NIIGATA

Niigata ( ) is the capital of Niigata prefecture, Japan and the largest city on the Japan Sea coast. Niigata is a harbor city with a population of 810,000 facing the Sea of Japan. It is situated approximately 250 kilometers directly north of Tokyo, and is connected with Tokyo via the Shinkansen and an expressway. Niigata is a rice growing region famed for the high quality of its rice and sake.

HISTORY Until after the Meiji Restoration, the area that is now Niigata Prefecture was divided into Echigo Province and Sado Province. During the Sengoku period, the Nagao clan, who were at times vassals to the Uesugi, ruled a fief in the western part of modern Niigata from Kasugayama Castle. The most notable member of the Nagao clan was Nagao Kagetora, was later and better known as Uesugi Kenshin. He unified the leaders of Echigo Province and became its sole ruler. By taking the surname Uesugi, he also became the head of the Uesugi clan and effectively brought their realm under his control. The city of Niigata is now the largest Japanese city facing the Sea of Japan. It was the first Japanese port on the Sea of Japan to be opened to foreign trade following the opening of Japan by Matthew Perry. It has since played an important role in trade with Russia and Korea. A freighter from North Korea visits Niigata once a month, in one of the few forms of direct contact between Japan and that country. The Etsuzankai organization, led by the politician Kakuei Tanaka, was highly influential in bringing infrastructure improvements to Niigata Prefecture in

the 1960s and 1970s. These included the Jetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail line and the Kanetsu Expressway to Tokyo. ECONOMY Agriculture, forestry and fishing The major industry in Niigata Prefecture is agriculture. Rice is the principal product, and among the prefectures of Japan Niigata is second only to Hokkaid in rice output. The area around Uonuma is known for producing the Koshihikari variety, widely considered to be the highest-quality rice produced in Japan. Rice-related industries are also very important to the prefectural economy. Niigata Prefecture is known throughout Japan for its high-quality sake, senbei, mochi, and arare. In sake production, the prefecture comes third after Gunma and Kyoto prefectures. The prefecture was also the place of origin of the ornamental carp known as koi. Niigata Prefecture produces the highest volume of azaleas and cut lilies in Japan, and is increasing production of cut flowers and flower bulbs. Along with Toyama Prefecture, it produces the highest volume of tulips in the country.

CULTURE and TRADITION Furumachi Geigi: The Geisha of Niigata The Furumachi district of Niigata is considered one of the three most prestigious areas in Japan for geisha, along with Gion in Kyoto and Shinbashi in Tokyo. Boasting a tradition of 200 years, the Furumachi geigi represent the culture of Niigata as a port town. Since Niigata was, and still is, Japans top rice producer, it was a stop on the Kitamaebune shipping route. The Furumachi geigi helped welcome the visitors, and it is said that at their peak, there were over 300 geigi flourishing in all of their glamour.

Sado Okesa Dance This representative folk dance of Sado Island is nationally famous. It is said that sailors brought the dance from Kyushu by sailors, and it became known as Okesa at Sados Gold Mine.

Oni-daiko (Demon drums) Oni-daiko is a religious performance to ward off devils in order to pray for a bountiful harvest. Known as ondeko on Sado, this drumming performance can be seen at all festivals on the island.

Bunya Puppets In the early Edo Period, this puppetry came about from the storytelling of Bunya Okamoto. The body movements of the puppets display the innate melancholy of these stories. Bunya Puppets has been designated as a National Importa.

Tokamachi Kimono Tokamachi Citys kimonos have a history of 1500 years, making Tokamachi famous for kimono along the lines of Kyoto.

Oiran Dochu Courtesan Procession Bunsui is an area known for its cherry blossoms, More than 3,000 cherry trees line up the street to offer a magnificient sight in spring. Women dressed as courtesans in beautiful kimono combined with cherry blossoms make for an extravagant performance.

Bullfighting Heavyweight giant bulls slam into each other in this high-energy traditional ritual. There are several venues in Ojiya and Nagaoka Citys Yamakoshi area. The bullfights take place every year from May to November.

