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Things to do in Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is the capital city of Japan. The city is inhabited by around 13 million people. Tokyo is the most expensive city to live in. It offers numerous tourist attractions including skyscrapers, historic monuments, ancient museums, and cultural experiences.

Spring is a popular time to visit Tokyo. There are several places to see the enchanting cherry blossoms which flourish around mid-late March and early April.

It can be difficult for first-time visitors to decide what they want to do in Tokyo. It is, therefore, an excellent idea to plan an itinerary.

Visiting Tokyo is a journey through the past and the future.

Meiji Shrine: Immerse yourself in nature and art

The Meiji Shrine was constructed in 1915 in honor of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shōken. It was completed in 1926. The original buildings were destroyed during World War Two. It was rebuilt in 1958 and is considered a very important religious shrine.

A 175-acre evergreen forest surrounds the shrine. The shrine has an Inner Precinct (Naien) and Outer Precinct (Gaien).

The Outer Precinct (Gaien) has an excellent collection of murals depicting the lives of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken.

A public garden complete with a tea house and iris garden is found in the Inner Garden (Yoyogi Gyoen).

Enjoy nature at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden

The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is among Tokyo’s ancient places. It was the residence of the Naito family between the 17th century and the 19th century. It was later transferred to the Imperial Family.

It was opened in 1949 and is among the most enchanting gardens in Japan. It combines the Japanese tradition, the French Formal, and English Landscape all
into one breathtaking garden.

It has around 1500 cherry trees making it a favorite for witnessing cherry blossoms. The garden also features beautiful ponds, a greenhouse, and multiple pavilions.

Enjoy Nature at Ueno Zoo and Ueno Park

Ueno Park is located in the heart of Tokyo. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city. The expansive 212-acre park has beautiful gardens, museums, and temples.

You can enjoy a boat ride on the reed-fringed Shinobazu pond.

A fascinating site to explore is the 17th-century Toshogu Shrine (Nikkō Tōshō-gū), which features 256 bronze and stone lanterns.

Ueno Zoo (Onshi Ueno Dōbutsuen) is the oldest zoo in Japan.

It was opened in 1882 and is renowned for its pandas. The zoo has more than 300 animals representing about 400 species.

Visit the Senso-Ji Buddhist Temple

The exquisite Sensō-Ji Temple (Kinryū-Zan Sensō-Ji) is located in the Asakusa district. It is the most famous shrine in the city.

The temple was constructed around AD 645 and dedicated to Kannon, goddess of compassion in Buddhism. It has been rebuilt numerous times and still retains its original appearance.

The temple is famous for its Incense Vat, purported to cure diseases.

Watch Sumo Wrestlers at Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium

Japan is famous for its sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestling is an ancient kind of Japanese wrestling style. Professional sumo wrestling emerged during the Edo era and is found only in Japan.

The Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Stadium is situated about 6 minutes from Chanko Tomoegata restaurant. It is the most famous sumo wrestling hall in Tokyo.

You can opt to pay to watch practice sessions. The stadium only hosts 6 tournaments per year. They are held around January, May, and September and last for two weeks.

Shop at Ginza

It is one of the busiest shopping centers in Tokyo. It features one of the world’s largest pedestrian zones.

You can shop in some of the most exclusive stores and shops. You can also relax and enjoy tea or coffee in the numerous coffee shops and restaurants.

The famous Kabuki-za Theater, which has traditional Kabuki performances, is also found here.

View the City from the Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree (Tōkyō Sukaitsurī) is a 634-meter-tall observation and communications tower.

It was officially opened in 2012. It offers spectacular panoramic views of the city from its observation decks and restaurants.

Visit the Tokyo National Museum

The Tokyo National Museum (ōkyō Kokuritsu Hakubutsukan) was opened in 1938. It has a collection of more than 100,000 works of Japanese, Indian and Chinese art.

It has hundreds of Buddhist sculptures from China and Japan. Some date from the 6th century. The museum also features an assorted array of textiles, weapons, ceramic, pottery, and other artifacts.

The Most Popular Beaches in California

California is one of the most diverse states in America. It offers a variety of exciting experiences at different times of the year. The state is richly endowed with natural beauty.

California enchants with its stunning scenery. It offers some of the best beaches for outdoor recreation and sightseeing. You can enjoy many outdoor activities including surfing, snorkeling, sea kayaking, scuba diving, volleyball, basketball, running, hiking, and sunbathing.

La Jolla Shores Beach

La Jolla Cove is a small, gorgeous cove with a tiny, sandy beach that is surrounded by spectacular cliffs. It is located on the outskirts of San Diego and is considered one of the best beaches in California. If you love dramatic coastlines, you will be enthralled by the picturesque cove.

The cove is part of the marine reserve. Marine life is abundant making it a perfect spot for swimming, kayaking, and snorkeling.

There are numerous bars, restaurants, and hotels near the beach. There are also lifeguards on duty all year round.

The picturesque town of La Jolla is another awesome attraction. It is very ideal for romantic getaways. Its downtown has several boutiques and chic gourmet restaurants.

Santa Monica State Beach

Santa Monica beach is located near downtown Los Angeles. It is one of the most quintessential and famous beaches in Southern California. It’s a 3.5-mile-long beach that stretches from Venice Beach to Will Rogers State Beach.

