JAPAN HOSTEL GUESTHOUSE AND RYOKAN ONLINE BOOKING INFORMATION

Live broadcast of solar eclipse planned

The first total solar eclipse that can be seen from Japan in 46 years will occur on July 22. It will only be visible from such southern islands as Amami-Oshima, but efforts are under way to broadcast the celestial spectacle to other parts of the nation. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking almost all of the sun from view. (Yomiuri)

5 years sought for ex-Nova president

Prosecutors on Friday demanded five years' imprisonment for Nozomu Sahashi, the former president of the failed language school chain Nova Corp., for professional embezzlement involving misuse of the reserve funds of an employees' mutual aid organization. According to the indictment, Sahashi, 57--acting in conspiracy with a 50-year-old Nova executive in charge of finance--had about 320 million yen transferred from the employee organization's funds to a bank account of a Nova affiliate in July 2007, so as to use the money to keep the firm afloat. (Yomiuri)

8 firms eye fuel-cell car energy supply network

Eight companies have agreed to launch a joint effort to develop equipment and facilities to supply hydrogen to fuel-cell vehicles, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are regarded as highly eco-friendly because they emit no carbon dioxide. The group aims to commercialize the supply of hydrogen to fuel battery-powered vehicles before 2015. (Yomiuri)

Knife law tough shuck for oysters

Be careful next time you're about to shuck a fresh oyster at a restaurant - you may be using a knife considered illegal under the Firearm and Sword Control Law. Possessing certain types of oyster knives will be punishable from Sunday, after the moratorium expires on a revision to the law that was implemented in January. (Japan Times)

Young adults turn to home sharing

Rather than forking out money to rent their own apartments, young people struggling during the economic downturn are increasingly moving in with friends or acquaintances as they try to make ends meet. Many of these young adults used to place priority on having a good time, but are now unemployed or working in low-paying jobs. They appear to be moving toward cheaper, shared accommodation, and with it, finding emotional support in these bleak times. (Yomiuri)

Japanese scientists to breed 'super tuna'

Japanese scientists will have bred a new "super-tuna" within a decade that will be stronger, more resistant to disease and taste better than the bluefin presently in the oceans. Stocks of tuna have declined by as much as 90 per cent in some waters and the World Wildlife Fund has warned that the Atlantic bluefin will have been wiped out within three years unless radical measures are taken to protect stocks. (telegraph.co.uk)

If Paul Krugman were Japanese

Narika Hama, a professor of economics at Doshisha University in Kyoto, is a sort of Japanese version of Paul Krugman -- if Paul Krugman were a woman with a purple rinse, pink jacket, funky blue jeans, black patent leather pumps, and a vague British accent. Hama, who lived in the United Kingdom as a child in the 1960s, is something of an intellectual celebrity in Japan. (NewsWeek)

Japan's 1st case of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 influenza detected

The health ministry said Thursday it has detected a genetic mutation of the new H1N1 strain of influenza A that develops resistance to Tamiflu, marking the first case of the new influenza in Japan that did not respond to the anti-flu drug. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said the Tamiflu-resistant virus was detected in a woman in her 40s infected with the new influenza in Osaka Prefecture. (AP)

Japanese love hotels boom in the recession

In Japan, where the global financial meltdown has especially taken its toll, not all industries are languishing. In fact, one of the most notably resilient industries seems to be 'love hotels' (the kind where one may pay by the hour, rather than by the night), according to CNN. One such establishment, the Bonita Hotel in Isawa, currently enjoys a 257 percent occupancy rate. And the industry as a whole is estimated to take in $40 billion per year. (huffingtonpost.com)

NASA, Japan map most of planet

CNN's goinggreen blog has an entry today on the new digital topographical map created by NASA and Japan. It's the most complete map to date. The map was built from 1.3 million images taken by NASA's Terra satellite. CNN says the images were taken by a Japanese imaging instrument called the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer, or ASTER. (baltimoresun.com)