FESTIVALS

Murakami Taisai a traditional regional festival held downtown area on July 6 and 7, every year, since 1868. Iwafune Taisai October 18-19, in Murakami. This festival prays for safety on the seas, a bountiful catch, and prosperous business. The lavishly decorated Ofunesama leads nine carts through town. Niigata Festival The Niigata Festival lasts three days starting on August 3. See float parades and fireworks displays, as well as the piece de resistance, a folk dance procession of 20,000 people.

Niigata General Dancing Event -September 21-25 Shirone Kite Festival is said to be began at 1740. Kite fighting is held at the both banks of Nakanokuchi River which width is about 80m. The size of kite is 5m wide, 7m high and weights 30kg. The building cost is about 1,500,000yen. Each seven groups of both sides of the river fight together with their own kite. The festival will be held on the first Thursday through Sunday of June every year. Nagaoka Festival (with fireworks) is part of the event held during the Nagaoka Matsuri (Nagaoka Festival). The festival's highlights are its dai-minyo-nagashi (folk dance procession), mikoshi (portable shrine parade), and fireworks displays. Held August 2nd to 3rd, along the Shinano-gawa, the longest river in Japan, the fireworks displays include Sei-Sanjakudama fireworks. Tokamachi Winter Festival February, the philosophy of the snow festival is "Snow is a friend not an enemy", and three hundreds thousands people visit this festival during 3 days. Niigata Tanrei Sake-no-Jin March, Niigata Sake no Jin is a thoroughly established two-day event full of highlights and flavor. The 90 sake breweries located in Niigata Prefecture all bring their best sake to one location. TOURIST SPOTS Oppo-ji Temple Established in 736, Oppo-ji, one of Niigatas finest historical temples, appears in the classic Japanese literature piece, Tales of Past and Present (Konjyakumonogatari-shu). It is also one of the temples visited by classical author Matsuo Basho during his famous journey described in Narrow Road to the Deep North. The three-storied pagoda boasts a history of 380 years, and is a nationally designated important cultural property.

Iyoboya Salmon Museum

Murakami City is famous for its salmon cuisine. In the local dialect, iyoboya means the king of fish. At the Iyoboya Salmon Museum, located within Salmon Park, visitors can learn about the entire life cycle of the salmon.

Shibata Castle Shibata Castle, also known as Ayame Castle, is the symbol of Shibata, a castle town that has prospered for more than 270 years.

Shimizuen Garden Built during the Edo era, the garden is a showcase of seasonal shrubs and flowers.

Myosenji Temple The five story pagoda tower on the temple grounds is said to mimic Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, and is a nationally designated important cultural property.

Niigata Prefectural Museum of History A 10,000 square meter museum built on the home of kaendoki pottery. The museum introduces Niigatas history and culture through the themes of rice, snow, and the Jomon period. Life-size historical re-creations are also brought to life.

Nishikigoi Village Ojiyas beautiful water and centuries of selective breeding have created the Nishikigoi carp, a swimming work of art. See approximately 200 carps in the viewing aquarium, or 100 carps in the garden pond. Enjoy an elegant time while feeding the carps in the viewing pond.

Bandai Bridge Bandai Bridge could be said to be the symbol of Niigata City. The current bridge is the third incarnation, known as the solid bridge that didnt budge during the 1969 Niigata Earthquake. The bridge lights up at night, showing off its beautiful figure.

Takada Castle

Takada Castle was first constructed in 1614. The current three-story building tells of the past glory of the castle.

Yahiko Shrine Yahiko Shrine was built to be surrounded by mountains, and its symbol is its giant torii gate. It is said that the shrine was built around 1300 years ago, and many cultural artifacts including swords and calligraphy are on display in its treasury.

Ryutopia (Niigata City Culture and Music Hall) Ryutopia is an arts and culture facility with three specialized halls for concerts, plays, and noh theater. Built near a beautiful park, it is an area of comfort for the people of Niigata City.

