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Japan is a country of contradictions, with natural wonders and uber-modern cities. If you’re a nature lover, you might be surprised at how much of Japan is untouched and pristine. Think of the serene beauty of Mount Fuji as a contrast to futuristic high-rise Tokyo.

The Land of the Rising Sun is at the intersection of traditional culture and contemporary ideas. You’ll find yourself gazing in awe at a Shogun’s Castle while not long later, you could find yourself gawking at the outlandish fashions of Japan’s teenagers. There are so many ways and routes to enjoy a visit to Japan. At the top of the list are Japan’s famous Golden Route.

What is the Golden Route in Japan?

Japan’s Golden Route traces the route of the ancient Tokaido road between Tokyo to Kyoto. The attraction of this route for tourists is it passes by many of Japan’s famous landmarks, such as Mount Fuji and the Hakone hot springs region.

When is the best month to travel to Japan?

Japan is a country with four distinct seasons. Each season has its own highlights. However, if you want to see Japan’s beautiful cherry blossoms, the season to visit is Spring. Between March and May, the country is painted in white and pink as the cherry blossoms bloom and Japan comes alive with Spring festivities.

What is the best city to visit in Japan?

The top cities in Japan to visit are Tokyo, which is easily the most popular city in Japan, Kyoto, a beautiful historic city with lovely shrines, and Osaka, which is a busy economic hub. Other historic cities are Hiroshima and Yokohama.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial view from above.
After almost eight decades, Hiroshima is still synonymous with the atomic bomb that ended WWII in Asia that struck on 6 August 1945. There are reminders of that in this port city that sits on the western coast of Honshu, the main island of Japan. Today, it is a...
Toshogu Shrine Entrance
While Nagoya, a port city on Honshu Island, may not be the first place you think of when planning time in Japan, if you read on, you may well begin to understand that it deserves some of your time. Nagoya is a city of 2.3 million with the metropolitan...
Japanese Girl In Yukata With Red Umbrella
Kyoto on the Japanese Island of Honshu was once the national capital. Its population is 1.46 million with a further 2.4 million in the greater metropolitan area. It was the home to the Imperial court at the end of the 8th century and that remained the case until 1869....
Fukuoka City With Seaside Momochi Of Japan
Fukuoka is Japan’s sixth-largest city and is in a lovely location on Hakata Bay, with its other three sides framed by mountains. This port city has a population of around 1.6 million with a further million within the immediate vicinity and has been an important trading place for many...
Ship Trip In Ashi, Lake, Japan
Hakone is a serene mountainous town with stunning views across Lake Ashinoko looking out towards the beautiful Mount Fuji. Around an hour and a half train ride from Tokyo, it’s an excellent destination for a weekend trip from the capital city. Hakone not only provides ample opportunities for outdoor...
okinawa japan
If you are searching for a Japanese vacation that might have you tricked into thinking you are in Thailand, then look no further than Okinawa. Okinawa is both a Prefecture and the main island around 640 km (400 miles) south of Japan’s main island and around 500 km (319...

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