 Introduction:
Whether you end up taking photos of a reproduction Eiffel
Tower, surfing an indoor wave, musing in a Zen temple, shacking
up in a love hotel or kipping down in a capsule, you'll do
best to come with an open mind and be prepared to be surprised.
Somewhere between the elegant formality of Japanese manners
and the candid, sometimes boisterous exchanges that take place
over a few drinks, between the sanitised shopping malls and
the unexpected rural festivals, everyone finds their own vision
of Japan.
The nation's list of attributes reads like a handbook of paradox,
but at its heart, Japan is a warm, friendly and very easy
destination to travel to. What are you waiting for?
When to Visit Japan:
Spring (March to May), with its clear skies and cherry blossoms,
is probably the most celebrated Japanese season, but it's
a holiday period for the Japanese and many of the more popular
travel destinations tend to be flooded with domestic tourists.
Autumn (September to November) is a great time to travel:
the temperatures are pleasant, and the autumn colours in the
countryside are fantastic. Mid-winter (December to February)
can be bitterly cold, while the sticky summer months (June
to August) can turn even the briefest excursion out of the
air conditioning into a soup bath; on the plus side, major
tourist attractions will generally be quieter at these times
of the year. It's also worth considering peak holiday seasons
when you plan your trip. Moving around and finding accommodation
during New Year, Golden Week (late April to early May) and
the midsummer O-Bon festival can be a real headache.
Attraction in Japan Tokyo:
The sheer level of energy is the most striking aspect of Japan's
capital city. Tokyo is a place where the urgent rhythms of
consumer culture collide with the quieter moments that linger
from older traditions. It's hectic madness leavened by the
Zennest of calms.
What makes Tokyo fascinating is the tension between mammoth
scale and meticulous detail. Sightseeing in its streets can
be a neon assault that leaves you elated and breathless or
an encounter with the exquisite art of understatement. Jump
aboard the subway and see how one city is really many.
Daisetsuzan National Park
Japan's largest national park (2309 sq km/1432 sq mi) is in
central Hokkaido, the northernmost and second largest of Japan's
islands. The park, which consists of several mountain groups,
volcanoes, lakes and forests, is spectacular hiking and skiing
territory.
Japan's largest national park (2309 sq km/1432 sq mi) is in
central Hokkaido, the northernmost and second largest of Japan's
islands. The park, which consists of several mountain groups,
volcanoes, lakes and forests, is spectacular hiking and skiing
territory.
 Kyoto
Kyoto, with its hundreds of temples and gardens, was the imperial
capital between 794 and 1868, and remains the cultural centre
of Japan. Its raked pebble gardens, sensuously contoured temple
roofs and latter-day geishas fulfill the Japanese fantasy
of every Western cliché hunter.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki is a busy and colourful city, but its unfortunate
fate as the second atomic bomb target obscures its fascinating
early history of contact with the Portuguese and Dutch. The
chilling A-Bomb Museum and Hypocentre Park are evocative reminders
of the horror of nuclear destruction.
As a solemn aniversary, a bell in the turtle-shaped Fukusai-ji,
a Zen temple, tolls at 11:02am daily, the time of the explosion.
One of the world's biggest Foucault pendulums (a device which
demonstrates the rotation of the earth) hangs inside the temple.
TrackKirishima National Park
Kirishima, in southern Kyushu, is known for its superb mountain
scenery, hot springs, the impressive Senriga-taki waterfall
and spring wildflowers. The day walk from Ebino-kogen village
to the summits of a string of volcanoes is one of the finest
volcanic hikes in Japan.
 Shorter walks include a stroll around a series of volcanic
lakes - Rokkannon Mi-ike has the most intense deep blue-green
colour. The southern view from the summit of Karakuni-dake
is superb: on a clear day you can see Kagoshima, the nearest
large city, and the smoking cone of Sakurajima Volcano.
Love Hotel Hill
In Tokyo's Shibuya district is a concentration of love hotels
catering to all tastes. The buildings range from miniature
Gothic castles to Middle Eastern temples. The rooms within
can fulfil most fantasies, with themes ranging from harem
extravaganza to sci-fi.
Also on offer are vibrating beds, wall-to-wall mirrors, bondage
equipment and video recorders. Inside the entrance there is
usually a screen with illuminated pictures of the various
rooms available. You select a room by pressing the button
underneath a room's picture and proceed to the cashier.
Mt Fuji
Japan's highest mountain (3776m/12,385ft) is a perfectly symmetrical
volcanic cone which last blew its top in 1707, covering the
streets of Tokyo 100km (62mi) away with volcanic ash. It's
sometimes visible from Tokyo but is more often mystically
shrouded by cloud or, in winter, capped off by snow.
 While you can climb Mt Fuji at any time of year, a midwinter
ascent is strictly for veteran mountaineers. The climbing
season is in July and August, Japansese pack in during these
busy months. It's a serious climb, just high enough for altitude
sickness and the weather can be viciously changeable.
Reaching Japan
While most people fly via Tokyo, there are several other ways
of getting to and from Japan. For a start, there are many
other airports in Japan, some of which make better entry points
than Tokyo's somewhat inconvenient new Tokyo international
airport (commonly known as Narita international airport).
It's also possible to arrive in Japan by sea from a number
of nearby countries, particularly South Korea. |
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