Japan, Taiwan & South Korea Collector

Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you’ll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. Tokyo is the largest city on earth and packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side. Tokyo’s historic gardens and neighborhoods of traditional homes on narrow lanes speak to a timeless Japan that has survived into the 21st century.

Situated at the southern tip of Japan, Kagoshima is the capital of the prefecture of the same name and famous for its dramatic views of Sakurajima, an active volcano that smolders across the bay. One of the most popular activities is taking a ferry to Sakurajima and hiking on the 100-year-old lava flow that is now a grassy peninsula. Kagoshima, however, offers much more than the volcano’s almost overwhelming beauty. The food scene provides opportunities to experience the area’s rich culinary culture and features dishes using locally caught fish and regional specialties, like satsuma a’ge (deep-fried fish cake) and shōchū, a traditional beverage made at more than 100 distilleries in Kagoshima alone. Although the city was officially founded in 1889, it has an even longer history that is reflected in the 17th-century gardens of Sengan-en. More recent events are covered at a museum dedicated to the kamikaze pilots who flew out of Kagoshima. Other popular attractions include the City Aquarium, the Museum of the Meiji Restoration with its exhibits exploring local history and the City Museum of Art with its collection that covers both local contemporary and older art. With so much to do, visitors may want to consider the Cute transit card. Available at tourist information offices, one-day Cute cards cover city buses, trams and Sakurajima ferries and also provide discounted admission to several attractions.

L’île d’Amami Oshima, au Japon, est une destination d’escapade luxuriante. Juste au sud de Naze, faites du kayak dans l’une des plus grandes mangroves du Japon. Profitez du shima-uta, une forme de musique traditionnelle japonaise.

Naha, la capitale de la préfecture d’Okinawa au Japon et sa plus grande ville, est également le principal centre politique, économique et de transport de la région. Forte d’un passé fascinant en tant que capitale du royaume Ryukyu et d’un port en activité qui remonte au 15ème siècle, cette ville de 300 000 habitants réussit à être à la fois une ville fascinante et une ville décontractée. Parce qu’elle a été en grande partie détruite pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, il n’y a pas beaucoup de bâtiments anciens ici. Toutefois, quelques vestiges restaurés de l’époque du Royaume Ryukyu présentent un intérêt historique, notamment le château de Shuri, la résidence royale, et ses jardins extraordinaires, tous deux inclus dans un groupe local désigné ensemble comme site du patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. Les autres sites légendaires comprennent le mausolée royal (tombes funéraires situées dans des grottes) et la porte Shurei, si magnifique que son image figure sur le billet de 2 000 yens. Il y a également quelques lieux incontournables de la vie contemporaine, notamment la rue Kokusai, qui offre près de deux kilomètres de boutiques, de cafés et de restaurants. Le marché public Makishi, situé non loin, compte des dizaines de vendeurs de nourriture qui proposent de délicieuses friandises. Si vous souhaitez aller plus loin, Naha est le point de départ idéal pour des excursions dans le reste d’Okinawa.

Talk with the Japanese a while about the Japanese and you’re going to hear the word shimagunikonjo. The breakdown is simple: shima—island; guni—nation; konjo—consciousness. In one word, it’s the firm belief that people who live on islands are different from people who live on continents, and anyone who’s done both is likely to agree. American culture may be the strongest influence in Japan now, but the Japanese will understand the motivations of the Brits a whole lot better. Islands require a different mind-set than continents. Islands require manners. But what if your island was never meant to be part of another bunch of islands? That’s what’s happened with today’s Okinawa Prefecture. The people who’ve always been there are Okinawan, one of the healthiest, longest-living people on earth. But now they’re part of Japan and seriously outnumbered by the Japanese. (And they’re not at all happy that the Japanese interlopers gave so much of their land over to U.S. military bases.) Signs of Okinawan culture can be subtle but are easier to pick out in more remote islands of the chain, like Ishigaki. Traditional buildings are a mixture of Chinese and Japanese influences. In the markets, you’ll find fu chanpuru (an Okinawan stir fry dish) and whole-wheat soba, which the Japanese won’t touch. The ryuso robe holds on despite crowded kimono stores. The few people left who speak Uchinaguchi are praying for a movement like the Hawaiian renaissance to bring the culture back. The tipping point is close. A trip to Ishigaki now is to witness either the beginning or the end.

