view over the city from its famous wooden terrace.









Below the terrace, you can taste the spring water, which gives the temple its name and which is said to have healing power.







Part of the fun of visiting Kiyomizudera is the approach to the temple along the steep and busy lanes of the atmospheric Higashiyama district. Except early in the morning, do not expect a tranquil, spiritual atmosphere.
The many shops, restaurants and ryokan in the area have been catering to tourists and pilgrims for centuries. Products on sale range from local specialties such as Kiyomizu-yaki pottery, sweets and pickles to the standard set of souvenirs.

Kyoto Eki and Tower

The new Kyoto Station building was built on the occasion of the 1,200th anniversary of the Heian Capital foundation. It was opened to the public in 1997 and stands in perfect contrast with many foreign tourists' image of Kyoto as the capital of traditional Japan.
A department store, hotel, theater, game center, shopping mall, government offices, various restaurants and an observation deck can be found on the facility's 15+ floors.






The Kyoto Tower is an 131 meter observation tower

Kyoto's Geisha

カプセルホテル

Our kapuseru hoteru in Osaka!





History of the Capsule Hotel:

This style of hotel accommodation was developed in Japan and has not gained acceptance outside of the country. The Japanese capsule hotels vary widely in size, some having only fifty or so capsules and others over 700, and are often male only. There are also capsule hotels with separate male and female sleeping quarters. Clothes and shoes are sometimes exchanged for a yukata and slippers on entry. A towel may also be provided. The benefit of these hotels is convenience and price; usually around 3000-4000 yen a night (€21-29, $25–34, £15–20). Such hotels are not necessarily regarded as only an option for those with lower incomes - a typical customer would be the business salariman after a night of drinking.
The first capsule hotel was the Capsule Inn Osaka, designed by Kurokawa Kisho and located in the Umeda district of Osaka. It opened on February 1, 1979 and the initial room rate was 1,600 yen.