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Shimla

Shimla (Hindi: शिमला), previously spelt Simla, is the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh in India. It is a very popular holiday retreat during the summer months and is well known for its Victorian architecture, which is reflected in certain areas of the Mall and the Ridge. It is also a famous holiday spot for honeymoon.

Understand
Shimla has a population of around 172,000 (which may increase by another 100,000 with the seasonal influx of voyagers). Most residents are from the Pahadi community (the natives of Himachal Pradesh), but there is also a sizable minority from Punjab and Sindh, who moved to Shimla during the partition. As a result, the languages spoken in Shimla include Hindi, Punjabi, Pahadi and English which serves as a lingua franca.

There are quite a few theories regarding the origin of the word Shimla. Locals insist that the name originates from Shyamali Devi, a reincarnation of the fearsome Goddess Kali.

Tourist information
There are two main official tourist information centres in Shimla, as well as a small office at the train station that isn't always open. The victory point office is less busy and helpful. It's also near where some government buses leave from. All accommodation arrangements as well as any additional side trips, sightseeing, onward transportation, etc., can easily be arranged without the help of the touts. (Visit the office of the state-run Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (phone +91 177 265-2561 or 265-8302), located in the central place downtown called "The Scandal Point", before Christ Church on The Ridge (across from the City Hall), for any impartial information or guidance you may require: the staff there are well informed and reasonably professional. There are no alternatives to this office as the source of impartial, reliable information on all aspects of Shimla and on travel.
 * State tourism website
 * State tourism website
 * State tourism website

Orientation
The location is that of a majestic Himalayan perch above the searing plains. From the 1820s, the British started to build summer cottages on the ridges, and by 1863 Shimla was designated the summer capital of the Raj, from April to October, until 1947 - Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Mountbatten had their last pre-Partition talks here, actually. The higher levels of the town reflect this British connection, comprising mostly buildings in the Victorian style, while the lower slopes are occupied with Indian bazaars and restaurants. Traffic is banned from the historic central area, known as the Mall, which means that the atmosphere is calm and the air pristine.

Cart Road runs south of the Mall and is connected to it via the lifts. The Ridge, north of the Mall, is a good place to view the seven majestic hills of Shimla. Further along the same road is Lakkar Bazaar, which is a good place to buy some handicrafts and other souvenirs.

Climate
Shimla's cool climate is the precise reason why it is such a popular summer retreat. At an altitude of approximately 2,200 m above sea level, the region has a hilly terrain and is covered by dense evergreen forests.

A few visitors choose to visit Shimla during spring or autumn, when the place is less crowded and the views are too spectacular for words.

By bus

Government and private buses are available from Chandigarh to Shimla within a gap of half an hour. Deluxe and semi-deluxe buses are also frequently available from different places.

The bus from Mandi leaves around 9AM, for about ₹300 (as of Aug 2023).

Buses, for example to Manali and Dharamsala, can be booked in advance or on the day of travel up to a few hours before departure from the government office next to the official tourist information centre at Scandal Point.

By train
The nearest broad gauge station is at Kalka, a four-to-seven hour journey from Delhi. After that, take the mountain train from Kalka to Shimla. This railway track was granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. The view is stunning, with the line passing through an amazing 102 tunnels. The fastest way to get to Kalka is to catch the Shatabdi Express, which departs early morning from the New Delhi Railway Station, arriving at Kalka four hours later. A detailed list of trains between Delhi, Kalka and Shimla is available here.

You can also choose to get off at Chandigarh (en route to Kalka), and catch a taxi from there.

While the Shivalik Deluxe Express can be reserved 120 days in advance like most Indian trains, most of the other mountain trains can only be reserved 30 days before journey date. Passengers on the Shivalik Deluxe Express are served meals on the train: breakfast on the way to Shimla and dinner on the way down.

By road
Shimla is nicely connected by road to different major cities.

By plane

After landing at the airport, take a pre-paid taxi to minimize hassle. Chandigarh is a good four-hour drive away, so stop for a bite on the Kalka-Shimla highway.

Jets can all land at the larger Chandigarh airport. Chandigarh Airport, 120 km from Shimla along far better roads and at an elevation of only 308 m above sea level, offers far better flight options. Major airlines including Air India and Air Deccan operate flights to Delhi, Jammu, and Mumbai. Most of the flights to Mumbai require a stopover in Delhi. Confirm the flights as bad weather often delays flights during the winter fog.

Get around
Getting around in Shimla is easy as compared to other cities in Himachal Pradesh.

On foot
Most, especially downtown with the ridge, can be walked but due to the hills Shimla is on, it can sometimes be exhausting.

By bus
You can get a local bus from 7AM to 9PM for ₹10, and that too for any destination in the city.

By taxi
In case you choose to travel by taxi, it is affordable and convenient for sightseeing.

By tour
Apart from this, there are some tourist buses run by HPTDC every day for getting around in Shimla, e.g. from the Rivoli Bus Stop. As Shimla is known for its picturesque location and serene environment, you can also consider traveling some distance on foot. Inquire with HPTDC.

See

Jakhoo Hill
Jakhoo Hill is Shimla's highest point and the site of Jakhu Temple. The summit offers spectacular views of the town and its surroundings; on a clear day it is possible to see the snow-capped Western Himalaya about 75 km to the north. However, trees and vegetation somewhat obscure the views, preventing them from being truly panoramic.

The climb up from the Christ Church is a physically demanding 2 km walk that takes 30–60 minutes depending on your level of fitness. Taxis are available to take you up the hill or you can drive yourself - 4WD is recommended - however, parking is limited at the top. Another option is the Jakhu Ropeway, an aerial tram located slightly downhill and east of the church.

The hillside and Jakhu Temple are populated with very aggressive and cunning monkeys. Be extremely careful with your camera, glasses, bag and (especially) food. (Sticks for warding off the monkeys can be rented at the entrance to the temple for ₹5).

Museums and galleries
Shimla houses a few excellent museums. The State Museum is perhaps the most well known.

Do

 * Take a leisurely walk at the Mall — this 7-km thoroughfare is famous for its Victorian Architecture, and retains much of its Raj-era charm. To get there, take the lifts from Cart Road, an ingenious system designed to save pedestrians from walking. ₹10 per trip. The central area of The Mall is composed of half-timbered buildings and is the place to rub shoulders and clash knives and forks with Shimla's elite. A statue of freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai is located at Scandal Point, the highest point on The Mall. Further along is the very pleasant Clarke's Hotel, which is an excellent place to take a break and relax over a coffee.
 * Ice skating is possible in Shimla from November to March, though Kufri and Chail on the outskirts of town offer better options.
 * Trek in the local mountains. Walk along the meandering roads to the meadows at Annadale, 5 km out of town. The Glen, further west, is a favorite picnic spot with locals. Head north and visit Wildflower Hall, the former retreat of Lord Kitchner. Furthur on along the Hindustan-Tibet Road lies the quaint village of Mashobra – A gravel-road indicates the entry to the Seog Wildlife Sanctuary. The annual Sipi Fair is held in a little steep pathway off Mashobra.
 * Tee off at the Naldehra Golf Course, on the northern outskirts of the town, at a distance of about 25 km from Shimla. The 9-hole golf course, set amidst sloping meadows at an elevation of 2,050 m above sea level, was designed by Lord Curzon in the 19th century. The flora is impressive, ranging from alpine grass to pine and deodar. But the tourists are not permitted to enter the golf course and they can only have a distant view of the golf course. There are two separate entries, one for walking and the other for horses, which lead to a vast ground surrounded by pine trees and golf course. It is better go up by own instead of taking horses and enjoy the serenity.
 * Kinnaur Kailash Parikrma Trek – Kinnaur is one of the most beautiful places but very less known district of Himachal Pradesh. This place is surrounded by Tibet, Garhwal Himalayan, spitti valley and Kullu. Sutlej River also flows from the Kinnaur valley. Tourists can experience a Buddhism life style, due to its proximity to Tibet.

Buy
Further down the Mall Road is the Lakkar Bazaar, which has quite a few shops selling wooden handicrafts. The Mall is full of shops selling woolens (most of which find their way to Shimla from Ludhiana, Punjab) and Kullu shawls. Other favorites have included wooden toys, walking sticks and Tibetan carpets made in nearby Kinnaur. As the centre of the food-processing industry in Himachal, jams and squashes made from local produce are indeed worth purchasing. The stretch between Combermere Bridge and the Telegraph Office is full of small stores which stock handcrafted Chinese shoes. The more well-known ones include Hopsons, Tatung and Hugh & Co.

 * Maria Bros., 78-A The Mall. Antique and rare book dealers. Absurdly overpriced. Try the couple of other options further down The Mall.
 * Minerva Book House, Hotel Minerva, +91 177 225-2043. A good selection of novels.
 * Minerva Book House, Hotel Minerva, +91 177 225-2043. A good selection of novels.
 * Minerva Book House, Hotel Minerva, +91 177 225-2043. A good selection of novels.

Eat
Most of the restaurants in Shimla are cheap, comfortable, atmospheric and offer good multi-cuisine food. However, if you are looking for local cuisine, the options are surprisingly limited. Along the highway there are more than thirty restaurants, dhabas and fast food places.

Drink
Himachal is known as the fruit bowl of India. It has a thriving food processing industry that churns out fruit-based drinks, squashes and concentrates. The most famous flavors are plum, litchi, strawberry, mango and guava.

Alcohol
For alcoholic drinks, try the locally brewed wines such as apricot, plum and apple & ginger cider. In predominantly Tibetan areas, a rice wine known as Chang is popular.

 * "Rendezvous" located less than a minute walk from Christ Church on The Mall, across from "Alfa Restaurant". Somewhat hidden, this restaurant/bar plays Bollywood tunes, a nice cozy interior and strong drinks.
 * "Rendezvous" located less than a minute walk from Christ Church on The Mall, across from "Alfa Restaurant". Somewhat hidden, this restaurant/bar plays Bollywood tunes, a nice cozy interior and strong drinks.

Sleep
There are lots of options from dormitories to luxury resort hotels. Online booking is the most convenient way to reserve a room. Alternatively, the tourist office can supply a list of hotels, and you can phone or trek over a reserve a room in person. Rooms in Shimla range US$5–600.

Budget

Other cheaper areas of the city are through Victory tunnel and on Circular Rd and Kaithu to Kali Bari Rd. In high season, rooms can be ₹1,000–1,500 a night.

