Tokyo is a massive, wealthy, and fascinating metropolis, including a mainland located northwest of Tokyo Bay and two beautiful and subtropical archipelagos, the Izu and Ogasawara Islands.
It encompasses rugged natural scenery, high-tech visions of the future, and glimpses of traditional life. The various districts of this phenomenal city vary wildly in character, from the electronic blare of Akihabara to the magnificent Imperial gardens and shrines of Chiyoda; from the lively youth mecca of Shibuya to the splendid pottery shops and temple markets of Asakusa.
If you don't like what you see, hop on the train and head to the next station, and you will find something entirely different. The city truly has a little bit of everything for everyone.
Stretching across four prefectures on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park is a vast, awe-inspiring paradise that covers Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa, and the western Tokyo Metropolis of Japan.
It is home to the iconic Mount Fuji, a gigantic active volcano that looms over the Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and is recognised across the globe as the quintessential symbol of Japan.
Nature lovers are spoilt for choice in this richly diverse landscape of natural hot springs, sweeping coastlines, towering mountains, crystalline lakes, and over 1000 volcanic islands.
Among the plethora of highlights that this endless idyll has to offer, don't miss an opportunity to visit the Fuji Five Lakes set at the base of Mount Fuji, the mountainous town of Hakone, and Izu Islands, a picturesque scuba diving hub.
Takayama is a picturesque city situated in the Japanese Alps. The town prides itself on the inhabitant’s expertise in carpentry.
The history of Tatayama is preserved in a number of small museums dotted throughout the city.
Visit the historic district of San-machi Suji that is known for its sake breweries indicated by huge cedar balls hanging on the outside of shops.
Visitors go inside for a tasting and a chat with sake makers. Don’t miss the Higashiyama Walking Course through a forest and past temples and cemeteries.
East of the city is Japan’s highest snow cave known for its impressive stalactite and helictite formations.
Kanazawa is the centre of culture and commerce in the Hokuriku region and is a favourite getaway for the Japanese.
The whole town has been well preserved through the ages and it feels like a modern-day museum with all its castles, geishas and gardens.
Visit Higashi Chaya, where you will find kimono-clad geishas serving green tea in the courtyards of teahouses during the daytime, or Kenrokuen garden, which gives weary travellers a space to rest or meditate under cherry blossoms and red azaleas.
Most of Kanazawa has remained unchanged for centuries, and here you can see where and how Samurai warriors lived from the 16th to the 19th centuries.
Hiroshima has a deep historical significance – it was the first city ever to suffer an atomic blast, which wreaked devastation across the urban hub on 6 August 1945.
The only remaining building in the area was the Genbaku Dome, which is now known as the 'City of Peace' and has become a worldwide symbol of hope for everlasting peace. Hiroshima-jo is a replica of the original castle where Japanese elders came together for centuries to discuss strategies and politics.
Today Hiroshima is a thriving tourist destination with an interesting food scene and a very vibrant nightlife. Cultural experiences include the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art and the Mazda Museum.
Japan’s ‘cultural capital’, Kyoto, is located on Honshu Island within the Kansai region. Filled with awe-inspiring shrines, temples, and Zen gardens, as well as a host of extraordinary modern attractions and numerous things to do, the city offers a plethora of experiences.
First stops include the other-worldly Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shinto shrine; Kiyomizu-Dera, offering a ‘love providing’ ceremony and jaw-dropping views, and Buddhist Tōfuku-Ji, famous for its glorious garden.
It is also entirely possible to visit Kyoto for the sake of food alone; hubs like Nishiki Market provide a dizzying array of culinary adventures.
Culture enthusiasts can attend a traditional tea ceremony; soak up the striking displays at the Kyoto International Manga Museum; or head to Gion, the vibrant downtown district, to visit artisan studios or watch a Kabuki show. Exquisite hikes and natural hot springs await just outside the city.
Set in the peaceful wooded area of Wakayama Prefecture among magnificent ancient forests and towering sacred mountains, the secluded temple town of Koya San is one of Japan’s most enchanting destinations.
First founded as a tranquil retreat in 816 by Kobo Daishi, one of Japan's most revered religious figures, the town is now inhabited by roughly 3000 people, features a university dedicated to religious studies as well as over a hundred sacred temples.
Many of these temples provide accommodation offering visitors a taste of life as a traditional Buddhist monk. One of the main attractions is undoubtedly Okunoin, Koya San’s vast cemetery where you will find 200,000 stone stupas located under a thick canopy of cedar, pine and cypress trees; the remarkable Hall of Lanterns where 10 000 oil lamps burn continuously, and of course the mausoleum of Kobo Daishi.
Koya San is a must-see destination for travellers interested in Buddhism, history, traditional culture and spectacular natural scenery.
Osaka is a large port city and a busy commercial centre on the Japanese island of Honshu, known for its modern architecture, vibrant nightlife and delicious street food.
This bustling city features a number of appealing attractions, most notably its restored 16th-century Shogunate Osaka Castle, surrounded by a moat and plum, peach and cherry blossom trees.
The city also boasts an impressive array of museums including the National Museum of Ethnology, the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum.
Other must-see attractions include the Universal Studios Japan and the Expo Commemoration Park, which features the iconic Tower of the Sun.