Reputations on line as Japan pulls out stops to win rail contracts

A global boom in infrastructure projects worth more than £200 billion has prompted Japan to launch its most expansive charm offensive in the international game of railway diplomacy. From Washington to Ho Chi Minh City, via Delhi and Dubai, Japan has embarked on an unprecedented frenzy of salesmanship. (timesonline.co.uk)

Japan claims disputed islands

Japan's parliament on Friday passed a law asserting sovereignty over four islands at the centre of a dispute with Russia, adding to tensions as the countries' leaders prepare to meet. A law calling the four Kuril islands an 'integral part' of Japan was unanimously passed by the opposition-controlled upper house after the lower house also approved it in May when the bill sparked a protest from Moscow. (Straits Times)

Japan may add noise to quiet hybrid cars for safety

Japan's near-silent hybrid cars have been called dangerous by the vision-impaired and some users, prompting a government review on whether to add a noise-making device, according to an official. The petrol-electric vehicles, which in recent months have become the country's top-selling autos, hum along almost soundlessly when they are switched from fuel to battery mode. (AFP)

Japan still a bridge too far on many fronts

The global economic landscape may see a milestone change this year, for China is widely regarded to replace Japan as the second largest economy in the next few months. But for that to happen China's economy has to grow by 6 to 8 percent, while Japan's has to contract further. Last year, China's GDP was $4.22 trillion against Japan's $4.84 trillion. And even though China's GDP may overtake Japan's, the two economies have major quantitative and qualitative differences. (China Daily)

Japan housewives to shun currency markets on new rule

A plan to increase restrictions on Japan's margin-trading market may drive individual investors away, paving the way for more volatile currency movements, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Japan's Financial Services Agency, which regulates the nation's margin-trading industry, intends to cap the leverage permissible on currency trades at 50 times the amount of cash being committed starting in 2010, and reduce it to 25 times in 2011. (Bloomberg)

Japan may deploy troops near disputed islands

Japan's defence ministry is considering deploying troops on an island in the East China Sea near a group of islets that is claimed by Tokyo, Beijing and Taipei, according to a ministry spokesman. "We are studying (the deployment) so that it could be included in the planned year-end revision of the basic defence programme," the official said, confirming a news report on the plan to send an army unit to Yonaguni island. (AFP)

Japan students rush for English-language education

At 28,000 dollars a year, a popular English language cram school course in Japan doesn't come cheap, but its students hope the rewards will more than make up for the hefty tuition fee. The class is called "Route H" -- short for "Route to Harvard". Hundreds of schools like it have opened across Japan in recent years to prep a new generation of students who have their educational sights set far beyond Japan's shores, at the top universities of the West. (AFP)

Struggling Japanese PM turns to comedian for help

Taro Aso, the increasingly desperate Japanese prime minister, is appealing to a former stand-up comedian to join his cabinet and save the administration just weeks ahead of the general election. Hideo Higashikokubaru, recently elected governor of Miyazaki Prefecture, initially rebuffed an indirect approach from Mr Aso by saying he would only accept a portfolio if he was listed as the Liberal Democratic Party's candidate for prime minister in the election, which has to be held before Sept 10. (telegraph.co.uk)

Visa overstayers given too many breaks: rightist

Daisuke Arikado believes the government is too easy on foreigners overstaying their visa and this frustrates him. Arikado is a former member of an ultra-rightist group who founded and heads the 30-strong nonprofit organization Movement to Eradicate Crimes by Foreigners. (Japan Times)

Total ban on child porn sought / Diet debate starts on revision to close possession loophole in law

The Diet has begun debate on bills to revise the law banning child prostitution and child pornography, with discussions focused on whether to conform to international standards and completely prohibit the possession of child pornography. (Yomiuri)

Japan to generate solar power in outer space, then beam it to earth

This may sound ridiculous first time you hear it, but Japan is thinking about solar power from panels located in space to mother earth, or to be more exact, the nation of Nippon itself. According to the Nikkei, the government plans to ask local technology companies to participate in the endeavor as early as next month. (crunchgear.com)