Splurge
For travellers requiring luxury accommodation during their stay in Shimla, the advantages offered by The Oberoi Cecil, a luxury hotel of the Oberoi chain, as regards both the location and the in-house amenities, are unbeatable by any establishment in town. Their lesser-grade affiliate, The Oberoi Clarke's, another hotel of the Oberoi chain with a great ambiance and rich history, has the advantage of a more central location on The Mall, but its facilities in general and its cuisine in particular are not a match for The Cecil. A close runner-up to The Cecil in the luxury lineup is The Radisson Hotel Shimla, but its location in a low-lying locality known as Goodwood Estate, on Lower Bharari Road (which is in a state of shocking disrepair and dangerous to walk on), which is difficult of access and too out of the way for virtually all sightseeing to be done in Shimla, makes this otherwise swanky new hotel impossible to recommend except for those wishing to spend all their time within the confines of their hotel proper or who do not mind relying on the hotel's fleet of private cars to get to town and back (a relatively expensive proposition on a daily basis). Those preferring genteel seclusion would be much better served by Woodville Palace Hotel (see "Mid-range", above), accessible on foot from the centre of the town but located in a pleasant quiet woody cove requiring a 20 minutes' walk along The Mall to town, or the 14 km distant Wildflower Hall (see "Accommodation options outside of Shimla", below), a spectacular resort of the expensive Oberoi chain with its own mountain in a forested area outside of town, near the village of Charabra (accessible from Shimla by car only, available, at cost, at the hotel).

Stay safe
Beware of greedy monkeys which may attack anytime to grab food from your hands. Don’t make any eye contact with them. Try to ignore them while passing by. Any abrupt move from your side may pass the wrong message on these creatures.

Sometimes, temperature goes below freezing level, especially during winter season. So travelers are advised to carry appropriate clothing.

Do not exchange the currency/money in black market. Ask for receipt when exchanging money at any authorized establishment.

Touts
Avoid touts at all cost, whether locals or outsiders (many are in fact Kashmiri chisellers disguised as locals, and calling themselves euphemistically "guides", who have been working the Shimla beat for years and decades); they scour the railway and bus stations for incautious or vulnerable looking victims among the new arrivals, and foreigners carrying luggage are their prime targets in the streets as well. The experience of being "led" by an unscrupulous but ingratiating manipulator with his own interest in mind rather than yours can be the ruin of one's visit to Shimla. The touts can be extremely importunate and persevering in pursuit of their illegal trade while at the same time feigning "friendship" intended to ensnare the gullible. If you allow them to lead you to your hotel you will be manipulated in manifold ways:
 * Your daily room rate will surreptitiously be inflated to cover the commission they will receive from the hotel for their unnecessary services (resulting in an increase in hotel price of as much as 200%).
 * The touts will, unbeknownst to you, steer you away from hotels which do not give commission but which may be better for you.
 * You will subsequently be pestered by your tout, who will now "own" you during your stay, to buy additional "services" from him.
 * Give being additional misinformation.

Connect
The area dialling code for Shimla is 0177. From overseas, dial +91 177 XXX-XXXX. There are plenty of STD/ISD booths. The amount is calculated on a digital meter, and is paid after the call. A short STD call costs around ₹10.

Go next

 * Chail – 43 km from Simla. Originally a private reserve created by the Maharaja of Patiala, who was banned from Shimla. Now a 75 acre resort that meanders over undulating hills.
 * Rewalsar – Rewalsar is equally sacred to Hindus, Sikhs & Buddhists. There is a temple, gompa and gurudwara, besides the holy lake with floating islands, in a nice mountain setting.
 * Dharamsala – Home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan-Government-in-exile. Many Buddhist monasteries in the area.
 * Gadda Gusaini – Near Jibhi, which is also famous with backpacker. The valley is virgin and has not been explored by many adventure loving tourists. One finds nature at its best offering beautiful surroundings, green forests and pollution free environment. Madhopur Fort was also built by former rulers of Mandi district who had kept their arms and ammunition in it. Besides the fort was used as punishment to hardcore criminals in the state. One more fort named Tungasi was built in the valley and the remains of the fort are still visible. (updated Aug 2023 | edit)
 * Kasauli – Kasauli is a small town in the state of Himachal Pradesh located at an altitude of 1,927 m. The town is 77 km from Shimla and 70 km from Chandigarh.
 * Kinnaur – 230 km from Shimla. An area on the Tibetan border. Home to ethnic Tibetans. Several traditional Buddhist monasteries.
 * Manali – In Kullu Valley (260 km). An area of hot springs, traditional buildings, and Buddhist monasteries.
 * Chamba – 380 km from Shimla. Chamba is full of river streams, interesting temples and historical palaces showing its rich past.

title: Shimla


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Shimoda

Shimoda (下田) is a city on the Izu Peninsula in Japan. It is famous as the place where Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy arrived with his "black ships" in 1853. This led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa, effectively ending Japan's 200-year era of isolation from the outside world.

This city of 21,000 people (2019) has some of Japan's best surfing beaches and has consequently become an emerging hipster destination, with a few crafty bars and restaurants popping up.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site and an English-language guide site.

By train
Shimoda is as far south as you can go by train on the Izu Peninsula. The train station is the terminal of the Izukyu Railway, and is officially known as Izukyu-Shimoda (伊豆急下田) station.

Odoriko (踊り子) trains make multiple daily runs from Tokyo station via the JR Tokaido Main Line. A one-way trip will generally take 2 hr 45 min at a cost of ¥5890. Holders of the national Japan Rail Pass will have to pay ¥2070 each way to travel over the Izu Kyuko Line, but if you have a JR East Rail Pass, the entire journey is fully covered. Some Odoriko trains also leave Tokyo from Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. The name of these trains may have different variants; the Saphir Odoriko (サフィール踊り子), for example, has wider windows and makes fewer stops.

Local trains take slightly longer, with at least one change of trains required at Atami or Ito, but the cost is much cheaper (¥3780).

Get around
Across the street from the station is Shimoda Tourist Association, where you can get help with orientation. . Central Shimoda is small enough to be explored on foot. To reach the beaches and some of the sights it's more comfortable to take a bus. Platforms are outside the railway station.

See

 * A cable car ("Shimoda Ropeway") takes you to the top of Mount Nesugata, 200 m above sea level. From there you get a great view of Shimoda and you can also explore a small park with a temple. The price for a return ticket is ¥1200, including admission to the park. A printable 10% discount ticket is available on the cable car's official site.
 * Shimoda Park is near the port, a 20-minute walk from the station. You can also take a bus headed for the Shimoda Aquarium which is next to the park. The park features a 1957 monument of the opening of US-Japan diplomatic relations, and plenty of flowers including thousands of hydrangeas that bloom in June.
 * The temple of Ryosen-ji is a 25-minute walk south from the station. A supplementary treaty to the Kanagawa Treaty was signed here by Commodore Perry and representatives of the shogunate. Next to the temple is a museum with exhibitions about the arrival of foreigners in Japan, and even a collection of erotic Buddhist art. Admission to the museum is ¥500. Another temple, Choraku-ji, is close to Ryosen-ji and also worth a visit. It is the site of a trade treaty between Japan and Russia, signed in 1854.

Beaches
Some of Izu's best beaches are near Shimoda.

 * The white sand beach of Shirahama (白浜), not to be confused with the town in the Wakayama prefecture, is 4 km north-east of central Shimoda. Buses from Shimoda Station depart about twice per hour and the trip takes ten minutes. The beach has great sand, and when the waves are high enough it is a good place for surfing.
 * Irita-hama (入田浜), 15 min west of Shimoda, has much gentler waves. One of the prettiest beaches in Izu, it's a great place for a swim.  To get there, take any bus bound for Irozaki (石廊崎) and get off at Nyuta (入田).

Other

 * The Kuro-fune Matsuri (Black Ship Festival) is held yearly on the third weekend of May. It is a celebration of the arrival of Commodore Perry, and features a parade and other festivities.
 * Another festival is the Shimoda Taiko Matsuri (Drum Festival), celebrated August 14th and 15th. As the name suggests it features a lot of drumming, and dashi (Japanese festival floats).
 * Another festival is the Shimoda Taiko Matsuri (Drum Festival), celebrated August 14th and 15th. As the name suggests it features a lot of drumming, and dashi (Japanese festival floats).

Eat
Seafood is the specialty of Shimoda, and most restaurants serve locally caught fish. Recommendations include:

Don't worry, it's not all seafood:

Drink
Nightlife isn't the main reason why anyone would visit Shimoda, but the town isn't completely dry.
 * Cheshire Cat Jazz Bar is on the street My My-dori. Beers start at ¥500.

Mid-range

 * Irita-hama sanso (IZU015) is a cottage for 6 to 35 party. Properties are on the hill, so each cottage offers a uniquely spectacular the Pacific Ocean view. This cottage is equipped with a kitchen for self-catering. You can also enjoy a BBQ with this breathtaking view. There are restaurants (soba, udon, cafeteria) within walking distance. The nearest beach is Irita-hama beach, 7 min on foot. Reservation center phone . Off-peak season from ¥5700 or more per person, peak season from ¥7700 or more.
 * Izu beach club (IZU014)is an apartment hotel. There are twin or double room. No meals are included, but there is a working kitchen. And also you can taste Shimoada's local seafood 5 minutes walk. Nearest beach Irita-Hama is famous for white sand beach and clear water. 5 minutes walk to the beach. Off-peak season ¥6200 per person (double room), Peak-season ¥12,200 per person (twin room). Reservation center.
 * Izu beach club (IZU014)is an apartment hotel. There are twin or double room. No meals are included, but there is a working kitchen. And also you can taste Shimoada's local seafood 5 minutes walk. Nearest beach Irita-Hama is famous for white sand beach and clear water. 5 minutes walk to the beach. Off-peak season ¥6200 per person (double room), Peak-season ¥12,200 per person (twin room). Reservation center.
 * Izu beach club (IZU014)is an apartment hotel. There are twin or double room. No meals are included, but there is a working kitchen. And also you can taste Shimoada's local seafood 5 minutes walk. Nearest beach Irita-Hama is famous for white sand beach and clear water. 5 minutes walk to the beach. Off-peak season ¥6200 per person (double room), Peak-season ¥12,200 per person (twin room). Reservation center.
 * Izu beach club (IZU014)is an apartment hotel. There are twin or double room. No meals are included, but there is a working kitchen. And also you can taste Shimoada's local seafood 5 minutes walk. Nearest beach Irita-Hama is famous for white sand beach and clear water. 5 minutes walk to the beach. Off-peak season ¥6200 per person (double room), Peak-season ¥12,200 per person (twin room). Reservation center.

Go next
The hot springs in this area make Shimoda an onsen town. Many of the hotels in the area have in-house bathing facilities, and there is even a small pool outside the railway station where you can dip your feet. Outside Shimoda there are some well-known onsen:
 * Kanaya Onsen is in Rendai-Ji 4 km from Shimoda (one train stop north of Shimoda). It is one of the beat onsen on the Ize Peninsula, with the huge men's bath as a highlight. Admission ¥1000. The onsen is part of Kanaya Ryokan where you can spend the night for ¥7000 (¥15000 with meals).
 * Gin-no-Yu, 10 minutes south of Shimoda, has an aloe bath on one side and a "new summer orange" bath on the other. The onsen alternates the men's and women's sections daily so that everyone can try both baths. Admission ¥1000.
 * Minamiizu
 * Matsuzaki
 * Kawazu
 * Higashiizu
 * Nishiizu
 * Ito
 * Izu
 * Atami
 * Izunokuni

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Shimoda


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Shimoga

Shimoga, now known officially as Shivamogga, is a town in the state of Karnataka. The name originates from Shiva-mukha i.e., face of Lord Shiva.

