Insights

If you are planning to visit Hyogo Prefecture, the home of Kobe, or anywhere in the vicinity, you must see Himeji Castle.

Himeji Castle is the largest and most visited castle in Japan and it was registered in 1993 as one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.

Most Japanese castles have a nickname. Himeji Castle is called “Shirasagi-jo” (“White Heron Castle”) because of its elegant appearance unified by the white plastered earthen walls.

Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture A fort was constructed on Himeyama Hill in 1333 by Akamatsu Norimura, the ruler of the ancient province. In 13

Today I would like to talk about lodging in Japan. In Japan, we have three main styles of lodging.

First are Western style hotels and hostels. As more and more overseas travelers visit Japan these types of facilities are gaining popularity.

Second are traditional Japanese style inns called Ryokan and Minshuku, which exude style and class that will make any visitor feel nostalgic for a bygone era. These are also being increasingly sought after by tourists who want a relaxing stay and a taste of traditional Japanese culture.

Last is a type of inn called a Pension, which I will get to later.

Let’s fo

The number of foreign travelers in Tokyo, the largest and most exciting metropolitan area in the world, has rapidly increased in recent years.

In a 2013 annual report, to the question of what foreign tourists did while they were in Japan, those who answered “eat Japanese food” (96.6%) and “go shopping” (77.2%) were the largest in number.

Meanwhile, looking at their satisfaction with what they did, those who answered “experience the lifestyle of Japan” (70%) and “experience the history and traditional culture of Japan” (67.9%) dominated.

In terms of what they want to do if they visit Japan again,