Ultimate Japan: 6 must-see destinations

Mon, 03/05/2012 - 23:55 — Anonymous by C. James DaleWhat: Ancient Kyoto It
may be a cliché, but you might just see her on the cobbles of Kyoto. Why:
Let's face it -- most travelers can't resist the magnetic pull of
Japan's former Imperial capital (794-1869), with its temples, shrines and
(dwindling) ranks of geisha. "Of course, many people from Western
countries, like the United States and Canada, like to travel to time-honored
cities like Kyoto," says Mamoru Kobori of the Japan National Tourism
Organization. And lest we forget, the ancient city would have been
obliterated by an atomic bomb at the end of World War II had it not been for
U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who took it off the list of potential
targets because he had fond memories of honeymooning there. For years, people
have visited Kyoto to stay in its old ryokans and eat traditional,
multi-course kaiseki meals. But they should also consider exploring the
city's new side.read more