Landmarks of Japan
Founded in the middle of the 15th century, Tokyo is today one of the largest cities in the world. It was built in the image of the ancient Japanese capital, so it is not surprising that the city has a huge number of all kinds of churches, old wooden structures, which, being very close to modern skyscrapers, create a contrast that gives the modern capital a special charm. The center of the city and at the same time the main attraction of the capital is the Kokyo Imperial Palace. This area is divided into two parts. The real emperor of Japan lives in the western one, as well as his relatives, this place is closed to visitors. The eastern part, as well as the western part, is represented by a park; those structures that have survived to this day have been declared a national treasure. An equally popular symbol of Tokyo is the Tokyo Tower, which was built in 1958 and at that time it was the tallest tower in the world. The people of Tokyo are proud of it, as are the French, of the Eiffel Tower. At the top there are two observation decks that offer incredible views of the city and Tokyo Bay. Particular attention in the capital is given to temples and other religious complexes. The main Buddhist center of Tokyo and its oldest temple is Asakusa. To its main building there is a small and beautiful Nakamise street, which is more like a street of shops that alternate one after another. Since ancient times, active trade took place near the temples, so the old traditions are not violated even now. These are mainly clothing stores, but you can also find interesting souvenir shops. Not far from the capital of Japan is the second largest city of the state – Yokohama, which every year more and more merges with Tokyo. Now Yokohama is considered the largest port in the country and the center of foreign trade operations. The main feature of this metropolis is modern architecture, which is difficult to find anywhere else in the world, the rhythm of life here is very intense, for which Yokohama received an unofficial name – “the city that never sleeps.” The main tourist attractions are the landscape park, as well as an unusual open-air museum, which shows traditional wooden structures (temples, residential buildings, etc.). No less beautiful and unusual city is Kyoto, which until 1868 was the capital of Japan and the official residence of the emperor. At the moment, Kyoto is a recognized center of international tourism. The city is incredibly colorful and beautiful, in total, there are about 2,000 temples, many parks and ancient palaces on its territory. The extraordinary landscape and ancient buildings create a unique atmosphere and give Kyoto a special charm. The Gosho Imperial Palace is the center of the city and one of its main attractions. The palace also includes the Shishinden ceremonial hall, the chambers in which the emperor lived and the Sannai-den palace. The “Golden Pavilion”, erected in 1397, it is considered the main symbol of Kyoto, as well as an example of the traditional architecture of the country. The roof of the pavilion is covered with thin golden sheets, and on its territory there is a unique “sand garden” of its kind. In addition, on the territory of this old city there are many interesting sights (gardens, parks, tombs of emperors and much more).
National cuisine of Japan
According to a2zdirectory.org, Japanese cuisine is very popular all over the world. The Japanese pay great attention to the very process of cooking, and very often it resembles a whole ritual. Heat treatment is minimal, and products are tried to be preserved in their original form. Quite often, the cooking process comes down to cutting the product, without any heat treatment. The main ingredient of any Japanese dish is rice, which is served completely unsalted, but it is always served with a variety of seasonings and sauces. The most popular rice dish is, of course, sushi, which is rice rolls with various fillings. In second place after rice is noodles made from buckwheat flour – “soba”. One of the favorite dishes of the Japanese are seafood and fish. Quite often, the fish is simply served raw, and sometimes live, but there are many national recipes with cooked seafood. In Japan, meat consumption is not very high, so many recipes were borrowed from other cultures. The most popular meat dishes are Japanese liver, stew with potatoes, yakitori (Japanese barbecue).
Transport
Railways and maritime transport are in first place in importance. Almost all major cities are interconnected by modern high-speed railway lines. All trains are equipped with comfortable seats, coffee machines, air conditioning, telephone, etc. There are also intercity trains, but they differ in color. You can buy tickets for them in special machines, which often have a queue. If you are moving from a branch that belongs to one company to another branch, you must buy a new ticket. No less developed is the bus service. Local buses run from 07.00 to 21.00. For the bus, you can purchase a one-day ticket. The metro is available only in large cities, but it is connected to the suburbs. Payment is made depending on the zone. The color of the wagon depends on the line,