The best places to have brunch in Dubai

When it comes to brunch, Dubai has elevated the concept to the status of an unmissable city tradition. Eat your way through our list of the best brunch places in Dubai.

Bubbalicious Brunch

If one word could describe the Westin Mina Seyahi’s Friday ‘Bubbalicious Brunch’, then ‘breathtaking’ would be an appropriate choice. What makes it so outstanding is that at Bubbalicious almost every imaginable food is on offer, thanks to the combined forces of the hotel’s three fantastic in-house restaurants. Blue Orange is responsible for both the buffet section and live cooking shows, serving food from Arabic mezze and pastas to Belgian waffles. Spice Emporium is the Asian face of the trio, and takes care of the noodle, sushi and sashimi dishes. Hunters Room is a traditional grill house placed in a tasteful contemporary setting. For those who like to be entertained during brunch, Bubbalicious Brunch provides Chinese acrobats, live bands, a PlayStation room and ‘kids’ corner’, and a petting zoo. Of course, such service comes at a price, but the Bubbalicious Brunch is definitely an experience to try.

Maya Mexican Kitchen + Bar

If you’re looking for a beachside brunch, then Maya Mexican Kitchen might be the place for you. Spearheaded by head chef Richard Sandoval, Maya offers a modern twist on traditional Mexican favourites. Based in Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, as part of their brunch package, guests have both pool and beach access. So while sampling a plethora of dishes, such as rib-eye steak fajitas and lamb chops marinated in adobo, guests can lounge on the private beach or take a dip in the pool. For a little extra, alcoholic beverages can also be provided. Maya Mexican Kitchen serves up a fantastic brunch with plenty of exciting flavours.

Toro Toro

If you fancy a taste of Latin America in Dubai, then Toro Toro is the restaurant to visit. World-renowned Latin chef Richard Sandoval has brought the hospitality and family-style dining of his native region to restaurants as far afield as New York, Las Vegas and now Dubai. At Toro Toro, he has offered the pan-Latin ‘Hola Hola Brunch’ since 2012, earning the attention and praise of many. The Hola Hola Brunch consists of 45 options of small plates filled with traditional food, including guacamole, yucca fries, chorizo, empanadas, beef-stuffed pastries and crispy calamari. Guests should try to save space for Toro Toro’s delicious churrasco chicken, lamb or beef.

El Sur

El Sur pushes the expectations of what can be done with traditional Spanish tapas. Using the only the finest ingredients, El Sur recreates traditional tapas meals with an artistic, sophisticated vision. With stunning views of the ocean and the opportunity to dine al fresco on their balcony, El Sur is one of the best places in Dubai to eat brunch. Dishes include classic Spanish cuisine such as patatas bravas (potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce) and calamares a la romana con alioli (fried squid with alioli), alongside contemporary meals such as avocado cannelloni with tuna. There is an emphasis on seafood, but the menu also features the likes of Wagyu beef tartare and prime rib-eye steak. With on-site mixologists, there will always be a drink to your liking and guests can also enjoy premium cigars. Reservations at this exclusive restaurant is a must.

Jumeirah Al Qasr

Jumeirah Al Qasr serves up one of Dubai’s biggest Friday brunches. Guests can experience the atmosphere of three different restaurants: The Hide, Arboretum and Al Hambra. Al Qasr translates as ‘The Palace’, which hints at the style of service the hotel aims to deliver.  Al Qasr is an upscale brunch venue with a mighty reputation. It’s a must-visit for brunch fans in the city.

See more: Top luxury activities you should try once in Dubai

Source: Internet

Facts you may not know about Durian Fruit

If you’ve never traveled to Southeast Asia, it’s possible that you have never encountered fresh durian fruit. However, once you have tasted the stinky fruit, it is an experience you are not likely to forget.

It has a unique appearance and an even more memorable smell

Durian fruit is generally slightly oval, about a foot wide and covered in formidable looking spikes. The fruit can weigh between two to seven pounds, and this is heavy enough that in holding it in your hands by the body of the fruit, instead of the stem, it could potentially pierce the skin. However, its otherworldly appearance is dwarfed by another one of its attributes – the smell. Durians have a strong, rank smell that permeates the outer shell and lingers long after the fruit has been removed.

