World In My Eyes

Furano/Biei, Japan

Furano ▪ Tripadvisor ▪ Wikitravel ▪ Japan-guide ▪ Furano Brochure

Biei ▪ Tripadvisor ▪ Wikitravel ▪ Virtual Tourist ▪ Japan-guide

Attractions/Sightseeing:

• Blue Pond (青い池) / Blue River
• 白金温泉郷　森の旅亭びえい

The Blue Pond is located along Prefectural Road number 966, which connects central Biei with Tokachidake Onsen via Shirogane Onsen. A free parking lot is located next to the road from where the pond can be reached in a 5-10 minute walk. Buses between Biei Station and Shirogane Onsen stop at Shirogane Aoiike Iriguchi (白金青い池入口) bus stop along the way. ake a local bus (to Shirogane Hot Springs) from Biei station. Get off at "Aoi-ike Entrance".
It will take about 30 min. and cost about 500 yen. Check the timetable through this link. 3.2km distance from Shirogane Hot Springs.
http://www.furanotourism.com/jp/static/pdf/jikokuhyo.pdf

Kushiro, Japan

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Kushiro, which is well known as "the town of mist," is situated in the southeastern part of Hokkaido, facing the Pacific Ocean. A monument to Takuboku Ishikawa, a famous poet and novelist who lived in Kushiro, can be found in Yonemachi Park, where you can enjoy a fantastic view of Kushiro Port from an observation point. If you would like to treat yourself to a gourmet meal or enjoy shopping, Kushiro Fishermen's Wharf MOO is the place to go. This is a very popular place for both the local people and visitors, and there is always a lively, cheerful and welcoming atmosphere. In the north of Kushiro is Japan's largest marshland, Kushiro wetland, which stretches out over the majority of the Kushiro Plain. Kushiro wetland is listed as a national park. Kushiro Tancho Nature Park is known as the site of the first successful artificial breeding of tancho cranes (Japanese cranes), which are designated as special natural monuments. There are currently about 20 tancho cranes residing in the park. They can be seen all year round.

Attractions/Sightseeing:

• 釧路市丹頂鶴自然公園 (Web)
• Kushiro Marshlands
• Kushiro Tancho Market (丹頂市場)
• Lake Akan  阿寒湖 (Mt. Oakan and Mt. Meakan) - Sightseeing boats to see marimo algae
• SL冬の湿原号 (only run in Jan-Mar)

Otaru, Japan

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Otaru (小樽) is a small harbor city, about half an hour northwest of Sapporo by train. Its beautifully preserved canal area and interesting herring mansions make Otaru a pleasant day trip from Sapporo.

Attractions/Sightseeing:

Sapporo, Japan

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Sapporo (札幌, "important river flowing through a plain" in Ainu language) is the capital of Hokkaido and Japan's fifth largest city. Sapporo is also one of the nation's youngest major cities. In 1857, the city's population stood at just seven people. Sapporo became world famous in 1972 when the Olympic Winter Games were held there. Today, the city is well known for its ramen, beer, and the annual snow festival held in February.

Attractions/Sightseeing:

• Sapporo White Illumination (Web) (late Nov-Feb)
• Doraemon Wakuwaku Sky Park (Web) (at the airport)
• Clock Tower (Web) (時計台): said to be the symbol of Sapporo, clock purchased from Boston in 1881.
• Curb Market (Web) (札幌場外市場): try a meal of fresh local seafood served over rice (domburi) at one of the local restaurants.
• Odori Park (Web) (大通公園): 12-blocks city park in the middle of Sapporo, view from Sapporo TV Tower
• Susukino (Web): entertainment district, Ramen Yokocho (alley) is a narrow lane lined with shops serving Sapporo's famous ramen.
• Mt. Moiwa (Web) (藻岩山) Viewpoint: ropeway (mini cable car), view of Sapporo
• Moerenuma Park (Web) (モエレ沼公園): Hidamari glass pyramid, play mountain, mount Moere with great views of the park and surrounding.

Kathmandu, Nepal

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Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which also contains two sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. The city’s rich history is nearly 2000 years old, as inferred from an inscription in the valley. Its religious affiliations are dominantly Hindu followed by Buddhism. People of other religious beliefs also live in Kathmandu giving it a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the common language of the city, though many speak the Nepal Bhasa Newari as it is the center of the Newar people and culture. English is understood by all of the educated population of the city. The literacy rate is 98% in the city.

Attractions/Sightseeing:

• Kathmandu Durbar Square
• Mani Wheel (Prayer wheel) in Swayambhunath (the monkey temple)
• Boudhanath Stupa (Center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal)
• Pashupatinath temple
• Pullahari Monastery
• Kopan Monastery
• Hanuman Dhoka Square
• Thamel
• Patan Durbar Square

Petra, Jordan

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Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea and inhabited since prehistoric times, the rock-cut capital city of the Nabateans, became during Hellenistic and Roman times a major caravan centre for the incense of Arabia, the silks of China and the spices of India, a crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's richest and largest archaeological sites set in a dominating red sandstone landscape. Petra was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.

The Outstanding Universal Value of Petra resides in the vast extent of elaborate tomb and temple architecture; religious high places; the remnant channels, tunnels and diversion dams that combined with a vast network of cisterns and reservoirs which controlled and conserved seasonal rains, and the extensive archaeological remains including of copper mining, temples, churches and other public buildings. The fusion of Hellenistic architectural facades with traditional Nabataean rock-cut temple/tombs including the Khasneh, the Urn Tomb, the Palace Tomb, the Corinthian Tomb and the Deir ("monastery") represents a unique artistic achievement and an outstanding architectural ensemble of the first centuries BC to AD. The varied archaeological remains and architectural monuments from prehistoric times to the medieval periods bear exceptional testimony to the now lost civilizations which succeeded each other at the site.

Attractions/Sightseeing:

• Treasury
• Monastery
• Al Siq (canyon)
• Corinthian Tomb
• Petra by Night
• The Urn Tomb
• Sextius Florentinus Tomb
• Little Petra
• Byzantine Church
• Wadi Rum