Things to Do in Asia

This well-curated museum showcases the ancient art of sword making and is home to more than 150 artifacts. Swords, mountings, armor and metal work are beautifully displayed in this tiny Tokyo destination known as Token hakubutsukan by locals. 

The four-story structure houses a gallery and bookstore, where items are available for purchase in a variety of languages. Displays offer visitors English translations with details on the design and use of swords, including some that date back more than 900 years.

Jakarta Chinatown, better known to locals as Glodok, was born after the massacre of 5,000 Chinese in 1740, when the remaining population were moved to a separate settlement outside the city walls. Today it’s a bustling hub where Chinese eateries, temples, street markets, and medicine shops nudge up against electronics stores.

Glodok highlights include the historical Jin De Yuan temple (built in 1755), the Da Shi Miao temple (built in 1751), and the chaotic Petak Sembilan street market. While it is perfectly easy to explore independently, many opt for the cultural and historical insights—and expert food recommendations—that come with a guided Jakarta Chinatown tour. Glodok is also a common stop on Jakarta night tours and city overviews.

Until the long-awaited MRT opens, getting around Jakarta by public transit is difficult, and driving is even more so in one of the world’s most gridlocked cities. If you’d like to experience the bus, Glodok is on the Kota-Blok M Transjakarta route. Alternatively, book a tour for cultural insights into the rich world of Jakarta Chinatown—along with transportation.

As with Chinatowns the world over, Glodok is at its most colorful during the big Chinese festivals—especially the Lunar New Year celebrations, when lanterns deck the streets alongside colorful symbols of the animal that represents the incoming year. You might well see the occasional lion dancer. Even outside festival times, Glodok is lively throughout the day and into the evening: time visits to avoid the worst of Jakarta’s gridlock (rush hours are typically 8am–10am and 4:30pm–8pm).

Chinese communities have lived in the Indonesian archipelago for many centuries and shaped the nation’s cuisine. One of the joys of any trip to Glodok is trying classics of Chinese Indonesian fare, such as mie pangsit (pork dumplings, noodles, and more), ayam saos mentega (butter chicken), or sop asparagus kepiting (crab and asparagus soup).

A great attraction for families or those interested in science, Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium features a 49-foot-diameter (15 meter) dome with projections of the night sky, allowing visitors a better view of stars and planets. There are also daily shows in English and Kannada for travelers interested in learning more about our solar system.

 

While the night sky shows and projections are the main draws of the planetarium, it offers much more. There's a science center and a science park with sundials, kaleidoscopes, and models of rockets as well as a number of projectors and telescopes for public use. It's also a great place to head to for viewings of astronomical events, such as eclipses. It's possible to arrange a private tour to see the planetarium as well as nearby sights like Anjaneya Temple.

 

Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium is located in the heart of Bangalore, right on Raj Bhavan Road. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Cubbon Park and a 10-minute drive from the main railway station. The area is easy to get to by taxi or auto rickshaw, and parking is available. The nearest metro stations are Dr. BR Ambedkar station and Cubbon Park.

 

The planetarium is a year-round attraction, and as much of it is indoors, travelers just interested in seeing shows and projections won’t have to worry too much about weather considerations such as monsoons. However, there are some science activities in the garden, so those coming in the rainy season (June–September) should pack an umbrella. It’s open Wednesday through Sunday. English-language shows take place daily at 12:30pm and 4:30pm, but check ahead for any changes.

 

Along with regular projections and night sky shows, the planetarium offers a host of special events, from regular monthly science movies, most of which are family-friendly, to special workshops for educators. A number of lectures are also held throughout the year, often on advanced topics in astronomy and physics.

Jallianwala Bagh is a public garden in the northern city of Amritsar in India’s Punjab province. It serves to commemorate the massacre of hundreds of innocent civilians celebrating the religious festival, Baisakhi on April 13, 1919. Under orders from Commander General Dyer, British soldiers opened fire at a group of unarmed men, women, and children without warning. Official sources estimated the fatalities at 379, with 1,100 wounded. However, both the casualties and fatalities of that day are believed to be significantly higher than that which was officially reported.

The garden span 26 square­ meters with the memorial monument, the Flame of Liberty, at its center. Inaugurated by Dr Rajendra Prasad in 1961, the first President of the Republic of India, the monument is a towering pylon made of red stone and featuring the the Indian national emblem upon it. Stone lanterns stand at each corner of the monument, which are inscribed with words of homage in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and English to commemorate the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Dignitaries, locals, and tourists from around the world have visited Jallianwala Bagh, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1997.