At long last, Korea and Japan return to trade talks

After four years of stalled negotiations, Korea and Japan are ready to restart free trade agreement talks. Korea and Japan will hold their third working-level meeting on resuming negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement deal today in Tokyo, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday. (joins.com)

Ferry service now links Japan, South Korea, Russia

The cargo-passenger ferry Eastern Dream arrives in Sakai port in Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture, on Tuesday, inaugurating a new service with calls in Japan, South Korea and Russia. The 14,000-ton ferry, operated by South Korea's DBS Cruise Ferry Co., will start regular service on July 7, linking the ports of Vladivostok, Donghae (South Korea) and Sakaiminato. (Asahi)

Law enacted to support reclusive youngsters

The Japanese parliament enacted a law Wednesday to help young people who have withdrawn from society to stand on their own feet, approving it unanimously at a House of Councillors plenary session. The growing presence of socially withdrawn juveniles and those not in education, employment or training, dubbed NEETs, has become a social issue in recent years. Prime Minister Taro Aso called for legislation to support such people in his policy speech last September. (AP)

Japan: Automation Nation?

More than any other country in the world, Japan is a case study in the triumphs of human engineering. Every Japanese manufacturer prides itself on energy efficiency and zero-landfill waste policies. The train and subway stations are models of precision and the application of information technology. (NewsWeek)

Nara

The deer symbol of the city Nara is and becomes into 710 the first fixed capital of Japan (at the time the state of Yamato). The city names then Heijô-kyô. It will quickly become one of the most beautiful towns of Asia. The capital is built according to a checkerboard plan of Chinese inspiration of approximately 4,3 km of broad 4,8 km length. Its population believes to reach the 100.000 inhabitants. In 784 the capital is transferred Nagaoka, the city loses its gloss then. In 794 it is famous Nanto. The city will suffer particularly from the pangs of the civil war. In 1180 the clan of Taira set fire to the city. This one was almost entirely destroyed even Daibutsu-den was not saved. Main efforts of rebuilding were made at the end of the civil war in order to give again at the city its last gloss.

The ryokans Tôdai-ji and Kôfuku-ji were then rebuilt. Nara was not long in becoming in the shade of Kyoto the new capital, the second city of the country. In 1560 the city is under the influence of the warrior Hisahide Matsunaga. This one will establish its cheap accomodation on the Mikenji-yama mount. The war will then touch again the city in 1567 at the time of a war opposing the clans Hisahide and Miyoshi. During the Edo period, Nara was directed by an administrator shogunal. At the end of XVIIéme century, the city had 35.000 inhabitants. The city was then known for its production of helmet, ink and range. Under the Meiji era at the same time as Buddhism lost of its Nara influence lost of its capacity. Its safety came from final creation in 1887 of the prefecture of Nara with Nara as place chief. Nara, whose several monuments are since 1998 registered voters with the world inheritance of UNESCO, shelters today a population of 367,180 inhabitants in October 2002.

Nara is located near the towns of Kyoto and Kobe in the center is principal island of Honshu. The city covers a surface of 211.60 km2. Its climax is with 678,4 meters. The city is located at the north of the prefecture éponyme, with the limit of the prefecture of Kyoto. Economy The local economy is primarily turned towards the tertiary sector (services and tourism) the primary sector being since the years 1980 in full regression. Transport Nara is HOW TOible by road, trains and plane. On the spot the city has an important network of bus which will enable you to move easily.

By plane: The airport nearest is the airport of Itami of Osaka. Airport Itami to take the Bus of the airport to arrive at Kintetsu Uehommachi. From there take the line Kaisoku kyuko for Kintetsu Nara.Le way lasts approximately 1 hour. You can also arrive by the international airport of Kansai.

you will have to travel by the train Kansai-kuko then Yamatoji to station JR of Nara. By train: De Kyoto to return to you to station JR of Nara you can take the line of train JR Nara. You can also take the line Kintetsu Kyoto which arrives at the station Kintetsu Nara. Station of Kintetsu Namba Osaka to take the Kaisoku-kyuko train to arrive at the station Kintetsu Nara. The subway: Nara does not have subway.

