Japan travel guide

There’s more to Japan than revolving sushi bars and high-technology karaoke bars, or samurai swords and ninja temples. Japan is full of contrasts both among its people and its landscape. Active volcanoes, tropically heated beaches, snow covered mountains, ice blue lakes and hot springs, or the high-technology city sprawls along the Pacific coast – Japan has all this and more.

The Japanese archipelago is a patchwork of separate, insular cultures with a strong regional pride. Japan is a grand mix of old and new, with its strict traditional life somehow sitting comfortably with its technological advancements. Its famously efficient rail system is highly recommended for tourist travel as it covers extensive areas and English is used at major stations to name destinations and train times. But be warned, traveling on a budget in Japan is far from easy.

Key Japan statistics...

Capital: Tokyo
Population: 127 million
Language: Japanese
Religion: Shintō, Buddhism, Christianity.
Government: constitutional monarchy

Japan activity highlights...

Tokyo
Not only are you likely to get a culture shock in Tokyo, you’re also likely to suffer a bout of sensory overload. The sheer energy of the country’s capital blows you away, with multi-coloured neon lights beaming at you from every direction and the consumer-led crowds sweeping across the streets. The best way to see the diversity of Tokyo is to jump on the subway. Not a city for the claustrophobic, but well-worth experiencing for its myriad sports activities alone. Sports in Tokyo range from martial arts through to running clubs and golf.

Daisetsuzan National Park
Japan’s largest national park at 2,309 sq km is situated in Hokkaido and is home to a number of mountain ranges, volcanoes, lush forests and huge lakes. On Japan’s second-largest and most northerly island, this area is a particular favourite with skiers and snowboarders.

Nagasaki
Nagasaki was bombed just three days after Hiroshima, killing 75,000 people. This fascinating city acts as a chilling reminder of the horror of nuclear destruction. The actual site of the bomb impact is marked with a black pillar in the Peace Park and sits among many other monuments in this city. Every day at 11:02am everyone in the city can hear the bell from the Fukusai-ji Zen temple, which marks the time of the explosion all those decades ago. Away from this charred history is a busy and colourful city.

Kirishima National Park
A stunning landscape, Kirishima National Park boasts mountains, hot springs, waterfalls and fascinating flora and fauna. There are a number of excellent walking opportunities – the best being the one-day trek from the Ebino-kogen village to the top of a number of volcanoes. Other shorter hikes and climbing trails are abundant and take you around a number of volcanic lakes and offer breathtaking views of this part of the country.

Mount Fuji
Japan’s most famous natural landmark, Mt Fuji is a perfectly symmetrical volcanic cone that rises to 3,776m. Fuji has been dormant since the 1700s and can be safely climbed in July or August on a demanding trail that takes five hours to the top. This majestic volcano can be spotted from Tokyo 100km way on clear days; however, this is extremely rare due to the thick cloud cover.

Best time to go to Japan...
To see Japan at its best, April and May is the time to go, as you will see all the cherry blossoms in full glory. Autumn, from October to November, is also a pleasant time to go. The summer months of July and August are particularly humid, so are best avoided. Visitors should also be aware of typhoon seasons when traveling to certain regions.