It’s unwelcome on public transport

Due to its overpowering smell, durian has been banned on many types of public transport across Thailand, Japan and Hong Kong. In Singapore, the fruit is banned across all types of public transportation and even taxis have signs to let you know they refuse to carry passengers transporting the smelly fruit.

It’s a superfruit

Despite the stench, durian is extremely healthy, even more so than many other fruits. Naturally rich in iron, vitamin C, and potassium, durian improves muscle strength, skin health and even lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, one small durian contains 23g of dietary fiber which is nearly all of your daily nutritional requirement. However, it is important to not eat them in excess, as in 2010 Malaysian politician Ahmad Lai Bujang was rushed to hospital complaining of breathlessness and dizziness after gorging himself on durian.

There’s more than one type

There are around 30 different varieties of durian. The fruit is native to Malaysia, Indonesia and Borneo however today there are durian farms in Sri Lanka, Southern India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and the southern Chinese island Hainan. Thailand is in fact the biggest exporter of the fruit and home to many durian farms which produce more varieties than the original native locations.

It’s almost impossible to describe the taste and smell

For over a hundred years, travel writers have tried to describe the taste and smell of durian and still we’re nowhere closer to being able to describe it helpfully to someone who has never experienced its unique taste and smell. In 1856, Alfred Russel Wallace sent a letter to Sir William Jackson Hooker describing the fruit as: ‘A rich custard highly flavored with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavor that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes’. Anthony Bourdain, who actually enjoys eating the stinky fruit, colorfully describes the aftermath of eating it: ‘Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother’.

It inspires architecture

Singapore’s official fruit is the durian. The Esplanade building next to Marina Bay, started as two glass domes but when the design was altered to include covering the buildings with pointed aluminum shades, the buildings took on the appearance of a durian that has been cut in half.

See more: The most unusual fruits you can find in Asia

Source: Internet

How to spend 2 days in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Brunei’s capital is known for Islamic architecture, the world’s largest floating village and the Gadong Night Market. Discover how to make the most of 48 hours in Bandar Seri Begawan if you’re a curious tourist.

Day one: Morning

Start the day early and get down to the compact city centre. Most attractions are within walking distance; it’s easy to see the best of the capital in the first morning of your 48 hours in Bandar Seri Begawan. First, head to Omar Ali Saifuddien, the capital’s most famous mosque. Snap a few photographs of its artificial lagoon and ceremonial royal barge. Next, stroll around the centre in loop ending at the Waterfront. Enjoy the views of the Brunei River and floating village. Piccolo Café sits near the Waterfront, which makes an ideal spot to cool down with a cold drink.

Day one: Afternoon

The sprawling conglomeration of stilted structures in the Brunei River is called Kampong Ayer. Known as the ‘Venice of the East’, it houses more than 13,000 residents. The world’s largest floating village has several villages along with their own mosques, shops and schools. Wooden boardwalks connect the villages above the water as speedboats ferry passengers from one place to the next. Water taxis cost around B$1 ($0.66 USD) from the Waterfront to Kampong Ayer.

Day one: Evening

In the early evening, head to The Mall Gadong. Apart from offering several floors of goods, it also provides an air-conditioned haven to escape from the stifling heat outside. Brunei has lower taxes compared to its neighbours, which makes designer clothes and electronics more affordable. You don’t have to visit the shopping centres on your 48 hours in Bandar Seri Begawan, but it does offer a window into the pastimes of locals. And you might be able to get that new phone or camera for a fraction of the price elsewhere.

Day two: Morning

Wake up bright and early and either hire a taxi or arrange a private driver from your hotel. First, head to Brunei’s largest mosque, Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah. Plan to spend 20 or 30 minutes strolling around the outside and snapping photographs. Next, visit Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s official residence. With a total of 1,800 rooms, this is the world’s largest house. Get photographs from the river or at the nearby park.