By train
Shivamogga can be reached by train from Bengaluru or Mysuru. There are many trains running from Bengaluru, morning till late at night, every day. If you can rush out of the station soon, you'll be lucky to hit the city service bus (auto-rickshaws are also available) which will take you to the main bus terminus from where you can take buses to other places, e.g., Sagar, and Talaguppa. Also, there is a railway station link bus to Sagar at the time of arrival of trains at Shivamogga railway station.

By bus
There are ample buses from the state capital Bengaluru during day as well as night time. There are various classes of buses which one can take as per their wallet size. It takes nearly 7 hours by bus and it traverses through Tumakuru, Tiptur, Arsikere, Kadur, Tarikere and Bhadravati before reaching Shivamogga bus terminus.

Get around
Hiring a cab is not a bad idea though, but the better choice is try to catch a person who can take you around. Autos are not metered, and the minimum fare is ₹20 for intra-city distances.

See

 * Agumbe, the 'Cheerapunji of Karnataka' gets the state's highest rainfall, is around 2 hours away from Shimoga, is an amazing village known for its forest resource, sunset spots, trekking passes, lakes, mountains. This one is a must see.
 * Linganamakki Dam is very close to Jog Falls.
 * Kodachadri, A glorious and enchanting mountain provides the perfect escape from the hectic pace of everyday life. A paradise for trekkers, the place attracts lot of trekkers around Karnataka state. Kodachadri is situated at 435 m (1411 ft) above sea level and 115 km from Shimoga. A beatific hill abode that overlooks the panoramic Western Ghats. It is clothed with splendid evergreen forests. The first portion of the hill is very steep and difficult to ascend. On the west, the hill descends almost perpendicular for about 1300 m (4026 ft), meeting the South Kanara forests that lie below. The sea appears quite close, and on a clear day, you can also see the ships go by. The famous temple town of Kollur is 12 km away. The steep hills challenge the trekkers for an adventurous trekking experience. If you want to stay, you can go to Kalyani Chowka in Nittur and from there to Nisarga Dhaama. Manjanna always will be there for your help.
 * Shivappanayaka's Fort at Nagara.
 * Sharavathi Wild Life Sanctuary.
 * Kavaledurga - Fort of Shivappanayaka very close to Thirthahalli.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Kavaledurga - Fort of Shivappanayaka very close to Thirthahalli.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.
 * Bhadra Tiger Reserve. Lakavaali (B.R.Project) near Bhadravati is the gateway to Bhadra wildlife sanctuary from Shimoga side.

Do
Nature photography and hiking are the best things to do in this district which houses a plethora of waterfalls, trekking passes, mountains, viewpoints, and hill stations. Also, it is home to a large variety of wild animals, butterflies, moths, snakes, and insects.

Those interested in a very different culinary experience can visit one of the local temples for lunch. (See suggested day trip below)

Kudali Sangama-14 km from Shimoga where the Tunga and Bhadra rivers merge. It also has a branch of the Sringeri Math, Chintamani Narasimha Temple, a rare Brahma temple and inscriptions on stones. There is no shade for visitors and it is also like a Land's End since two rivers are meeting, hence, even though people specifically come to this place, there is no place for them to linger. It is called Kudali Sangama and not to be confused with Kudalasangama, as otherwise this place will show up in all searches for Kudalasangama and add to confusion.

Drink
There is no nightlife in Shimoga. A few bars may be found in the commercial areas only. There are a few remote bars near Mandagadee which serve alcohol till 2AM.

Stay safe
Shimoga comes under Malenadu geographical region of Karnataka state. Dense evergreen rain forests are found at many places, be careful while venturing into these forests. There may be flood or water logging on roads and within forests during rainy season months of June, July, August and September. Take torch, water, food, rain coat, first aid box whistle, cotton wicks and other essential items with you. Petrol or Diesel must be filled up in your vehicle fuel tank before entering these forests as there are no petrol bunk or petrol pump in many rural areas.

Go next

 * Udupi
 * Dakshina Kannada
 * Chikmagalur
 * Sirsi
 * Shringeri
 * Anshi National Park
 * Dharwad
 * Lakkundi

title: Shimoga


text:
Shimoga (district)

Shimoga is a district in Karnataka State.

Cities

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Other destinations

 * — BRP (Bhadra Reservoir Project) - dam across river Bhadra with scenic back water

 * — beautiful Sunset from the top

 * — Sharavathi Backwater and Water Sports

 * — Tiger and Lion safari in Natural Habitat

 * — Bird Sanctuary

Get in
Shivamogga district is connected by road to state capital Bengaluru and other cities of Karnataka Mangalore, Udupi, Karwar, Sirsi, Davangere and Dharwad. KSRTC runs buses from these places to Shimoga. Also there are private buses. Shimogga is also connected by rail to Bangalore. Talaguppa near Jog falls has a railway station.

Get around
By motorbike (motorcycle) or car. Public transport by buses is confined to some places, remote areas are not connected by buses.

See
Gajanur dam across river Tunga near Shivamogga city and Bhadra dam across river Bhadra at Lakkavali near Bhadravati town. Linanamakki dam near Jog falls, Chakra dam, Savehaklu dam near Hulikal are the other dams in the district. There is Lion and Tiger Safari at Taverekoppa on Shimoga - Sagara road. Bhadra Tiger Reserve where jungle safari is conducted by the forest department of Karntaka. Nagara fort at Nagara near Hosanagara built by Keladi dynasty Kings. There are many ancient Jain temples (Basidi) around Humcha. Jog falls, Onake Abbi falls, Jogi gundi falls, Hidlumane falls are the few water falls which come live after rains.

Do
Trek at Agumbe and Narasimha Parvata.

Eat
Local vegetarian rice plate.

Drink
Coffee at road side shops and restaurants.

Stay safe
Some portions of Western ghats lie in Shimoga district. These areas are covered with rain forests. While entering such rain forests carry water, torch/flashlight, whistle, eatables and spare clothes. These forests have wild animals like tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur (Indian bison) and venomous snakes. During the rainy season, a rain coat or umbrella is essential. Mobile network of B.S.N.L are available at many places but not within deep forests. Fill the fuel tank of your vehicles before entering forest areas. Do not swim at waterfalls.

Go next

 * Anshi National Park
 * Badami
 * Lakkundi

 * Sirsi

 * Dakshina Kannda
 * Udupi

title: Shimoga (district)


text:
Shimokita Peninsula

The Shimokita Peninsula (下北半島 Shimokita-hantō) is the remote northeastern cape of the Japanese island of Honshu, stretching out towards Hokkaido.

Cities

 * — the drab concrete-laden capital
 * — in Japanese folklore, the entrance to Hell
 * — scenic and almost uninhabited

Other destinations

 * — fishery port famous for tuna
 * — fishing village on the way to Yagen Valley
 * — mountain village that has rock formations called "Hotokegaura", said to resemble Buddha.

Understand

Shaped like an axe pointing west, the peninsula has a thin "axe handle" connecting the mountainous "axe blade" to mainland. The coasts maintain a thin scattering of population but the interior is as remote a region as you can find in Japan. The largest population center is the drab town of Mutsu.

Get in
No matter how you look at it, Shimokita is a long way from anywhere.

By air
The closest airports are in Misawa and Aomori; from there you'll have to take a train or bus. Misawa has direct service to Tokyo and Osaka; Aomori also has direct service to Nagoya and Fukuoka.

By ferry
Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry offers a service from Hakodate on Hokkaido to Ōma at the northwestern tip of the peninsula. There are between two and four services per day, depending on the season. Drivers and bikers are encouraged to make reservations in advance, especially in high season. The current fare for one foot passenger is ¥2200 one-way. There are no buses or taxi ranks direct from Oma ferry port; either reserve a taxi in advance, or ask the taxi drivers which are waiting for passengers who have reserved. Otherwise, there are bus stops in the town along a route leading up to Capr Oma (Oma-zaki). Buses are infrequent.

Mutsu wan Ferry  offers service from Wakinosawa to Kanita in Tsugaru Peninsula, crossing Mutsu Bay.

By train
The JR Ominato Line from Noheji (on the Aoimori Railway) travels up the axe handle to Mutsu. Direct Shimokita rapid service trains are available from Aomori and Hachinohe (the former being the northern terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen line from Tokyo). The Ominato Line can also be reached by taking the Aoimori Railway from Hachinohe to Noheji. The Japan Rail Pass covers travel between Aomori/Hachinohe and Noheji provided you do not make stops in between. The JR East Rail Pass that provides coverage for travel within the Tohoku area also covers travel on the entire Aomori Railway line so it is not subject to the same limitation.

By bus
Direct buses run from Tokyo to Mutsu, taking over 10 hours in the process.

Get around
Most tourists in the area either bring or rent cars. Getting around without your own set of wheels is not easy, especially off-season.

Intermittent buses do connect the main towns. If you travel by bus, be sure to pick up an Aomori Card (available to passport-showing foreigners only) in either Aomori or Mutsu's tourist office for 50% discounts on travel.

The other (often faster) option is hitchhiking. Be prepared for long waits, though, as many roads on the peninsula are very lightly trafficked, even in high season.

On the west side of the peninsula, ferries run between Wakinosawa, Sai and several points in between.

Talk
Shimokitans have their own dialect of Japanese, known as Shimokita-ben (下北弁), which keeps linguists and other visitors scratching their heads at times. Some typical Shimokitan words and phrases include:

Standard Japanese is, however, widely spoken.

See and do

 * Yagen Valley is one of the most beautiful mountain valleys in all Japan, featuring free hot springs and campgrounds.
 * Mount Osore is the mythical Japanese entrance to hell, a desolate wasteland of sulphuric springs.
 * It is possible to visit Cape Oma, the northernmost point of Honshu, without your own transport if you arrive on the 11:10 ferry into Oma and can get a taxi to Oma-zaki (the cape), then continue south to Mutsu. A bus which goes from Oma to Mutsu calls at the Cape at 11:58, but does not stop for photos etc. breaks. The Cape itself features several touristy photo opportunities, lots of small shops selling gifts, tuna and squid, plus good views of Hokkaido.
 * Cape Shiriyazaki is the most northeastern point of Honshu. It features beautiful sea cliffs and "wild horses" you can get close enough to pet. In the winter the gate to the cape is locked and you must walk and the horses are kept in a pasture more sheltered from the harsh winter wind, it is still accessible but not right on the water. During the summer you can drive out onto the cape and see the horses and the lighthouse.

Eat and drink
The local speciality is squid, particular squid ink ramen noodles.

Connect
Mutsu's tourism office is very helpful to the few foreigners who make it to this neck of the woods, although English ability and material is limited.

title: Shimokita Peninsula


text:
Shimonoseki

Shimonoseki (下関市 Shimonoseki-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture and the westernmost municipality on Honshu. The city has been at the center of Japanese history for centuries, but it's best known to culinary daredevils as the home of fugu, a pufferfish as cute looking as it is potentially lethal.

