ISLANDS & SKYSCRAPERS
AFTER BEING WOWED BY THE PANORAMIC 360° VIEW from Roppongi in the centre of Tokyo, take a trip to Dōgo Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot springs. Along the way, you’ll cross the gentle Seto Inland Sea by bicycle on the spectacular Shimanami Kaido route. Th
TOKYO.
Tokyo City View
Experience a bird’s-eye view of Tokyo from the Observation Deck of Tokyo City View. It has an indoor observation gallery 250 metres above sea level and the Sky Deck outdoor gallery at 270 metres high. From here, take in sweeping views of the city, including Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Sky Tree; and, on a clear day – maybe even Mt. Fuji. The indoor observation gallery also features the Sky Gallery, an urban gallery showing world-class exhibitions.
Kimono Experience in Ginza
Ginza is the centre of Tokyo and fuses traditional Japanese clothing with a modern shopping district, where fashion is diverse. Rent your kimono from the Kimono Gallery, and you can even add hair styling and hair ornaments, before you set out in your traditional Japanese clothing to explore the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Station, Tsukiji, and the Kabuki-za. Imagine the photos you will get for Instagram!
EHIME.
Matsuyama Castle
Matsuyama Castle stands on top of Katsuyama Hill and has one of only 12 surviving castle donjons built before the Edo period. It also features the Nohara Turret, the only surviving watchtower-style two-story turret in Japan. Matsuyama was chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles in 2006 and as one of the ‘Top 100 Historical Sites of Beautiful Japan’ in 2007. There are about 200 cherry trees on the castle grounds, making this a lovely cherry blossom viewing location, typically around late March to early April each year.
Dōgo Onsen
Do¯ go Onsen is Japan’s oldest hot spring with a history of approximately 3000 years. This grand three-tiered building is crowned by a square cupola called the ‘Shinrokaku’ that features giyaman glass windows and a roof adorned by a sculpture of the white heron from the Do¯ go Onsen legend. With such a rich history, Do¯ go Onsen has for the first time been designated a National Treasure for public bathing in Japan. Make sure to also spend time and enjoy Do¯ go Onsen’s counterpart, Asuka-no-yu Onsen, wherein Ehime’s traditional handicrafts create the most relaxing atmosphere.
Shimanami Kaido Cycling
The Shimanami Kaido Expressway has Japan’s only bridge-top cycling and pedestrian walkway. The route runs from Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, to Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, and is an approximately 70 kilometre-long highway that links the islands of the Seto Inland Sea through nine bridges. This cycling route lets riders experience the refreshing sensation of riding almost as if suspended above the sea, and has been nicknamed the ‘Aegean Sea of Asia’. One of the world’s most incredible bike routes, there is much to see and do, and bikes are easy to rent. To fully experience the local cuisine, culture and scenery, continue and explore the shrines and museums on Oshima Island, Hakatajima Island and Omishima Island near Imabari City, which hold many rich cultural and National Treasures.