Hualien City is on the east coast of Taiwan. The central Pine Garden is a cultural center set inside a former Japanese military office. The Hualien County Stone Sculpture Museum showcases contemporary and traditional stone carvings. Tzu Chi Cultural Park is a tranquil green space, with statues and a meditation hall. On the Pacific Ocean coast, sprawling Nanbin Park features a popular night market.

Keelung City’s sheltered harbor and its location on Taiwan’s north coast have meant that, over the centuries, it has been ruled by the Spanish, Dutch and Chinese. While there are plenty of good coffee shops, markets and museums in the compact downtown and you can enjoy delicious seafood dishes at the Night Market, the city is today principally a gateway to Taipei for many travelers. Taiwan’s capital is just a half hour away by car or around 45 minutes by train. Long a small outpost of the Chinese empire, the city began to grow in the 19th century, when settlement from the mainland was encouraged. Then, from 1895 to 1945, the city (and all of Taiwan) was occupied by the Japanese. At the end of World War II, Taipei was handed over to the Republic of China, led by Chiang Kai-shek. In the decades since, it has seen an explosion of growth, but traditional temples and world-class museums still sit amid the skyscrapers. The modern metropolis also has top restaurants, food markets and upscale shopping. The Taipei Metro makes it easy to explore the city, or you can take an excursion to the countryside: A national park and a protected forest make for excellent day trips from both Taipei and Keelung.

Ville de souvenirs mélancoliques. Visitez Glover House, où Madame Butterfly de Puccini qui, d’après ce que l’on raconte, attendait son lieutenant Pinkerton errant; rendez hommage aux vies perdues dans la Seconde Guerre mondiale au Parc du mémorial de la paix. Exemple d’excursion: visite d’une demi-journée de Nagasaki; Pont Sakai et les 99 îles; Arita, lieu de naissance de la céramique.

Nichée dans le coin sud du Japon, Aburatsu offre des kilomètres de plages de sable et des joyaux tels que le sanctuaire d’Udo, dont la salle laquée rouge est située à l’intérieur d’une grotte sur un cap surplombant le Pacifique.

High atop a hill in Kochi sits 17th-century Kochi Castle, once the seat of the Yamauchi lords. Explore this historic site and enjoy panoramic views of the city, then dine on sushi at Hirome Market.

Cette ville portuaire cosmopolite n’est pas seulement connue pour son célèbre boeuf de Kobe. Découvrez les boutiques et les marchés des quartiers de Motomashi et Kokashita, explorez le Musée de la Mode ou aventurez-vous sur le pont Akashi Kaikyo, le pont suspendu le plus long du monde. Dans le quartier de Kitano, visitez le majestueux injikan, maisons victoriennes et gothiques de style occidentale, ou dégustez un verre de saké de l’un des célèbres établissements vinicoles de Kobe.

Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you’ll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. Tokyo is the largest city on earth and packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side. Tokyo’s historic gardens and neighborhoods of traditional homes on narrow lanes speak to a timeless Japan that has survived into the 21st century.

Cette ville portuaire cosmopolite n’est pas seulement connue pour son célèbre boeuf de Kobe. Découvrez les boutiques et les marchés des quartiers de Motomashi et Kokashita, explorez le Musée de la Mode ou aventurez-vous sur le pont Akashi Kaikyo, le pont suspendu le plus long du monde. Dans le quartier de Kitano, visitez le majestueux injikan, maisons victoriennes et gothiques de style occidentale, ou dégustez un verre de saké de l’un des célèbres établissements vinicoles de Kobe.

