5 most amazing hotels in Japan

Japan, also known as the Land of the Rising Sun, is an exciting and culturally fascinating travel destination. Its hotels are equally appealing, and they are just as diverse as the nation itself. You will find the skyscrapers catering to international business travelers in hubs like Tokyo and Kyoto, but you’ll also find luxurious resorts and capsule hotels.

Park Hotel Tokyo

The Park Hotel Tokyo is a contemporary skyscraper in the middle of the capital city. From its top floors, you can expect stunning views over the city. The Park Hotel Tokyo is also conveniently located just a two-minute walk from the Shimbashi Station, which allows you to get to other major destinations in the area via subway. There are seven dining options within the Park Hotel Tokyo that serve up Japanese cuisine as well as international fare. Other luxury amenities include a spa, a fitness facility and a lounge filled with modern art.

Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon

A brief walk from the Asakusa Train Station is the upscale Gate Hotel Asakusa Kaminarimon, one of the most popular contemporary hotels in Tokyo. The convenient location makes it easy to travel via train around the city, but you can also walk right to attractions like the Senso-ji Temple or the Hanayashiki Theme Park. The rooms are comfortable and modern, and guests will have access to hotel amenities like in-room massage therapy, a French restaurant and an open-air terrace exclusively available for guests to enjoy, which happens to be an amazing place to soak in city views.

See more: Things to do in Asakusa, Tokyo

Hoshinoya Kyoto

You’ll find the upscale Hoshinoya Kyoto on the banks of the Katsura River in the popular Arashiyama district of Kyoto. Although it is in the center of the city, the setting is wooded, and guests will be just a short walk from the wildly famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. The rooms are sleek, modern but minimal, and they feature bamboo decor and tatami mat flooring. A floating tearoom is an ultimate luxury, allowing you to sip upscale teas right over the waters of the river.

Hakone-Ginyu

This luxurious spa resort can be found in Hakone, and it is surrounded by lush green mountains. The suites are spacious but minimalist, designed with relaxation in mind. Many of the rooms and suites at the Hakone-Ginyu offer private terraces, and the views are definitely one of the most appealing things about this incredible resort. You’ll also be able to unwind in one of the two open-air bathhouses, not to mention the countless hot tubs. Indulge in spa treatments, and then enjoy incredible Japanese cuisine while making the most of the mountain views.

See more: Hakone, a peaceful place in Japan

The Windsor Hotel Toya

On the Japanese island of Hokkaido, you’ll find the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort and Spa. At the Windsor Hotel Toya, you can choose from traditional minimalist rooms with tatami mats or upgraded western beds, all of which offer amenities like wifi access, personal fridges and flat-screen televisions. The spa facilities are the main attraction, featuring a bathhouse, an indoor pool, and a hot tub, but there is also a scenic golf course on the property. Guests will also be mere minutes from the enticing Toyako Hot Spring.

Source Touropia

6 must-do things when visiting Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa is mountainous town in Northwestern Vietnam, blessed with a cool climate throughout the year. Just venture out a little to nearby indigenous villages and you will be rewarded with views of stepped paddy fields, emerald ripples that flow across entire stretches of valleys. Here are 6 things you should do when you are in Sapa.

Climb Fansipan, ‘Roof of IndoChina’

Fansipan is called as “the Roof of Indochina” with the height of 3143m, the highest peak of the Indochina Peninsula. Although the summit of Fansipan is less than half of Mount Everest, this place is a good choice for those who are eager to conquer high peaks and test their muscular power.
It is definitely not an easy trek but it promises marvelous views of the Hoang Lien mountain range and pristine natural beauty. Climbers have chance to explore the diverse flora, enjoy beautiful orchids and wild flowers along the way or listen to the musical concert of insects.

Visit Cat Cat village

Cat Cat village is a typical village of ethnic minority. The old H’Mong hill tribe village attracts tourists from all over the world for its distinctive culture and unique practices which have been lost recently.

