Of all the Asian cultures, the Japanese culture is by far the most difficult to understand for outsiders. The ancient etiquettes paired with strange habits and appearance allows for a cheerful image under most Westerners. Besides this Japanese tv-shows regularly find their way onto the internet, which may be called remarkable to say the least. The cities and villages are a combination of state-of-the-art architecture and ancient temples and gardens. Because of this, the country is one of extremes, which you can perfectly map by making a trip through Japan.
When you want to make a tour through Japan, there are certain elements that you can not miss. There are a number of cities that are praised by every tourist that visits them. These are, amongst others, Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Furthermore there are multiple national parks and excursions that can be made. One of the most famous places to visit is Mount Fuji, a well known volcano that is often found in photos. In this article we will explain what you really have to see during a trip in Japan, but also the optional possibilities.
Most probably Tokyo is your starting city, as most flights from abroad fly into this city. This metropolitan city is immensely big. The center can not really be called a city center anymore, because it stretches so far that it has become different districts. When you are in Tokyo you should really pay a visit to the Ueno park. A big park that is central in the city. Apart from that there is a special electronics district, where people can play games in one of the hundreds of gameplaza's. This district is called Akihabara.
The center of Tokyo consists of many parks, temples and historical buildings. A visit to the Imperial Palace is also recommendable. This palace of the Japanese king lies in the center and has a few impressive ancient buildings. The neighbourhoods of Shinjuku and Shibuya are also not to be missed. This is the beating heart of the center, where big shops, buildings and hordes of people come together. Furthermore it is mostly the atmosphere and impression that the metropole gives you that makes the heart of many tourists beat faster. Cycling in Tokyo is very pleasant, as there are a bunch of special cycling paths. This is a good alternative to public transport, because you will see more of the city by doing so.
Close to Tokyo lie different villages and national parks that are worth the effort to go and visit. One of the more well known excursions is the area around Nikko. The people of Tokyo go here themselves to quiet down from the city and escape its busyness. There are a big number of temple complexes in the forests and there are also waterfalls to be found. During your tour through Japan it is possible to travel in the direction of Nikko (northwest of Tokyo) or in the direction of Fuji (west of Tokyo).
Besides Tokyo there are many other cities that you can visit during your tour in Japan. In this overview we will list a few cities that are worth visiting. Depending on the duration of your tour you can see which cities you want to see and have the time for. Try finding a good balance between quiet and busy. This can sometimes be a little bit difficult if you want to see a lot of cities, because they are most of the time quite busy.
Osaka is a perfect example of this. The city is big, but has a beautiful city center. The most known attraction of the city is the castle of Osaka. This beautiful white castle is a pearl to look at. Furthermore there are amazing fish markets, temples and restaurants to be found in the city. A visit to the puppet theatre Bunraku is also advisable. This theatre exists since 1684 and uses real life puppets to showcase plays.
During your tour to Japan, Kyoto is a must-go. This city is the old capital city of Japan, but has given it's title of being the capital city to Tokyo. Kyoto has an old and eccentric city center. With small streets and temples, it is an amazing place to get a taste of ancient Japan. Outside of the city there are many modern neighbourhoods with beautiful architecture.
Close to Kyoto is an unique bamboo forest with the name of Arashiyama. This forest is world famous and is often depicted in photos. It is an impressive sight to see all these ancient bamboo trees close to each other. In your trip to Japan this is certainly a recommendation.
The city that is scarred by the atom bomb that was dropped here in the second world war, Hiroshima is still worth visiting. The city knows a new city center, where there is a lot to experience. Besides this there are different monuments built for the victims of the nuclear bomb and the second world war. These are also worth visiting.
You can continue your trip in Japan by going to special nature parks. Besides nature there are even places to go skiing and snowboarding. May you be there during the winter season, this can become a good place to hang out for a while.
Japan knows almost a 100 national parks that you are able to visit. Every park has its own attractions, this is why it is difficult to choose which ones to go to. In the parks you may find pittoresque mountain villages, old farms, mountaintops, volcanoes and more. With a special "free pass" you can travel through all the national parks with special public transport. As there are trains, cablecars, boats, busses and more. This is a lot cheaper than buying separate tickets.
During your tour in Japan you can make use of different means of transportation. The most well known (and fun) way is the "bullet train", in Japanese the train is called Shinkansen. This mega fast train has a network through the whole country. When you buy a flight to Japan, you can book through the site of the Japanese government a cheap week- or month long ticket. Because of this a tour through Japan becomes really simple. As you might expect from Japanese people, the train is never even one second late, which makes travelling in Japan a smooth experience.
When you are in Japan you should definitely do a few "typical" Japanese things. Below we have formed a list of fun things that you should do whilst you are in Japan.
