A captivating country steeped in timeless traditions and history.

Japan has stood the test of time and embraced the modern world without losing touch of its roots. Even when you’re exploring the high-tech, neon clad cities you can’t help but notice its cultural treasures, traditions and intriguing past. The coastlines, forests and mountains pave way to twisted valleys that invite visitors into this mysterious world.

Japan, situated in the Pacific Ocean, within East Asia is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. Four of these islands are classed as main islands, Hokkaido–the northern island, Honshu–the main island, Shikoku–the smallest island and Kyushu–the southern island. Japans population is over 126 million, most of which is situated in densely populated urban areas. The country has the third largest economy in the world and Tokyo is the capital city.

Japan has a largely temperate climate, with four distinct seasons.

Spring 

March to May, has warm, mild days with slightly chilly evenings. This is the best time to visit Japan as the weather is comfortable and there are plenty of festivals going on. The famous cherry blossoms are also out this time of year.

Summer

June to August, it’s hot and humid this time of year with temperatures into the high 30’s (high 90’s). June is the rainy season across most of the country with the exception of Hokkaido which is also a little cooler.

Autumn

September to November, generally has light breezes and cooler temperatures around 10–20°C (50–68°F). The weather can be unpredictable this time of year, September carries the greatest risk of typhoons but October is a good month to travel as the days are warm with less humidity than in summer.

Winter

December to February, it’s a lot cooler this time of year and gets colder the further north you go, the north of Japan experiences a lot of snow with some in the mainland also. Temperatures around the mainland are generally between 1–5°C (33–41°F). The south of Japan is relatively temperate and experiences a mild winter.

Japan has an efficient transport system especially in the big cities and its rail network is fantastic and covers an an extensive area.

Trains

There is a large selection of trains in Japan but most trips will involve using these main three:

1. The Shinkansen or bullet train, as it’s more commonly known, this train is comfortable and fast as the name implies. An example route would be Tokyo–Kyoto.
2. JR trains – a former national railway company now divided into regions, they cover about 70% of the rail network. If travelling around a single region there is a good value pass called the regional JR pass.
3. Private lines – the other 30% of the rail coverage is owned by dozens of private railway companies. These commonly operate in and around metropolitan areas.  Most offer a quality equivalent or better service to JR trains, often at lower rates.

Subway

The subways are simple and easy to use, with most stations having maps and names in English. You can save time and money by purchasing an IC card which you top up, touching the barriers at the end of each journey to pay/get out.

Buses

Highway buses are a cheaper alternative to train travel and they cover long distances over the whole of Japan. There are also local buses in the larger cities, mainly serving as a secondary means of transport, complimenting the train and metro networks.

The currency is the Japanese Yen and note denominations are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000 and 10,000.

ATM’s can be a little tricky in Japan as the majority only accept cards issued by Japanese banks, there are however many parts of Japan with post offices as well as numerous 7/11 stores that have ATM’s foreigners can use. There’s also travel cards which you can pre-load yen on to — this may give you access to a larger number of ATM’s. A safe bet would be to have a small amount of Yen on a travel card for emergencies, but use your debit card whenever you can as this carries the least amount of charges.

Average Costs (in Japanese Yen)

• Mid range accommodation (3–4 star hotel) 4,000–18,000
• Budget accommodation from 3,000
• Three course meal for 2 in mid-range restaurant 3,500–5,000
• Meal in an inexpensive restaurant 800–1,000
• Pint of beer in a city 450–1,000
• Can of beer from a local shop 200–300
• Cup of coffee 350–450
• Bottle of water 110

Japan is a varied country with a huge amount to see and do, with a rich culture and ancient traditions that blend together with the modern world in a harmonious fashion. The best attractions are doted all over the country and below is a list of just some of the top things to do in Japan.