Day two: Afternoon

At the time of writing in 2018, most of the museums in Brunei are free. This is the perfect excuse to soak up some of the local culture on your 48 hours in Bandar Seri Begawan. First, visit the Royal Regalia Museum in the city centre. This houses all the extravagant gifts given to the Sultan of Brunei in a two-storey, air-conditioned building. Visitors need to remove their shoes at the door and sadly you can’t take pictures. Other worthwhile museums in Bandar Seri Begawan include the colonial Twelve Roofs House and Brunei Museum.

Day two: Evening and night

Save the best for last: witnessing one of Borneo’s famous sunsets. Brunei doesn’t have an international reputation for white-sand beaches, but it does offer a few quiet spots along its South China Sea coastline. Muara Bach lies approximately 30 minutes from the capital by car. You might need to either hire a car or get a driver (there aren’t many buses and they stop running at 6:00 pm). After the sunset, return to the capital and enjoy a meal in one of the restaurants along the Waterfront overlooking Kampong Ayer.

See more: Discover the magnificent Brunei

Source: Internet 

Best hotpot restaurants in Shanghai, China

Shanghai might be considered southern China, but in the depths of winter the chill really sets in. This is when locals make a beeline for hot pot restaurants, where vegetables, thinly-sliced meats and other goodies are cooked in a boiling, soupy brew. Here’s where to find them.

Yan Gege (Yàn gégé, 焱格格)

Prominent Hong Kong actor and animal rights activist Lü Songxian founded this vegetarian Beijing-style hot pot restaurant to show off the beauty of produce and clear vegetable broths. Be sure to try the delicious fresh tofus, and the huge selection of mushrooms that take up a whole portion of the menu and tout various different medicinal curative properties. Also delicious are the crisp lotus roots and egg dumplings.

Hong Chang Xing Mutton Hotpot (Hóng zhǎngxìng, 洪长兴)

It’s impossible to miss the towering blue dome when driving on the Yan’an overpass towards the Bund that marks Shanghai’s oldest halal restaurant. Founded in 1891, this century-old restaurant is a family-owned mutton hot pot restaurant, where you’ll find tables huddled around a bubbling pots of clear broth, heated by a charcoal fire. You’ll dip in an array of thinly-sliced meats, vegetables and tofu for a long and perfectly warming meal. While there are other locations, this is the one where the atmosphere is just as interesting as the food itself.

Elixir Health Pot (Wú lǎo guō, 无老锅)

This hot pot serves soup that you could simply drink straight from the pot, as it’s a bubbling potion touted for its health properties and skin rejuvenation by celebrities across Asia. The white ‘collagen’ pot is particularly wholesome (and delicious), made from pork bones and knuckles that have been simmered for hours, until the resulting soup is thick and fragrant, somewhat akin to tonkatsu ramen broth. Later, Chinese herbs including goji berries, ginseng and other roots are added to impart their curative properties. This is a hot pot that rejuvenates as well as warms the belly. Be sure to order their special house made ‘ice cream’ tofu (bīngqílín dòufu, 冰淇淋豆腐), the light little egg dumplings (dànjiǎo, 蛋饺) and the special mushroom platter (蘑菇拼盘, mógupīnpán) to pair.

Holy Cow

Anthony Zhao, the founder of this hot pot spot, trained in some of Shanghai’s finest dining establishments before he broke off to pay tribute to his native Shanghai cuisine. At Holy Cow, the kitchen serves primo, pesticide-free beef from Dalian and vegetables grown on their own farms. They also serve frozen soup dumplings that go into the hot pot and come out fat and delicious. The soup itself also merits being consumed by itself, as it’s a clear meat consomme that’s bolstered with Chinese herbs. It’s a healthful, flavorful and delicious experience sure to satisfy a crowd.

