The contrasts of Japan are startling: big cities dazzle with bright lights and high-tech gadgetry, while in countryside towns centuries-old Japanese culture is alive and well with geishas, zen rock gardens, and temples and shrines.
Japan's vibrant pop culture is a massive draw for wide-eyed tourists, with ground-breaking electronics and leading fashion and design items available here long before the rest of the world.
Yet, beneath the brash modernity beats an ancient heart. Japan is still the realm of the exquisite art of the geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestler, where lively age-old festivals are celebrated and food is elevated to an art form.
Japan is a land of great natural beauty. The contrasts range from the snow festivals and lavender farms of the northern isle of Hokkaido to the sun-drenched beaches and turquoise waters of the subtropical islands of Okinawa. Whether you choose to climb volcanic Mount Fuji or wander through the pine forest of Mount Koya, a journey to Japan is unforgettable.
Climate
The Japanese are proud of their four seasons (and an astonishing number of them are firmly convinced that the phenomenon is unique to Japan), but the tourist with a flexible travel schedule should aim for spring or autumn.
Japan has thousands of cities; these are nine of the most important to the traveller.
Tokyo — the capital and main financial centre, modern and densely populated.
Hiroshima — large port city, the first city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb
Kanazawa — historic city on the west coast
Kyoto — ancient capital of Japan, considered the cultural heart of the country, with many ancient Buddhist temples and gardens
Nagasaki — ancient port city in Kyushu, the second city to be destroyed by an atom bomb
Nara — first capital of a united Japan, with many Buddhist shrines, and historical buildings
Osaka — large and dynamic city located in the Kansai region
Sapporo — largest city in Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival
Sendai — largest city in the Tohoku region, known as the city of forests due to its tree lined avenues and wooded hills
Other destinations
See Japan's Top 3 for some sights and places held in the high esteem by the Japanese themselves, and Off the beaten track in Japan for a selection of fascinating but less well known destinations throughout the country.
Dewa Sanzan — three holy mountains frequented by pilgrims and ascetics on the western Tohoku coast
Japan Alps — series of high snow-topped mountains in the center of Honshu
Miyajima — just off Hiroshima, site of the iconic floating torii
Mount Fuji — iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776 m)
Mount Koya — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect
Sado Island — island off Niigata, former home to exiles and prisoners, now a brilliant summer getaway
Shiretoko National Park — unspoiled wilderness at Hokkaido's northeasternmost tip
Yaeyama Islands — the farthest-flung bit of Okinawa, with spectacular diving, beaches and jungle cruising
Yakushima — UNESCO World Heritage site with enormous cedars and misty primeval forests
Castles
When most Westerners think of castles, they naturally think of their own in places like England and France however, Japan, too, was a nation of castle-builders. In its feudal days, you could find multiple castles in nearly every prefecture.
Original Castles
Because of bombings in WWII, fires, edicts to tear down castles, etc. only twelve of Japan's castles are considered to be originals, which have donjons that date back to the days when they were still used. Four of them are located on the island of Shikoku, two just north in the Chugoku region, two in Kansai, three in the Chubu region, and one in the northern Tohoku region. There are no original castles in Kyushu, Hokkaido, or Okinawa.
The orginal castles are:
Uwajima Castle
Matsuyama Castle
Kochi Castle
Marugame Castle
Matsue Castle
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
Himeji Castle
Hikone Castle
Inuyama Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Maruoka Castle
Hirosaki Castle
(Nijo Castle is an original however, it was actually an Imperial residence rather than a castle, so it is not included on the list of originals)
Japan's vibrant pop culture is a massive draw for wide-eyed tourists, with ground-breaking electronics and leading fashion and design items available here long before the rest of the world.
Yet, beneath the brash modernity beats an ancient heart. Japan is still the realm of the exquisite art of the geisha and the skill of the sumo wrestler, where lively age-old festivals are celebrated and food is elevated to an art form.
Climate
The Japanese are proud of their four seasons (and an astonishing number of them are firmly convinced that the phenomenon is unique to Japan), but the tourist with a flexible travel schedule should aim for spring or autumn.
- Spring is one of the best times of year to be in Japan. The temperatures are warm but not hot, there's not too much rain, and March-April brings the justly famous cherry blossoms (sakura) and is a time of revelry and festivals.
- Summer starts with a dreary rainy season (known as tsuyu or baiu) in June and turns into a steambath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 40°C. Avoid, or head to northern Hokkaido or the mountains of Chubu and Tohoku to escape. The upside, though, is a slew of fireworks shows (花火大会 hanabi taikai) and festivals big and small.
- Autumn, starting in September, is also an excellent time to be in Japan. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and fall colors can be just as impressive as cherry blossoms. However, in early autumn typhoons often hit the southern parts of Japan and bring everything to a standstill.
- Winter is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, but as some buildings lack central heating, it's often miserably cold indoors. Heading south to Okinawa provides some relief. There is usually heavy snow in Hokkaido and northeast Japan due to the cold wind blasts from Siberia. Note that the Pacific coast of Honshu (where most major cities are located) has milder winters than the Sea of Japan coast: it may be snowing in Kyoto while it is cloudy or sprinkling rain in Osaka, an hour away.
Tokyo — the capital and main financial centre, modern and densely populated.
Hiroshima — large port city, the first city to be destroyed by an atomic bomb
Kanazawa — historic city on the west coast
Kyoto — ancient capital of Japan, considered the cultural heart of the country, with many ancient Buddhist temples and gardens
Nagasaki — ancient port city in Kyushu, the second city to be destroyed by an atom bomb
Nara — first capital of a united Japan, with many Buddhist shrines, and historical buildings
Osaka — large and dynamic city located in the Kansai region
Sapporo — largest city in Hokkaido, famous for its snow festival
Sendai — largest city in the Tohoku region, known as the city of forests due to its tree lined avenues and wooded hills
Other destinations
 |
| Dewa Sanzan |
Dewa Sanzan — three holy mountains frequented by pilgrims and ascetics on the western Tohoku coast
Japan Alps — series of high snow-topped mountains in the center of Honshu
Miyajima — just off Hiroshima, site of the iconic floating torii
Mount Fuji — iconic snow-topped volcano, and highest peak in Japan (3776 m)
Mount Koya — mountaintop headquarters of the Buddhist Shingon sect
Sado Island — island off Niigata, former home to exiles and prisoners, now a brilliant summer getaway
Shiretoko National Park — unspoiled wilderness at Hokkaido's northeasternmost tip
Yaeyama Islands — the farthest-flung bit of Okinawa, with spectacular diving, beaches and jungle cruising
Yakushima — UNESCO World Heritage site with enormous cedars and misty primeval forests
Castles
When most Westerners think of castles, they naturally think of their own in places like England and France however, Japan, too, was a nation of castle-builders. In its feudal days, you could find multiple castles in nearly every prefecture.
Original Castles
Because of bombings in WWII, fires, edicts to tear down castles, etc. only twelve of Japan's castles are considered to be originals, which have donjons that date back to the days when they were still used. Four of them are located on the island of Shikoku, two just north in the Chugoku region, two in Kansai, three in the Chubu region, and one in the northern Tohoku region. There are no original castles in Kyushu, Hokkaido, or Okinawa.
 |
| Matsuyama Castle |
Uwajima Castle
Matsuyama Castle
Kochi Castle
Marugame Castle
Matsue Castle
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
Himeji Castle
Hikone Castle
Inuyama Castle
Matsumoto Castle
Maruoka Castle
Hirosaki Castle
(Nijo Castle is an original however, it was actually an Imperial residence rather than a castle, so it is not included on the list of originals)
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