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Grand Temple Revealed: Inside Popular Behind-the-Scenes Tours

TOKYO - Discover the hidden gems of Japan through exclusive behind-the-scenes tours that offer unprecedented access to popular attractions. From exploring the backstage of aquariums to delving into the depths of giant underground temples, these tours provide a unique perspective on some of Japan's most fascinating sites.

One of the highlights is the behind-the-scenes tour of the Shinagawa Aquarium in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. Visitors are treated to an up-close look at the operations behind the scenes, including the preparation of food for the animals and the intricate maintenance of the aquarium's extensive water systems.

Participants of this tour get to experience the icy world of the -25 degree Celsius freezer where food for the marine life is stored. They also gain a unique view of the tunnel tank, one of the longest in Japan, from above, providing a perspective not available to regular visitors.

Another tour takes adventurers to Gunma Prefectural Akagi Park, where they explore areas usually off-limits to the public. This park, known for its lush natural beauty, offers breathtaking views that can only be seen on this special tour. Participants can enjoy the vibrant red flowers that blanket the mountain slopes, creating a scene of unparalleled beauty.

The most thrilling of these tours is perhaps the exploration of a massive underground temple in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. Known as the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, this facility is designed to prevent flooding by diverting excess rainwater from rivers into an underground reservoir. The tour includes a walk through the vast underground caverns supported by towering concrete pillars, reminiscent of an ancient temple.

These tours, offering rare glimpses into hidden worlds, have become incredibly popular, drawing both locals and tourists alike.

Source: FNN

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The Kanto region is experiencing an unusual June, with three typhoons approaching the area during the month and rainfall totals already reaching record levels in some locations.

Damage was reported across the Kansai region after a stationary seasonal rain front and an approaching typhoon brought torrential rain on June 26, triggering landslides in Seika, Kyoto Prefecture, flooding homes in Nara, and disrupting roads and railway services in Osaka and surrounding areas.

A powerful earthquake with a maximum seismic intensity of upper 6 struck off Iwate Prefecture at around 7:30 a.m. on June 25, shaking parts of Aomori Prefecture and leaving Hachinohe, which was hit by a similarly strong quake last December, facing fresh damage.

Rice field art depicting Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy is nearing its best viewing period in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, Ohtani’s hometown.

FamilyMart began testing a new bear deterrent on June 24 at a store in a mountainous area of Kiryu, Gunma Prefecture, installing a wolf-shaped device known as Monster Wolf next to the outlet in the first such trial at a convenience store.

A luxury hotel using the former Nara Prison, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property, will open on June 25, offering rooms from 147,000 yen per night as Japan sees a growing trend of converting historic cultural assets into hotels.

A shrine believed to be the world’s first dedicated to stuffed animals was established on June 20 in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, giving owners a place to express gratitude for beloved plush toys and hold memorial rites for those that have finished their role.

JR Central said on June 22 that it will operate a special one-day-only Tokaido Shinkansen train that departs at night and arrives the following morning, as the company explores demand for overnight travel at a time of rising hotel costs.