Understand
Guarding the entrance to the Kanmon Straits that separate Honshu from Kyushu, the strategically located "Lower Barrier" played a role in three battles that triggered major changes in Japanese history. In 1185, the Battle of Dan-no-ura took place in the Straits, ending in a decisive victory for the Minamoto clan; the victory brought the Genpei War to a close, and with it the classical Heian period of Japanese culture. Shortly afterward, a new shogunate was established in Kamakura.

In 1863, another battle thrust Shimonoseki onto the world stage. Fueled by disgust with the terms of the treaty that opened Japanese ports to Western nations, warriors of the Choshu domain rebelled, expelling foreigners and blocking the passage of trade ships through the Kanmon Straits. The Bombardment of Shimonoseki was conducted twice by a fleet of warships from England, the Netherlands, France, and the United States (in the midst of its own civil war), in July 1863 and September 1864, and forced the Choshu domain to surrender. Their open defiance served to undermine the Tokugawa shogunate, however, which fell only three years later.

Although the fighting took place elsewhere, the treaty that ended the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895 was signed in Shimonoseki, marking a stage in the ascent of the newly-modernized Japanese Navy — and the nation as a major regional military power. The treaty also ceded Taiwan to Japan, and it was not returned to China before Japan's defeat in World War II.

Today, Shimonoseki has a busy international port, with frequent traffic from China and South Korea, among others. It faces Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits, forming one of the world's busiest lanes of maritime shipping.

Tourist information
Tourist information is available at JR Shimonoseki Station and JR Shin-Shimonoseki Station.

The local tourist association has a partly multilingual guide site.

By train

If you're coming from a long distance, the best option is to take a Nozomi or Hikari train to Kokura on Kyushu, and then backtrack on the San'yo Main Line via Moji Station in Kitakyushu. By this route, Shimonoseki can be reached by Nozomi in about 5 1/2 hours from Tokyo and 2 1/2 hours from Osaka.

By bus
The Dream Fukufuku bus runs overnight from Tokyo and Yokohama (15 1/2 hours, ¥13000). Another Fukufuku departs nightly from Osaka Umeda (10 hours, ¥9150).

By ferry

 * Busan-Shimonoseki:
 * Busan-Shimonoseki:

By car
For those travelling the expressways and only wanting a bit of fugu, even the Nexco Parking Areas either side of the Kanmon Bridge offer it in a variety of pre-prepared forms including frozen sashimi omiyage platters. The views are rather nice too making it a worthwhile break regardless.

For those travelling by way of thumb, note the aforementioned parking areas are easily accessible on foot and frequented almost as much as the standard Service Area. The Kyushu side stop services northbound traffic and the Honshu southbound.

By bus
City buses are run by Sanden Kotsu, with stops that include both major train stations and the tourist attractions in the port and Chofu areas. When you board, take a ticket from the dispenser; when the bus reaches your destination, compare the number on your ticket to the numbers at the front of the bus, and that will tell you how much to pay. Short trips cost ¥170.

Shimonoseki was given one of London's distinctive red double-decker buses as that city phased them out. It now runs along the coast on weekends.

On foot
Almost all of the attractions are reachable on foot along Route 9, which runs parallel to the coastline. The Chofu area is a much longer walk, though.

Port area

 * Near the Kanmon Bridge, there is a marker for the site of the Battle of Dan-no-ura. The Bombardment of Shimonoseki is also commemorated nearby — there are a few replica cannons, positioned at the point where the allied troops came ashore. Now perfectly willing to do trade with foreign barbarians, the cannons will puff out a bit of smoke and a 'boom' in exchange for a few coins.

Karato area
Meiji-era foreign buildings mixed with modern ferroconcrete in the Karato area, which are illuminated at night.

Chofu area
The Mori clan lived in this well-preserved castle town and samurai quarter in the northeastern part of the city, which makes a nice, atmospheric walk at any hour. Buses run to stops for Matsubara and Joka-machi (25 minutes, ¥340). There is a Chōfu station on the San'yo Main Line, but it's a bit of a walk from there to the attractions.

Do

 * Although the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks and the Hiroshima Toyo Carp are geographically closer, many local baseball fans retain a loyalty to the Yokohama BayStars, which began in 1950 as the Shimonoseki-based Taiyo Whales. If you want to impress a native, pick up a blue and white BayStars jersey with "birthplace of the team: Shimonoseki" in Japanese (球団発祥の地 下関) on the back.
 * Leaving already? A pedestrian tunnel allows visitors to walk the Kanmon Straits to Moji in about fifteen minutes, with about 780 meters of the walk under the sea. Access to the tunnel is free, 06:00-20:00.
 * There are several hot spring resorts in town, but most are well off the tourist track, and will require a car or a long taxi ride.

Festivals

 * The Little Busan Fest celebrates Shimonoseki's Korean culture every November at the Green Mall.
 * The Little Busan Fest celebrates Shimonoseki's Korean culture every November at the Green Mall.
 * The Little Busan Fest celebrates Shimonoseki's Korean culture every November at the Green Mall.
 * The Little Busan Fest celebrates Shimonoseki's Korean culture every November at the Green Mall.

Buy
If you'd like a plush, adorable poisonous fish to bring home, visit the Fukufuku World on the fourth floor of the Kaikyo Yume Tower (see above) for the full line of fugu character goods.

Eat
Even if you don't usually eat seafood, you may want to make an exception for Shimonoseki's most famous dish: fugu (ふぐ) (pronounced "fuku" locally). While the flesh and skin are often completely harmless, the internal organs of some species of pufferfish pack enough lethal toxins to paralyze every muscle in the human body. "Fugu" is a generic term that covers many types of pufferfish; Torafugu (Tiger puffer), arguably the most popular type, has extraordinarily poisonous livers, ovaries, and intestines that must be carefully removed before preparation.

In order to serve fugu, chefs must be specially licensed, which entails several years of apprenticeship and a rigorous exam that sees a 70% failure rate. These steps ensure that fugu fatalities at restaurants are virtually unheard of. The city maintains a list of restaurants licensed to serve it.

The most popular form is fugu sashimi, thinly sliced. But it can also be served as part of a salad (yubiki), a stew (fugu-chiri), fried with hot sake (fugu hire-zake), or deep fried (fugu-kara-age). Most restaurants serving the dish will be pricey, but set meals with a bit of fugu can be had near the Kanmon Wharf or Karato Pier for ¥1100 or so.

Some people are underwhelmed by the taste of fugu — the flavor is more subtle than that of more oily fish like maguro (tuna), but it has a distinctive taste that keeps aficionados coming back for more than just thrills. A few diners report their lips, tongues, or even fingertips tingling while eating fugu (a condition referred to as shibireru), supposedly the result of chefs leaving trace amounts of the toxin on the fish. But given the legal ramifications of an even accidental poisoning, many dismiss the sensation as urban legend, all in the diners' imagination.

The other infamous local specialty is whale (鯨 kujira), which tastes like fishy steak and is served both raw and cooked. Shimonoseki has been the base for some of Japan's controversial whaling expeditions.

Budget
There are cheap food courts with the likes of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Mr Donut on the fourth floor of Sea Mall (10:00-22:00) and the seventh floor of Daimaru (11:00-21:00). For Korean BBQ, check the Green Mall area.

Splurge

 * The restaurants for Shimonoseki Marine Hotel and Shunpanro (see Sleep) are also acclaimed for their fugu.
 * The restaurants for Shimonoseki Marine Hotel and Shunpanro (see Sleep) are also acclaimed for their fugu.
 * The restaurants for Shimonoseki Marine Hotel and Shunpanro (see Sleep) are also acclaimed for their fugu.
 * The restaurants for Shimonoseki Marine Hotel and Shunpanro (see Sleep) are also acclaimed for their fugu.

Drink
Buzenda-cho (豊前田町) is the local red-light district, packed with karaoke boxes, hostess bars, and restaurants, a short walk east of JR Shimonoseki Station. Bars are also clustered on Hisashi-guchi, near Green Mall.

Sleep
There are more plentiful accommodations over the water in Fukuoka.

Go next

 * Kitakyushu on Kyushu is a short train ride from Shimonoseki. It's also reachable via ferry and bridge. There is a tunnel for walkers at the narrowest point across the Kanmon Straits.
 * Nagato
 * Hagi is one of the most beautiful castle towns in Japan.
 * Sanyo-Onoda
 * Ube
 * Yamaguchi city is the prefectural capital.
 * Hofu
 * Mine
 * Shunan

title: Shimonoseki


text:
Shimukappu

Shimukappu (占冠) is a village in Hokkaido.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Go next

 * Minamifurano
 * Furano
 * Biei
 * Shintoku
 * Shimizu
 * Hidaka
 * Yubari
 * Obihiro
 * Makubetsu

title: Shimukappu


text:
Simultala

Simultala is a hamlet in Bihar in India. It is a relatively undeveloped rural area, so may be of interest for tourists looking for a quiet, out of the way place with a pleasant climate.

Understand
Shimultala, though on the Main Line of Eastern Railway, is yet to develop. It is still a virgin country with valleys, hillocks, brooks and rivulets. Electricity and mobile phone coverage are both developed now with vast distance. Here you get tranquility, solitude and peace seldom found else where. Visit here to get a refreshing weather anytime of the year.

By rail
Simultala is 348 km from Howrah. It is on the Howrah-Delhi mainline route. Some of the trains which stop at Simultala are as follows.

 * 8622/8621 Hatia Patna Pataliputra Express,
 * 8183/8184 Tata Danapur Express,
 * 3007/3008 Howrah Sriganganagar Udyan Abha Toofan Express,
 * 3049/3050 Howrah Amritsar Express,
 * 8608/8607 Ranchi Baidyanathdham Express,
 * 3039/3040 Howrah Delhi Janata Express,
 * 3019/3020 Howrah Kathgodam Bagh Express,

Get around
There are picturesque places around to make the journey to Simultala a worthwhile experience. To visit places around, auto rickshaw, hired car, cycle rickshaw and tongas are available at the railway station. Regular auto rickshaw runs from Simulatla to "Telwa bazar", which is a market 4 km from the Simultala railway station, and the largest market in the area.

Eat
Chhanna-murki or chena murki is very famous and delicious sweet. White rasogulla and lengcha (red long sweets) are other sweets. Gulab Jaamun, Bundiya, Nimaki, Ganthiya are common sweet snacks.

Kachaudi and Jalebi are breakfast staples here. A typical lunch includes rice, daal, sabji and aaloo chokha. For dinner, roti and sabji with some milkmaid items, like kheer, sewayi, halwa are typical.

Stay safe
There had been Naxalite terrorist activity in the area, but things have improved since the early 2010s. Nevertheless, if possible, stay in Telwa Bazar, Jhajha or Deoghar instead of Simultala. Enjoy the day only, as electricity is a big problem there. So is transport: only trains can help you.

Go next

 * Deoghar – 20 km (by train)
 * Jhajha – 18 km (by train)
 * Madhupur – 54 km (by train)

title: Simultala


text:
Shingletown

Shingletown is a city in Shasta County in the Shasta Cascades region of California.