Hai Di Lao (Hǎidǐ lāo huǒguō, 海底捞火锅)

This particular chain is from Sichuan and has made a killing not only for its spicy hot pot, but also for the service. During peak hours, there will generally be a wait for a table, but the staff will make it worth your while. In the lobby, you’ll find free fruit, manicures, shoe shines and more which will help make the time pass quickly. There are several locations around town – this is one of the more popular.

See more: The signature dishes that define Chinese cuisine

Source: Internet

All about Boun Pi Mai, Lao's New Year Festival

Boun Pi Mai is one of the most important annual festivals to celebrate Lao New Year in the lasting several days in mid-April. It is a time when the entire country stops working and begins to party, and so do you if you visit Laos during Boun Pi Mai.

What is Boun Pi Mai

Boun Pi Mai, the start of the New Year in Laos, is a splashy good time for visitors, although a decidedly more gentle ordeal than its same-day counterpart in Thailand (Songkran).

The Lao New Year takes place in the middle of the hot summer season, in April. The new year celebrations usually last three days – 13-15 or 14-16 – though festivities in major locales can last longer than that (Luang Prabang’s Boun Pi Mai lasts for about 10 days).

During the New Year, the Lao believe that the old spirit of Sangkhan leaves this plane, making way for a new one. This belief – like the rest of Bun Pi Mai – is grounded in the Brahmanic and animistic religions that long preceded Theravada Buddhism, says former Culture Research Institute head Houmphanh Rattanavong.

Three Days of the Laos New Year

“In the Brahmanism religion it was believed that the time from January to the first day of Pi Mai in April is a dark, or bad, period of the year,” explains Mr. Rattanavong. “In Buddhism, the last day of Pi Mai is seen as a bright or prosperous period, so our ancestors chose April as the month of the New Year.”

The first day of Boun Pi Mai, known as Sangkhan Luang, is considered the last day of the old year. Lao will clean their houses and villages on this day, and prepare water, perfume, and flowers for the days ahead.

The second day, the Sangkhan Nao or "day of no day", is neither part of the old year nor of the new year.

The third day, known as Sangkhan Kheun Pi Mai is the official start of the Lao New Year. Locals dress in their finest silk clothes and perform Tak Bat, the traditional offering of alms to Buddhist monks; then climb Mount Phousi to pray at the stupa at its summit.

At family gatherings later in the day, locals hold baci ceremonies for good health, and beg senior family members for forgiveness.

Getting Soaked in Boun Pi Mai

During the New Year, water plays a big part in the festivities – Lao bathe Buddha images in their local temples, pouring jasmine-scented water and flower petals on the sculptures. The faithful will also build sand stupas and decorate these with flowers and string.

At each temple, monks will provide the water, as well as blessings for the devotees flocking to the temples and the white bai sri strings, which they will tie around devotees' wrists.

People also get soaked during Boun Pi Mai – people respectfully pour water on monks and elders, and less reverently on each other! Foreigners are not exempt from this treatment – if you're in Laos during Bun Pi Mai, do expect to be soaked by passing teenagers, who'll give you the wet treatment from buckets of water, hoses, or high-pressure water guns.

Locals sometimes throw flour as well as water, so you’ll feel both wet and doughy at the end of the holiday.

Celebrating Boun Pi Mai in Luang Prabang

While Boun Pi Mai is celebrated throughout Laos, tourists should be at Vientiane or Luang Prabang to see the holiday at its most intense. In Vientiane, families make the rounds of the different temples to bathe the Buddha statues, especially the ones at Wat Phra Kaew, the city's oldest temple.

Luang Prabang is probably the best place to celebrate Boun Pi Mai in Laos, as it is the former royal capital and a present-day UNESCO World Heritage site. In Luang Prabang, the celebrations can stretch out to a full seven days, celebrated in different places around the city.

Tips for Travelers

Boun Pi Mai is considered part of peak tourist season in Laos, so don't expect to make any bookings on the spur of the moment. If you want to be in Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng during the Lao New Year, book at least two months in advance to get the dates you want.

Consider it unavoidable: you will get wet during Boun Pi Mai. (So will everybody else.) At the same time, there are certain locals you shouldn't throw water at – monks, elders, and maybe the occasional well-dressed woman on her way to an important New Year event! Choose your targets judiciously, but expect to be liberally soaked.