Mount Fuji

The highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft) is an incredible sight and iconic due to its almost symmetrical shape. It is an active volcano, although it hasn’t erupted since 1707. An enjoyable, leisurely place to enjoy the view of Mount Fuji is from the Fuji Five Lake region and Hakone, a hot spring resort. If you are short on time it can also be viewed from the shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo in the direction of Kyoto and Osaka. In saying this, it is worth noting that clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji so you have to be lucky to get a clear view, especially from a passing train. So if possible it is worth spending a little more time around the mountain to give you more chance of catching a glimpse of this stunning Japanese icon. Visibility tends to be better in the early morning and late evening and during the colder months. If you are feeling adventurous the official climbing season for Mount Fuji is from early July to mid September.

Tokyo Imperial Palace

This is the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan so the palace buildings and inner gardens are not open to the public (apart from a couple of special openings a year), however you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the palace and the surrounding parks and gardens. It is located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo and it is built on the old site of Edo Castle. There are free organised tours of a small section of the Imperial Palace that can be booked online, although you can only view the exterior of the buildings and must stay with the group. The huge Imperial Palace East Gardens are open to the public everyday except Monday and Friday from 9:00 am till 4:00/5:00 pm (depending on the time of year). This is where you will find remains of the moats, walls and entrance gates of Edo Castle and the lovely Ninomaru Japanese Garden. You can enter the East Gardens through the Oteman Gate, an impressive reconstruction of the original gate that was destroyed in WWII. There are also two public parks here where access is unrestricted — Kokyo Gaien National Garden and Kitanomaru Park.

Kinkaku-ji Temple

A stunning Buddist Temple in Kyoto, that is also known as the Golden Pavilion. The top two floors are completely covered in glistening gold leaf and are beautifully reflected in the pond surrounding it. The temple was originally a villa, that was then converted into a Zen temple in the 15th Century. It has burned down several times during its existence, most recently in 1950 by a fanatic monk. The temple that is there now was rebuilt in 1955. There is also a scenic garden and charming tea house within the grounds. It is open from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm and the entrance fee is 400 yen.

Tokyo Skytree

At 634 metres (2,080 ft) this is the tallest structure in Japan and as the name would suggest, it is situated in Sumida in Tokyo. It is a television broadcasting tower, with a large shopping complex and aquarium located at its base and observation decks, a restaurant and a café located up the tower. There are two observation decks, the lower one is 350 metres (1148 ft) high and the second one is 450 metres (1476 ft) high. The tower is open from 8:00 am till 10:00 pm with last entry at 9:00 pm. The fee to visit the first observation deck is 2060 yen and second observation deck is an additional 1030 yen. Fast tickets can be purchased by foreign tourists for a higher cost to skip the lines.

Himeji Castle

A stunning castle located on a hilltop in the city of Himeji. It is the largest castle in Japan with extensive, well-preserved castle grounds. Due to its white, pristine exterior it is also known as White Heron Castle and has recently been extensively renovated and re-opened to the public in 2015. It is one of Japan’s original castles that has survived over 400 years without being destroyed by war or natural disasters. The complex is made up of 80 buildings connected by paths and gates that were designed to slow down anyone trying to attack the castle. The opening hours are 9:00 am till 5:00/6:00 pm depending on the time of year. The entrance fee is 1000 yen and you can also buy a combined ticket to include the nearby Kokoen Garden for 1040 yen.

Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine

An important and famous Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto, situated at the base of Mount Inari. It is easily recognised for the thousands of bright orange torii gates, creating winding paths up through the wooded hills of Mount Inari. All of the torii gates have been donated by individuals or companies and the name of the donator and the date of the donation have been inscribed on each gate. The shrine is dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice and bringer of prosperity. You will find many fox statues doted across the shine grounds as foxes are thought to be Inari’s messengers. Mount Inari is 233 metres (764 ft) high and it takes around 2–3 hours to reach the top and back, although you can just walk as far as you like before heading back down. A popular place to hike to is Yotsutsuji Intersection, about half way up the mountain, where there are some brilliant views over Kyoto. There are multiple smaller shines along the hiking trails and miniature torii gates. The shrine is always open and there is no entrance fee.