Located 2,789 feet (850 meters) above sea level in the Valley of Yokoyu, Jigokudani Monkey Park stands out as one of Japan's most popular and unique onsen. Although onsen (the Japanese term for hot springs) are popular throughout the country, the ones in the frequently snow-covered region of Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in Northern Nagano attract more than just human bathers.

Located in the heart of the historic district of Mumbai, the Jehangir Art Gallery is the most prestigious venue for Indian artists in the city—and a great stop on any museum or city walking tour. Internationally recognized as the center of contemporary Indian art, the gallery is frequented by artists and art lovers alike, and is considered an important point of cultural interest.

The gallery features four large exhibition halls and is equipped with the latest audiovisual technology for its various multimedia exhibitions. Those looking to refuel can stop by the gallery's 1970s-themed restaurant or visit the oldest licensed antique dealer in India, also located inside the gallery.

A visit to the gallery is best enjoyed as part of a heritage walking tour of Colaba, or combined with a Mumbai museums tour, with visits to the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Prince of Wales Museum included.

A strip of golden sand with calm, gentle waters perfect for families—and stand-up paddleboarding—Jimbaran Bay is a popular beach renowned for its beauty. Besides the charms of the ocean, Jimbaran offers stunning Balinese sunsets and a wealth of restaurants serving Indonesia’s signature dish: grilled fish (ikan bakar).

Jimbaran Bay is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali, so it’s no surprise most activities here revolve around the water. On the beach, sun loungers and water-sports equipment are available to rent, and most vendors—including those at seafront restaurants and the fish market—speak English. Many tours visit Jimbaran Bay as one stop on a broader Bali itinerary, typically swinging by for sunset followed by a fresh-fish dinner.

Jimbaran Bay is 5.5 miles (9 kilometers) south of Kuta and Ngurah Rai International Airport and is reasonably well signposted from elsewhere in south Bali. From Kuta, the public shuttle bus Kura-Kura services Jimbaran Bay. If you’re braving Bali’s traffic and left-side driving, parking is ample and inexpensive. 

For the Bali sunset connoisseur, Jimbaran Bay is a must, with the sun sinking gently into the ocean between 6 and 7 all year round. While you can eat lunch at the seafood restaurants, dinner is more popular. Seafood is least likely to be fresh on Sunday, when many boats stay in.

Test your haggling skills at Kedonganan fish market (Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan) in Jimbaran. After you choose your fish, local vendors will cook it up with rice, sambal, and an Asian green known as water spinach (kangkung) for a delicious plastic-chair feast. Pick carefully: Some of the swimmers here are showing their age.

American-born Jim Thompson settled in Thailand after World War II and became famous for reviving the art of silk-weaving in the country before mysteriously disappearing in the 1960s while vacationing in Malaysia. Today, Thompson’s former residence in Bangkok serves as a museum dedicated to the artist, featuring his personal collection of Southeast Asian art and a display of his various personal effects.

Made up of six teak wood houses imported from different parts of Thailand, the Jim Thompson House incorporates traditional Thai architecture with a few Western twists, all located within a lush garden on the bank of the Saen Saeb canal. In addition to wandering the various rooms, including the library, painting pavilion, drawing room and the gold pavilion, visitors can also view silk-making demonstrations or stop into the on-site Thai restaurant and the museum shop, which sells quality silk products to take home as souvenirs.

Travelers can choose to fully experience the museum on a half-day tour that includes admission and roundtrip transportation in Bangkok, or opt for a tour that takes in the Jim Thompson House plus some of the city’s other major sights via various means of transport, including tuk tuk, khlong boat and the Skytrain.

Dating back to 1726, the Jantar Mantar is an observatory with 19 fixed astronomical instruments. The tools in this UNESCO World Heritage site can be used for everything from tracking astronomical movements to predicting eclipses. It's one of five such north Indian observatories, all of which were built by Jai Singh II.

 

Jai Singh II, who ruled over what is now Amber and Jaipur, was an avid astronomer and was the man responsible for constructing Jaipur, effectively moving the capital from nearby Amber. He also designed many of the tools in the Jantar Mantar, and the Samrat Yantra in the complex is the world’s largest gnomon sundial. Because of the site’s historical significance, most Jaipur tours stop here. Or, buy a ticket online in advance and explore on your own.