Get in
You can get to Shingletown by taking SR-44 east from Redding.

Get around
You can bike, walk, or drive around here (no major public transportation providided).

See
There aren't many man-made things to see in Shingletown.

Do
Shingletown is mostly a stopover in the way of tourists, but it does serve as the crossing-point between the Shasta Cascades and Northeastern California. Many side trips can be based here, especially those to Lassen Volcanic Nat.'l Park.

Buy
There are no major shopping areas in Shingletown.

title: Shingletown


text:
Shingo

Shingō (新郷) is a village in Aomori prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
Tourist associations of the area has a joint multilingual guide site.

See

 * The Pyramids are a mildly disappointing site with a spectacular view. The pyramids themselves are a very short hike uphill from a dirt road. They consist of a few large boulders on top of the hill. No trees grow on the boulders, so there is a nice view of the landscape, but this attraction is one to consider skipping.
 * The Pyramids are a mildly disappointing site with a spectacular view. The pyramids themselves are a very short hike uphill from a dirt road. They consist of a few large boulders on top of the hill. No trees grow on the boulders, so there is a nice view of the landscape, but this attraction is one to consider skipping.

Do
There is an annual festival in the winter at Christ's tomb. Women dressed in traditional festival clothing dance around the grave.

Go next

 * Gonohe
 * Nanbu
 * Sannohe
 * Takko
 * Towada
 * Rokunohe
 * Kosaka
 * Ninohe
 * Hachinohe

title: Shingo


text:
Shingu

Shingu (新宮市 Shingū-shi) is a city in Wakayama Prefecture.

Understand
It is the base point for visiting Kumano-Sanzan, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site (Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range).

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
From Nagoya, the Nanki provides direct access to Shingu in about 3.5 hours. From Osaka, the Kuroshio departs from Shin-Osaka Station and reaches Shingu in about 4.5 hours. 1 hour 40 minutes by express from the JR Shirahama Station. About 1 hour 10 minutes to Nanki Shirahama Airport from Haneda Airport.

Go next

 * Nachikatsuura
 * Tanabe
 * Kiho
 * Mihama
 * Kumano
 * Owase
 * Taiji
 * Kushimoto
 * Kozagawa

title: Shingu


text:
Shinhidaka

Shinhidaka (新ひだか) is a town in Hidaka Subprefecture, Hokkaido.

Understand
On 2006, the town of Mitsuishi (三石町) merged with the town of Shizunai (静内町) to create the new town of Shinhidaka. Shizunai is the largest town in the Subprefecture.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train

 * JR Hidaka main line

By car
Shizunai is about 2.5 hours from Sapporo by car.

Do
If you go to mountains, in spring and summer, you can see cherry blossoms. Due to the latitude and climate, the trees blossom later than in the rest of Japan. This can be beneficial if you have arrived in Japan after the main cherry blossom season. Fishing, camping, and hiking are popular. In winter, you can see many swans in the Shibechari River.

Go next

 * Urakawa
 * Niikappu
 * Nakasatsunai
 * Taiki

title: Shinhidaka


text:
Shinjo

 * This page describes a city in Yamagata. For the village in Okayama, see Shinjo (Okayama).

Shinjo (新庄市; shinjō-shi) is a city in Yamagata prefecture. It is the shopping hub for the region.

Understand
Shinjo is a small city in the north of Yamagata prefecture that is at the end of the Shinkansen line.

Climate
Winters in Shinjo can be rather cold, with a lot of snow and good skiing. Summers are very nice for outdoor activities, though the rainy season (around July) is very wet. The spring and fall can be quite nice, though planning visits well in advance can be difficult, because the time of change from winter to spring and fall to winter varies from year to year. As in much of Japan, spring cherry blossom viewing is quite enjoyable.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
Shinjo is the northern terminus of the Yamagata Shinkansen from Tokyo. Coming by air would be inconvenient compared with train. The nearest airports are in Sakata and Yamagata. For those traveling by car, Shinjo is on Highway 13, going to Yamagata in the south and Akita in the north. An expressway between Yamagata and Shinjo is under construction; only the northern portion is finished. Night buses go to and from Tokyo.

Get around
There is limited bus service. Traveling by car is the easiest way to go.

Go next

 * Okura
 * Mogami
 * Osaki
 * Obanazawa
 * Oishida
 * Tozawa
 * Sakata
 * Yuzawa
 * Yokote

title: Shinjo


text:
Shinnston

Shinnston is a city in Mountaineer Country - north-central West Virginia. This is Mid-Atlantic region on some maps and South on others.

Understand
Levi Shinn and his brothers came in 1772 and returned with their families. Levi Shinn and his wife Elizabeth Smith Shinn built a 2-story log house in 1778 that still stands on the original site. Shinnston was incorporated in 1852 as Shinnston, Virginia and became Shinnston, West Virginia on June 20, 1863 when West Virginia became a State.

Get in
Shinnston is six miles west of I-79 via Exit # 125 then west to WV Rte. 131 into Downtown Shinnston or from Exit # 124 (Jerry Dove Drive) west to WV Rte. 707 and then left onto WV Rte. 131 into Downtown Shinnston. US Rte. 19 also goes through the City of Shinnston. Shinnston is located halfway between the cities of Fairmont and Clarksburg.

Pittsburgh is the nearest major airport and North-Central Regional Airport  is 11 miles away.

See
Shinnston has the Levi Shinnston log house circa 1778 with tours available. The Bice-Ferguson Memorial Museum has a permanent exhibit of telephones dated from the 1880s and other antiques and memorabilia with exhibits that change monthly through the "season". The Veterans Memorial is in honor of and memory of veterans from the French and Indian War to current troops. The B & Bs For Vets Program began in Shinnston in 2008. The Shinnston Community Band performs an Independence Concert at Ferguson Park in July and a Christmas Concert at the Lighthouse the first Saturday in December.

Do
Bike, hike, or bring your horses to the West Fork River Rail-Trail, a 17 mile rail-trail between Shinnston and Fairmont. Play bocce, pitch horseshoes, or swim at Ferguson Park. Play basketball of watch Little league at the Shinnston Activities Park. Visit the Sunset-Ellis Drive-in Theater May weekends thru Labor Day.

Buy
Shinnston has many shops in Downtown Shinnston and along the US Rte. 19 corridor such as Home Style, Pike Street Bikes, and All Seasons Florist.

Drink
The American Legion and Moose Lodge offer libations in Shinnston.

Sleep

 * Gillum House Bed & Breakfast.
 * Bunk House Motel Located just south of Shinnston City Limits.

title: Shinnston


text:
Shinonsen

Shin-onsen (新温泉町) is a small town in Hyogo, home of 17,000 people.

Tourist information site

 * The town government's official site has a Japanese-only tourism section.

By train
Four stations along the San-in Main Line are located in Shinonsen; Kutani (久谷), Hamasaka (浜坂), Moroyose (諸寄), and Igumi (居組) Stations. Hamasaka Station is the main station in the city. From Osaka there is only one direct Hamakaze Train per day to Hamasaka Station, so most travelers will need to take a Limited Express Train to Tottori, Himeji, or Kinosaki Onsen and transfer to reach Hamasaka Station (or any station in Shinonsen). From Okayama, it is also necessary to travel to either Tottori or Himeji and transferring.

By bus
If your destination is Yumura Onsen, there are direct buses from Tottori, Osaka (3 hours), and Kobe (3 hours) to the onsen. If you are around any of these cities, the buses will be both faster and cheaper than going by train. Yumura Onsen is not located near any train stations, so those who take the train will still have to transfer to a local bus after arriving, adding 1.5+ hours to the travel time, even from a direct Limited Express Train.

Go next

 * Kami
 * Toyooka
 * Yabu
 * Iwami
 * Tottori
 * Yazu
 * Wakasa
 * Chizu
 * Misasa

title: Shinonsen


text:
Shiojiri

Shiojiri (塩尻 Shiojiri-shi) is a city in Nagano.

Understand
Shiojiri's main claims to fame are its geographical location and the fact that its name means "salt butt". This is due to the fact that it was the end of the "Salt Road" where salt merchants would travel inland from the Sea of Japan. At Shiojiri, the mountain passes became too treacherous and the residents on the other side of the pass were better served by salt merchants from the Pacific Ocean side. By some accounts, if you were able to balance the nation of Japan on a pin, the point would fall somewhere in Shiojiri, although other estimates put the geographic center of the country in Matsumoto.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Shiojiri lies at the precise midpoint of the JR Chuo Main Line between Tokyo and Nagoya. The JR Shinonoi (for Matsumoto) and Tatsuno Lines also start from Shiojiri.

See
Shiojiri is famous for its wineries, although those of developed palates may not find the local vintage to their liking.

Shiojiri is also home to the Hiraide Iseki archeological dig and museum. The museum houses artifacts several thousand years old.

The Hirooka neighborhood of Shiojiri is the location of the "tanka-kan," a museum dedicated to the traditional Japanese poetry known as tanka.

Go next

 * Chikuma Drive up the Nagano Expressway or take the JR Shinonoi line to Obasute Station to visit this small city straddling the Chikuma River in the mountains south of Nagano City. Explore the traditional ryokans, onsens, hiking and elegant temples
 * Kiso
 * Agematsu
 * Okuwa
 * Okaya
 * Matsumoto
 * Suwa
 * Shimosuwa
 * Chino

title: Shiojiri


text:
Shiping

Shiping (石屏; Shípíng) is a city in Yunnan.

See
The county features many gardens and colorful murals. Yilong Lake, a large fresh water lake with a surface area of 32 square km, is particularly notable for its scenery, including the colorful lotus flowers that bloom on its surface. It is located about 2 km east of the county seat.

The Xiushan Temple is located southwest of the county seat. It was constructed during the Tang Dynasty and renamed Xiushan Temple during the Ming Dynasty.

Do
The county is known throughout China for its traditional dances and songs. The Yi people are exceptional at it.

Eat
The city is very famous for is tofu - Shiping doufu.

title: Shiping


text:
Shirabu Onsen

Shirabu Onsen (白布温泉) is a tiny hot spring village in Yamagata, Japan. It belongs to the city of Yonezawa.

Understand
Shirabu, "white cloth", probably received its name from the vast blanket of snow that wraps up the entire valley in winter, as by February, there's often over 2 m of the stuff. The locals, though, have an even more poetic legend: a hunter discovered a wounded white-flecked eagle and nursed it back to health with the spring's curative water, and then dubbed the spring Shirabuchi Takayu (白斑鷹湯), "White-Flecked Eagle Spring", this being then shortened into today's name.

Legends aside, the hot spring here was discovered back in 1312 by a warrior named Sato Muneyoshi, who applied for his feudal lord's permission to open a spring here. Even 700 years later, the village remained so small that the original inns didn't even have real names, instead going by "west", "center" and "east" depending on which side of the road they're on!