See more: Explore the Konglor Loop in Laos

Source: Internet

7 must-try foods in Hualien, Taiwan

Surely you’re familiar with the usual Taiwanese must-eats like stinky tofu and papaya milk, but in this article, we cover some unique local eats travellers to Hualien simply can’t miss out on.

Steamed goose at Mr. Goose

Goose is typically served in most Asian establishments roasted, with a slightly crispy brown skin. At the aptly named Mr. Goose in Hualien, goose is served poached and sliced into thin slices, with a side of salty dipping sauce and raw julienned ginger.

Akin to Hainanese steamed chicken, the goose is tender and with a lighter, less gamey taste. Paired with the fragrant dipping sauce and raw ginger to balance out the oiliness, this is a unique dish you can be sure is on the list of every traveller coming to Hualien. Also worth trying are the deep-fried fish roe with Japanese mayonnaise and noodles in clear goose broth.

Fresh mochi at Tzen Chi Mochi

Don’t worry sweet tooths, we didn’t forget about you! Soft, sticky and sweet, the mochi at Tzen Mochi is perpetually raved about and is not to be missed when in Hualien. Choose from flavours like green bean, red bean, sesame, green tea, yam and sweet potato – all ingredients commonplace in Taiwanese desserts.

Make sure you buy as many as you can finish before they go bad (roughly 2 days)! In fact, there’s a well-shared stor of a Taiwanese F-16 fighter jet pilot who nearly got into trouble for carrying this infamous mochi in his aircraft proves just how popular this dessert is!

Juicy pork buns at Gong Zheng Bao Zi

A list of top things to eat in Hualien simply can’t be written without mentioning Gong Zheng Bao Zi. Their thicker and fluffier take on xiao long bao promises a unique experience of biting into what looks like a pillowy bun, only have it explode into juicy, meaty goodness.

Apart from their thick-skinned take on xiao long bao, make sure you try out all the other variations available as well such as the boiled dumplings (shui jiao) and steamed dumplings (zheng jiao).

Oyster omelette at Hai-Pu

Are you familiar with Or Chien? It’s an oyster omelette popular in Taiwan, made with oysters, eggs and starch. The addition of starch adds a slightly crispy, chewy texture to the dish. This stall is easily identifiable by the crazy long queues, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a try!

What makes this oyster omelette stand out from the rest in Taiwan is the generous slather of Hai-Pu’s signature sweet, tangy brown sauce on top. So make sure you don’t leave Hualien without trying it!

Pork Rib Noodles

For something a little more hearty, the pork rib noodles at Jing Xiang Pork Rib Noodles are something close to legendary, though you can expect shorter queues compared to places like Mr. Goose and Gong Zheng Bao Zi. Choose from the dry or soup version, but expect both to consist of ribs so tender they melt in your mouth, and chewy noodles swimming in a fragrant savory sauce/broth.

Another worthwhile mention would be Lai Cheng Pork Rib Noodles, who aside from their trademark noodles, also serve a terrific side dish of “golden eggs”. Perfectly boiled eggs braised in soy and with an impossibly creamy yolk!

Scallion pancakes at Lao Pai

Scallion pancakes are everywhere in Taiwan, and the Taiwanese love them especially for breakfast as a great way to start the day. In Hualien, no one makes these crispy treats as well as Lao Pai, where you also have the option of adding a runny sunny side up egg in the middle!

Operating out of an old van and with nothing more than a small banner as a sign, the complete Hualien experience is only fulfilled when you bite into the crispy, deep-fried pancake and savour the oozing yolk.

Coffin Toast at Chiang Family’s Coffin Toast

The Taiwanese food scene consists of night markets galore. And as you meander through the streets of Dongdamen Night Market, you’re bound to come across this popular stall selling Coffin Toast! Unique to Taiwan, these are thick slabs of white bread, deep fried and hollowed out, then filled with yummy fillings (mostly savoury) from the likes of seafood chowder to black pepper pork.

