Highlights
Cities
Leading the way in technology, architecture and innovation, Japan’s capital Tokyo resembles something from a sci-fi film, flaunting towering skyscrapers, sleek structures, neon-lights, an ultra-efficient subway system and creative hubs that produce cutting-edge art and popular culture trends consumed around the world. However, amid the modernity, there are glimpses of traditional Japan in the form of temples, shrines, markets and museums. Home to picturesque gardens, authentic teahouses and traditional geisha, Kyoto is a city of artisans and ceremony, while cosmopolitan Hiroshima is a warm and welcoming city with a wealth of moving memorials.
Timeless Traditions
Alongside its technological innovation, Japan is a land of tradition. Perhaps the most recognisable of these is the Geisha, renowned for their distinctive white face, red lips and elaborate hairstyles. Professional entertainers and icons of a historically complex social structure, the girls live and work in traditional teahouses, taking classes in tea ceremony performance, dance, song and music. Explore the district of Gion in Kyoto with a local guide, learning more about the practice and spotting the Geisha schools with their programmes of study displayed on the wall. Another Japanese tradition is the onsen, large thermal baths created by the natural hot springs in the country’s volcanic areas. Authentic communal onsens (in which bathers traditionally relax naked) are often located in scenic surroundings, while our featured ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) offer private baths.
Diverse Landscapes
A volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, Japan is a nation that is rich in diverse landscapes and striking natural scenery. Alongside the neon-lit cities, around eighty percent of Japan’s land is considered mountainous, home to bubbling hot springs, fields of wildflowers, sprawling National Parks and enchanting forests. As winter arrives, the Japanese Alps become covered in snow, creating world-class ski resorts that are often much more intimate than their European and American counterparts. Though often hard to glimpse, the country’s tallest peak is the iconic active volcano Mount Fuji, considered one of Japan’s three sacred mountains. Hakone offers boat trips and cable car rides above the peaks, while Yudanaka Onsen is renowned for its hot springs and nearby Monkey Park. The landscape is entirely different in the country’s southern islands, as striking mountains are swapped for tropical beaches.
Cuisine
Japanese cuisine is renowned around the globe for its flavour, freshness and diversity, as well as its long-standing traditions and important role in the country’s culture. In fact, it is now listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, recognising that this way of eating is vital to the survival of authentic Japanese culture. Often wonderfully simple, the staples include fresh seafood, noodles, flavoursome broth, rice and vegetables, used to make nutritious yet delicious Japanese delights – including the international favourites of sushi and ramen, as well as lesser known delicacies. Of course, the dining choice extends beyond just the Japanese classics, with Tokyo home to more Michelin-star restaurants than any other city in the world.
Cultural Treasures
The native religion of Japan is Shinto, a prehistoric faith that emphasises the divinity of the natural world. Over time, Shinto and Buddhist practices were combined into a single religion, resulting in sacred Shinto shrines being joined by ornate Buddhist temples, still dotted all over the country. The Meiji Jingu Shrine is one of the oldest in Tokyo, built in the memory of Emperor Meiji, while Kyoto is home to over 2,000 temples and shrines. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mount Koya, located in the forested mountains south of Osaka, is home to a collection of more than one-hundred sacred temples and monasteries, housing practicing Shingon Buddhist monks in their recognisable red robes.