If the world opening up has made you hungry for a brand new journey, 2023 may be the 12 months you lastly tour Japan. From cutting-edge cities to pure magnificence, forwards-thinking meals and nightlife to unmissable historic wonders, Japan has every part you might need in your dream journey. We’ve collected 5 of our favorite locations in Japan that we all know are positive to be a success with travellers this 12 months – and you may go to all of them on our Japan Journey Excursions.
Hakone
For those who’re all concerning the wonders of the pure world, then Hakone is the vacation spot for you. A part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu Nationwide Park, it’s lower than 100km from Tokyo (so it’s straightforward to incorporate in your tour!) and residential to maybe probably the most iconic landmark in Japan – Mount Fuji.
In Hakone, you may head to Lake Ashi. Mendacity on the base of Mount Fuji, on a sunny day it’s an excellent spot to soak up the views of Fuji – and to make it higher, you may even do it from the deck of a ship. Nevertheless, in case you want your views from a top, you may take the Hakone Ropeway, a spectacular cable automobile journey that takes you thru the panorama and drops you at Owakudani. It’s an lively volcano zone the place you may attempt the native delicacy of ‘black eggs’, which get their distinct color from the sulphuric waters they’re boiled in.
For those who’re visiting Hakone, ensure you carry your strolling boots so you may discover the Outdated Tokaido freeway on foot. The outdated stays of the Tokaido – the historic highway which linked Tokyo and Kyoto within the feudal Edo interval – are preserved in Hakone, which was a key checkpoint, and you may stroll them till you attain Moto-Hakone.
Tokyo
An exquisite juxtaposition of previous and future, Tokyo combines a number of the most fun nightlife and vacationer experiences with a wealthy historical past. From popular culture to palaces, Tokyo has every part the right vacation spot ought to.
For a glimpse into Japan’s storied previous, Sensoji Temple is a must-visit in your tour. Positioned in Asakusa, the Buddhist temple dates again to 645 and makes for an enchanting journey. Then, in case you’ve been bitten by the historical past bug, take a tour round Tokyo Imperial Palace. Constructed upon the positioning of Edo Fort – as soon as the world’s largest – it’s now the positioning of some actually resplendent grounds. For the long-lasting, enduring picture of Japan, a go to to the Palace throughout cherry blossom season sees the grounds flip a vibrant pink.
But when you end up prepared to maneuver from the previous and straight into the long run, a tour round Akihabara is a must-do. As Japan’s ‘Electrical City’, it’s a dream vacation spot for travellers who love tech, retro video games, and otaku tradition. You may take a tour across the Tokyo Anime Middle, and even go to one among Akihabara’s well-known maid cafés.
For an in-depth record of The Dragon Journey’s favorite issues to do in Tokyo, you may go to our weblog submit right here.
Kyoto
No tour of Japan is full and not using a go to to Kyoto. As the previous capital of Japan for over 1000 years, so it’s no shock {that a} go to to the town provides you the chance to discover a number of the most breathtaking historic websites in Japan.
When you arrive by bullet practice, you would possibly need to sluggish the tempo down – so how a few laissez-faire cruise up the Hozugawa River? If the peace fits you, a visit to the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest may be in your bucket record too – right here, you may stroll amongst the towering bamboo, and go to some unbelievable cultural websites just like the Tenryu-ji Zen temple and its superb gardens. You can too take within the Togetsukyo (Moon Crossing Bridge), the place you’ll get an excellent view of the Arashiyama mountain itself.
Then, head again into Kyoto metropolis, the place you may take a calligraphy class or wander the Thinker’s Path. On this Path, you may stroll from the Silver Pavilion (a UNESCO World Heritage Web site) previous a variety of unbelievable temples, together with cafés and craft outlets.
Lastly, in case your dream vacation spot in Japan is all concerning the sights, no tour is full and not using a go to to the Fushimi Inari Shrine, well-known for its hundreds of vermillion torii gates which lead travellers into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari.
Osaka
For the explorer who loves enjoyable, meals, and a great night time out, Osaka is the place to be. A brief practice from Tokyo however providing a completely totally different expertise, Osaka has rightly gained a status as a gastronomic centre inside Japan.
Very similar to the remainder of Japan, Osaka isn’t quick on historical past. Why not go to the attractive Osaka Fort? It performed a key half within the unification of Japan within the 16th century, and at this time you may tour the within – and the nine-level dungeon beneath.
However whereas it’s jam-packed with historic websites, you’ll undoubtedly need to tour Osaka in case you prefer to eat. Go to Shinsaibashi, a service provider’s paradise for the reason that 1600s, the place you may bask in all of the meals and retail remedy you might need. Yakitori, ramen, sushi – you identify it! If you wish to eat it, Shinsaibashi can have it. Then, for the right photograph second, you may find yourself on the Dotonbori bridge, the place all of the neon lights of the thrilling district dance throughout the canal.
When night time falls, Dotonbori is the place to be. The alleys are full of eating places, bars, and arcades, making it an ideal vacation spot for the traveller in quest of a great time.
Kamakura
After which, in case you really feel like slowing the tempo down, you may unwind by the seaside with a go to to Kamakura. As soon as the political centre of Medieval Japan, at this time it’s often called a resort city south of Tokyo that’s well-known for its Zen temples, Shinto shrines, and distinct literary heritage. You may unwind on the seaside or, in case you’re feeling adventurous, lease a surfboard and take to the waves.
Nevertheless, in case you really feel like exploring slightly, Kamakura is residence to The Nice Buddha, an 11-metre tall statue of Amida Buddha from the 13th century, made solely of bronze. You will discover it on the lovely Kotoku-in Temple, which is an pleasant hike away.
A visit to Enoshima, a small island simply off the coast of Kamakura, provides you the chance to discover much more lovely historic shrines and temples. After which, in case you’re worn out from the mountaineering and browsing, spend the sundown unwinding in a beachside bar – the right finish to an ideal journey.
The Dragon Journey’s excursions to Japan characteristic unmissable visits to all these locations and extra. For additional particulars, you may view our full vary of Japanese Adventures right here. Or, in case you’d like to listen to from us, hit ‘Enquire Now’ within the prime right-hand nook. Blissful travelling!
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