Kyoto

Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face. Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built byTokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate, as the Kyoto residence for himself and his successors. The palace building, now known as Ninomaru("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyamaarchitecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).

Iemitsu also added the Honmaru ("main castle") including a five storiedcastle towerto Nijo Castle. However, the original honmaru structures were destroyed by fires in the 18th century, and the present building was moved there from the Imperial Palacein 1893.

Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebratedtemples of Japan. It was founded in 780 and remains associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest sects within Japanese Buddhism. In 1994, the temple was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Kiyomizudera stands in the wooded hills of eastern Kyoto and offers visitors a nice view over the city from its famous wooden terrace. Below the terrace, you can taste the spring water, which gives the temple its name and which is said to have healing power. Behind Kyomizudera's main hall stands Jishu Shrine, ashrine dedicated to the deity of love. In front of the shrine are two rocks, placed several meters apart from each other. Successfully walking from one to the other rock with your eyes closed is said to bring luck in your love live.

Sanjusangendo is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in easternKyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and its present structures date from 1266.

The main hall, which houses the statues, is with over 100 meters Japan's longest wooden structure. In its center sits one large Kannon, flanked on each side by 500 smaller statues, standing in neat rows side by side, each as tall as a human being.

Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto's Higashiyama ("eastern mountains"). The temple is formally known as Tozan Jishoji.

In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple. A few years later, the Silver Pavilion, modeled afterKinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), was constructed. Plans to cover the pavilion in silver were never realized. The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490.

The main building of Ginkakuji is currently being renovated and covered by a scaffold. Works are scheduled to be completed by spring 2010

Kobe

Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of largest cities of Japan. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities.

Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries. Kobe Port was one of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade in the late Edo Period, and the city remains one of Japan's more cosmopolitan cities.

In January 1995, Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed over 5000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. A decade later, the city is completely rebuilt, and few signs of the terrible event are left.

Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake: On January 17, 1995 at 5:46 am, the city of Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, resulting in the death of more than 5000 people and the destruction of tens of thousands of homes.

The Disaster Reduction Museum, part of the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, was opened in 2002 to commemorate the tragic event and to educate visitors about earthquakes and disaster prevention.

The museum includes a large screen theater with realistic images of the earthquake's destructiveness, a documentary film about the recovery process, lots of information about the earthquake and various interactive games about disaster prevention.

Sorakuen is a traditional Japanese landscape garden in the center of Kobe. The garden used to be part of the residence of Kodera Kenkichi, a former mayor of Kobe, but was opened to the public in 1941.

All the buildings, which had originally stood in the garden, were destroyed in the war, except for a stable. The former home of a foreign trader, the Hassam House, was moved into the Sorakuen Garden from the Kitano district in 1961.

Kitano-cho is a city district at the foot of theRokko mountain range where many Western business people settled down in the second half of the 19th century, after the Port of Kobe was opened to foreign trade.A number of former mansions of Western residents remain in the area and are open to the public. Most charge an admission fee of about 300 to 500 yen.

The area also offers many pleasant cafes,restaurants and boutiques and is a favorite among young Japanese couples.

Kobe Harborland is a shopping and entertainment district along the waterfront ofKobe's port area, offering many cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, a Ferris wheel and other forms of entertainment. It is popular dating spot among young couples.

Mount Rokko (931 meters) is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, the mountain range which provides the pleasant green backdrop to the city of Kobe. Panoramic views of the heavily urbanized Hanshin region (Kobeand Osaka), can be enjoyed from the mountain and are particularly spectacular around sunset.

Various small tourist attractions can be found on Mount Rokko, including a botanical garden, a music box museum, a pasture with flowers and sheep, Japan's first golfcourse and Rokko Garden Terrace, a pleasant complex of a few restaurants and shops and an observation deck.

A circular bus line (running in clockwise direction only) connects the various attractions with the top stations of the Rokko Cablecar (to central Kobe) and the Rokko Arima Ropeway (to Arima Onsen).

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is with a length of almost four kilometers the world's longest suspension bridge. It spans the Akashi Strait (Akashi Kaikyo) between Kobeand Awaji Island and is part of the Kobe-Awaji-NarutoExpressway, which connects Honshu with Shikoku. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was opened in 1998.

The Bridge Exhibition Center at the foot of the bridge (Kobe side) provides well presented information about the planning and construction of the bridge and about other suspension bridges around the world, although the detailed explanations are available in Japanese only.

The Maiko Marine Promenade consists of observatory hallways under the bridge's platform, about 50 meters above the water. Accessed by elevator from the base of the bridge (Kobe side), the hallways offer interesting views of the bridge's interior, the Akashi Strait and Osaka Bay.

Arima Onsen is a hot spring town, still located within the city limits ofKobe, but on the opposite side of Mount Rokko from the city center. With a history of over one thousand years, it is one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts.

Visitors to Arima Onsen can enjoy hot spring bathing at public bath houses or at some ryokan (Japanese style inn). Several ryokan open their baths not only to staying guest, but also to daytrippers, typically for an admission fee of between 500 and 1500 yen and during daytime only.

Although Arima Onsen basically has a modern face today, one can still find several old buildings and some nice temples when strolling through the town center's narrow streets. Due to its compact size, Arima Onsen can be explored entirely on foot.

Work

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AEON Corporation of Japan:The AEON Corporation of Japan is dedicated to the development of English language education in Japan

ELT News: Job Classifieds:The best place to find a job in Japan. Job Classifieds are updated daily.

Escape Artist - Japan:On these pages you will find resources for Japan designed for those who want to find a job in Japan, move to, or live in Japan

.GEOS Language Corporation:"Travel, Live, Work in Japan with GEOS." Compensation and Benefits information provided.

O-Hayo Sensei:The free electronic newsletter O-Hayo Sensei reports currently available teaching (and other English language-related)positions at schools, institutions and companies all across Japan

.Japanese Jobs:An employment service specifically for bilingual professionals who speak Japanese and English.

JP's Home Page: Jobs in Japan:A great information from "Getting Started" to "The Hiring Process".

AJET:Site run by JETs, offering advice and information about the program from participants themselves. It links to all of the subgroups in Japan, as well as sites with helpful information regarding living and working in Japan/overseas.

The Working Holiday Programmes in JapanThe Programmes are designed to foster young people with global perspective and enhance friendly relationship between Japan and partner countries by providing opportunities for the young people to deepen their understanding about partner countries.

Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners:Tokyo Employment Service Center for Foreigners is one of the Public Employment Security Offices which are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and specializes in placement service and offers job-related information to foreigners living in Japan, and also providing information and advice to employers about recruiting foreigners..

Tokyo Connections:Tokyo Connections is the most comprehensive online resource dedicated to helping job seekers find work in Japan.

WWOOF Japan:WWOOF Japan is a program facilitating travellers and holiday makers to visit hosts around Japan and receive meals, boarding, learning and be part of the family or community at no financial cost, in return for assisting the host with the work they do and much more.

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