Get in
The nearest major train station is Yonezawa, two hours from Tokyo by Yamagata Shinkansen, while the nearest airport is in Sendai. Yamakō Bus runs from Yonezawa station to Shirabu, but the service is infrequent: seven-eight buses per day, running roughly every 90 minutes from 08:05 to 18:30. The trip takes 40 minutes and costs ¥840. Note that the bus continues a few min onward from Shirabu Onsen to the Tengendai ski lift at Yumoto-ekimae (湯元駅前).

Get around
Shirabu is easily covered on foot.

Eat
Outside the inns, there's one single noodle shop in the village, which is open sporadically. The ski resort also has a restaurant open in season.

Sleep

There are three traditional ryokan in Shirabu. Previously all had thatched roofs, but Higashiya and Nakaya were burned down completely in May 2000 and rebuilt with tiles.

There are a few other accommodation options:

Connect
Mobile phones work in the village, but coverage gets spotty fast up in the hills near Shin-Takayu.

Go next

 * Onogawa Onsen is 10 km away by car.

title: Shirabu Onsen


text:
Shirahama

Shirahama (白浜) is on the western coast of Wakayama prefecture, Japan. It is best known for its beautiful white beach and hot springs. The main beach is lined with hotels like a mini Waikiki. The hotels were built in the 1960s, 70s and 80s and have a very nostalgic look. During the summer, there are fireworks every night on the beach.

Understand
Nanki-Shirahama Tourist Association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated auto-translation.

Get in
The easiest way to get to Nanki Shirahama is by air or by train to avoid the traffic jams on the country roads leading into Tanabe City and Shirahama. An express way connecting the city to Osaka almost reaches Shirahama. The expressway is only two lanes, so it can get crowded in summer.

Sleep
In the summer time it is very crowded so reservations are advised. There are also reservation centers that might be able to help.

 * Guesthouse shirahama, a cool small guest house with dorm and group rooms ¥2000 a night

Go next

 * Susami
 * Kushimoto
 * Tanabe
 * Kamitonda
 * Kozagawa
 * Nachikatsuura
 * Shingu
 * Taiji
 * Minabe

title: Shirahama


text:
Shirakami-Sanchi

Shirakami-Sanchi (白神山地) is a World Heritage Site mountain area in the northern Tohoku region of Japan, straddling the prefectures of Akita and Aomori.

Understand
Shirakami-Sanchi is one of Japan's, and Asia's, few remaining beech (ブナ buna) forests.

Tucked away in a remote, mountainous corner of the cold north, Shirakami-Sanchi is snowed in and all but inaccessible between November and May.

Tourist information site
The World Heritage Visitor Center has a multilingual guide site.

Get in
Konan Bus (弘南バス) runs 3-4 buses per day from spring to early autumn from Hirosaki railway station to Aqua Green Village (アクアグリーンビレッジ) near the rather impressive Anmon-no-taki waterfall in the unrestricted zone. The bus information desk, to the left of the bus stops in front of the railway station, has a pamphlet in English with bus schedules, rudimentary maps, etc. There may be a discount on return tickets available, but only if you buy ticket's beforehand, at the bus information desk. One-way is ¥1600, return tickets are ¥2400 (summer 2011).

Fees and permits
Access to protected buffer zone, around the World Heritage site, requires a permit from the Aomori office of the Tohoku Regional Forest Office (tel. 017-781-2117, ), and the bureaucracy pretty much requires that you can handle Japanese or get someone to do it for you. However, the park's most popular attractions, including the Anmon-no-Taki Falls, do not require permits. And there is also a good trail along the border to the restricted zone

Get around
For a day trip there are mainly two options:

 * One is staying on the earliest bus to the Aqua Green Village and continuing onwards to the Tsugaru mountain pass stop, from where there is a 2-5 hour lovely trek over a mountain ridge and back to the Aqua Green Village, but be forewarned, this hike has some very steep and challenging parts, where you, very untypically of Japan, are almost hanging onto dear life on a rope suspended along a steep part of the mountain ridge for a good 45 minutes of the hike. If you plan doing this, remember to bring enough liquids, sundries, good shoes and preferably a phone, as it's only a few hikers doing this trek every day.
 * Or you can do a light trek on the trail to the Anmon-no-taki waterfalls from the Aqua Green Village, it's a good 45-60 minute walk if you are in decent shape, and this is where the hordes of tourist and tour bus are descending.

title: Shirakami-Sanchi


text:
Shirakawa

Shirakawa (白河) is the southernmost city in Nakadori area of Fukushima prefecture, with population of approximately 60,000 people.

Understand
The city developed as a castle town at the border of the civilized Kanto region and the wilder Tohoku to the north. There is a park and a memorial at the site where the barrier gate (白河関, Shirakawa-no-seki) is believed to have been.

The famous haiku poet Basho passed through Shirakawa on his travel to the north. See Narrow Road to the Deep North itinerary.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Shirakawa is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen, which stops at Shinshirakawa station. The journey from Tokyo takes about 90 minutes and costs around ¥6000 one way. Shirakawa is also served by the Tohoku Main Line, which links Shinshirakawa station with Shirakawa station. By car, the trip from Tokyo to Shirakawa takes around three hours using the Tohoku expressway. JR Bus Tohoku has a regular highway bus service from Shinjuku which also serve Shirakawa, arriving and departing from the Nishigo (西郷) bus stop to the west of Shinshirakawa station. The journey costs ¥3600-\4050 one way, and takes three hours.

Get around
Although Shirakawa is not a large city and a circuit of town can be completed in about an hour, it is best explored by car, bus or taxi. Bus stops and taxi stands are located outside both Shirakawa and Shinshirakawa station. There is a JR car rental office at Shinshirakawa station.

Do
While Shirakawa does not have a lot of attractions, it is a pleasant rural city, close to several local attractions. (See the "Go next" section below).

Daruma Ichi is held on the National Foundation Day (11th February) of each year. During this festival, daruma (traditional papier mache dolls) are sold in the streets of Motomachi. According to tradition (and the local sellers), a larger doll should be purchased each year.

Chochin Matsuri (Lantern Festival) is held between September 13 and 15 of every second year, in odd-numbered years. A smaller festival is being trialled for intervening years. During this festival, representatives from each of the villages making up the city parade through the streets carrying lanterns and mikoshi (portable shrines). The highlight of the festival is on the last night, when the parade wades through the Abukuma river to the Renhouji temple (聯芳寺).

Buy

 * Shirakawa is famous in the region for its unique daruma (round-shaped wooden doll) design. Various sizes of these dolls are available from shops in the older part of town. Prices start at ¥200 for small daruma.
 * Local residents also pride themselves on their ramen (Chinese-style noodles), and although they may not be a suitable souvenir, they do make an excellent lunch.
 * Shirakawa is also home to several local sake breweries. Bottles of local sake can be bought from about ¥1000 at several shops in town, including Yamaya at the Stage shopping mall.

Eat
Shirakawa is famous in the region for it's ramen noodles. There are claimed to be more than 100 ramen shops in the city.

Drink
Shirakawa has several sake breweries, and it is possible to try local sake at one of the many izakaya (Japanese-style pubs) in town.

Sleep
Shirakawa has several hotels, mainly close to Shinshirakawa station.

Connect
Shirakawa City Tourism Section 0248-22-1111 (Japanese only); Shirakawa City Office, 7-1 Hachiman-koji Shirakawa city.

Japan Travel Phone is a service provided by the Japan National Tourist Office. They have English language operators from 09:00 to 17:00 daily. 0088-22-4800.

Go next
Shirakawa is close to the ski and hot springs resorts of Hatoriko and Mount Jeans. Numerous restaurants, cafes, animal parks and theme parks are located in neighboring Nasu town, in Tochigi prefecture.
 * Tanagura
 * Nishiogo
 * Tenei
 * Asakawa
 * Yabuki
 * Nakajima
 * Ishikawa
 * Sukagawa
 * Nasushiobara

title: Shirakawa


text:
Shirakawa-go

Shirakawa-gō (白川郷), formally Shirakawa-mura (白川村), is a historic village in Gifu. Together with Gokayama in Toyama, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on December 9, 1995.

Understand
The village is famous for its farmhouses, which are built in a unique architectural style known as gasshō (合掌). The name means "hands together" as in prayer, referring to the steep roofs that keep the snow off in the winter. Underneath the roofs, the large attic area was used to house silkworms.

Another feature which has brought fame to the village is the Japanese game series Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (ひぐらしのなく頃に, 2002) and the anime series that followed. Although the village residents are not too thrilled that an anime series depicting large levels of violence has based itself on their village, it has brought the tourists nonetheless. Some locations from the anime series can be visited in Shirakawa, the most prevalent site being the Hachiman Shrine, the major shrine of the village where Rika Furude met an unfortunate end.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a trilingual guide site (ja, en, zh).

By car
One good option is to rent a car in Takayama and drive to Shirakawa-go. By expressway it's about an hour drive. A car is highly recommended if you wish to access the many different areas around Shirakawa-go—areas such as Hirase Onsen or Kawai Village and various mountainous areas. However, in the winter many mountain roads close due to snow.

By train
Catch the Shinkansen bullet train to Nagoya, take a local train to Takayama, and take a bus from the Takayama Bus Station to Shirakawa-go. The train ride from Nagoya to Takayama is particularly enjoyable for city dwellers, with much of the mountainous beauty that Japan has to offer.

By bus
Shirakawa-go can be reached by highway bus from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama, and Nagoya. The center bus stop of Shirakawago is ．

Do
There are several beautiful natural landmarks nearby. One is Mount Haku (Hakusan), one of Japan's Three Famous Mountains, surrounded by a virgin forest at its foot.

Another is the Three Amo Waterfalls: Taka falls, Naka falls, and Ki falls, which can be seen along the pass leading to the Amo highlands.

Another waterfall, Hakusui Falls, pours from the artificial Hakusui Lake, which was created by a dam at an elevation of 1,260 m. To take a rest from hiking and relax a little, the area also has several hot springs, such as the Hirase hot spring bathhouse.

Buy
Shirakawa-go has numerous tourist shops with a variety of souvenirs available. One of the unique items of the area is the Sarubobo doll. The doll is a faceless red monkey which is intended for a person to imagine the face of one of their children or grandchildren, then pray for the well-being of said child whilst you imaging the face.

Eat
The actual Shirakawa Gassho village has a couple of places to eat. Look out for ramen restaurants and the like. These will only be open during daylight hours. The village, being mainly day tourist oriented, will close down after the sun sets.

Drink
The Hachiman Shrine at Shirakawa-go prepares their own brand of sake which is available both through the shrine and through most of the tourist shops in the area. This sake is mainly used for their matsuri (festival) celebrations. This sake is characterized by the large amount of rice which is still in the bottle. Shirakawa-go also produces a local blend of distilled sake which is quite proof (60% approx). This is available through the various Ryokans and tourist shops in the area. It is a nice drop and one does not understand its strength until it 'hits home' so-to-speak.

Sleep
Shirakawa-go offers numerous ryokan based Japanese inns for overnight stays. Most of these inns are gassho based inns and offer both dinner and breakfast in the accommodation fee. Dinner is generally traditional Japanese dishes consisting of river fish and exquisite mountain vegetables; you will almost certainly sleep on a futon on a tatami mat. One such establishment is Magoemon, next to the river in Ogimachi.

