Japan The Dream Holiday Destination

Japan The Dream Holiday Destination: Japan offers world-class cuisine, luxury experiences, amazing arts and history which are centered around their very unique and distinctive culture, that is seen to generate kindness and a warm inviting smile for tourists.

You can travel in style and enjoy some real luxury in Japan, especially if you are a lover of fine food where Japan boasts the most Michelin Star restaurants in the world.

Visiting in 2020 is the perfect opportunity to enjoy it all because hosting the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games means the country will be rolling out the red carpet and encouraging people to truly experience the magic that Japan has to offer. It is sure to be a fantastic tournament and experience for all visitors.

Below you will find just a few amazing things to do when visiting different parts of Japan.

Sapporo

Sapporo has a never-ending list of things to explore, see, and do. You can explore the beautiful Lake Shikotsu, or take a mountain bike tour from Sapporo. Then, there is the Jozankei Hot Spring Night Tour, which can be an incredible experience for first time visitors to Japan. Sapporo is widely considered to be one of the best seafood destinations in Japan, so don’t miss out on a Michelin star fine dining experience at Sushi Miyakawa.

Lake Shikotsu ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO

Kamaishi

Kamaishi is a place full of natural wonder. Many choose to visit Mount Goyo, that extends across Kamaishi, and two other cities, Ofunato and Tono. Take a 10km trail hike through the forest passing shrines and summits, then from the top you can take in a spectacular 360-degree view of the mountain and its surroundings. The Iron and Steel Museum in Kamaishi commemorates the history of these important industries and their impact on the modernisation of Japan. There are also many parks to explore, including the famous stunning Mizuumi Park.

Tokyo

There is no shortage of exclusive events to enjoy in Tokyo. Why not rent a EC135 Hermès Edition helicopter with all of the luxuries of a private plane? The Sensoji Temple is almost Japan’s version of the statue of liberty – a beautiful landmark that is well worth the visit if you are in Tokyo. By decree of the emperor at the time, this temple served as a household for his family, but it was mostly used as a way to protect the entrance into Edo, which was the name of Tokyo at the time. It is one of Tokyo’s most awe-inspiring buildings, and many think of it as a place for spiritual healing. Enjoy a Sushi making class; understanding the art and culture behind one of Japan’s signature dishes, this is the perfect Japanese experience you will be able to show off to your family and friends when you arrive back home.

Senso-ji Temple ©Taito City/©JNTO

Kumagaya

Menuma Shodenzan Kangi-in temple is considered a national treasure, and many women visit here, as they believe it will bring them luck and help them to meet their soulmate once they have prayed inside the temple. Kumagaya is also a wonderful place for shopping with its many department stores.

Yokohama

Here, you can shop and sight-see at minato mirai, home to high-rise towers and flashing lights. If shopping is not your thing or you are just in some need of some relaxation, visit the Shomyoji temple. It is a great place for tranquility in the middle of the hustle and bustle.

Minato Mirai ©Yasufumi Nishi/© JNTO

Toyota

Korankei is a valley near Nagoya known to be one of the best spots for autumn colours throughout Japan. The best colours appear around the paths along Tomoe River at the western and southern sides of Mount Iimori. Festival stalls are set up close to Tomoehashi Bridge, where nightly illuminations are held from sunset till 21:00. On top of Mount Iimori (254m), the breath-taking Kojakuji Temple stands which is really the cherry on top of this amazing valley. If you are wanting a more cultural experience, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art features works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Edvard Munch, and others. The museum building was constructed by Yoshio Taniguchi, who also renovated the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City.

Korankei Gorge ©Akira Okada/©JNTO

Shizuoka

If you are in the area, head to the Kunozan Toshogu Shrine. It is a very impressive temple and burial place, and you can even see Mt. Fuji from there, making it extra special. Many report of having a powerful spiritual experience upon visiting.

Night view and Mt. Fuji ©Shizuoka Convention Bureau/©JNTO

Kobe

Kobe is one of the most vibrant cities in Japan. Here, you can climb Mt. Rokko, which is one of the premium attractions. You can walk the mountain, or take a cable car. The night view is said to be one of the greatest in all of Japan. When at the top you will see the gorgeous Osaka Bay and be able to enjoy the scenic Rock Garden that is located here. Kobe is also world famous for its Kobe beef, Kobe beef is generally considered one of the three top brands (known as Sandai Wagyu, “the three big beefs”), along with Matsusaka beef and Ōmi beef or Yonezawa beef, What makes Kobe beef so special? It must fulfil all the following conditions:

Farm feeding in Hyōgo Prefecture
Tajima cattle born in Hyōgo Prefecture
Processed in Kobe, Nishinomiya, Sanda, Kakogawa, or Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture
Gross weight of beef from one animal is 470 kg or less
Marbling ratio, of level 6 and above
Meat quality score of 4 or 5

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden ©JNTO

Hanazono

Hanazono is seen as the adventure capital of Japan, and we recommend going here to anyone who wants some outdoor adventures. Rafting or ducking (inflatable kayak) down Hokkaido’s most beautiful rivers, the Shiribetsu river is a must for some mid-week excitement.

Oita

Oita is known for its wonderful nightlife scene, with many bars and clubs to visit. Make sure you try the local tipple for which Oita is famous called mugi shochu, a barley distilled drink if cask-aged the taste can be quite sharp and strongly reminiscent of single-malt whisky or head to Kagoshima for some imo shochu, a sweet-potato distilled drink it tends to have a strong taste with a very distinctive smell. The other major attraction is Oita’s hot springs ‘onsen’, Atami Onsen is located just a three minute walk from JR Oita station where the moor hot spring is not recycled and always fresh, which will give you a relaxing bath time and will help rid you of your fatigue after your travels.

Mikuma River ©Promotion Airport Environment Improvement Foundation

Fukuoka

One of the biggest cities in Kyushu and famous for night time food stalls (Yatai), bar hopping and make sure to indugle in its world-famous ramen noodles. In Fukuoka, you can scale the ACROS building, where many people enjoy a visit to check out the famous roof garden. You will enjoy truly spectacular views over the rest of the city, as well as 35,000 different plants on the roof terrace that are made up of some 76 different species.

Kumamoto

Suizenji Jojuen Garden is a beautiful and immaculately maintained garden worth a visit in Kumamoto. The Temple, lake and Cha no Yu tearoom are all worth spending some time at, too. Mt Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan, which most recently erupted in 2016 but has since calmed down, Mt Aso used to be assessable by a ropeway that offered some of the most breath-taking views of Kumamoto but the ropeway is currently closed as a result of damaged sustained during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and a shuttle bus now runs from the original boarding area to the crater edge.

Note: The crater area is often partially and sometimes completely closed off to visitors due to poisonous volcanic gases, bad weather or the risk of volcanic activity.

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Japan. This is sure to be a momentous time for Japan, as they will be the first Asian country to host the summer Games twice. Making sure there’s no better time to visit Japan than in 2020!