 

 

The Jantar Mantar is right next to the City Palace, in the heart of Jaipur’s Pink City and a quick walk from the Hawa Mahal. It’s easiest to reach this sight on foot or by rickshaw, because the traffic in this part of the city is often heavy. The Pink City is about a half-hour from Amber (Amer) and five hours from Delhi.

 

The Jantar Mantar is open daily from 9am to 4:30pm, and visitors often come here after touring the City Palace next door. However, you may want to visit the Jantar Mantar first thing in the morning, before the City Palace, to avoid the midday sun. If possible, try to go on a clear day, as the instruments won't work well when there's heavy cloud cover.

People usually picture a sundial as the horizontal type commonly seen in gardens. However, they come in other forms, from polar sundials that are lined up with the rotational axis of the earth to portable shepherd's dials, used to measure the height of the sun over the horizon. The Samrat Yantra in the Jantar Mantar is a spherical sundial and is among the world's most precise, with a shadow moving at 1 millimeter per second.

This 19th century palace was built in the late 1800s and served as a home to members of the Maratha Scindia dynasty. Travelers who venture to this regal destination will find plenty of Indian history and European architecture that’s worth exploring.

Forty of Jai Vilas Palace’s 400 rooms have been transformed into a remarkable museum that showcases the history, culture and daily lifestyle of old-school India’s royal elite. History-loving travelers will enjoy wandering the gilded halls filled with fine furniture, stunning chandeliers and photographs.

The Basics
The lush vegetation, turquoise water, and secluded caves of Phang Nga Bay, home to James Bond Island, make Ao Phang Nga National Park one of Thailand's top destinations. Visitors should spend a full day exploring the islands on a boat tour — opt to get around in a luxurious speed boat, a traditional junk ship, a longtail boat, or in less intrusive sea canoes and kayaks.

In addition to admiring Koh Tapu from afar, James Bond Island tours typically include a sightseeing cruise of Phang Nga Bay; canoeing or kayaking to the limestone caves, mangrove forests, and beaches of Thalu Island and Khao Phing Kan; and a visit to the floating Muslim fishing village of Ko Panyi.

• Tours of the bay are generally 8 to 10 hours long, so be sure to bring sunscreen, plenty of water, and a sun hat.
  
• Given that Khao Phing Kan is one of south Thailand's most popular attractions, tour boats can sell out quickly. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.
  

How to Get to James Bond Island
Due to the protected nature of the national park, visiting the islands independently is nearly impossible, unless you have a permit and a personal boat. There are a number of tours to the area, however, most of which depart from the marinas in Phuket and Krabi Noi. If you're traveling down from northern Thailand, save time by taking a tour from Phang Nga town.

Although the region is warm all year round, the hottest period is between April and May, when all-day sunshine is pretty much guaranteed. Rainy season in southern Thailand occurs between September and October, when the tropical monsoon climate comes in full force and there is a risk of destructive tropical storms.

The JEATH War Museum is a museum in Kanchanaburi dedicated to the story of the men who worked on the Death Railway. JEATH is an acronym for the different nationalities of the POWs that worked on the construction of the bridge between 1942 and 1943 (Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, and Holland).

The museum displays the actual items that were used for the construction of the Death Railway. It also exhibits a large number of photographs taken by prisoners at the time, including graphic images of the harsh conditions that the men lived and worked in. One of the three galleries featuring such photographs is housed within a bamboo hut that’s an exact replica of the shelters that the POWs lived in during this time. There also written accounts,correspondence, interviews, and artwork by the prisoners that were forced to work on the bridge, along with a number of personal effects. In addition, the museum is home to a bomb dropped by the allies to destroy the bridge but that failed to explode.

Old Delhi’s Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India and an unmissable stop on any Delhi itinerary. Built between 1644 and 1658 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the mosque’s red sandstone and white marble domes, minarets, gateways, and arches are both grand in scale and elegance. Devout Muslims still come here to pray five times a day, while travelers stop by to marvel over the details. 

The large Jama Masjid complex consists of a courtyard, a prayer hall, arched entrance ways, two minarets, and three domes. Around the outside of the mosque, hawkers sell all kinds of clothes, snacks, and textiles, but inside, the atmosphere is calm. It’s possible to climb the southern minaret (outside of prayer time) for a small fee. From there, the views over the tangled streets of Old Delhi are among the best you’ll find.