Takigi Noh Theater Noh Theater is a traditional art form of Japan, but Noh on Sado Island is unique in that it spread to the common people. Sado has 34 Noh stages, about half of all stages in Japan. The Mano area, called the town of Noh, has a particularly long Noh tradition.

Niigata Prefectural Government Memorial Hall Since its construction in 1883, this building was used for 50 years as the Prefectural Assembly Hall, and is now open to the public. As a modern institution it is one of the most premiers in the country, and is a nationally designated important cultural property.

FLOWERS AND CUISINE Food Niigata's bountiful soil and pure water make it the number one rice-growing area in Japan. Niigata brand top grade rice derives its high status from the taste and texture of local Koshihikari rice.

Sasazushi (bamboo leaf sushi) is a delicacy made with rice and enjoyed especially in Western Niigata and the Joetsu region. Sasazushi recipes vary from family to family, but generally rice seasoned with vinegar is molded into small oval shapes and placed on bamboo leaves.

Niigata Sake Niigata is also renowned for its sake, Japan's traditional alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice. Plentiful high quality rice combined with the pristine waters that flow from heavy mountain snowfalls in the region make for exquisite sakes. Local sake breweries in Niigata meticulously brew a wide selection of sakes that are revered nationwide for their dry, sharp finish and refreshingly crisp flavor.

Rice Crackers (Senbei) Niigata is a major producer of the snacks that best represent Japan: rice crackers. Rice crackers are made all over Japan, but as the rice basket of Japan, rice cracker production is particularly thriving in Niigata. Rice crackers are made by baking ground rice, and are usually flavored with soy sauce or

salt. They are generally circular or square in shape, though they come in a variety of other shapes, too. Niigata's best-known rice cracker snack is called Kaki-no-tane, literally "persimmon seeds."

Nanban Shirmp (Nanban Ebi) Usually called sweet shrimp, they have the special nickname nanban shrimp in Niigata because their color and shape resemble chili peppers, or nanban. They are caught off the shores of Sado Island at a depth of 300500 meters. They are sweet in flavor with a unique texture different from that of other shrimp.

Niigata Masterpiece Sushi: "Kiwami" A premium sushi collection that features 10 pieces of sushi made of sea urchin, fatty tuna, salmon roe, and local, seasonal fish prepared by an experienced sushi master. It includes the most delicious local fish of the day chosen by a sushi artisan with expert judgment.

Noppe (Vegetable Stew) Niigatas famous traditional food, handed down the generations since long ago. Thinly sliced taro, carrots, burdock, shiitake and other vegetables are boiled in soy sauce for a delicious dish. The ingredients and tastes differ depending on the region for a special flavor. The sweet, melt-in-your-mouth meat makes them perfect for sushi and sashimi.

Blackthroat Seaperch (Nodoguro) Formally called rosy seabass, are high grade fish that can be caught along the coast of the Sea of Japan. They are nicknamed blackthroat for the black coloration on the inside of their throats. They are a white-flesh fish, but their meat is fatty and tender. In addition to being a popular choice for sashimi and sushi, they are also delicious grilled.

Sasadango Niigatas famous treat, the sasadango, has its roots as a portable food in the Warring States period. Sasadango is made of mugwort-flavored mochi (glutinous rice) and red beans wrapped in bamboo leaves. In olden times, every family made many during the holiday periods.

Edamame (Soybeans) Is popular as the taste of Niigatas summer. The lightly brown colored chamame are especially famous for their chewy sweetness.

Le Lectier (Pear) A popular pear with smooth texture and a high quality fragrance. Niigata was the original site for Le Lectier pears in Japan.

Flowers Niigata City produces the most cut tulips and tulip bulbs nationwide. During spring flower events take place all over, and one can see the city carpeted in flowers.

OSAKA
Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is the third largest city by population after Tokyo. "Osaka" literally means "large hill" or "large slope." It is unclear when this name gained prominence over Naniwa, but the oldest usage of the name dates back to a 1496 text.

