24 SPROUT JUNE 2014

Around the world | trAvel

Art Direction KaORi PRiceWords KaORi PRiceIllustration KaORi PRicePhotography from various online locations

Hokkaido

Tohoku

Kanto

Chubu

Chugoku

Kinki

Shikoku

Kyushu

Hokkaido

Aomori

IwateAkita

Miyagi

Fukushima

Yamagata

Niigata

Ibaragi

Chiba

Saitama

Kanagawa

Yamanashi

ShizuokaAichi

Mie

Shiga

Nara

WakayamaEhime

Kagawa

Kochi

Tokushima

Hyogo

OkayamaHiroshima

Shimane

Yamaguchi

Fukuoka

SagaNagasaki

Kagoshima

MiyazakiKumamoto

Oita

Osaka

Tokyo

Tochigi

Toyama

Ishikawa

Nagano

GifuFukui

KyotoTottori

Gunma

ShinKanSenTRavel in JaPan

ShinkAnSen, Japan’s high-speed railway system known as the bullet train, may be the best way to travel around Japan. It is punctual to the minute, clean and safe as it is perfectly controlled and maintained by each regional JR company. You can always reliably travel from Tokyo to Osaka in as fast as in 2.5 hours, and you don’t have to arrive early at the station.

Over 90 Shinkansen stations cover Japan from North to South, connecting Hokkaido and Kagoshima. When you go to Japan, do travel to each region and enjoy the life, customs, food and culture that developed distinctively unique to the area.

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Shinkansen Line and Stations

Pottery and Porcelain Town

Special Regional Cuisine

Historic Seasonal Festival

The Most Beautiful Village

Biei; ShiBetSu; trurui; AkAigAwA; kyogoku; kuromAtSunAi, HokkaidokoSAkA, AomorihigAShinAruSe, AkitaokurA; iide, YamagataiitAte; miShimA; kitAShiroBArA, FukushimanAkAgAwA, TochigiShowA; nAkAnojo, GunmaogAwA; tAkAyAmA; oShikA, NaganodoShi, YamanashihAyAkAwA; mAtSuzAki; nAgiSo, ShizuokanAkAgAwA; ikedA; umASe, Gifu

higAShiShirAkAwA; wAzukA, Kyotoine, HyogoSoni; yoShino; totSukAwA, NarakAmi, TottoriShinjo, OkayamaAmA, ShimanekAmijimA, EhimekAmikAtSu, TokushimaumAji; motoyAmA, Kochitoho; hoShinomurA, FukuokatSukAhArA, OitaojikA, NagasakiminAmioguni; tAkAmori; kumA, KumamotoAyA; tAkAhAru, Miyazaki

The Most Beautiful villages

yukimAtSuri, HokkaidoneButA, AomorinAmAhAge, AkitaChAguChAgu umAko, IwatehAnAkASA, YamagatatAnAB AtA, MiyagiChiBuyA, SaitamaSetSuBunkAi, ChibakAndA mAtSuri, TokyoABAre, IshikawakenkA mAtSuri, HyogoeBiSu kAimon, HyogohAdAkA mAtSuri, OkayamahAgiyAki, YamaguchiyoSAkoi, KochiAwA odori, Tokushimagion mAtSuri, FukuokakunChi, NagasakiAritAyAki, Saga

Seasonal Festivals

AizuhongouyAki, FukushimamASukoyAki, TochigikASAmAyAki, IbaragiminouyAki, GifuSetoyAki, AichitokonAmeyAki, AichikutAniyAki, IshikawaeChizenyAki, FukuiigAyAki, MieSigArAkiyAki, ShigakiyomizuyAki, KyototAnBAtAChikuiyAki, HyogoBizenyAki, OkayamahAgiyAki, YamaguchitoBeyAki, EhimekArAtSuyAki, SagaimAriyAki, SagaAritAyAki, Saga

Pottery/Porcelain Towns

iShikArinABe, HokkaidokiritAnPo, AkitahArAkomeShi, MiyagijiBuni, IshikawaoyAki, NaganohitSumABuShi, AichitekonezuShi, MieFunAzuShi, ShigamehArizuShi, WakayamakAnijiru, TottoriFukuryori, YamaguchitAimeShi, EhimeSAwAChiryori, KochiBASAShi, KumamotohiyAjiru, MiyazakitSukeAge, Kagoshima

Regional cuisines

Sample various regional cuisineTraditional Japanese food is typically seasoned with a combination of dashi, soy sauce, sake and mirin, vinegar, sugar and salt. These are typically the only seasonings used when grilling or braising an item. Each region has its own ratio that they use to cook specialty dishes using local ingredients from sea and mountain. The method of cooking and preparation is often handed down from generation to generation.

explore the most beautiful villages in JapanOne of the most interesting sides of Japan is the mixture of modern and tradition. You are more likely to find traditional ways of living in rural areas. The map shows 47 villages that are registerd as “the most beautiful villages in Japan (http://www.utsukushii-mura.jp/).” Old towns and stunning nature awaits you at these destinations.

26 SPROUT JUNE 2014

Around the World | trAvel

Peruse exclusive craftsmanshipJapan has a long tradition with ceramic. Japan’s prehistoric periods are referred to as the earthenware of the time, such as the Jomon or Yayoi period. In the fifth and sixth centuries, Japanese artistic ceramicware was greatly influenced by the introduction of techniques from Korea and China. After that, each regional style was developed. Today, as there is a plentiful supply of materials at the traditional kilns in each district, highly skilled ceramic artists create countless beautiful pieces.

enjoy the historic seasonal festivalsLike any other place in the world, festivals play a big part of people’s lives in Japan. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. Either way, the energy you encounter at Matsuri is incredible.

JUNE 2014 SPROUT 27

Around the World | trAvel