Bus: An important network of Bus furrows the city making it possible to compensate for the absence of subway. The point of information for the bus is located opposite station JR of Nara. Another point of information is located at the station of Kintetsu Nara. There is a line of bus especially conceived for the visitors who will make known to you all the great tourist centers of Nara. Four routes were set up from station JR of Nara. To locate itself Nara not having subway, we advise you to make your displacements with foot. You can well on travelling by the bus but why not benefit from this pleasant city differently and simply. The city built according to a checkerboard plan makes it possible to easily circulate without fear to lose itself. Moreover the majority of the major tourist places are collected around stations JR of Nara and Kintetsu.

Shinto rites of purity decreed that with the death of an emperor, the capital must be relocated. It was around Nara that all of Japan's orignal capitals were established between the third and eighth centuries. From 710 Nara was made the 'permanent capital', a permanence that lasted, however, for only 84 years before the capital was moved to what was then called Heiankyo, now Kyoto.

Elegant testiments to Nara's ancient status remain mainly in the form of ryokans, and, of course, the rites and festivities that they have been the focus of for over a thousand years.

Nara Park is notable for the hundreds of tame deer it is home to. Rice crackers (sembei) are on sale at 150 yen to feed them: a favorite photo opportunity.

Todaiji ryokan (a World Heritage Site) is a complex of buildings that includes the world's largest wooden structure, the 48m (157 foot)-high Daibutsu-den, built in 743 and which houses the 15m (49 foot) gilt bronze Daibutsu (Great Buddha), cast in 749: also the largest of its kind in the world.

Over 9000 of Todaiji's priceless cultural treasures are on display in another of its many buildings, the Shoso-in Hall which is, architecturally, a treasure in its own right.

The famous five-story pagoda (go-juu-no-toh) located inside Nara Park is the most famous relic of the almost 180 buildings that once made up Kofukuji ryokan: a ryokan founded originally in Kyoto by the ancient and powerful Fujiwara clan, and later moved to Nara when the city became the capital in 710A.D.

Also inside Nara Park is the Kasuga Taisha Shrine, one of Japan's most prominent Shinto shrines originally built, like Kofukuji ryokan - but 99 years later in 768, by the Fujiwara family. However, like the Great Shrine at Ise, Kasuga Taisha Shrine is destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years in accordance with the purity precepts of the Shinto religion.

Gangoji ryokan, originally known as Hokoji ryokan, is said to be Japan's first true Buddhist ryokan. Its establishment was of such significance that the King of Paekche in Korea sent artisans to help with its construction - which took place in the then capital of nearby Asuka. It was moved to Nara when the city became capital and the original ryokan is now split into two: a 'Gangoji' in the city's Chuin-cho area, and another 'Gangoji' in the Shibanoshin-ya-cho area. The Chuin-cho Gangoji is a World Heritage site and is notable for its Hondo (main hall) and Zenshitsu (zen room).

Like Gangoji ryokan, Yakushuji ryokan was also built in Asuka and later moved to Nara. It is notable for its pituresque restored East Tower (Toh-toh), which is the only remaining original building of this ryokan. However, work over recent decades has restored Yakushiji to a state befitting this head ryokan of the small "Consciousness-Only" Hosso sect of Buddhism.

There is much to see in the countryside surrounding Nara including the cherry blossoms at Yoshino and the sacred pilgrimage site of Mt. Omine. Also of interest are the ruins at Asukamura.

Nara is a superb city harmonizes some with the environment and having preserved its cultural identities. Not to be delayed in this history and bosky bower would be an error. In Nara figure it is more than 36 ryokans, 16 sanctuaries, 417 parks of all sizes, 2 amusement parks, 20 city information / tipss, 2 halls of exposure and 8 goods registered to the world inheritance of UNESCO! To stroll in the streets of Nara is a sheer delight especially in the typical lanes of the district of Naramachi located at the south of the Kofuku-ji ryokan and the lake Sarusaw.