FESTIVALS
Toka Ebisu January 9 to 11: It is celebrated for Ebisu, who is the deity of Commerce. This is a three day festival celebrated by millions of visitors every year. They buy the three things i.e. Kiccho-zasa, a bamboo branch decked with models of tai, Koban, an old Japanes coin and Kome-dawara a straw rice bag, which is symbolic of a flourish trade and commerce in Osaka, Japan.

Setsubun Festival, around February 3: It is a traditional event held every year at Ishikiri Tsurugiya Shrine. This is marked by scattering of beans by lucky male and female from the upper storeys of the gate to the worshippers below.

Plum Blossoms early February to early March: it is a festival commonly known as Ume Matsuri. It is celebrated every year since its beginning in 1986. Kairakuen which is regarded as the best laid out garden in Japan is the venue of outdoor events during this festival. Koto (Japanese harp) recital, a Nodate Chai-kai (Tea Party), a folk song festival and a haiku competition is organized. The 300 odd plum trees blossoms in red and white and displays a wide range of about 100 species in this garden. It attracts a lot of tourists from all over Japan during this time of the year.

Golden Week: The period around April 29 to May 5 is called Golden Week. This is a period having consecutive holidays which is utilized by the local tourists to visit places.

Tenjin Matsuri Festival, July 24 - 25 : This is one of Japans three most important festivals. The festival is inaugurated with the Fure-Daiko Drum core and the portable shrine is set sail from Tenmangu Shrine to the port Tenjinbashi Bridge. The climax is marked with fireworks that brighten up the night sky and colors the water surface.

The Bon Festival, Around August 13 to 16: This is one of the traditional festivals during which many companies close their office. The travel lovers go on a short tour and the air carriers make a good business out of it. The hoteliers charge heavily during this short period.

Midosuji Parade: Held on the second Sunday of October, about 100 groups take part in the parade which is the biggest in Japan. The parade takes place along Midosuji Boulevard Street in the Osaka City.

TOURIST SPOTS
The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central castle building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside, and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from sword-bearing attackers. The Castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square meters (15 acres), contain thirteen structures.

Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Better known by foreigners as the Golden Pavilion, this unique gold-painted structure and its garden are amongst the most heavily photographed landmark in Kyoto. The three-storey pavilion has roofs that gently curve upwards at the edges, while the second and third storeys are gold-leaf coated. The pond, which lies adjacent to the Kinkakuji, provides a clear reflection of the building when weather permits. Although a villa was constructed here in 1397 by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, it was burnt down by a young monk, inspiring the book that followed, Kinkakuji. The current building was constructed in 1955 and is an authentic copy of the original.

Kiyomizudera Temple Also known as the Temple of Pure Water, Kiyomizudera is a beautiful temple situated on a hillside. Built in 798 AD, it is thought by the Japanese that a visit to the Shinto shrine inside the temple can bring you success in finding a suitable partner, and is therefore popular amongst young Japanese. This prominent landmark consists of a main hall set on an extensive wooden terrace and is surrounded by the temple grounds and a pagoda. The views from the terrace are yet another reason to visit.

Heian Shrine This orange structure is one of the most imposing shrines in Kyoto, constructed in 1884 to celebrate the city's 1,100th birthday and honour the first and last emperors that reside here. Based on the Heian Period Imperial Palace, the shrine is a smaller version. The landscaped gardens surrounding the Heian Shrine are stunning to say the least and boast a large pond, plentiful flowers, a covered bridge and in the spring, abundant cherry blossom.

Nijo Castle One of Kyoto's most visited historic landmarks, Nijo castle was formerly the power base of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early 1600s. Unlike the austere buildings of the imperial family, the castle displays its wealth and power in a rather ostentatious fashion. Damaged by a fire in 1788, Nijo Castle was soon rebuilt to exude its former military might. Students from the Kano School were used to paint ferocious animals within the interior, such as tigers and leopards, to symbolize strength. However, Tokugawa was not without fear, and installed squeaky wooden floors that would act as a warning against night intruders.

FOODS
Tako-yaki A popular Japanese dumpling that originates in Osaka. Tako-yaki is considered a fast food and is sold on the streets. In the Kansai region, Tako-

yaki is eaten as a side dish with a bowl of cooked rice. Elsewhere in Japan, it is eaten without rice as a snack food.