Stay safe
As Shirakawa-go's buildings are mainly produced of highly flammable traditional materials, smoking is heavily regulated in the village. If one must smoke they must do so at a designated position within the village (indicated by bench seats, a sign and a 1-m-high large ashtray). Please refrain from smoking unless in a designated area. Shirakawa-go has a backup village fire suppression system, however, triggering it via a burning cigarette butt would be a foul end to a good holiday, including police involvement.

Respect
Although this is a moderately popular tourist destination, some people do live in some of the traditional houses. Keep this in mind as you tour.

Go next

 * Takayama
 * Kanazawa
 * Hida
 * Takaoka
 * Gujo
 * Oku-Hida
 * Nanto
 * Tonami
 * Hakusan

title: Shirakawa-go


text:
Shiraoi

Shiraoi (白老) is a town in Iburi, Hokkaido. Shikotsu-Toya National Park on the west side of town.

Tourist Information Site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By plane
Use the New Chitose Airport.

By train
JR Muroran main line

By bus
There is a bus service from Sapporo, New Chitose Airport, Tomakomai and Muroran.

By car
Hokkaidō Expressway (Shiraoi I.C.) and National Route 36 runs the town.

Get around
Tomakomai Port, there is a ferry service from Oarai, Tsuruga, Niigata and Akita.

See

 * Ayoro Beach
 * Inkura Falls
 * Lake Kuttara
 * Mount Horohoro
 * Shiogama Shrine

Kojohama Hot Springs
Hot spring facilities of about 10 hotels are arranged in the National Route 36 along.

Go next

 * Noboribetsu
 * Tomakomai
 * Hidaka
 * Toyako
 * Sobetsu
 * Date
 * Muroran
 * Chitose
 * Sapporo

title: Shiraoi


text:
Shiraz

Shiraz (Persian: شیراز) is the capital city of the Fars province and a treasure trove of Persian culture. It was the capital of Iran during the Zand dynasty's era (1747–79), and is the celebrated birthplace of the great Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi. The city has a population of about 1,500,000. In previous centuries, Shiraz was famous as a locally produced wine, although this has no connection to the modern Shiraz (or Syrah) wine, which is of French origin.

By plane
has regular flights to all major and some smaller cities in Iran. There are International flights to Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Sharjah, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha.

Turkish Airlines is operating weekly 4 direct flights from Istanbul to Shiraz and back.

By train
There are several trains per day to Tehran, travel time is 10-15 hours, and costs 700,000-1,500,000 rials (as of 2017).

By bus
From Tehran, many buses depart from South Terminal. Costs around 600,000 rials and takes around 12 hours.

From Isfahan, many buses depart from Soffe Terminal (the southern terminal of Isfahan). Costs around 300,000 rials and takes around 6 hours.

From Yazd about 10-15 buses a day, 5 hours.

From Kerman several buses per day, 8 hours.

By car
Motorways connect the city to Isfahan, Kerman, Bushehr, Ahvaz and Yasouj, and Bandar-e Abbas is reachable by highway.

Get around
For non-Iranian visitors, taxis are probably the most convenient means of transport. However be sure to haggle for a good price prior to getting into the car, average fare inside the city 50,000-100,000 rials (as of 2017).

If an unmarked car stops while you are hailing a taxi, don't be alarmed. Many taxis in Shiraz are unmarked and also as a means to supplement their income, is not uncommon to find private car owners touting themselves as taxis.

However, it is always best to find a taxi through a reputable "telephone taxi" agency. For a set fee, drivers of these agencies will take passengers to their destination, drive them around town and also wait for them while they shop or run errands. All hotels and local residents will have a phone number of one these agencies. There are also taxis driven by women that specifically cater to women passengers.

The most secure way (if you have mobile internet) will be to use the taxi app called Snapp. With Snapp you can see the exact price before ordering the taxi and you can also call a taxi driven by women.

The city also has a reasonable bus service.

The city has two metro lines open, as of May 2024: They intersect at Imam Hossein Sq.
 * Line 1 runs between Ehsan on the north side of the city and the airport in the south of the city.
 * Line 2 runs between Imam Hossein (Zand Street) and Heroes (Mianrud).

Talk
Don't hesitate to talk to people, especially youths. Almost all of them speak English well enough to talk to you, answer your questions and chat with you. Respect the Iranian government(Of course, most of the local people hate the government, but don't talk for political caution). and do not air condescending views of Iran.

Gardens

Buy
Shops usually open 09:00-13:00 and 17:00-21:00. It is customary to haggle for a discount, which is referred to as a takhfeef.

Shopping malls

 * Setareh Fars Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.
 * Setareh Fars Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.
 * Setareh Fars Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.
 * Setareh Fars Shopping Center, Afifabad Blv.

Money exchange
Exchange rates offered in local safaris are 10-15% higher than the official bank rate.

Local specialties

 * Kebab with rice - Like elsewhere in Iran, the mighty old kebab with rice is a common fare, though Shiraz does offer a local variation on the national dish.
 * Shirazi salad - A delicious and famous salad available throughout Iran, made with cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and a simple lemon juice and olive oil dressing.
 * Kalam polo - Traditional food cooked only in Shiraz. Some delivery food restaurants serve this food, but it can hardly be found in normal restaurants. It is made of rice, meatballs, chopped cabbage and some other vegetables and spices.
 * Ash-e Sabzi - Ash-e Sabzi or Ash-e Shirazi is a kind of soup made of vegetables and meat. It is served all over the city, but mainly early in the morning, 05:00-07:30.
 * Masghati Halva - A great dessert and snack.
 * Nokhod (Chickpea) Cookie - Delicious cookie made of chickpeas, it makes for great souvenirs.
 * Shirazi Faloodeh - Paloodeh/Faloodeh is an ice cream made of rice starch, which takes the form of noodles. It is flavored with "sharbat" (sugar water), which can be of different flavors. Shirazi paloodeh is the best of its kind, especially when mixed with Bahar-e-Naranj Distill.

Restaurants
Many of these places have live music playing.

 * Lotus Restaurant, on the 13th floor of Pars International Hotel
 * Lotus Restaurant, on the top floor of Setareh-e-Fars Shopping Centre
 * Soofi Restaurant, traditional restaurant located at Sattarkhan St.
 * Noor, Lebanese restaurant, Chamran Blv
 * Soofi Restaurant, traditional restaurant located at Sattarkhan St.
 * Noor, Lebanese restaurant, Chamran Blv
 * Noor, Lebanese restaurant, Chamran Blv
 * Noor, Lebanese restaurant, Chamran Blv

Fast food
You can find at least one fast food parlor in every street of Shiraz.

 * Bagro, experience the real taste of pizza and sandwich in a lovely place
 * Givani, modern restaurant offering Burgers, FC, Pizza
 * Safir SFC, another Modern themed restaurant
 * Exis, Italian and Mexican fast foods
 * Sand, a lovely fast food with a unique interior design
 * Zaver, great Italian pizzas

Cafés
You can find coffee shops of every size, at shopping centres and on the main streets.

 * Brentin, Sattarkhan Blv
 * Blensi, Dena Building, Moali abad Blv
 * Wafi, Dena Building, Moali abad Blv
 * Parmin, Parmin Building, Moali abad Blv
 * Tulip, Khakshenasi st
 * Safir, Ghasr dasht st
 * Soofi, Chencheneh Intersection

Food gardens
There are a lot of gardens out of Shiraz, and many have been remodeled as restaurants. Most have live music playing in the evenings and offer great view.

 * Nakhlestan Garden
 * Padra Garden, relatively new
 * Darband Garden
 * Silvia Garden

Drink
Traditionally, Shiraz was known for producing high-quality wines, and had a thriving wine industry, though this was shut down after alcohol was banned following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. That said, the Christian and Jewish minorities are allowed to ferment limited quantities of wine for personal consumption and religious ceremonies, and you may get a chance to try the local wine if you have local Christian or Jewish friends. Even some local Muslims continue to clandestinely consume local wine obtained from the black market. For more information on typical drinks in Iran, see Iran

 * Distills - Shiraz has many kinds of aromatic distills.
 * Taropood Art Gallery, behind the national museum. Art gallery with a nice cafe attached to it. Regular free exhibitions as well (updated Oct 2016).
 * Taropood Art Gallery, behind the national museum. Art gallery with a nice cafe attached to it. Regular free exhibitions as well (updated Oct 2016).

Budget
There are a few budget hotels about 200 m south of the roundabout at Arg-é Karim Khan.

Stay safe

 * Shiraz is the safest city in all of Iran, and Fars province is also the safest province in Iran
 * See also the information at Iran.

Emergency services

 * Police: 110
 * Fire Assistance : 125
 * EMS: 115
 * Road EMS: 115 or 112

Go next

 * Firouzabad — revived old town destroyed by Alexander of Macedonia. With two stumbling palaces of those days: Qal'eh Dokhtar and Castle of Ardeshir e Babakan.
 *  Jahrom, to the south of Shiraz
 * Isfahan
 * Kerman
 * Margoon Waterfall — 70 meter high and 100 meter wide waterfall
 * Pasargad was a Persian capital built by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. Around 500 BC, Darius I built a new capital at Persepolis 50 km away. Both are now listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and are near Shiraz. Pasargad has the limestone tomb of Cyrus and the 'prison' of Solomon. 200.00 rials (Oct 0219)
 * Persepolis — a historical site 60 km north of Shiraz that used to be a ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC.
 * Yazd

title: Shiraz


text:
Shirdi

Shirdi (Marathi: शिर्डी Śirḍī) is a town in North Maharashtra, in India. It is located 185 km east of the Arabian Sea shoreline. Shirdi was where the saint Sai Baba lived till his samadhi in 1918. Today, it is a pilgrimage centre and millions of his devotees from all over the world come each year to pay their respects.

The best time of the year to visit Shirdi is January through March. April to June is summer, followed by the monsoon. Pilgrim arrival peaks between September and November when many Hindu festivals occur. Baba's death anniversary is commemorated in the month of October, the exact date depending on the Hindu calendar.

Some of the most important festivals in Shirdi are Dussehra, Guru Poornima and Baba's death anniversary. During this time lakhs of devotees come to Shirdi.

By bus
There are many buses connecting Shirdi to cities such as Mumbai (250 km), Hyderabad, Pune (200 km), and Nashik (80 km). There are abundant, very convenient bus packages from Hyderabad. The road connectivity between Mumbai and Shirdi is good, except in certain stretches. Convenient overnight buses also ply this route. It takes around 4 hours from Mumbai to Shirdi. It takes around 5 hours to travel from Pune to Shirdi by bus.

By taxi or shared van

 * From Kopargaon, taxi to Shirdi (₹200-300 on full fare) or a shared van (₹20-30 per person).
 * From Manmad, taxi to Shirdi (₹600-800 on full fare) or a shared van (₹50-80 per person).
 * From Nasik, taxi to Shirdi (₹800-1000 on full fare) or shared van or MSRTC bus (₹90-100).

