Category:Japan
From MyVacationsTo
Extending from snowy peaks to tropical paradises, encompassing urban cacophony and rural retreats, expressing itself through kabuki theater and Kurosawa cinema, Japan packs more inside its borders than you’d think such a tiny slice of real estate could handle. With a strife-filled history and a tendency toward natural disasters, it’s a country continually on the make, always ready to rebuild and renew. At the cutting edge of technology and business, this archipelago is also at the forward edge of the globe, greeting the dawn while the rest of the world sleeps.
Unhindered by its late entry onto the world stage, Japan has made up for lost time by spreading an unmistakable culture that seamlessly blends old with new, east with west. Whether the image that flits to mind is of kimono-clad hostesses performing tea ceremonies or harried salarymen commuting on high-speed shinkansen, people across the globe have vivid impressions of what’s distinctly and authentically Japanese. The country has done a brisk trade in exports, spreading sushi, anime, martial arts, and high technology all over the planet, making “Made in Japan” a stamp recognized by consumers of culture the world over.
But as familiar as Japan may seem, it’s still an enigma to the outside. Closed to the West until 1853 and separated from continental Asia by both oceans and ideologies, this island nation stands uniquely apart from the rest of the world. From the samurai ethos to industrial efficiency, demure geisha to collective responsibility, Japan’s mystique has fascinated the world for centuries. And as much as Japan stands at the forefront of globalization, it can also be an insular culture that responds better to subtle indirection than pointed inquiries. For every traditional temple or urban imprint you recognize, the country will surprise you by throwing a secluded islet or undiscovered subculture into the mix. As well versed as you may be in kendô or kanji, your first thought as you step off the plane could still be that you’re sure not in Kansas anymore. Neither entirely familiar nor completely foreign, Japan offers an experience you’ll find nowhere else, one you owe it to yourself to discover.
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[edit] When to go
Japan’s geography spans from the sub-arctic to the sub-tropical, so there are no hard and fast rules about the weather. Hokkaidô and the north have cool summers and harsh winters, while Kyûshû and Okinawa are warm year-round with limited variation (though they can be plenty hot and humid in summer). The central mountains stay cool in all seasons, with some retaining snow-capped peaks through the hottest months. Honshû’s east coast is temperate, and hot in summer, while the Sea of Japan coast gets heavy precipitation blown over from continental Asia.
The Japanese pride themselves on their country’s four distinct seasons and are connoisseurs of seasonal change. Spring may be the most welcomed season, heralded by the arrival of plum blossoms and the northward creep of cherry blossoms, starting around Tôkyô late in March. The rainy season comes in June and lasts three or four weeks. July and August are often miserably hot and humid, and urbanites flee the city for the cooler mountains, seaside, or north. Typhoon season spans from May and November, peaking between August and October. Fall weather is usually pleasant and clear, so October and November are pleasant, low-season times to visit. Winters are generally mild and sunny, although they’re harsh up north and snowy in Central Honshû. Snow sports are prevalent in those areas, so skiers and snowshoers should visit then.
Major holiday seasons are Golden Week (at the end of April and beginning of May), Obon (in July or August), and the week around the New Year. While the festivities could be fun, trains and buses will be jammed, accommodations booked solid, and many tourist facilities shut down. If traveling during major holidays, book your bed far in advance and prepare to pay extra for it. Government facilities and offices will be closed on national holidays, while sights and other attractions are more likely to remain open. Local festivals take place in all seasons and for all reasons, though they’re concentrated in the summer.
