Vacation Home Rentals

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jun 8

Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in East Asia with her many attractions and sights of nature such as park, lakes, majestic mountains and quiet countrysides. They provide both an urban charm and natural seductiveness, and nothing illustrates this best than the parks in Japan. Some can be found in the modern cities that are the focal point of busy Japan, while others flourish in Mother Nature with quaint little towns and villages.

The national parks in Japan are often high on the itineraries of first time visitors to the country. In the hectic times that we all face nowadays, many of us enjoy traveling to places far and wide all over the world that offer a temporary escape from our busy lives. What could be better to provide that than visiting the many amazing gardens and park in Japan that symbolize a fusion of both the East and West?

There are 29 national parks in Japan as of today, and they make up a total area of more than five per cent of the country. While locals are an ever present in terms of visitors, there is an increasing number of foreign tourists who are eager to have a taste of what the nature of Japan has to offer. The more popular parks include the ones found in Nikko, Fuji-Hakone-Izu and Shiretoko.

Nikko city is the town that leads one to the National Park, and it has a surprisingly small population. However, visitors arrive non-stop to see for themselves the scenic beauty of the area. From the serene and tranquil Lake Chuzenji to the majestic Mount Nantai, the park reaches far and wide over a total of four prefectures. Even visitors on a budget Nikko National Park day tour would be able to enjoy other highlights that include the large Kegon waterfall as well as the Toshogu shrine that has become a recognizable landmark for the city itself.

Mount Fuji can safely be said to be the one sight that everyone associates most often with Japan. However, the area in which it is found has an understated elegance of its own - the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It has an even larger area relative to Nikko park. This is due to the inclusion of Mount Fuji, the Fuji Five Lakes and other locations within it. Even tiny islets are included within the region, illustrating perfectly why it is often regarded as the biggest park in Japan.

Perhaps one of the most understated parks in Japan is Shiretoko National Park. It is a true natural haven untouched in the most part by civilization or commercialization. In fact, there is no way one can get there on wheels. There is much to see in terms of wildlife that might not be possible in other parts of Japan. The Shiretoko National Park also has a huge variety of flora and fauna, prompting UNESCO to designate the area as a World Heritage Site and it is a source of pride for the advanced industrial country.

Whether it be an adventure to the wilderness in Shiretoko, an experience with national symbols in Fuji-Hakone-Izu or visiting Nikko National Park on a tour package, Japan’s national parks have so much to offer for the eager and willing traveler. One will never cease to be amazed by a country that has an advanced and modern metropolis in its city centre of Tokyo, while surrounded by such extensive and beautiful nature.

posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jan 23

Both the Japanese and people of different nationalities have aspired to scale the peak of Mount Fuji at least once in their lives. There are also millions of tourists who embark on a Mt Fuji tour every year in order to experience the journey. It might belong to the category of a dormant volcano, but there is every chance in the world that it might still erupt. So why are there still so many people who bear the risks just to climb Japan's tallest mountain?

To first understand that, one must take into account the symbolism of Mount Fuji in both Japan and across the world. The mountain is officially the highest peak in Japan, with an estimated height of over 12,000 feet at its highest point. As with many other well known mountains across Japan, Mount Fuji has its own legends that tell of its rise and fall, and permeates the folk stories of the Japanese. Therefore, the Japanese have a lot of love and respect for the volcano mountain.

The extent of their admiration for Mount Fuji can be seen in the many other smaller Fuji-sans sprinkled all across Japan. These are all smaller hills or mountain peaks named after the original volcano. They serve to be an image of the mountain in their own backyard so that they do not need to go on a Mt Fuji budget one day tour. There are also numerous books on origami that show how you can have a mini Mount Fuji made from paper.

The symbol of Japan also fills the capital's landscape as Tokyo's west side is dominated by the sight of Mount Fuji. Mount Fuji is said to be very shy in nature as it often hides its peak behind clouds or haze. Mount Fuji's peak is only clearly seen and unhidden by bad weather for an estimated ten days per year. That rare occurrence perhaps adds to the mystic of the mountain.

A more negative aspect of the attraction that Mount Fuji holds for many individuals is the power and control it has over the immediate areas surrounding it. While the volcano has been dormant for centuries, geographical experts have predicted that Mount Fuji is due to stir with activity in time. Tokyo and other cities in Japan will be devastated by such an event. This has led to many Japanese praying for a safe future from the gods and deities that are said to inhabit the mountain according to old legends. However, Fuji-san is also an enabler of economic well-being, with numerous cheap Mount Fuji hotels surrounding it, not to mention in Hakone and nearby resort towns.

Perhaps the final sign of how much the volcano mountain is revered in Japan is the sight of its peak shown on the country's 1,000 yen note. It is also the most common denomination of the Japanese currency, and perhaps symbolic of the importance of Mount Fuji in the people’s psyche for it to be used in such a way. The life and death of millions of Japanese are held in the cradle of Mount Fuji’s existence, and it is therefore hard to ignore the allure and attraction the beautiful mountain peak has throughout history.