While you’re in Dongdamen Night Market, make sure you also sample the grilled BBQ corn, which is brushed with BBQ sauce and charred. The fruit juices are worth trying as well, as Taiwan is home to many local fruits such as sweet pineapples and tangy custard apples.

See more: Amazing themed cafés to stop by in Taipei, Taiwan

Top 6 things to do in Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan certainly belongs in any Myanmar itinerary worth mentioning, and indeed many travelers make sure to cover Bagan when exploring greater Southeast Asia. When you are in Bagan, make the most out of your visit by taking on one of the adventures listed here.

Explore the Temple Plain

The majority of Bagan's temples can be found within the Bagan Archaeological Zone; a $20 ticket must be purchased before entering the Zone. Luckily, you don't have to see all of the 2,000 temples to get the full Bagan experience. If pressed for time, you can visit these must-see temples in the space of two days.

As the temples are active Buddhist places of worship, visitors must pay proper respect before entering — footwear must be removed (no exceptions!), modest clothes worn, and proper behavior followed. Read about Buddhist temple dos and don't's for a clearer look at the rules.

Fly in a Hot-Air Balloon Over Bagan

Bagan's temples are best viewed from a high vantage-point, and there's no higher (or more jaw-droppingly gorgeous) perspective than the one you'll get from a hot air balloon gliding 2,000 feet in the air.

Unlike helicopter and ultralight flights, balloon flights are relatively silent and static, combining with the reddish angled light of the sunrise to create the best conditions for viewing Bagan's temple plain. If you've got the cash to spare (flight rates cost between $300 to $500 per person, read about money in Myanmar) and if you're visiting during the short ballooning season (from October to mid-April), put balloon flying over Bagan on your must-do list.

Three companies provide ballooning services over Bagan: Golden Eagle Ballooning, Oriental Ballooning, and the company that started it all, Balloons Over Bagan. Flights can last between 45 minutes to an hour, not including the pre-dawn pickup from your hotel.

Watch the Sun Set Over the Irrawaddy River

If balloon flights are beyond the reach of your budget, you can still climb on a dwindling number of multi-tiered temples to see Bagan's gorgeous sunsets reflecting off the Irrawaddy River in the distance.

Before tourism became a major Bagan concern, most temples permitted visitors to climb to their upper decks. But after increased tourist traffic and not a few accidents marred the temple-climbing experience, the government has cracked down: visitors may only climb five temples in Bagan, and additional closures can be announced without notice.

Two temples alongside the Irrawaddy River will never be affected by these closures, as they lack tiers to climb, thus making them excellent (and much safer) candidates for sunset viewing. If you're mobility-challenged, lacking travel insurance or just prefer riverside views, head off to the gourd-shaped Bupaya and the sacred Lawkananda temples for your sunset fix.

Explore a Local Market

You'll find two major town settlements outside the Bagan Archaeological Zone. To the Zone's west, you'll find “New Bagan”, the town created for former residents of the Zone who were forcibly moved out by the Government. To the north is the older town of Nyaung-U, site of the Bagan Airport and some of the area's most interesting local color.

You can't miss Mani Sithu Market in Nyaung-U — it's located next to the main road near a central roundabout. For a non-temple break to the stupa cycle in Bagan, Mani Sithu is top-notch: a working morning market full of locals buying and selling fresh meat and dry goods.

Forget about souvenir-hunting in Mani Sithu; come here to do more sightseeing than shopping. Stalls selling live animals, freshly-butchered meats, packages of areca nut and betel leaf, cooking oil, and dried fish — you'll see, hear, and smell them all, altogether an authentic Bagan people-watching experience worth making a detour for.

Shop for High-Quality Lacquerware

Lacquerware feels like it belongs to the past — non-microwave-safe, hand-carved, and crafted using traditional materials and centuries-old formulas. But like many ancient crafts, lacquer has a beauty that few modern equivalents can reproduce.

