Modern Fashion at Harajuku
Harajuku is famous for its ultra modern and various exotic kinds of fashion worn mostly by teenagers who come here to socialise, shop and of course to show off their fashion sense. You will be treated with a wide array of fashion at Harajuku and it is not to be missed when you are in Tokyo.
World Sand Sculpture Festival in Tottori
Tottori city is home to Japan’s largest sand dunes, the locals have taken a lot of pride in this unique site, and for those who wish to enjoy it further, the World Sand Sculpture Festival features sand sculptures from some of the most impressive sculptors in the world. In the evening, they light up the sculptures. There is typically a theme among the sculptures. There was once a folktales and legends theme, so every sculpture symbolized a fairytale or legend from the sculptor’s home nation. The sculptures are all judged, so you can see the top three and compare their choices to your own personal favorites. Along with looking at the sand sculptures, there are a variety of food vendors and tents filled with various souvenirs. It’s a great time!
Tottori Sand Dunes
The Tottori Sand Dunes are the largest sand dunes in Japan. While sand dunes are not typically associated with Japan, it is nevertheless a great place to visit! The size of the dunes is quite large however, because they are situated along the Sea of Japan, some people may see it more as a large beach. In order to best appreciate the dunes, I would recommend viewing them from in front of the dunes (from a distance away) and also to walk atop the dunes around the center. From the central part of the dunes, there are areas where you cannot see the distant foliage, so it feels more like a desert. The sand dunes are particularly beautiful in the early morning when there are no footprints or people getting in the way of the natural beauty of the sand and ruining the patterns that form over night (and after rain). It is also an amazing place to view the sunrise!
Fukuoka Tower
At 234 metres, the Fukuoka Tower is the tallest seaside tower in Japan (though I’m not sure how many other seaside towers there are as competition) and is the symbol of Fukuoka. The Tower was completed in 1989, having taken 14 months to build at a cost of 6 billion yen, and is supposed to be designed to withstand magnitude 7 earthquakes (the strongest earthquake recorded to date in Fukuoka is magnitude 6). At ground level, you can look up and see the hollow central shaft above. The lift to the 5th floor observation deck (123m above ground) takes about 70 seconds. There is an excellent view from this deck, and plenty of information boards to identify landmarks.
Meriken Park & Kobe Tower
Meriken Park is Kobe’s most famous location around the harbor. It houses Kobe Tower, which is the symbol of the city, as well as a variety of other interesting things. Walking around Meriken Park, you can see a ship, two interesting marine vessels, the Maritime Museum, and a variety of artwork. It also offers a nice view of Harbor land. At night the view of Harbor land is quite pretty, because the Ferris wheel is lit up. Kobe Tower and some of the sites around the park are also lit up at night. One of the most interesting features of Meriken Park is the Earthquake Memorial, which is dedicated to the victims of the earthquake that devastated the city in 1995. It is one of the only preserved damage sites from the earthquake, featuring broken concrete, railings, and lamp posts pointing in opposite directions.