Japan is only gaining in popularity for visitors around the world, and many people have found that the country includes far more than just Tokyo, with amazing scenery seemingly around every corner.
Shopping is incredible in Japan, and the bright lights in the big city of Tokyo will have you breaking into your credit card in no time at all. There are also many different festivals throughout the year in Japan, including the Cherry Blossom Festival in Osaka, and the snow and ice festivals each ear in the north (Sapporo). You’ll also find many other traditional, ancient festivals which include shrines and priests and can give you a good look at Japanese culture.
For those who love tech, Japan is definitely the place to go. You’ll find that Tokyo, in particular, is jam packed with gadgets, robots, and everything else that’s at the cutting edge of technology. The toilets look like something out of the future, and include water jets, seat warming, and plenty of other interesting buttons to try out.
The transport is another great reason to visit Japan, and it makes it easy to see the country. The bullet trains travel more than 300km an hour, and you may find that it feels more like you’re on a plane than a train.
One of the best ways to get around the country is with a tour guide, and tours are a great way to see Japan. You’ll find that a local guide can teach you much more about the country than you would learn if travelling by yourself, and tours can be very reasonably priced, including meals, transportation, entry to selected attractions, a knowledgeable guide, and much more.
Here are some of the places you will get to see if you take a tour of Japan:
Kyoto
History buffs will love Kyoto, and it was the capital of the country from 794 to 1868. You should definitely visit Kinkakuji temple, which you’ll find next to a beautiful pond, so be sure to bring your camera. This is the place to enjoy the cultural side of Japan, and you’ll find more than 17 World Heritage Sites, and approximately 2000 temples and shrines to choose from.
Hakkaido
If you head to Japan in the winter, you’ll find some of the best snowboarding and skiing in the world. Be sure to visit Niseko Village, Niseko Annupuri and Grand Hirafu/Hanazono. If you’re visiting in summer, you can still enjoy the outdoors, with whitewater rafting, mountain biking, kayaking and more to choose from, and the many hot springs will soothe your muscles at night.
Tokyo
You’ll probably fly into Tokyo, and you have to see this city to believe it. It’s a mix of both old and new, and its relatively large population of 13 million people has given it great restaurants, excellent clubs and many cultural sites.
Takayama
Takayama dates back to the Endo period, and for people interested in design and architecture, you can’t do much better.walk amongst the old, wooden houses and you’ll find souvenir shops, sake breweries and restaurants, and spend some time speaking with the local merchants .