Cette ville portuaire cosmopolite n’est pas seulement connue pour son célèbre boeuf de Kobe. Découvrez les boutiques et les marchés des quartiers de Motomashi et Kokashita, explorez le Musée de la Mode ou aventurez-vous sur le pont Akashi Kaikyo, le pont suspendu le plus long du monde. Dans le quartier de Kitano, visitez le majestueux injikan, maisons victoriennes et gothiques de style occidentale, ou dégustez un verre de saké de l’un des célèbres établissements vinicoles de Kobe.

High atop a hill in Kochi sits 17th-century Kochi Castle, once the seat of the Yamauchi lords. Explore this historic site and enjoy panoramic views of the city, then dine on sushi at Hirome Market.

Située dans le sud-ouest du Japon, Hiroshima, la principale ville de la région de Chugoku, s’inscrit dans un paysage naturel saisissant fait de montagnes, de mer et de fleuves. Elle abrite plus d’un million d’habitants et est célèbre pour avoir été le théâtre de l’explosion de la première bombe atomique du monde, larguée par les États-Unis en août 1945. Le parc du Mémorial de la paix d’Hiroshima et le Musée du Mémorial de la paix d’Hiroshima, qui lui est associé, témoignent avec sensibilité de ce cataclysme. La ville offre aux visiteurs bien plus que la tragédie d’un passé récent. Outre les monuments commémorant les événements de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, on y trouve un grand nombre de sanctuaires et de temples, ainsi que le château reconstruit de la ville, fondé au 16ème siècle. Les amoureux de la nature seront charmés par le jardin historique de Shukkei-en, mis en service en 1620, et par l’île de Miyajima, l’un des sites les plus pittoresques du Japon. La ville abrite un certain nombre d’institutions artistiques, notamment le musée d’art d’Hiroshima, qui abrite une collection de peintures à l’huile impressionnistes et japonaises, le musée d’art contemporain de la ville d’Hiroshima et l’excentrique musée Mazda. On y trouve également d’excellents restaurants et bars. La ville est connue pour son okonomiyaki, un type de crêpe salée, et un festival d’huîtres très populaire est organisé chaque année.

South Korea’s second-largest city (after the capital, Seoul), Busan is located in the southeastern corner of the country along the Sea of Japan. It combines a vibrant, big-city atmosphere with a famously laid-back attitude and subtropical landscapes. Often described as the « San Francisco of Korea, » thanks mainly to its hilly terrain and close-knit neighborhoods, it offers visitors a little of everything: fashionable boutiques, dynamic culture and buzzy nightlife, as well as sandy beaches, hot springs and nearby mountains crossed with hiking trails and dotted with temples. Cultural highlights include the Gamcheon Cultural Village; the spectacular Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, built into the side of a cliff; and Art Street in Sinchang-dong, which hosts art competitions, exhibitions and cultural events such as the annual Busan International Film Festival. Those who enjoy hiking can explore the famed cliffs of Taejongdae Park, while the white sand beaches at Gwangalli and Haeundae are ideal places to relax by the seashore. Foodies will love Busan, too, not just for its excellent restaurants but also for the many atmospheric markets: the low-key Millak Hoe Town Market, tourist spots like Jagalchi Fish Market and the market at Haeundae with its ramshackle stalls selling gukpab (a traditional rice soup).

Jeju, formerly Cheju, may not be familiar to most Americans, but for Korean travelers the country’s largest island and home to one of 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites is a popular destination. The island is roughly the size of Maui and has much in common with the Hawaiian islands. Like them, it is a volcanic island—it first emerged from the sea some two million years ago and the volcano Hallasan, which reaches a height of 1,950 meters, is the tallest peak in South Korea. It also shares the mild subtropical climate of Hawaii—even in winter, temperatures rarely drop below freezing—and offers a similar broad range of activities whether in the warm ocean water or exploring the island’s interior on well-marked and maintained trails.

Jeju has long been known as the « Island of Gods » after a legendary lost race from whom the island’s inhabitants are said to have descended. Perhaps this history helps explain the super-human feats of the haenyeo, women divers who harvest abalone from the sea floor without the use of scuba gear. Remarkable giants can still be spotted here with humpback and orca whales common in this part of the East China Sea.