Kitsune Udon Udon are thick noodles, and kitsune is fried bean curd. Kitsune udon consists of cooked udon noodles in clear soy sauce based broth with fried bean curd. Do you know why fried bean curd is called kitsune (fox)? The fox is traditionally a symbol of a god of commerce and is called oinari-san. People believed that foxes loved to eat fried bean curd and so gave them as offerings at inari shrines. This is how the bean curd itself came be known as kitsune.

Sushi Osaka's traditional sushi is called Osaka-zushi meaning "Osaka style sushi". In the 19th century, creative sushi chefs in Osaka began to incorporate their ingenuity in making Oshi-zushi (box pressed sushi) using expensive seafood such as sea bream, sea eel and shrimp. This elaborately designed Oshi-zushi was unique to Osaka and thus came to be called Osaka-zushi.

TOKYO

Tokyo ( , Tky?, "Eastern Capital") , officially Tokyo Metropolis ( , Tky-to?), is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family. Tokyo is in the Kant region on the southeastern side of the main island Honshu and includes the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands. Tokyo Metropolis was formed in 1943 from the merger of the former Tokyo Prefecture ( , Tky-fu?) and the city of Tokyo (, Tky-shi?). Tokyo has been described as one of the three "command centers" for the world economy, along with New York City and London. This city is considered an alpha+ world city, listed by the GaWC's 2008 inventory and ranked third among global cities by Foreign Policy's 2010 Global Cities Index. In 2010 Tokyo was named the second most expensive city for expatriate employees, according to the Mercer and Economist Intelligence Unit cost-of-living surveys, and named the fourth Most Liveable City and the Worlds Most Livable Megalopolis by the magazine Monocle. The Michelin Guide has awarded Tokyo by far the most Michelin stars of any city in the world. Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics and is currently bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. Tokyo was originally known as Edo, meaning "estuary". Its name was changed to Tokyo (Tky: t (east) + ky (capital)) when it became the imperial capital in 1868, in line with the East Asian tradition of including the word capital (' ') in the name of the capital city. During the early Meiji period, the city was also called "Tkei", an alternative pronunciation for the same Chinese characters representing "Tokyo". Some surviving official English documents use the spelling "Tokei. However, this pronunciation is now obsolete.

BELIEFS AND TRADITONS

Traditions of Tokyo reflect the age-old customs of the country. The ikebana and the tea ceremony are considered to be important festivals that reflect the rich tradition of Tokyo. The people of Tokyo strictly maintain decorum and consider bowing as a symbol of politeness. The Japanese use act of bowing as a form of greeting each other. The 7th birthday marks an important year in a girls life, according to Japanese tradition, and no better place exists in Tokyo than the Meiji Shrine for observing this. Apparently, the seventh year can be dangerous for young girls, so they should visit a shrine to pray for protection during the next 365 potentially hazardous days. Some girls do their best to ensure this protection

by dressing in elaborate kimonos and have their picture taken by various family members.

FESTIVALS
Seijin-no-hi is one of the major festivals celebrated all over Japan that highlight the unique cultural traditions of the country. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm and fervor in the month of January and is meant for the people over 20 years of age.

The Doll Festival is another festival which showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditional legacy of the ancient times. The local people refer to this festival as Hini Matsuri. Dedicated to the girl child, the Doll Festival portrays the value of a daughter in her parental home. The families that have female child usually celebrate this occasion by preparing special cuisines and decorating dolls in colorful and attractive attires. The traditional Japanese attire is the world famous Kimono which is made up of silk and is worn on various festive occasions.

TOURIST SPOTS

Tokyo Tower (, Tky taw) is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, and Tokyo, Japan. At 332.5 metres (1,091 ft), it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations. The tower acts as a support structure for an antenna. Originally intended for television broadcasting, radio antennas were installed in 1961 and the tower is now used to broadcast signals for Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV. Japan's planned digital television transition by July 2011 is problematic, however.

