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Visit the holy temple on the mountain! Risshakuji Temple known as Yamadera (literally means “the temple on the mountain”) is located in Houju mountain in Yamagata prefecture which is in northern Japan “Tohoku“ area. Take 1,015 steps to see Japan’s greatest and most scenic view of the temple stands close to the sky.
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It is believed that the temple was built in the year of 860. Most part of Risshakuji Temple was destroyed during the local wars of the early 16th century and it was rebuilt in 1543. The temple complex consists several halls and buildings on Houji mountain’s base to the summit.
The mountain is about 5 mins walk from JR Yamadera station which can be reached from Sendai city or Yamagata city by Senzen line.
Yamadera can be spotted from the base of Houji mountain when you reach there.
Enter the main entrance of Risshakuji Temple where the temple’s main hall stands. To visit the iconic Founder’s Hall on the summit, continue to the trail.
So here is a challenge. The stone stairs to the top of the mountain is 1,051 steps which takes around 30 mins. It might make the approach difficult for some visitors. But walking on the trail with stone lanterns and small statues in the forest is so mystical and amazing that you may forget about climbing up.
Yamadera is one of the Buddhist pilgrimage route in Tohoku area and the temple is known for having a power for breaking a bad luck or bad relationships.
It may take a while to reach to the most beautiful part of the temple but it’s totally worth. Enjoy the view of beautiful temple complex and the over look view from the top. After the Founder’s Hall (Kaisando), there are some more stairs that takes you to the Godaido Hall which has an observation deck with the best views of overlook of the valley and the village below.
Yamadera is accessible by train, yet I highly recommend to go there by car as the surrounded area of the valley and villages are breathtakingly beautiful and another must-see attractions. Yamagata prefecture is one of the places in Japan which remain natural and untouched areas till now and you can feel the life of Japanese countryside very close.
Address: 4456–1, Yamadera, Yamagata-city
Hours: 8:00~17:00
Fee: 300 yen
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Delivery of your ordered WiFi device is available to the QL Liner counters in Narita Airport Terminal 1 and 2 so you can connect right after landing!
Please check the location of the QL Liner counters in Narita Airport.
QL Liner counter at Terminal 1
Location: South Wing, 1st Floor (International Arrival Lobby), Terminal 1
QL Liner counter at Terminal 2
Location: 1st Floor (International Arrival Lobby), Terminal 2
The QL Liner counters are located on the International Arrival Lobby floor (1F) in both terminals, so they are very convenient for you.
*Note* They are open from 6:30 a.m. and until the last flight arrival. You have enough time to pass customs and pick up your item there, but please go picking it up at your earliest convenience after landing.
↓↓↓ For alternative pick-up locations, please click here! ↓↓↓
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If you are seeking the latest fashion, it’s primary option to go to Omotesando, which is a tree-lined boulevard linked to Harajuku. Omotesando and Harajuku are the most leading shopping district since there are upscale boutiques you must know very well, malls, restaurants and cafes. So Omotesando is also known as Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées. While it’s enjoyable to pick up your favorite brand shops along the avenue, the malls including Japan’s original brands and, of course, internationally famous brands. Especially, 3 malls have been sources of the cutting-edge fashion trend.
1. Laforet Harajuku
It’s located at the center of Omotesando and has been run since 1978. There are unique and cutting-edge fashions instead of classy brands. They have had a concept that fashion is culture which presents the times. From back then, they have looked for outstanding shops as their tenants even if they are not famous at that time. Their main target is young people and 70 percent of them consist of ladies. And they have many types of fashion stores consisting of Casuals, Gothic&Lolita, Fairy kei, and Visual kei. Additionally, the Laforet has Laforet Museum on the 6th floor where exhibitions of evaluated artists around the world and seasonal markets like North European Christmas market have been held.
Laforet HARAJUKU
Laforet HARAJUKU official website. Shop, access and facility information.www.laforet.ne.jp
Shop Info: Laforet HARAJUKU
Address: 1–11–6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku,Tokyo 150–0001
Nearest Station: 5 minutes walk from Harajuku station/Exit: Omotesando exit(JR Yamanote line)
Search this word “Laforet Harajuku”on Google Map
Hours: 11:00am-9:00pm
2. Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku (Omohara)
Tokyu Plaze Omohara (Omotesando and Harajuku are sometimes abbrivated as Omohara) stands in front of the Laforet across the street. The structure looks like a castle and at the entrance, you will be drawn through a dizzying kaleidoscope of mirrors. It has attracted wide range of people with international brands (e.g. TOMMY HILFIGER and AMERICAN EAGLE OUTFITTERS) and Japanese brands (e.g. The SHEL’TTER Tokyo) which are appraised all over the world. There is a spacious garden on the roof top where you have seats and drink beer, otherwise get a coffee at the STARBUCKS next to that. While the people take a relaxing break there, others wait in a queue for the bills pancakes.
TOKYU PLAZA OMOTESANDO HARAJUKU | TOKYU PLAZA
東急不動産のショッピングセンターomohara.tokyu-plaza.com
Shop Info: Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku
Address: 4–30–3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150–0001
Nearest Station: 5 minutes walk from Harajuku station/Exit: Omotesando exit(JR Yamanote line)
Search this word “Tokyu Plaza Omotesando Harajuku”on Google Map
Hours: 11:00am-9:00pm (Cafe 8:30am-11:00pm)
3. Omotesando Hills
The Omotesando Hills large complex looks very chic and elegant due to the concrete building without colors. The over 100 shops in it provide chic and sophisticated clothing and general merchandises you rarely find except there. The majority of the customers seem adults aged from 30s to 40s. This year 2016 is 10 years anniversary, and it became an essential shopping complex for celeb. Moreover, you can have Japanese food on the 3rd floor.