Il était une fois, Incheon était un village paisible en bordure de mer, assez typique de la Corée. Les hommes allaient pêcher, les femmes faisaient du kimchi. Il y avait peut-être quelques milliers de personnes en tout dans la région. Et puis il a été pris au milieu d’une guerre. C’est à Incheon que, fin 1950, les Marines américains ont débarqué, marquant le début de la fin de la guerre de Corée, une guerre qui a finalement coûté la vie à plus de 40 000 soldats américains et à un nombre indéterminé de Coréens. Après les combats, lorsqu’Incheon a eu la chance de se sortir de la boue et des éclats d’obus, elle a fait partie du miracle économique coréen, la première zone officielle de libre entreprise du pays. Avec son port naturel parfait, son paysage plat et ses 3 millions d’habitants, elle fait désormais partie de la mégapole de Séoul autant qu’elle est un lieu à part entière. Visitez Incheon avec un vétéran de la guerre de Corée et il est probable qu’il ne reconnaîtra rien, sauf peut-être une petite zone autour du Freedom Park. Là où il y avait autrefois des étangs de riz, il y a maintenant des tours d’habitation. Même la plage sur laquelle les Marines ont débarqué a été remplie et remodelée pour faire plus de place au miracle économique coréen. Mais il y a une génération entière qui est hantée par cet endroit, et cela vaut la peine de le visiter.

Ville de souvenirs mélancoliques. Visitez Glover House, où Madame Butterfly de Puccini qui, d’après ce que l’on raconte, attendait son lieutenant Pinkerton errant; rendez hommage aux vies perdues dans la Seconde Guerre mondiale au Parc du mémorial de la paix. Exemple d’excursion: visite d’une demi-journée de Nagasaki; Pont Sakai et les 99 îles; Arita, lieu de naissance de la céramique.

Situated at the southern tip of Japan, Kagoshima is the capital of the prefecture of the same name and famous for its dramatic views of Sakurajima, an active volcano that smolders across the bay. One of the most popular activities is taking a ferry to Sakurajima and hiking on the 100-year-old lava flow that is now a grassy peninsula. Kagoshima, however, offers much more than the volcano’s almost overwhelming beauty. The food scene provides opportunities to experience the area’s rich culinary culture and features dishes using locally caught fish and regional specialties, like satsuma a’ge (deep-fried fish cake) and shōchū, a traditional beverage made at more than 100 distilleries in Kagoshima alone. Although the city was officially founded in 1889, it has an even longer history that is reflected in the 17th-century gardens of Sengan-en. More recent events are covered at a museum dedicated to the kamikaze pilots who flew out of Kagoshima. Other popular attractions include the City Aquarium, the Museum of the Meiji Restoration with its exhibits exploring local history and the City Museum of Art with its collection that covers both local contemporary and older art. With so much to do, visitors may want to consider the Cute transit card. Available at tourist information offices, one-day Cute cards cover city buses, trams and Sakurajima ferries and also provide discounted admission to several attractions.

Until the mid-19th century, Japan lived in isolation, closed off from the rest of the world, and Yokohama was a mere fishing village. But in 1853, American naval officer Matthew Perry demanded the country open to foreign trade, and Yokohama was changed forever. The city quickly emerged as an international trading center, and while today it is often overshadowed by nearby Tokyo, it continues to be one of Japan’s liveliest, and most international, destinations. With its microbreweries and international restaurants, Yokohama has a decidedly different feel from many other Japanese cities. From Yokohama, it’s a quick trip to peaceful Kamakura, home to Daibutsu, Japan’s second-largest bronze Buddha, and to the important Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachimangu. Head to Hakone National Park on a clear day and you’ll be rewarded with picture-postcard views of majestic Mt. Fuji. Tokyo is the largest city on earth and packed with some of the world’s best shops, museums and restaurants, big and small. While the bright neon lights and the bustle of contemporary Tokyo may be what comes to mind when you think of the city, there is another side. Tokyo’s historic gardens and neighborhoods of traditional homes on narrow lanes speak to a timeless Japan that has survived into the 21st century.