Tokyo Dome City (formerly known as Big Egg City prior to January 1, 2000) is an entertainment complex in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. It includes the world's largest roofed baseball stadium known as Tokyo Dome (nicknamed "Big Egg"), an amusement park known as Tokyo Dome City Attractions (formerly Krakuen Yenchi), and Korakuen Hall. In May 2003, a spa resort known as LaQua opened for business near Tokyo Dome City Attractions. It also hosts character shows for the Super Sentaiseries. The Tokyo Dome City contains the Tokyo Dome Hotel, a 43-story hotel that is easily visible from the street and from the Tokyo Subway Suidobashi Station, which is only two blocks away.

Asakusa Shrine ( , Asakusa-jinja), also known as Sanja-sama ("Shrine of the Three Gods"), is one of the most famous Shinto shrines in Tokyo, Japan. Located in Asakusa, the shrine honors the three men who founded the Sens-ji. Asakusa Shrine is part of a larger grouping of sacred buildings in the area. It can be found on the east side of the Sens-ji down a street marked by a large stone torii.

Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo's most impressive Shinto shrine. Built in honor of the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken, the shrine was completed in 1920. During WWII, it was completely destroyed, but was rebuilt with all the original features - the shrine itself using Japanese cypress wood. The surrounding Meiji-Jingu Koen Park, being next to Yoyogi Park, and the nearby Harajuku shopping area, make this an excellent place to spend an afternoon. Accessible from Harajuku Station, on the JR Yamanote line.

Ueno Park ( , Ueno Ken) is a spacious public park located in the Ueno section of Taito, Tokyo, Japan. It occupies the site of the former Kan'eiji, a temple closely associated with the Tokugawa shoguns, who had built the temple to guard Edo Castle against the north-east, then considered an unlucky direction. The temple was destroyed during the Boshin War. Ueno Park was established through an imperial land grant to the city of Tokyo by Emperor Taish in 1924. The official name of the park is Ueno Onshi Ken (), which can be translated as "Ueno Imperial Gift Park". Tokyo National Museum, Japan's largest museum, with the world's largest collection of Japanese art. The main gallery, directly ahead from the entrance, is the Japanese gallery, with sculptures, swords, writing and porcelain. There is also a gallery for Asian art and archeology, a gallery for special exhibitions and Japanese archeological finds, and the gallery of Horyuji treasures. The other galleries are open Tues-Sun 9:30am to 5pm. Entrance fee 420 yen. Expect long lines during special exhibits. At Ueno Station on JR Yamanote, or Hibiya subway line.

Tokyo Disney Resort ( , Tky Dizun Rizto) is a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of

Tokyo. It is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park (Tokyo Disneyland), but developed into a resort with two theme parks, three Disney hotels, six non-Disney hotels, and a shopping complex. Tokyo Disneyland was the first Disney theme park opened outside the United States.

Mount Fuji ( , Fuji-san?, IPA: [disa] (listen)) is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft). An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 170708, Mount Fuji lies about 100 kilometres (62 mi) south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone, which is snow-capped several months a year, is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers. It is one of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains" ( , Sanreizan?) along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku. The current kanji for Mount Fuji, and , mean "wealth" or "abundant" and "a man with a certain status" respectively. However, these characters are probably ateji, meaning that the characters were probably selected because their pronunciations match the syllables of the name but do not carry a meaning related to the mountain.

Tokyo Imperial Palace ( , kkyo; literally, "Imperial Residence") is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains several buildings including the main palace (Kyden ( ), the private residences of the imperial family, an archive, museum and administrative offices. It is built on the site of the old Edo castle. The total area including the gardens is 7.41 square kilometres (2.86 sq mi). During the height of the 1980s Japanese property bubble, the palace grounds were valued by some as more than the value of all the real estate in the state of California.

FOODS

Nabemono ( , , nabe cooking pot + mono things, stuff, kinds) or simply called nabe, is a term referring to all varieties of Japanese steamboat dishes, also known as one pot dishes. The pots are traditionally made of clay ( , donabe) or thick cast iron ( , tetsunabe). Clay pots can keep warm for a while after being taken off the fire, while cast iron pots evenly distribute heat and are preferable for sukiyaki. The pots are usually placed in the center of dining tables, shared by multiple people. This is considered the most sociable way to eat with friends and family.

