The view from the funicular is good, and when you reach the final stop you can see even more of the area. And if the regular view is not enough a small extra fee will give you access to the highest viewing platform in Hong Kong, the Sky Terrace, at 428 meters above sea level. 

Japanese paper craft has long been popular far outside the country's borders with for instance paper folding techniques like origami being practiced all over the world. The importance of the traditional Japanese paper-making technique, in Japanese known as washi, has also been recognised by UNESCO, and just November last year (2014) it was designated an intangible heritage by the organization.

Saitama prefecture is situated north of Tokyo, but compared to other close prefectures like Chiba and Yokohama it is still a bit of an undiscovered gem with regards to foreign tourists. The prefecture still has some relatively known tourist destinations such as "little Edo" in Kawagoe with its increasingly popular Kawagoe Matsuri festival and the shibazakura (moss phlox) or many onsen (hotsprings)  in Chichibu.

Through my work I have had the chance to travel to different areas in Saitama to meet with the representatives of local hotels, and when my mother and grandmother visited me a month ago it was a great opportunity to try to stay at one of the hotels as a guest.
We went to stay at a place called Heiseirou Health Center (平成楼, full name 嵐山渓谷温泉健康センター平成楼), a Japanese style hotel where the atmosphere makes it almost feel like you're back in the Showa period.