Virtual Voyages

Take a Virtual Voyage to Japan!

Our first stop will be in Japan’s capital, Tokyo. Now, Tokyo is a jam-packed city full of delicious food, unique shops, and rich culture. It is safe to say that you will never be bored. TeamLab Borderless is a digital art museum that immerses you in a world where the artwork has no boundaries. This museum is indescribable; to understand it, you have to experience it. Another popular place to visit in Tokyo is Shibuya Crossing. This is known to be the largest and busiest intersection in the world. Hundreds of people cross this intersection at once. And though this may not seem like something you would want to do, this experience of organized chaos is on most people’s itinerary.

Many pictures of Japan show various temples and shrines as it is a major part of the culture. A popular temple to visit in Tokyo is Sensō-ji. It is the oldest temple in the city and is frequently visited by both locals and tourists. Although there are a million other things I could mention about Tokyo, I have to stop for the moment to ensure that other parts of Japan are given a chance to shine. As always, links will be provided at the end of the article if you are interested in researching more (which I highly recommend).

Another city to visit in Japan is Kyoto. Kyoto is located southwest of Tokyo and is known as the cultural capital of Japan. There are many more temples within Kyoto if that’s what you’re interested in such as the Kiyomizu-dera Temple and the Kinkakuji Temple. Or you can participate in a traditional tea ceremony. These ceremonies are available all around Japan; however, it is best done in Kyoto due to the strong Zen Buddhist roots.

For all you animal lovers out there, there is a park filled with monkeys called Monkey Park Iwatayama. Monkeys can be seen swinging from the trees, running across the paths and some even dare to move closer to passing people. But don’t worry, as long as you don’t have food, the monkeys will leave you alone. Additionally, the Philosopher’s Path is a trail following a canal that connects a stretch of neighbourhoods in Kyoto. Along the beautiful trail are a variety of shrines as well as cafes and restaurants.

Unfortunately, this is where our virtual tour ends. There are hundreds of thousands of attractions and shops and little nuggets of Japan that I wish I could describe to you. But I wouldn’t want to take up hours of your time that would take to do so. However, I highly encourage you to look into Japan for yourself. The holiday break is nearly upon us and though many students will be choosing to catch up on sleep, you will have the time to discover the wonders of Japan for yourself. Hopefully, we can travel there again soon—I know it’s on my list.

Here are some links for those who are interested in Japan. Click the pics!

Links and images provided by Meadow A.