Omotesando Hills
Omotesando Hillswww.omotesandohills.com
Shop Info: Tokyu Omotesando Hills
Address: 4–12–10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150–0001
Nearest Station: 7 minutes walk from Harajuku station/Exit: Omotesando exit(JR Yamanote line)
Search this word “Omotesando Hills”on Google Map
Hours of Shopping: 11:00am-9:00pm (Mon-Sat)/11:00am-8:00pm (Sun)
Hours of Restaurants: 11:00am-11:30pm (Mon-Sat)/11:00am-10:30pm (Sun)
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Lake Ashi is located in Hakone, Kanagawa. Hakone has been the busiest tourist destination of the prefecture for many decades and it’s a great getaway indeed. Hakone and the beautiful lake “Lake Ashi” can be enjoyed for all year around but the best time is definitely autumn. Visit Hakone and Lake Ashi to hunt the spectacular autumn colour as well as the magnificent view of Mt. Fuji!
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Lake Ashi
Lake Ashi is often called “Hakone Lake”. It’s agreat scenic lake along Hakone mountain with a view of Mt. Fuji and great red torii gate from Hakone shrine which locates along the lake. The lake is pretty touristic surrounded with shops, onsen, hotels and some historical sites. Cruising lakes might be the most popular activity to do in Lake Ashi. My recommendation would be to rent a bicycle and cycle around the lake!
The best time to enjoy autumn foliage around Lake Ashi is usually from end of October to mid November. As it’s surrounded with the forest and the mountain, the greatest point of viewing autumn leaves in Lake Ashi is that you can enjoy the different colours of trees in different altitude. Watch the contrast of colours from brown-red-orange-yellow-green on the same mountain. Also to see the great view of Mt.Fuji, better check the weather before hand as it’s the best when the sky is clear.
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Lake Ashi
Address: Hakone, Hakone machi, Ashigara-gun, Kanagawa
↓↓ There are several ways to reach Hakone and Lake Ashi from Tokyo. Please check the link below how to get to Lake Ashi! ↓↓
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Taking a direct coach from Shinjuku station to Hakone would be the easiest way and it takes around 2 hours!
Search this word “Lake Ashi” “Ashinoko”on Google Map
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Harajuku’s busiest fashion street called “Takeshita” is where Japanese kawaii (cute) culture was born and it’s the hub for spreading their pop-culture to the world and inspiring many including pop starts! (e.g. If you know the song “Harajuku Girls” by Gwen Stefani) Harajuku, especially Takeshita Street is the place to experience real Kawaii culture in Japan! Let’s check out what the street looks like!
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Pop culture
Japanese pop culture’s icon for the last couple of years, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (Japanese singer and fashion model), who is often labeled as “Japanese ver of Lady Gaga” has been contributing massively to boost Harajuku’s fashion even popper and cuter as well as being an ambassador to spread the fashion and culture to abroad. In fact, she has gained more fans out side of Japan! She is also often called “Harajuku Pop Princess”.
Takeshita is not just a shopping district but great place for sightseeing.
The 350 m street is full of colourful shops selling Kawaii clothes/goods with inexpensive price as most of shoppers in Takeshita Street are teens. (It’s extremely packed during school holiday season.)
Not only shops but enjoy watching people who shop at Takeshita Street who are in unique and very Harajuku-ish fashion as it’s the center of Tokyo’s fashion trend!
Goth/Lolita
Lolita fashion is a fashion subculture from Japan that is based on Victorian and Edwardian clothing.
Gothic lolita “GothLoli” is a combination of Gothic and Lolita fashion which originated in the late 1990s in Harajuku. Harajuku is a Mecca of Goth/Lolita lovers where they often hang around and have group meetings, not only Japanese but many from abroad!
One of the most amusing things in Harajuku is that you can actually witness those people dress in Born-in-Harajuku Fashion!
Crapes
You can't separate Harajuku and crapes. It’s a significant snack of the area and often be sold on the street. Harajuku's crapes might be different from what you imagine. Crapes in Harajuku style are normally served with a variety of fruit, sweet whipped cream/ soft ice-cream and wrapped into a handy shape.
There are considerably over 100 different flavour of crapes sold in Takeshita Street and create your own crapes by adding toppings!
ALTA
Harajuku Alta which was launched in 2015 is a new iconic building of the city. It’s a great shopping building where most of items related to Harajuku’s pop culture can be found. They are extremely cute, colourful and inexpensive! The store is always packed with young girls hunting for the item to boost their Kawaiiness!
Calbee+
If you know Jagarico, Kappa Ebisen and Potato Chips, there are all from the Japanese famous snack company Calbee. Calbee+ is the retail shop from Calbee located in Takeshita street. What is special about this shop is that freshly made snacks are served and some of snacks sold there is limited in Harajuku!
Daiso
Daiso is a franchised 100 yen shop located in all over Japan. The 4-storied building is lined up with thousands of items only at 100 yen! Daiso in Takeshita street offers both Japanese and English customer assistance and sells many items for foreign visitors such as chopsticks, handy fans, tableware and some of items are only sold at Harajuku branch.
If you want to get into deep Japanese pop culture, go to Takeshita Street to get super Kawaii items!!!
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