Japan is full of fascinating areas to visit and they are they are doted all over this enchanting country. Listed below are some of the most popular areas to see while on a trip to amazing Japan. 

Tokyo

Japan’s buzzing capital city is one of the world’s most populous cities and it’s situated on Honshu, Japan’s largest island. It is unashamedly modern and infatuated with the latest trends and fashions, but equally passionate about it’s fascinating heritage. There is an exhilarating mix of busy roads, hectic streets and neon lights intertwined with tranquil backstreets, peaceful gardens and charming temples and shrines. It is an incredibly safe city, the trains run on time and to a huge number of places and you can buy almost anything you could need at any time of the day from a shop, or even a vending machine. There are street food delights, cute cafes, Michelin star restaurants, chic bars, nightclubs and funky bars where you can sing karaoke or play video games.

Kyoto

An ancient city located on the island of Honshu that used to be the capital of Japan and the emperors residence for over 1000 years, up until 1868. There are countless serene temples, striking palaces, wooden houses, Shinto shrines and beautiful gardens in this historic city. You will also find a variety of ryokan’s in Kyoto – Japan’s traditional inns, tea houses hosting authentic tea ceremony’s and Gion, Kyoto’s most famous geisha district. Downtown Kyoto has an array of shops, markets, restaurants and bars, but with such a treasure trove of picturesque sites doted around other parts of Kyoto, you will want to spend the majority of your time exploring those areas. Kyoto is also a great base for exploring other areas on day trips, such as Nara and Kobe.

Osaka

The third largest city, after Tokyo and Yokohama, is located on the island of Honshu. This vibrant, friendly city is becoming increasingly popular, with visitor numbers going up every year. There are large entertainment districts, a great food scene, miles of canals, shopping malls and a beautiful castle all within this easy going city. Universal Studios Japan is located in the Osaka Bay area, which is very easy to reach from the main city. Osaka is about an hour from Kyoto so Kobe and Nara can also be explored on day trips from here.

Hiroshima

A modern city located near the south of Honshu Island, that was largely destroyed in 1945, during World War II, by a devastating atomic bomb. It was believed that the city would be uninhabitable, but the predictions were proved false and work began on rebuilding the city. Some of the ancient monuments that were destroyed were rebuilt and the centre of the city became the 120,000 square metre Peace Memorial Park. It is a beautiful city with museums, pretty gardens and an impressive castle, as well as numerous shops, bars and restaurants. A popular day trip is to the small, sacred island of MiyaJima (Itsukushima), famous for the huge, orange Torii gate rising from the water. The island can be easily reached by ferry or river boat.

Hakone

Hakone is a mountainous area that is a hugely popular destination in Japan and it is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is known for amazing views of the magnificent Mount Fuji and its many hot spring resorts, also known as onsen’s. Due to the huge contrast from the big cities and easy access from Tokyo it is a popular weekend getaway for residents of Tokyo and a popular side trip for international tourists. Lake Ashinoko is a volcanic crater that offers scenic views of Mount Fuji, both from the shore and the tour boats. Another popular place to see Mount Fuji, which is also an onsen town is Lake Kawaguchiko in the Fuji Five Lakes region.

• The city of Kyoto was spared as a potential target for the atomic bomb at the end of World War II by American Defence Secretary Henry Stimson, who recognised the city’s exceptional, historic value.
• Square watermelons are grown by Japanese farmers, originally intended for easier storage, however they tend to be very expensive so they are often bought as a decorative feature rather than to eat.
• There are more registered pets in Japan than children.
• There are around 24 billion chopsticks used in Japan every year.
• The average delay on Japan’s railways is 18 seconds, making them the most punctual in the world.
• The world’s shortest escalator is in department store Japan and it only consists of four steps.
• There are over 100 active volcanoes in Japan, which accounts for about 10% of all the active volcanoes in the world.