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		Himeji Castle: Himeji Castle, known in Japanese as "Shirasagijo" (White Heron Castle), is one of the few remaining original castles from Imperial Japan. The castle is over 350 years old and took over nine years to build.
		Japanese Youth: While most people stereotypically think of the Japanese as quiet and reserved, the new generation is alive and rebellious. It is hard to find a teenager without dyed hair, baggy clothes, and a general disdain for the status quo.
		Uji Bridge & Ujigawa River: The ancient city of Uji, near Kyoto and Nara, is beautifully preserved and a welcome change from the large cities of Tokyo and Osaka.
		Colorful Uji Bridge Detail: A detail photograph of the beautiful orange bridge which spans the Ujigawa River in Uji, Japan.
		Traditional Shinto Torii: Toriis are traditional orange gates found at the entrance of Shinto shrines. Toriis are designed to act as large resting spots for birds, who are considered messengers of the gods.
		Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome): The nuclear weapon that was dropped on Hiroshima detonated almost directly over this building, which at the time was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. It was the only structure in the area which survived and is now a powerful UNESCO World Heritage site. The day I visited I saw hundreds of young students on field trips there, each leaving bundles of origami cranes.
		Hiroshima Peace City Memorial: After the war Hiroshima designated itself as a Peace Memorial City. This structure is the cenotaph where the names of the victims are stored inside a vault. If you look carefully, you will see the Genbaku Dome at the peak of the arch.
		Korean Victims of A-Bomb Memorial: (Left) This quiet memorial was erected for the thousands of Koreans who perished in Hiroshima but were not included in the offiicial cenotaph which was only for Japanese citizens. The inscription states that "Souls of the dead ride to heaven on the backs of turtles." Torii of Itsukushima: (Right) This internationally famous torii (Shinto gate) is placed near Miyajima island in southern Japan. A torii has been in this spot since the sixth century and this bright orange wooden gate is one of the most well-known symbols of Japan.
		Big City Colors: (Left) What the cities of Osaka and Tokyo lack in architecture is more than made up with the fantastic use of color and imagry throughout the cities. This photo was taken in one of the pedestrian centers in Osaka and I found it interesting because of the visually captivating use of colors. Byodo-in Temple: (Right) This temple, located in the beautifully preserved city Uji (near Kyoto), dates from 1053 and is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It also holds the distinction of being the only building pictured on Japan's current coinage.
		The Great Buddha of Nara at the Todai-ji Temple: (Left) Housed in the largest wooden building in the world, The Great Buddha Hall, "(Daibutsu-Den”), the Great Buddha of Nara is the world's largest bronze Buddha. The temple complex where the statue is located, the Todai-ji Temple, is located on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Encarta map of Japan: See an excellent map of Japan

Japan Travel Information: Lonely Planet Destination Guide: Lonely Planet's guidebooks are second to none. Go here to read their on-line edition

About.com: Japan Everything you ever wanted to know about Japanese culture and life in Japan

Japan National Tourist Organization: The official tourist site with Plenty of tourism-related information including culture, photos, flights, airlines and regional destinations.

About.com: Sushi for Beginners: Learn everything you'd ever want to know about making and eating everyone's favorite raw meat dish, sushi.

Japanese Food: Recipes and information for many popular Japanese dishes

Ryokan: Learn about the Ryokan, a traditional form of Japanese lodging which is much too expensive for lowly backpackers like me.

Tokyo Meltdown: Go here for a city guide to Tokyo

Quirky Japan Homepage: Read about the attractions off the beaten track in Japan. (Make sure you check out the SAQ!)

Sadako & the Thousand Paper Cranes: Learn about Sadako and her touching struggle to fold 1000 paper cranes

Hiroshima Peace Park: Take a virtual tour of the Peace Park in Hiroshima

Japan-Guide: Very popular travel and living guide with multiple sightseeing destinations

Flags Of The World: Japan: Information about and history of Japan's flag

Do you have any questions or comments about this page? Please let me know!

Time Visited: May 1998 & May 1999

Main Cities Visited: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Kurashiki, Himeji, Nara

Modes of Transportation: Shinkansen (Bullet Train), commuter train, taxi, subway, automobile, airplane

How I Ended Up There: In May 1998 my father fulfilled a promise and exposed me to life outside North America. Later, I visited him again for two weeks while he taught in Kyoto.

Memorable Foods: yakisoba, tempura, gyoza, udon, yakitori, pocky, Asahi Super Dry, Kirin beer

What I Liked: food, nightlife, historic temples & statues, friendliness of people

What I Disliked: It seems that most children want to be either American or European - not Japanese. I feel that the society is losing touch of their important and individual cultural values. There was also an alarming amount of litter and garbage everywhere.

Where I Stayed: Hotel, Father's apartment

Japan in Five Words: respectful, tired, similar, orderly, unexpected

My Thoughts: When I traveled to Japan for the first time in 1998, it was my first real exposure to a culture different that my own. I went with my father for a 10-day stay in Tokyo and I was hooked. Since it was my first time in a foreign land, everything seamed so, well, foreign to me, yet I loved the cultural differences. I guess you could say that I was looking at the country through "rose colored glasses."

I had the fortune of coming back in May of 1999 for two weeks to visit my dad while he was teaching at a Japanese university. I was able to see the country much more objectively, and while it has it's faults (overworked populous, rebellions youth,etc.) it remains one of my favorite nations.