Many travelers opt to visit the Jama Masjid on a half- or full-day tour of Old and New Delhi, either on foot or by customizable van tour. In addition to a stop at the Jama Masjid, most tours also visit other Old and New Delhi highlights such as the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and the Qutub Minar.

The Jama Masjid is in Old Delhi. The Delhi Metro is the easiest way to get around the city, and the nearest metro station is Chawri Bazaar. The streets of Old Delhi are very congested, so getting a taxi is not very practical, but you can take a cycle or auto rickshaw from other parts of Old Delhi.

Non-Muslims are only allowed to enter the Jama Masjid outside of prayer times. As Muslims pray five times a day, this means the mosque is closed quite frequently. Non-Muslims should also avoid visiting on Fridays (the Islamic holy day) and during Islamic festivals, when it is also very crowded. 

Much of Old Delhi was planned and built by the Mughals, who ruled Delhi (and much of India) from the 16th to 19th century. Delhi’s Mughal monuments are among its finest and most distinctive—the Red Fort is across the road from the Jama Masjid and the Chandni Chowk market is also nearby. All of these Mughal Delhi highlights can easily be visited in one day.

Jalan Surabaya Flea Market is tucked away in the affluent suburb of Menteng in Jakarta. Established in the 1970’s, the market was initially only open on the weekends, when vendors would walk among the locals with their wares, selling mainly household items. At some point in the 1980s, one of the stallholders began to sell antiques, and seeing its popularity, the other vendors soon followed suit! 

This half-kilometer stretch of shops and stalls now offers everything from old gramophones and vinyl records to art, woodcarvings, furniture, and textiles, along with a whole range of antiques (both of the genuine and slightly more dubious variety). Haggling is expected, of course, with good-natured vendors starting transactions with high prices in the expectation that buyers will drive a hard bargain.

Not far from the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, the white-marble memorial to Maharaja Jaswant Singh II (the 33rd Rathore ruler of Jodhpur) sits majestically above a small lake. The structure is a fine example of Rajput architecture. It’s built from carved marble sheets which are so thin and polished that they emit a warm glow when the sunlight hits them.

Enclosed within a multi-level garden, the cenotaph has been built in the style of a temple, featuring domes, pillars, and sculptures. It also displays portraits of the rulers and Maharajas of Jodhpur and houses a memorial to a peacock that flew into a funeral pyre. The royal crematorium and three other cenotaphs are located near to the main memorial.

Although Jaigarh Fort is often overlooked by tourists in favor of the better-known Amber Fort nearby, this majestic garrison in the Aravalli Range is certainly worth a visit, particularly for anyone with an interest in military history. The 18th-century red sandstone structure is also considered among the best-preserved old fortresses in India.

 

Jaigarh in its present incarnation dates back to 1726 under Maharaja Jai Singh II, and though it was named for the ruler, it also means “fort of victory” (“jai” means victory and “garh” means fort). It’s particularly significant to those with an interest in the military, and the fort has an armory full of old weapons, including plenty of cannons. There’s also a museum with memorabilia from the local royal family.

A variety of half- and full-day tours visit Jaigarh Fort, including group and private sightseeing trips by air, car, and jeep.

 

Jaigarh is located off the road leading from the Jaipur city center to Amber. Getting to the top requires taking a taxi up a windy road full of hairpin turns; travelers can also climb up on foot, but the trip takes a good 20 minutes and may require staving off pesky monkeys. Many Jaipur and Rajasthan sightseeing tours include stops at the fort and usually drop you right in front, saving you a steep climb.

Jaigarh is open throughout the year, though it's best visited first thing in the morning, before the heat of the day makes visiting the open, exposed grounds less than pleasant. Note that Jaipur is at its most comfortable during the cool winter months of December and January and can become unbearably hot during May and June.

Jaigarh once housed a gigantic cannon foundry (when India was under Mughal rule), and the many cannons here are among the fort’s biggest draw. The most famous of Jaigarh’s cannons is the Jaivana, which has a 55-ton (50,000-kilogram) barrel and is purported to be the world’s largest cannon on wheels.

Janpath Market is located along Janpath Road, just off from Connaught Place in New Delhi. A shopaholic and bargain hunter’s dream, this small yet buzzing market is full of energy, not to mention clothing, jewelry, and a whole range of other goods at astonishingly low prices.