The town of Myinkaba near Bagan has been a center for lacquer production for centuries, having been introduced by Siamese and Lanna emigres in the 1500s. The present-day lacquer workshops use techniques little changed from their ancestors' time - from curing lacquerware in underground cellars to hand-carving designs into the lacquer with styluses.

Unlike other handicrafts, lacquerware improves with age: colors brighten as the years go on, making antique lacquerware particularly prized by collectors. Bagan lacquer craftsmen favor black, yellow, green and red colors in their products, seen all over the jewelry boxes, coasters, cups, and jars sold in shops all up and down Myinkaba's main drag.

Attend Ananda Festival

The biggest festival in Bagan takes place in January, on a moveable feast day that coincides with the full moon of the Burmese Pyatho month and the end of the harvest season. In the weeks leading up to Ananda Festival, the locality around its namesake temple fills up with bullock carts bringing pilgrims and their offerings.

In a place of honor near the temple, locals set up a fairground hawking traditional Myanmar food and other diversions for visitors.

The festival gives Burmese Buddhists the chance to earn merit by providing donations of food and clothing to the local community of monks, who line up by the hundreds near the Ananda Temple to receive the offerings provided by grateful locals.

See more: 24 hours exploring Inle Lake, Myanmar

Source: Internet

Discover the neighborhoods of Nara, Japan

Nara may not be Japan’s biggest city, but historically it is one of the most important regions in the entire country. Whether you want shopping, dining, history, or nature, there is a Nara neighborhood to suit your travel needs.

Downtown Nara

The 1 km stretch between JR Nara station and Kintetsu-Nara station is considered the downtown area of Nara. While not full of historical sites to see, this is the best place for dining and shopping options. Sanjo-dori starts near JR Nara and is the quickest path for getting to Nara Park. Lined with traditional shops, popular restaurants, and bars, downtown is a great place to base your travels if you prefer to stay in livelier areas. This would also be a great base to explore the rest of Nara prefecture due to the proximity of the train and bus stations.

Nara Park

It would be any history lovers’ dream to stay in the Nara Park area. One of the oldest parks in Japan, it also contains Nara’s most popular areas. With places like Todai-ji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Nara Park is one of the most historically significant spots in the country. It’s impossible to understand Japanese history without understanding its roots in ancient Nara. While not far from the station, this area doesn’t have a lot to offer after nightfall, so it’s best to stay close and soak in the perspective that only a thousand years of history can provide.

Naramachi

Naramachi is an older merchant area of Nara that has managed to retain most of its traditional charm. Older homes line the road as well as a public bathing house, trendy shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels. This is a wonderful way to spend a quiet few hours absorbing Japanese culture while seeing how people here used to live. Culture lovers will enjoy walking through these streets to see the older-style architecture and the attention to detail the restaurants and shops observe to preserve this area. Naramachi would also be perfect for anyone wanting a quiet getaway while still having access to restaurants and bars.

Nishinokyo

Nishinokyo is considered to be the area west of JR Nara station and is mostly ignored by tourists heading to the more popular Nara Park. Home of two different world heritage sites, Yakushi-ji Temple and Toshodai-ji Temple, this place is great for finding that opportunity to explore something off the beaten path. As the site of the former Imperial Palace, Nishinokyo has history stretching back over 1,300 years and is the start of Nara’s time as Japan’s first capital city. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Nishinokyo is where Japan as a country began.

Totsukawa

While not part of Nara city, Totsukawa is one of the most beautiful parts of Nara prefecture and an area any nature lover needs to see. Hike one of the many trails scattered throughout the village, like the famous Kumano Kodo, or cross the Tanize Suspension Bridge, one of the longest in Japan, to get your heart pounding. In the summertime, Totsukawa is considered one of the best areas for firefly spotting in Japan. After all that outdoor activity, it would be crime to pass up on one of the areas’ hot springs. The Hotel Subaru is well-known for their restorative outdoors baths and offer late night hours to star gaze while soaking in the warm mineral rich waters.

See more: Commune with nature in Hakone, Japan

Source: Internet