[edit] Suggested itineraries
[edit] Best of Japan: (2 Months)
A full tour of Japan takes you island-hopping from sprawling metropolises to cultural capitals to rural retreats and back again. Start in the thick of things, with a dip into the mind-boggling urban hotpot that is Tôkyô (4 days). Once you’ve caught your breath, daytrip to historic Kawagoe (1 day). Next stop Kamakura (1 day) for serious temple-sighting, then try your luck (and hiking boots) against iconic Mt. Fuji (2 days). Recover from the climb, then start your northward travel with the brilliant shrines at Nikkô (1 day). Pass through Sendai to reach seaside Matsushima , then trek inland to the majestic sights of little Hiraizumi (1 day). Dip into folk-tale culture in Tôno (1 day) and the surrounding valley for a refresher. Keep moving north, sampling the noodles in Morioka (1 day), the volcanic crater lake Towada-ko (1 day), and the samurai sights of Hirosaki (1 day). From Aomori, head to Hakodate (1 day), your introduction to Hokkaidô. Ride the rails up the coast, visiting Shikotsu-Toya National Park (1 day) along the way, and ending up in cosmopolitan Sapporo (2 days). Ship eastward to fishing port Abashiri (1 day), then take your time poking around vivid, volcanic Shiretoko National Park (2 days). Change trains at Asahikawa (1 day) for northerly Wakkanai (1 day), which puts you in spitting distance of Russia. Ferry out to idyllic Rishiri-tô and Rebun-tô (2 days), then catch the ferry from Otaru or take the train back to Honshû. Either way, end up in Niigata (1 day), convenient base for culture-rich Sado-ga-shima (2 days). Castle town Matsumoto (1 day) is a good first plunge into the Japan Alps. Reemerge at urban Nagoya (1 day), then wash off the grime at quaint Takayama (2 days) and tradition-speckled Kanazawa (1 day). Nara (2 days), with its horde of historic sights and giant bronze Buddha, is worth a long, awed look. The contrast of über-modern Ôsaka (2 days) and its serious nightlife may be a shocker, but international Kôbe (1 day) has a cuisine to soothe every taste. Cross the bridge to Shikoku, where Tokushima (1 day) awaits; then slide down the southeast coast for sand and surf—Ikumi (1 day) gets our pick. Slip through the vine-bridged Iya Valley (1 day) on your way to literary Matsuyama (2 days), and end up in compact, coastal Uwajima (1 day). Catch the ferry to onsen-mad Beppu (1 day), and continue your tour with a run down to nearly-tropical Miyazaki (1 day) and a stopover in sunny Kagoshima (1 day). If you can’t get enough paradise, catch a flight or ferry to Okinawa-hontô (3 days), starting in Naha. Resume with a stop in Nagasaki (2 days), and don’t leave Kyûshû without slurping noodles in Fukuoka (1 day). The train runs to Hiroshima (2 days), where thought-provoking memorials stand witness. End your whirlwind tour in Kyôto (4 days), prime territory for geisha-spotting and steeping in Japanese tradition.
[edit] Tokyo and Around: (3 Weeks)
Begin your jaunt through the greater Tôkyô area with a swan-dive into Shinjuku (1 day), the neon-festooned, concrete cynosure of Tôkyô. Sink or swim as you wade through the crashing tide of people at one of the busiest train stations in the world, and later, mingle with city revelers at one of Shinjuku’s many izakaya (pubs), or, if you’re feeling adventurous, at a joint in Kabukichô. Take a day to appreciate the aging Sensô-ji in Asakusa (1 day) and buy the folks back home Japanese trinkets and candy galore. Conduct a sociological study of Japan’s youth on the shop-lined streets of Harajuku and, on a Sunday afternoon, the greens of Yoyogi Park (1 day). Discover the vanguard of Japanese nationalism within the walls of the Imperial Palace (1 day), and just 24hr. later, feel the throb of fashion and culture that pulsates through Shibuya (1 day), the virtual epicenter of Japan. Set your inner electronics guru free at the playground of appliances in Akihabara (½ day), and when you’re ready for a taste of the West, Roppongi (½ day) serves it up in gaijin-oriented bars, clubs, and restaurants. Rise for an early morning promenade through the fish- and fruit-scented warehouses of Tsukiji (1 day), and observe the most subtle daily exchange of ¥2.2 billion in the world. Experience a microcosm of Japan’s contradictions in Ginza (1-2 days), through traditional kabuki and gold-tinted materialism. Head out of Tôkyô to pay respect to the Buddha of Buddhas at Kamakura (2 days) and wander around the temples and shops. Catch a train to Yokohama and fuel your body at a savory Chinese restaurant and crane your neck at Japan’s tallest skyscraper, the 296-foot Landmark Tower (2 days). Ease out of your city skin and into the serene slip of Izu-Shotô, where you can splash on the beaches (3 days). Ogle the opulence that laces the temples of Nikkô (2-3 days) to prepare for the trip’s end: relaxation in the onsen and on the slopes of Hakone (2 days).