It borders several spectacular locations like Beverly Hills and Venice Beach.

The Santa Monica Pier has many amusement rides catering to the whole family. There are several cafés, restaurants, bars, and lounges.

Art lovers can visit the numerous art galleries around town. There are also street performances along the boardwalk.

The beach is ideal for activities such as swimming, surfing, sunbathing, volleyball and yoga. The beach has several lifeguard towers to ensure the safety of visitors.

Zuma Beach, Malibu

Zuma Beach is in Malibu and it is adjacent to Westward Beach and Point Dume. It is a very popular beach among tourists in California.

The beach is vast and features a wide shoreline that is over two miles and spreads over 100 acres. It becomes a bit crowded at times.

It has ideal conditions for surfing, kite surfing and diving.

The beach has a bewitching spot, Paradise Cove, famous for a galore of movies and TV shows.

Pfeiffer Beach

Pfeiffer Beach is situated in the Los Padres National Forest. It is renowned for its beautiful purple sands and mesmerizing rock formations.

The beach is tiny and flat and has a little cove that has large rugged boulders. The beach is not suitable for swimming due to the rough waves. However, it is perfect for climbing and taking photographs.

For more awesome information about Pfeiffer Beach, check out Trip Advisor.

Huntington State Beach

Huntington State Beach is world-renowned for its fantastic surf spots. The exquisite beach is lined by palms for over fifteen kilometers. Humongous waves crash constantly offshore making it a paradise for surfers.

The beach offers several basketball courts and over a thousand fire rings for barbecues or bonfires. It is well maintained and has a pier ideal for fishing, strolling, and sightseeing.

Pacific Beach, San Diego

Pacific Beach is located north of downtown San Diego after Mission Beach. Its broad shoreline stretches for around five miles.

It is conducive for swimming, kite-boarding, and surfing. Various kinds of sports and outdoor activities can be enjoyed on the beach or boardwalk.

Lifeguards are situated around the beach to ensure the safety of the visitors. There are numerous cafés, restaurants, taco shops, and hotels.

Stinson Beach

Stinson Beach is located 20 miles north of San Francisco. It is rated as one of the best beaches for swimming. In June, you can compete or watch the oldest trail race in America, the 7.4-mile long Dipsea Race.

The beach is sometimes crowded on clear and warm days. You can take part in a large number of activities including swimming, surfing, hand gliding, kayaking, volleyball, fishing, sunbathing, and picnics.

There are several surf shops that allow visitors to rent equipment. The beach is dotted with picnic tables, grills, and benches.

There is a trail from the beach to Mount Tamalpais State Park. …

Solo Travel in Africa

Africa is a continent that has so much to offer and it is the perfect place for solo travelers looking to explore. From safaris in South Africa, exploring ancient cities in Ethiopia, hiking Mount Kilimanjaro or visiting the Maasai Mara National Reserve – there are many options available. If you’re thinking of traveling solo on your next adventure then this article will give you some ideas as to where you should go! Before we begin, big shout out to my friends over at Galatians 6 Moving for their support and encouragement.

Cape Town, South Africa – also known as the Mother City, is one of Africa’s most popular cities to visit. It has many attractions within walking distance including Table Mountain and Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years.

Cape Verde (Cabo Verde) – With their own language and African culture, the people of Cape Verde are very proud to represent themselves as Africans. It is a great destination for those looking for some peace and quiet away from the busy cities. The main island – Sal – boasts many opportunities to see whales in season (July – September) or go diving/snorkeling with turtles!

Cameroon – One of Africa’s most popular destinations that will not disappoint any solo travelers visiting this country. With its’ welcoming people it has been rated as one of Lonely Planet Best In Travel 2017 top ten countries! Cameroon offers visitors an unforgettable experience whether you’re interested in learning about traditional dance at a cultural village, exploring waterfalls within tropical rain forests or hiking Mount Cameroon which sits at 4000m.

Ethiopia – Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and has an extremely rich history that spans back over 3000 years! Visit historical sites such as Gondar (the castle town), Axum (home of the Ark of Covenant) or Lalibela for some unforgettable cultural experiences with friendly locals. The Blue Nile River also passes through here so it’s a great place to either raft down this river or go fishing on one of its many lakes/rivers.

Mozambique – Mozambique harbors some beautiful beaches which are known to be safe especially compared to other African countries like Kenya where beach resorts have been targeted by terrorists in recent years. With islands off Beira including Ibo Island famous for its colonial architecture, Mozambique is a great place for those wanting to discover the culture of Africa.

Namibia – Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world so if you’re looking for some personal space then this destination may be perfect! It’s also very safe and offers many attractions including taking an open-top jeep tour through Sossusvlei or watching whales at Luderitzbucht. There are plenty of activities available such as windsurfing/kite surfing, canoeing on river beds and fishing just to name a few.

Chefchaouen, Morocco – a mountain town in the north west of Morocco. The white houses against a backdrop of blue-green mountains makes Chefchaouen one of the most beautiful places in Africa! It is very cheap compared to other westernized countries and great value for money so this would be a good place to go if you don’t want many expensive meals/accommodation while on your holiday.