Unagi ( ) is the Japanese word for freshwater eels, especially the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica. Saltwater eels are known as anago in Japanese. Unagi are a common ingredient in Japanese cooking. Unagi is served as part of unadon (sometimes spelled unagidon, especially in menus in Japanese restaurants in Western countries), a donburi dish with sliced eel served on a bed of rice. A kind of sweet biscuit called unagi pie made with powdered unagi also exists. Unagi is high in protein, vitamin A, and calcium. Lake Hamana in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture is considered to be the home of the highest quality unagi; as a result, the lake is surrounded by many small restaurants specializing in various unagi dishes. Unagi is often eaten during the hot summers in Japan. There is even a special day for eating unagi, the midsummer day of the Ox (doyo no ushi no hi).

Yakitori (//), grilled chicken, is commonly a Japanese type of skewered chicken. The term Yakitori can also refer to skewered food in general. Kushiyaki (skewer grilled), is a formal term that encompasses both poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled. Both Yakitori and Kushiyaki mean the same, so the terms are used interchangeably in Japanese society. The average yakitori is made from several bite-sized pieces of chicken meat, or chicken offal, skewered on a bamboo skewer and grilled, usually over charcoal. Diners ordering yakitori usually have a choice of having it cooked with salt (shio) or with tare sauce, which is generally made up of mirin, sake, soy sauce and sugar. The sauce is applied to the skewered meat and is grilled until delicately cooked.

Tempura ( or , tenpura) is a Japanese dish of seafood or vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. A light batter is made of cold water (sometimes sparkling water is used to keep the batter light) and soft wheat flour (cake, pastry or all-purpose flour). Eggs, baking soda or baking powder, starch, oil, and/or spices may also be added. Tempura batter is traditionally mixed in small batches using

chopsticks for only a few seconds, leaving lumps in the mixture that, along with the cold batter temperature, result in the unique fluffy and crisp tempura structure when cooked. The batter is often kept cold by adding ice, or by placing the bowl inside a larger bowl with ice in it.

Okonomiyaki ( , o-konomi-yaki) is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning "what you like" or "what you want", and yaki meaning "grilled" or "cooked" (cf. yakitori and yakisoba). Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region. Tokyo okonomiyaki is usually smaller than a Hiroshima or Kansai okonomiyaki.

Oden ( ) is a Japanese winter dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon radish, konnyaku, and processed fish cakes stewed in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. Ingredients vary according to region and between each household. Karashi (Japanese mustard) is often used as a condiment.

Oden was originally what is now commonly called misodengaku or simply dengaku; konnyaku or tofu was boiled and one ate them with miso. Later, instead of using miso, ingredients were cooked in dashi and oden became popular. Oden is often sold from food carts, and most Japanese convenience stores have simmering oden pots in winter. Many different kinds of oden are sold, with single-ingredient varieties as cheap as 100 yen.

Ramen ( rmen, IPA: [ame]) is a Japanese noodle dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork ( chsh), dried seaweed ( nori), kamaboko, green onions, and occasionally corn. Almost every locality in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen of Kyushu to the miso ramen of Hokkaido.

Tokyo style ramen consists of slightly thin, curly noodles served in a soyflavoured chicken broth. The broth typically has a touch of, as old ramen

establishments in Tokyo often originate from soba eateries. Standard toppings on top are chopped scallion, menma, sliced pork, kamaboko, egg, nori, and spinach. Ikebukuro, Ogikubo and Ebisu are three areas in Tokyo known for their ramen.

(Niigata, Osaka and Tokyo)

Submitted by:
Abarientos, April Louise Abella, Arlene Catucod, Desiree Ducanes, Edgar Fontanilla, Edryn Mamauag, Shermalyn Ocampo, Rose Anne Orea, Reggie Tapaz, Alvin Jorge