By car

 * Shirdi is accessible via the Ahmednagar-Manmad State Highway No.10, approximately 83 km from Ahmednagar and 15 km from Kopargaon.
 * It is approximately 240 km from Mumbai on the Eastern Express Highway.
 * Distance between Pune and Shirdi is about 204 km, and travel time via car is about 3 hours 40 minutes.

Get around
Shirdi is not a big town. As the town has grown around its main attraction - the Sai Baba temple - almost all major sights and sounds are within walking distance from anywhere in Shirdi. You can ask the travel agent to organise your tour.

See
The main attractions are the temple where Sai Baba's samadhi is located, the former dwelling place of Sai Baba called Dwarakamayi, and the place called Chavadi where Baba used to sleep. These 3 are located close to each other.

 * Sai Baba Temple - Located at the heart of the town, this houses the samadhi (burial site) of Sai Baba. Entry is free. The waiting time in the queue averages over an hour on weekdays and 2 hours on weekends. The temple opens around 04:00 and stays open till about 22:00. At the samadhi site, one gets to spend a couple of minutes only as everyone needs to be accommodated to get a glimpse of the samadhi.

After the Samadhi Darshan, one can visit the Gurusthan, the tree where Sai Baba was first spotted meditating by the people of Shirdi. After that, one can go to the Udhi counter to collect the Udhi. The temple premises also has the samadhis of some of Sai Baba's most prominent devotees.

It also has a book store where one can buy Sai Baba's books (Shri Sai Samartha Satcharitra, Aarti books, etc.) One can also get clothes and Prasadam offered to Sai Baba. Mobile phones and cameras are prohibited within the temple premises.

 * Dwarakamayi - Located adjacent to the temple complex, Dwarakamayi is the name of the mosque where Baba resided for an unbroken span of 60 years till his Samadhi in 1918. The structure has been renovated and houses the Dhuni the fire that Baba always kept burning. The flames are never allowed to die and the Dhuni today is the same that Baba lit over 100 years ago. Additionally, some of Baba's articles such as his grinding stone, fireplace, a stone on which he used to sit are located in the Dwarakamayi
 * Chavadi - This is located next to Dwarakamayi. Every alternate day, Baba used to sleep in the Chavadi, a few meters away from the Dwarakamayi. Even today, on Thursday nights, Baba's footprints are taken in a ceremonial procession from Dwarakamayi to Chavadi.
 * Khandoba Raya temple - This is the temple where Mahalsapati first welcomed Sai Baba and recognized that He is no ordinary saint. This is on the highway, approximately 7 minutes walk away from the temple.

Do
Apart from visiting the temple and other places connected to Sai Baba, there is precious little to do in Shirdi. There is a water park nearby the temple where one can enjoy water sports.

Buy
There are a large number of shops that sell trinkets and souvenirs - statues, magnets, stickers, books, photos of Sai Baba. Prices are generally negotiable.

Eat
Restaurants are liberally dotted over Shirdi. A variety of cuisines including Gujarati, Maharashtrian, South Indian, Continental are available. Most restaurants serve only vegetarian fare. Also you get fresh fruits Guava & Pomegranate.

The world's largest solar cooker cooks food for thousands of devotees everyday and one can eat this food for a nominal price of ₹10 per meal.

Drink
Cold drinks and bottled water are available in many local stores. Fresh coconut water is also available. However, liquor is available in the town.

Sleep
There is no dearth of accommodation in Shirdi. Hotels of all categories abound. It is advisable to check the facilities in the room before booking and paying. In peak season, it is advisable to have prior reservations, which can be made either over phone or through travel websites.

Some of the good hotels in Shirdi to stay are -
 * Sun n Sand
 * Sai Leela
 * Shraddha Inn
 * Sujal Heritage located opposite Sun n Sand is a good budget hotel with Non AC and AC rooms
 * Sujal Heritage located opposite Sun n Sand is a good budget hotel with Non AC and AC rooms
 * Sujal Heritage located opposite Sun n Sand is a good budget hotel with Non AC and AC rooms

Stay safe

 * Shirdi is one of the safest towns.
 * Violent crime is not at all common in Shirdi but locals informed that there is a big gang of pickpockets who also steal money and valuables from handbags of ladies during darshan in the temple. Take "Beware of pickpockets" seriously, be in group guarding each other.
 * Beware of touts who will offer to help you find accommodation and take you on temple tours. While they do not charge for their service, they will expect you to purchase items from their stores as quid pro quo at inflated prices.
 * Shirdi can be quite dusty, so those with allergies should carry along a dust mask.
 * Bottled water is recommended over tap water for drinking purposes.

Connect
100 - Police

Go next

 * Trimbak, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of India, is 150 km from Shirdi and it is worth a visitable place.
 * Shani Shingnapur, the most famous temple of Shani Bhagavan in India, is 75 km from Shirdi. Taxi costs around ₹1200 and shared vans cost around ₹80-100 for a return trip.

title: Shirdi


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Shiretoko National Park

Shiretoko National Park (知床国立公園 Shiretoko-kokuritsukōen) covers the entirety of the Shiretoko Peninsula (知床半島 Shiretoko-hantō), a remote northeastern corner of the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In 2005, the park was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Understand
Shiretoko is one of the most remote areas of all Japan. The national park has no sizable settlements, and the northern portion of the peninsula does not even have any roads. Peak visiting season is during the short summer season; the park is open all year round, but the conditions in winter can be very harsh.

Information Site
Ministry of Environment has an official bilingual webpage for the park.

Get in
Public transport to Shiretoko is extremely limited. The nearest train station is at Shari, from where you can catch infrequent buses (3 per day in peak season) through Utoro to the western coast of the peninsula. On the eastern side is the small town of Rausu, reachable by bus from Kushiro (3.5 hours) and (in summer only) two daily buses from Utoro as well.

Get around
Getting around for all practical purposes requires your own set of wheels, as buses services are limited and infrequent, especially outside the peak summer season. The northern side of the peninsula is off-limits to cars of any sort. There are no roads on the southern side of the peninsula past Rausu.

Do
There are a number of popular hikes, but most require spending a night or two on the trail. The volcanically active Mt. Iō (1563m) is generally off limits due to the sulphuric fumes it spews out (it last erupted in 1936), but Mt. Shiretoko (1245m) at the northern tip is a possibility. Kamuiwakka Falls trail head closed, but the trails are open.

Buy

 * The gift shop at the Five Lakes is the usual place for stocking up on bear bells and souvenir T-shirts for the folks back home.

Eat
There are few places to eat in Shiretoko. Sometimes there are food stalls at Shiretoko Pass.

Sleep
Upscale lodging can be found in nearby Rausu and Utoro in Shari.

Stay safe
Shiretoko claims Japan's largest bear population, a fact stressed to no end in local tourist literature. In practice, the Hokkaido brown bear (ezo-higuma) is no match for the North American grizzly, and you are exceedingly unlikely to be attacked if you observe a modicum of common sense. That said, most hikers wear tinkling bells known as kumasuzu to alert bears (which shy away from human contact), and you should not leave any food in or near your tent if camping.

On the trail from the summit of Rausudake to Rausu, on the first major flat spot below the summit, there is a stream from which you may be tempted to drink. The water is heavily laden with sulfur and will make you very sick if you drink it. There is a spring with drinkable water a short distance off the trail. Follow the arrow on the boulder with the Kanji character for "water" 水.

title: Shiretoko National Park


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Shirley

Shirley is a city in Merrimack Valley with a population of 7,000 (2020). The town was named for former Governor William Shirley, and was settled in 1720 and incorporated in 1775.

Ayer is a town with a population of 8,000 (2020).

Littleton is a town in Massachusetts with a population of 10,000 (2020).

By car
Route 2 west to Exit 38B (Route 110 / 111), 37B (Fort Devens) or 36 (Shirley Road).

By train
Commuter rail (Fitchburg Line) west to Shirley Station (Zone 8).

Get around
There is not much public transit; you will need a car to get around.

See

title: Shirley


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Shiroda

Shiroda is a village in the South Konkan coast of Maharashtra, Inida.

Shiroda has a pristine sea-shore. The beach with long stretch of sand is clean and not busy. There are also few temples that can be visited. Shiroda is worth a visit for those who wish to getaway from day-to-day life to just relax for few days.

Get in
Shiroda is around 10km from Vengurla and state highway MSH4 can be used to reach it. It can also be reached from Sawantwadi using state highway 123.
 * By Road

Nearest train station is Sawantwadi around 25km from Malvan.
 * By Train

Nearest airport is Dabolim in Goa.
 * By Air

Shiroda or Shirodem is a village in Ponda Taluka in North Goa District. Interesting to note is that Shiroda village in Ponda has one of the three engineering colleges of Goa, which is Rayeshwar Institute of Engineering and Technology. It also has two medical colleges, the Ayurveda College & Research Centre and Shri Kamakshi Devi Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital.

Shiroda is very popular for its Kamakshi Temple (Devasthan). People flock to this temple on Amavasya (Umaas, in regional Konkani language) or New moon day. Every year on the day of Shivaratri a grand temple festival or Zatra (in Konkani language) is held which is attended by thousands of devotees from Goa as well as neighbouring Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Do

 * Visit Redi Ganapati Temple
 * Boat ride to watch Dolphin

Sleep

 * 1) Dolphin Bay Beach Resort - Sea view A/c rooms, Huts. Phone +91 2366 227529.

title: Shiroda


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Shishi

Shishi (石狮 Chio̍h-sai in Minnan, Shíshī in Mandarin) is a small city in Fujian, located between Xiamen and Quanzhou. The main industries are clothing factories and stone quarries.

Understand
Famous for its casual wear industry, the downtown indeed looks like an open-space factory. The Arabic language seems very present in the area, a sign of the vitality of the economic partnerships or maybe also a trace of the ancient Silk Road which had Quanzhou as a major terminus.

Get in
Busses from either Xiamen or Quanzhou to the other pass through Shishi. Administratively, Shishi is part of Quanzhou Prefecture but it is actually closer to Xiamen.

Get around
Buses are pretty erratic and there's almost no taxis, they don't use counter anyway so just use one of the thousand motorcycle drivers at each corner. Don't hesitate to negotiate the price (¥6-8 for a downtown trip).

See
The three main public parks don't have anything special and the overall atmosphere is grim, possibly due to the suburban factories and the crazy and very honky traffic. But the small downtown streets have such an authentic flavor, mixing the different markets to genuinely old temples. Do get lost in the urban maze, and the direction staring people are taking will indicate you the way to go.

Outside of the city are several towers on the way to the Golden Beach which is never very crowded except during national holidays.

Buy
Quite a lot of high-grade stone is available, though it is nearly all in warehouses out toward the edge of town, so shopping will be inconvenient unless you have a car. The vendors are set up more for wholesale than retail trade — they ship truckloads all over China and container lots overseas — though some have smaller items like bowls or vases available for purchase.

Nearly all do stone-cutting on the premises and will be happy to slice off a piece that is the right size for a tabletop or countertop, but they likely will not do the polishing and finishing. Beware that stone is really heavy so transport may be a problem.

title: Shishi