mountainside onsen villages, sleepy beach-lined islands and buzzing megacities are just some of the things to see in Japan.
It is possible to spend a lifetime sampling the country's delights, but some towns and sights are mainstays of any great Japan trip. Our picks of the best places to visit in Japan.
Tokyo pushes the boundaries of what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures. It is Japan's top spot for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, drinking and entertainment. It's the city itself that makes visitors want to come back. It stretches as far as the eye can see. No one experience of Tokyo is the same because of the variety of neighborhoods.
One to two months in advance is when tickets for Giants baseball games go on sale. Prior planning is required for the Imperial Palace and the Ghibli Museum.
More than a thousand temples are located in Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for a millennium. The monumental, like Kinkaku-ji, which is sheathed entirely in gold leaf, and the meditative, like Ryan-ji, with its stark Zen rock garden, are among them. The city's many elegant teahouses, geisha, and famous performers of traditional music and dance are just some of the things you can see and experience.
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You can plan your visit during one of the three exhibitions of the Setouchi Triennale festival, which takes place in the spring, summer and fall. There are many art, drama, music and dance events that take place in Naoshima.
Mt Fuji will take your breath away even from a long way away. The cone of Japan's highest peak is perfect. Do you think you'll see the sunrise from the summit? A pure form of magic. Fuji-san is one of Japan's most well-known attractions. A centuries-old tradition of pilgrimages up the sacred volcano is continued by hundreds of thousands of people each year. The steps of Japan's most famous painters and poets can be followed if you want a better view of the peaks nearby.
The best time to climb Mt Fuji is during the official season from July 1 to September 30. Hikers in Japan should always check for warnings of typhoons.
The city has attractive boulevards and is forward- thinking. When you visit the Peace Memorial Museum, you will be able to see the full extent of the human tragedy caused by the atomic bomb. There is an important history lesson to be learned here. Many opportunities for reflection can be found in the park designed by Tange Kenz around the museum. The city's spirit of determination and food will make for good memories when you leave.
Yakushima is a small island located off the coast of southern Kysh. It's a place where words don't always work. Home to some of Japan's last primeval forests, the yakusugi is an ancient cedar native to the island. There are hiking trails that are fuzzy with moss. The film Princess Mononoke was based on the landscape here.
When you're not hiking, stop by the Yakusugi Museum to learn more about the significance of Japanese cedar trees to the islanders of Yakushima. You can get an English audio guide.
It feels like riding the funicular up to the Buddhist monastic complex of Kya-san. There are over a hundred temples here, the highlight of which is the Oku-no-in temple, which is covered in moss and lichen and is the tallest tree in the area. The chance to spend the night, eat traditional vegetarian Buddhist cuisine and wake up early for morning meditation is offered by other temples.
Japanese temples and shrines don't have dress codes, so visitors are expected to stay relatively quiet.
The rest of Japan offers the same experience as the Southwest Islands. An arch between Kysh and Taiwan can be found here. The cultural differences are obvious in everything from the architecture to the food. This is where you can find the best beaches in Japan, like the Yaeyama Islands and the Kerama Islands. You can either snorkel or scuba dive.
When it comes to urban experiences, Tokyo doesn't always get all the praise it deserves. Osaka, Japan's third-largest city, has the best street food in the country. The canalside strip Dtombori has the most dramatic of nightscapes, with a dazzling display of light and video screens. The city, Japan's oldest merchant center, has a pace and spirit that is all of its own.
A planning tip is that Osaka hotels charge an accommodation tax that varies depending on the nightly rate.
Kamikchi is a river valley surrounded by the peaks of the Northern Japan Alps. There are easy day hikes through the forests of willow, larch and elm. The birthplace of Japanese alpinism, Kamikchi is the gateway to more challenging treks up some of the country's tallest mountains. The impact of the crowds is lessened by the ban on private cars in Kamikchi.
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