[edit] Classical Japan: (17 Days)
Though disasters, natural and otherwise, have forced the Japanese to rebuild many ancient sites from rubble, history is very much alive in the religious and secular edifices remaining from the feudal past. From Kansai Airport, take the train and cable-car up through the clouds to Kôya-san (1 day), the mountain home of Shingon Buddhism. After spending the night in temple lodgings (shukubô), attend morning services and explore ancient monasteries. Make your pilgrimage east to the cedar-shrouded Shintô heartland of Ise (1 day), then backtrack to ancient capital Nara (1 day) where some of Japan’s oldest temples await. Begin your Kyôto caper (3 days) with a spartan stay at Myôren-ji, then sweep through centuries of history at Tô-ji, the Kyôto Imperial Palace, and the Tokugawa castle Nijô-jo. Head west to play samurai in feudal fortress Himeji-jô (1 day), and hop across the Inland Sea to pilgrimage town Kotohira (1 day). Cross Shikoku to see venerable Kôchi Castle and Chikurin-ji in Kôchi (1 day). Mosey over to Matsuyama for a look at the beautiful castle and a taste of the city’s literary heritage (2 days), and soak in the oldest hot spring in Japan at Dogo (2 days). A ferry will take you to Kyûshû; use Beppu as a jumping-off point for the ancient rock-carved Buddhist images at Usuki and Kunisaki-hantô (2 days). To the west are port cities that reflect Japan’s multicultural past: take in the Chinese temples and Dutch colonial heritage at Nagasaki (1 day), and learn about Japanese Christians at Shimabara Castle (1 day).
[edit] Winter Wonderland: (3 Weeks)
Snowbunnies know that the north of Japan is perfect for cold-weather fun. Warm your toes in Matsumoto (2 days) before hitting the slopes at Hakuba (1 day). Nagano (1 day) hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics and knows a thing or two about snow sports. Jump from there to Shiga Kôgen (2 days), where 21 ski resorts await; then soak it off in the baths at Nozawa Onsen (1 day), also home to a skiing museum. Ura-Bandai (2 days) is all about snowy slopes and serious hikes. If you time it right, you can catch “snow monsters” at Zaô Onsen, near Yamagata (2 days), but either way, the weather’s fine. Tazawa-ko (1 day) is in inland Akita Prefecture, Japan’s official snowiest spot. Cross over to Hokkaidô for Niseko (2 days), a winter sports paradise. Land in Sapporo (2 days) in early February to catch the huge Snow Festival, then ship out to Daisetsuzan National Park (2 days) for more skiing and snowshoeing. A sightseeing cruise that cuts through the glaciers at Abashiri (2 days) makes for an unusual ending, though you hardly need an ice breaker when you’ve seen so much.
[edit] The Quasi-Tropics: (17 Days)
Don’t associate Japan with relaxation? Start your attitude adjustment by surrounding yourself with the lush forests of Fukue-jima in the Gotô Islands (2 days). You won’t want to leave, unless it’s to escape the heat in the hot spring town of Unzen, where legend has it that a path leads down to hell (1 day). Regain Paradise at the base of a live volcano in summery Kagoshima, the “Naples of Japan” (2 days), and then begin an Okinawan island-hop, starting in the energetic capital of Naha, where you can chill to a Ryûkyû pop beat and it’s only a bus ride to a beach (3 days). Forget your worries on the sun- drenched shores of Zamami-jima (2 days), then adjust your mask and hold your breath as a menagerie of tropical fish swim by Ishigaki-jima’s stunning off-shore coral reef (2 days). For a change of pace, ride a buffalo cart between the orange-tiled roofs of Taketomi-jima (1 day). Finally, if you’re ready, strap on your hiking boots, grab a kayak, and head for the uncharted interior of Japan’s last true wilderness: Iriomote-jima (4 days).