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  Japan is an interesting blend of the East and the West with missionaries from Europe first settling in nearly 200 - 150 years ago. Nowadays you can find a McDonald’s, golf driving ranges, and a host of westernized corporate buildings in every city, but Japan has customs and culture that is unmistakingly Japanese. Feeling a little daring? How about trying to eat live octopus legs while they are still moving? Japan is known for serving up live seafood as the meal actively kicks around your mouth as you savor the flavor. The Japanese enjoy gatherings for food and drinks of elegant formality of Japanese manners and the candid exchanges that take place over a few drinks. For many Westerners, there is never a dull moment being in Japan because no matter how long they have been in Japan, they will continuously discover new things about Japan, which makes it worthwhile. Four major islands make up Japan with each island providing unique offerings that make Japan so irrestible to visit. Honshu (Main Island) Honshu is divided into many areas. The Tohoku (literally "northeast") region, which extends from just north of Kanto to the tip of the main island of Honshu, is relatively undeveloped, and is renowned for its spectacular mountainous scenery, rocky coastlines, excellent rice (and therefore superb sake) and snowy winters (and therefore excellent skiing). Its people are known for their friendliness and openness, as well as for their incomprehensible (to many Japanese) dialect. The area also boasts hundreds of hot springs scattered here and there, as well as scenic temples, villages and festivals, and a vigorous arts and crafts tradition. Matsushima Bay near Sendai is famous as one of Japan's most beautiful scenic spots, and Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture boasts a well-preserved samurai district. You could spend a lifetime exploring the Kanto region. Containing the megalopolis of Tokyo, as well as Japan's second-largest city, Yokohama, it is also home to Kamakura, a former capital and now a popular destination for its shrines, temples, beaches and the Great Buddha. On the other side of the Kanto plain, the town of Nikko is famous for Toshogu, the lavishly decorated temple complex and mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu (a must-see for any visitor to Kanto), and beyond it is the beautiful Lake Chuzenji area, popular as a retreat from the hectic pace of Tokyo. Just exploring the capital can keep a visitor occupied and fascinated for ages, from the large shopping and entertainment districts of Shinjuku and Shibuya to Harajuku, the Mecca of cool, to the glitzy wealth of Ginza, to the startling peace and serenity of Meiji Shrine. The central Japan region, known as Chubu, has a lot to offer the visitor. It is dominated by the high mountains that form the Japan Alps, a popular skiing and hiking area, and include Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan. To the north is the rugged Japan Sea coast and the unspoiled beauty of the Noto Peninsula, while the southern coast around Nagoya is cosmopolitan and industrialized. The region has some notable historical sites, including some on the World Heritage list (the sacred sites and pilgrimage routes in the Kii mountain range, for example), and Kanazawa, one of Japan's most fascinating lesser-known cities. The Kansai region (also called "Kinki") is a world of contrasts. Mostly agricultural, it also contains bustling cities that are a must-see for any visitor to Japan -- Osaka, the commercial and entrepreneurial center of Japan, and Kyoto, its cultural mecca, famous for its hundreds of beautiful temples and gardens and its geisha, as well as for its thriving electronics industry. The port of Kobe is often called one of Japan's prettiest cities, while the ancient capital of Nara preserves some of the oldest and most important buildings in the country, chief among them Todaiji, the world's largest wooden structure, which contains a huge image of Buddha, one of the largest bronze images in the world. Himeji, just up the coast from Kobe, boasts one of Japan's most beautiful and best-preserved feudal castles, and nearby is Miyajima, whose torii ranks as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. Easily accessible from abroad via the 24-hour Osaka International Airport on a manmade island in Osaka Bay, the region is becoming more and more popular as a destination for foreign tourists. The Chugoku region encompasses western Honshu, from Kansai to Yamaguchi. Hiroshima is the biggest city in the region, famous for its association with the atomic bomb, and thousands of visitors come to its Peace Memorial Park and Atom Bomb Dome. People flock to nearby Miyajima to see its famous shrine with its "floating torii." Further afield is the city of Himeji, with its beautiful castle, known as the White Egret, a rare example of a Japanese castle in its original state. The city of Okayama (home of Momotaro the Peach Boy) contains Koraku-en, one of Japan's "big three" gardens, as well as some interesting museums and a cool black castle. Nearby Kurashiki is a popular destination (very crowded on weekends) for its old buildings, interesting museums and wonderfully car-free streets in the center of town. Hokkaido Japan's northernmost main island has a "wild west," frontier feel for Japanese, and is a favorite destination for adventure-seeking Japanese, with high mountains to ski and climb, and wide-open spaces to savor, as well as clean air, clear waters and abundant wildlife. The region has a very different feel from the rest of the country -- the farms look straight out of Vermont (thanks to American agricultural advisers brought in in the early 20th century), and the capital, Sapporo, is a thoroughly modern, spacious city with wide boulevards. For nature lovers, several national parks offer spectacular scenery -- Daisatsuzan National Park is a land of steep highlands, volcanic peaks and alpine meadows; Akan National Park near Kushiro is famous for its Ainu (the indigenous people of the area) and for Marimo, odd algae balls that live in Lake Akan. Shiretoko National Park is one of Japan's finest. Kyushu The southern region of Kyushu holds a special place in the history of Japan. It is here that the Yamato tribe (the precursors of the Japanese people) first settled. During the centuries that Japan was closed to the outside world, the city of Nagasaki had the only resident foreigners in the country. Nowadays the city is associated with the atom bomb, but Nagasaki is also one of the most pleasant and interesting cities in Japan, with a rich history, a bustling Chinatown, and diverse architecture. To the north is Arita, which has a thriving pottery industry, taking advantage of the fine kaolin clay to be found there. Vulcanism has proven a blessing for the local tourist industry -- in addition to the scenic calderas and smoking cones of the local volcanoes, people come from all over Japan and the world to soak in the famous naturally heated mud baths at Beppu and bake in the hot sands at Ibusuki. Shikoku The smallest of Japan's four main islands, Shikoku is a bit off the beaten track for tourists, but its relaxed pace, beautiful scenery and historical attractions make it a rewarding place to visit. The island is the site of the famous 88-temple pilgrimage circuit in honor of Kukai, the great Buddhist saint, who founded the Shingon sect in 807. Thousands of Japanese make the trek every year. Matsuyama, on the north coast, boasts a fine castle that dates from the feudal era, as well as a magnificent old public bath fed by natural hot springs. The city of Takamatsu in the east is renowned for its dazzling Ritsuen-koen garden, one of the finest in Japan. Nearby is Zentsu-ji, the birthplace of Kukai. In the center of the island is Oboke Gorge, a spectacular place of towering cliffs and rushing waters, and a popular tourist destination, especially in spring and fall. For a safe, clean, and efficient destination with captivating rich history, cultures, and world-class hospitality, give the Land of the Rising Sun a visit. You won’t be disappointed. | |
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