Tourists will be impressed by the peacefully picturesque sceneries of pristine nature, the traditional cultural and unique original architecture. You can admire waterfall and an old Hydro Electric Power Station built by the French. Moreover, the image of young women in traditional costumes, sitting by looms and making colorful pieces of brocade with designs of flowers, patterns, birds has been a symbol of this mountainous land.

Traditional wood house style is also a featured beauty that should be mentioned. Apart from that, you can try to do weaving fabric, purchase some traditional souvenirs and handicrafts as gifts.

Trek Muong Hoa Valley

You can only truly appreciate the beauty of Muong Hoa Valley if you take your time to trek it and spend a night at a local village homestay. Sometimes women from the regional ethnic minority tribes may even approach you while in town and offer a trek and homestay. Often these are more authentic than the ones done through tour agencies. Taking muddy trails through terraced fields, drinking water out of streams, sleeping on the floor in traditional long tail houses, and spending time hanging out with local families and drinking rice wine are typical things.

Hang out with members of the different ethnic tribes

The H’Mong are the predominant minority tribe in Sapa, but you will come across Yao and Zay people as well. Striking up a conversation is easy, as most of them are well-versed in English, having learned from other tourists they have bumped into, or at school. Get to know them and their stories and you will probably be invited to their home to share a meal and laughter. It is a humbling experience to live with them, even if it is just for a day, and you will leave Sapa with appreciation for life.

Drop by the Sapa Love Market

This is a unique experience in Sapa, and only happens on Saturdays. The Sapa Love Market is where young ethnic tribes people would come to meet one another, fall in love, and get married. Because villages in Sapa are sparsely populated, those living in far-away villages would make the journey days ahead so they can arrive in time to find someone. You will see boys and girls hanging out, laughing, drinking, eating, doing traditional dances and playing traditional games together.

Read more: Shopping in Sapa’s markets

Explore the Silver waterfall

Located in National Highway No 4D, Silver waterfall is about 12km from Sapa Town’s centre. Thanks to water source from the Lo Sui Tong mountain peak, this beautiful waterfall is formed. The waterfall looks like a white dragon looking down from the sky. You can travel to the Silver Waterfall by motorbike or by car for half an hour. It would worth a stopping by with the award of a stunning view of spectacular mountains and the forests in Hoang Lien National Park.

Source Internet

Experience extreme sports for the young in Da Nang

If you feel free and have nothing to do, you can challenge yourself by trying extreme sports when traveling to Da Nang. Especially, Da Nang has been built as a tourism city with many natural tourist destinations and one of the most young, dynamic, ever-growing cities in Vietnam.

Rock climbing at marble mountains

Being a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble, Marble Mountains are a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains exist in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting and sculpture about 8km south of Da Nang.

One special choice is spending a full day rock climbing at the famous Marble Mountain. However, you should observe and select agents which provide reputable safe facilities.

Kayaking

Kayaking is not only a wonderful sport to challenge calmness, patience but also a problem-solving lesson. Depending on your adventurous extent, you can choose yourself a suitable starting point. They can be a peaceful place or a waterfall if you want more thrilling experience.

Paragliding

Although it’s a new sport in Da Nang, paragliding appeals a lot of players by its attractiveness and novelty. It is the most attractive and adventurous water sport. You will be equipped with parachute and pulled up to the sky by canoe. Protected by safety belts bounded in belly and hip, you will be able to fly at a 70 – 100 m altitude. Although it’s an adventurous sport, safety is always guaranteed. You will be equipped with life jackets and a guard canoes. After your landing, life jacket helps you float on water, and then canoe will pull you up. It costs about 500,000-600,000 VND/10 minutes, depending on the number of players.

Paintball

Paintball is an attractive entertainment activity of collective sport which simulates traditional fake fights. Players compete to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball gun. The game is organized at the Da Nang Paintball Club (7 Duy Tan Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City).

Watercraft

This is a suitable sport for those who love high speed and adventure. It’s amazing to ride a high-speed watercraft. However, renting a watercraft in Da Nang is quite expensive, (about 400 000 VND/30’).

Do not miss new experiences of adventurous aquariums trip in Da Nang and a special space in natural surroundings.

Read more: The fascinated spots in Da Nang

Source Internet