Neiraku Bijutsukan: Located not far from the Todai-ji ryokan and of one putting back garden, this city information / tips offers to the sight of the visitors an interesting Japanese bronze and Asian ceramics collection. Yamato Bunkakan: is a gathering city information / tips of the objets d'art eclectic but a great quality. Painting, folding screen, drawing are well represented there.

Address: 1-11-6 Minami, Gakuen. Kokuô Kan: is a city information / tips gathering an interesting collection of Buddhist statues. Nara-shi Shashin Bijutsukan: city information / tips of the photography which is devoted almost to Taikichi Irie. National city information / tips of Nara. This city information / tips with atypical architecture gathers archaeological collections of works as well as traditional penmanships, paintings (e-makimono) and sculptures. Address: 150 Noborioji-cho.

More city information / tipss. As an indication, here the other city information / tipss which you can visit in Nara. - city information / tipss of the center of Nara city information / tips of the prefecture of Nara. Address: 10-6 Noborioji. - city information / tips Toki-No-shiryo-kan.

Address: 28 Nishinoshinya-cho. - city information / tips Naramachi Siryo-kan. Address: 14 Nishinoshinya-cho. - Historical city information / tips of the town of Nara of the habitat.

Address: 1-1 Wakido-cyo. - Kokuhoukan city information / tips. Address: 48 Noborioji-cho. - city information / tips of the Penmanship of the town of Nara in the honor of Kason Sugioka.

Address: 3, wakido-cho. - Nara Kraft city information / tips. Address: 1-1 Azemame-cho. - Neiraku city information / tips. Address: 174 Mima-cho. - Nara park city information / tips. Address: 1469 Zoshi-cho. - Nara City city information / tips of Photography. Address: 1600-1 Takabatake-cho. - Houmotsu-den city information / tips of the sanctuaireKasuga Taisha.

Address: 1160 Kasugano-cho - city information / tipss of the west of Nara The city information / tips of Art Shohaku. Address: 2-1-4 Tomigaoka. - The city information / tips of Art Nakano Art city information / tips.

Address: 9-946-2 Minami, Ayameike. - city information / tipss of the western north of Nara city information / tips of the road of the silk of Nara. Address: 3-5-15 Minami, Nijooji. - city information / tipss of the western south of Nara Sugawara city information / tips.

Address: 403-2 Yokoryo-cho. - The city information / tipss of the nard is of Nara The residence of the former lord and chief of clan of Yagyu. Address: 155-1 Yagyu-cho.

Tourist information center in JR Nara Station: 0742-22-9821; Kintetsu Nara Station: 0742-24-4858. Nara City hotel ist Association (on Sanjo Dori): 0742-22-3900. Goodwill books are available free of charge: Nara S.G.G. Ryokan (0742-22-5595, English, French, German, Chinese, and Thai); Nara YMCA (0742-45-5920, English) Nara Student book (0742-26-4753, English)

International credit ryokand ATMs

Along Sanjo Dori, the narrow shopping street that runs from JR Nara Station to Nara Park, there are several banks that will change money and have ATMs that can be HOW TOed with credit ryokands issued overseas:

-Nara Bank: Diners Ryokan, MasterCard, Visa, AmEx, JCB; 8:45am-7pm, 9am-5pm weekends (closed Jan 1st - 3rd).

-Mizuho Bank Diners Ryokan, MasterCard, Visa/Mastercard, AmEx; 8:45am-7pm, 9am-5pm weekends (closed Jan 1st - 3rd).

-Sumitomo-Mitsui Bank: Diners Ryokan, MasterCard, Visa/Mastercard, AmEx; 8am-9pm (closed Jan 1st - 3rd).

HOW TO

Air

Airport limousine services to Kansai International Airport or JR train and change at Tennoji Station in Osaka.

Rail

HOW TO to Osaka on JR West (about 45 minutes on the express) or Kintetsu Line from Namba and Tsuruhashi. HOW TO to Kyoto on either Kintetsu Railways (35 minutes on the Super Express Tokyo) or JR West (40 minutes on the Miyakojima Express).

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