Photo credits: Tokyo Century, Goldtop; Reach the Beach, Gabriel Amadeus; Rick Flens at Giro d’Italia, Robert Lotgering

Tokyo: Fly nonstop from the past into the future.
An approximately 5 km run, the Imperial Palace jogging course is a great way to get a tour through Japanese history into modern day Japan. The route leads runners around the Imperial Palace, through the Marunouchi  business district, past the Budokan (which is home to sporting matches and concerts) and along Hibya Park. It is a great path with not too many hills, and the distance is challenging for novice runners looking to build up their strength, and a solid workout for intermediate and advanced runners. And, for those who enjoy flying at a slower pace, the route makes for a very pleasant walk.

Amsterdam: Fly through…a green lung?
When looking for a quality running workout, be sure to run through Amsterdam’s “green lung,” also known as Vondelpark. A getaway from the city, Vondelpark covers 120 acres and possesses beautiful, lush gardens; ponds, lakes, playgrounds, cafes and performance grounds. A nice, dirt path rings the park and the distance rounds out at about 5.5 km, making this green oasis a great place to turn to for a breath of fresh air (or several breaths, if you are running.)

Portland: Fly from the city to the hills.
Portland’s Forest Park is a huge network of trails, totaling at over 70 miles, and begins from the edge of Portland’s 23rd Avenue to the Tualatin Mountains. Few parts of the trails go uphill and downhill, making most of the running flat, so it is great for runners to utilize for improving pace. Home to more than 100 species of mammals and 100 species of birds, this makes for a fun, running adventure, as runners get to experience encounters with different wildlife, and glimpses of the Willamette River and downtown Portland.

So what are you waiting for? Put on those joggers and start flying!

The 8th edition of SAIL will take place from 19 to 23 August 2010. For five days long, the Amsterdam IJ harbour will serve as the backdrop for a festive programme full of music, culture and nautical riches. Preparations are in full swing and the event promises once again to be an unparalled nautical spectacle which includes:

• an impressive fleet of Tall Ships from all around the world Tall Ships from all around the world
• a unique collection of Dutch sailing heritage
• a variety of modern ships
• various impressive naval ships and replicas
• an extensive, accompanying programme on the wharfs
• activities, performances and expositions for young and old
• a unique atmosphere with thousands of boats on the water
• a daily closing ceremony with a breath-taking fireworks show

Photo credits: Curt Deathreridge, Pizzodisevo, Allison Park

Gay pride is one of the most busy weekends of the year in Amsterdam. Make sure you book your flight and hotel early!

Ueno Park

As one of Tokyo’s largest and busiest parks, Ueno Park is a very popular destination to view the seasonal hanami or cherry blossoms. Host to approximately 1,000 cherry trees and some of Tokyo’s most revered cultural centers (Tokyo National Museum; National Museum of Western Art; Shitamachi Museum; Ueno Zoo; and Shinobazu Pond, a bird sanctuary), Ueno Park receives millions of visitors a year. Whether you’re interested in taking in the cherry blossoms before a business meeting, wanting to enjoy an outdoor picnic or experience some of Tokyo’s cultural icons, Ueno Park must make it on your itinerary list.

Shinjuku Gardens

The Shinjuku Gardens were created by fusing Eastern and Western landscape designs. The Gardens are home to over 1,000 cherry trees of 12 varieties, and with plenty of open space, it is perfect for lounging on a sunny afternoon.

Imperial Palace and Chidorigafuchi

While most of the Emperor’s Imperial Gardens are closed to the public, Kitanomaru Park and the Imperial Palace East Gardens are available for spectators to gather and appreciate the cherry blossoms’ display. The northeastern section of Kitanomaru Park is called Chidorigafuchi, and boats are available to rent close to the Hanzomon station.

Add a little more culture to your visit by touring the resident museums: Science Museum, National Museum of Modern Art & Craft Gallery and Nippon Budokan.

Meiji-jingu

One of Tokyo’s most famous Shinto shrines, Meiji-jingu, was erected in honor of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken in 1920. The shrine is centrally located in Tokyo’s largest park Yoyogi Koen, and is a gathering place to appreciate the surrounding cherry blossoms and pay homage to the divine spirits.

Photo credits: TiareScott, Ali San, Mrhayata, KimonBerlin

On Sunday 20 June 2010 the Amsterdam Roots Festival will feature ‘Roots Open Air’ in Oosterpark a large-scale, free, open-air festival staged in one of Amsterdam’s parks. Performances, presentations and workshops of Dutch and foreign music groups will then take place on several platforms and in tents.

This musical spectacle will also feature more than a hundred stands representing organisations and institutes active in the fields of world music and non-Western culture, including exciting culinary products.

Kyoto

Kyoto is arguably most famous for its spectacular architecture. With over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, Kyoto has preserved some of Japan’s most valued historical and cultural masterpieces. Both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines pay proper homage to their religious figures, but each edifice has its own unique architectural details. Since it is impossible to see all of Kyoto’s temples, a few suggestions include Enryaku-ji Temple, To-ji Temple, Nanzen-ji Temple, Shokoku-ji Temple, the Golden and Silver Pavilions (Kinkakuji and Ginkakuji) and Sanjusangen-do. Sanjusangen-do hosts an annual kyudo or archery competition called Toshiya, which brings together about 2,000 participants. Many of the participants are teenagers who have recently undergone the coming of age ceremony the week before.

In Shino shrines, you will find millions of gods representing important elements in life, such as wind, rain, light, earth and fertility. For a complete Shinto experience, tour the Kamigamo-jinja, dedicated to the water gods and Yasaka-jinja, which honors the god of prosperity and good health.

After a long day touring through the temples and shrines, stop by a tea house for a traditional tea ceremony with Geisha and Maiko. These professional entertainers train from a young age and learn to perform classical music and traditional dance.

Nikko National Park

Known for its Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, vast gardens, waterfalls, hiking trails and fall foliage, Nikko National Park provides visitors a plethora of natural and architectural designs. The city of Nikko has earned is place on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Tokugaway Shoguns’ sanctuary and mausoleum.

Of the most famous natural sites in Nikko National Park, Kegon Falls (below), Lake Chuzenji, Mount Nantai and Ryuzu Falls have captured the most hearts. If you are to visit Nikko National Park, make sure to plan a few days. Between the various hiking trails and a city deeply rooted in spiritual history, you’ll be busy for a few days.

Great Buddha Kamakura

The faithful come to Kamakura to pray and experience Buddha’s wisdom and tourists venture to witness an architectural wonder. The Amida Buddha in Kamakura is one of the tallest bronze statues in Japan (nearly 50 feet), second only to the Buddha statue in Nara’s Todaiji Temple. Built in 1252, this statue weighs in at 93 tons and has outlasted even the temple where it was built, which was destroyed by typhoons during the 14th and mid-15th centuries.

Mount Fuji

We couldn’t leave out Japan’s largest mountain and one of its most recognizable icons: Mount Fuji. Dominating the skyline at just over 12,300 ft, Mount Fuji joins Mount Tate and Mount Haku to make up the “Three Holy Mountains”. Mount Fuji has been the centerpiece of Japanese art for centuries, including the famous painting “Tsumani” by Hokusai.

A mere three hour drive from Tokyo, Mount Fuji boasts some of the country’s most spectacular vistas and is a hiking and ski-lovers’ winter wonderland.

Photo credits: Geishas, Shadowgate; Great Buddha, MrHayata; Great Buddha; Njimi Falls; Nikko National Park Pagoda; Mt. Fuji, Palandrome6996; Tsunami