Cherry Blossoms in Tetsugaku-no-michi a teenager ’ s shopping haven . Omotesando and Minami Aoyama offer high fashion .
Now that you have investigated the museums , and the shopping malls , you might need to slow down a bit , get out of the big city , and draw in some of the most spectacular sights of Japan — the sculpture gardens and lakes .
An excellent place to visit for a few days is the Gora Kadan in Hakone , which you can reach via a forty-minute ride on the bullet train Hikari # 515 . The Gora Kadan is not a hotel but a traditional Japanese Ryokan . The place dates back to the 1820s , and has traditional Tatami style rooms , futons for sleeping , Kimonos and slippers . Here you can rest in a truly heavenly place , and enjoy the surroundings at the foot of Mount Fuji .
Outside you will find open-air natural hot springs baths , as well as a pool and Jacuzzi . You can visit the Open-Air Sculpture Garden , in which nature is the dramatic backdrop , or you can take the Aerial Cable Car to Togendai for a cruise on Lake Ashi , with views of Mt . Fuji .
Now that you have seen Hakone , it ’ s time to visit Kyoto , ( bullet train # Hikari 511 ). Kyoto sits next to the Kamogawa river . Kyoto has been said to be the most beautiful city in Japan . This is a place for art , gardens , temples , and plenty of cherry blossoms ! Start your day with a visit to Ryoanji Temple which , in English , is the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon , and has the most famous rock garden in Japan . The style and layout of the rock gardens is fascinating ; it is called a dry garden , in which gravel or sand is raked to represent water ripples . Classical Zen gardens were created at temples of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto , and were intended to help viewers meditate , as the dry garden imitates the fundamental essence of nature .
After visiting the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon , try to visit the Golden Pavilion , which is a UNESCO World Heritage site . It is covered in gold leaf and surrounded by gardens . While there , you can experience a traditional Tea Ceremony . After tea , enjoy a stroll down Teapot Alley , an area where roads and buildings have been preserved . There are many restaurants in this area . Be sure to visit Gion , the home of Kyoto ’ s most famous geisha .
Next on the traveler ’ s list is taking a stroll along the Philosopher ’ s Path , with a visit
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