Popular with tourists due to its location and atmosphere, Janpath Market is busy, exotic, and lively, making it an attraction for those not even planning on purchasing anything. Beginning from the Connaught Place end, you’ll find some of the oldest shops in the market selling traditional Indian items. Moving onwards, you’ll find many more shops lining the road, selling all kinds of clothing, shoes, jewelry, furniture, handicrafts, carpets, and curios.

Janpath Market is the ideal place for keen shoppers, and can be enjoyed as part of a guided tour of Delhi's markets. As well as having an expert's opinion as you shop and haggle for bargains, this offers the added benefit of being privately transported to several of the city’s best-loved markets. A visit here can also be combined with a tour of Connaught Place and Delhi’s other key highlights.

Insider’s Tip: When shopping at Janpath Market, don’t be afraid to haggle for a better price. This is expected, so never accept the first price you’re offered by a vendor. The first rule of haggling is to keep it friendly and positive – a genuine smile goes a long way!

Situated smack in the middle of Man Sagar Lake, on the road that runs between Jaipur and Amber Fort (Amer Fort), the 18th-century Jal Mahal (Water Palace) is a gorgeous red sandstone palace that’s accessible only by boat. Though currently closed to visitors, the dreamlike structure is still an incredible sight to behold from shore.

This 5-story palace was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, who integrated Rajput and Mughal stylistic features into its architecture. After centuries of disrepair, a refurbishment project began in the early 21st century, though it’s still not open for the public to explore. However, many tours of Jaipur stop at the lake’s shores (usually en route to nearby Amber Fort) for photographs, particularly in the monsoon season when the lake is at its fullest.

 

The Jal Mahal is located between Jaipur and Amber Fort, just before the turnoff to the Jaigarh Fort road. It’s a 10-minute drive from both Amber Fort’s parking lot and Jaipur’s top attractions such as the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar observatory, and the City Palace.

 

While the Jal Mahal is viewable year-round, it is most attractive and photogenic during and immediately after the monsoon season (July and August), when the lake’s water level is high. Visit earlier in the year and you’ll see some of the lower floors, which are submerged when the lake is full.

Not much is known about the palace’s original intents, though many believe it was intended to be used as a summer getaway and duck hunting lodge for the royal family. After much neglect, it was restored as part of a public-private partnership, but has remained in a state of flux for years. There’s much speculation about the palace’s future fate, but for now the building remains closed to the public.

Widely known as Jimbaran Fish Market, the market that locals call Pasar Ikan Tradisional Kedonganan (Kedonganan Traditional Fish Market), is an essential Balinese experience. Every morning, brightly colored traditional fishing boats—and larger commercial vessels—unload an impressive catch. Locals will grill your purchases for a small fee.

Jimbaran Fish Market is easy enough to visit independently, though you’ll likely get more out of it with a good guide who can explain the types of fish and the tricks of the vendors’ trade, and direct you to quality product. Kedonganan is a popular stop on Bali food tours, while a few island tours that feature sunset fish dinners on Jimbaran Beach take you to the market first.  (In general, due to heavy traffic, winding roads, and language barriers, booking a private guide or joining an organized tour can help you get the most out of your entire Bali trip.)

Kedonganan is a pleasant, if lengthy, stroll north along the beach from the Jimbaran beach resorts. Your best bet for public transportation from elsewhere—unless you have the Indonesian language skills and patience to navigate the bemo minibus system—is the Kura Kura tourist bus, which departs from the DFS mall in Kuta and stops near the market.

For the best and most authentic experience, visit Jimbaran Fish Market around dawn on a working day. You will see locals unloading their catch, have a chance at the best fish, and might even be able to buy a tasty grouper, red snapper, or parrotfish fresh from the boat. If you’re visiting later in the day, shrimp and squid may be a better choice than not-so-fresh fish. Generally, your chances of clear weather for a fish feast are highest during the dry season, roughly May to October.

An archipelago nation of approximately 18,000 islands, Indonesia thrives on fish. One of the few elements that unites its disparate population is a passion for grilled fish (ikan bakar), barbecued to perfection over slowly smoldering coconut husks. Accompanied with a selection of sambals—the chile condiment that’s a staple of the nation—and fluffy white rice, it’s both core sustenance and pure deliciousness.