Traveling Around Japan

Traveling around Japan, the land of the rising sun made up of nearly 7000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, will take you to a completely different world full of contrasts and amazing surprises. Tokyo is perhaps the best example of these contradictions and surprises. People think of Tokyo as a bustling and chaotic city, the largest metropolis in the world, yet the Japanese capital is distinguished by a tidy streetscape and a striking silence in public transport. “Thanks to” the great earthquake in 1923 and the bombing during World War II, which largely destroyed the city, few old structures have survived and Tokyo consists mainly of modern, contemporary buildings. Today, we are going to take a closer look at Japan, and everything it has to offer.

Things to Do in Japan

Whoever wants to travel to Japan, undoubtedly has the intention to visit more than just the fascinating capital. There is too much to discover in the country to limit yourself to one location. Here is a small list of locations that you should definitely try to visit during your tour through Japan;

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan and is a real tourist attraction. The mountain, which is actually a volcano of no less than 3776 meters high, is visible from Tokyo. This is because it is located just over 100 kilometers west of the capital. You can only see the volcano when the weather is clear and the air is not too polluted (usually in winter/spring).

The volcano has not been active since 1709 and is therefore safe enough to climb. You can hike to the top of the mountain in July and August, when most of the snow has melted and the weather is relatively calm. Expect a large crowd of climbers around this period because the Japanese and foreign tourists like to visit the volcano.

Kyoto

In addition to ultra-modern Tokyo, you can dive back in time in Kyoto, known as the cultural capital of Japan. The old city has been the capital of Japan several times, so many powerful emperors and shoguns have lived there. These powerful rulers have all left their architectural and cultural footprint in Kyoto. As a result, you will find various UNESCO-protected buildings and locations, such as the Golden Pavilion. In Kyoto, you will find about 1600 temples dedicated to Buddhism and 400 Shinto shrines, the most famous of which is the Fushimi Inari-taisha temple area.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The Peace Memorial Museum was established in 1955 in Hiroshima's Peace Park. It is a peace museum in memory of the 4400 kilogram atomic bomb 'Little Boy' that was dropped on the city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 by the Enola Gay (American bomber).

The city of Hiroshima was completely destroyed by the bomb and about 80,000 people died immediately. In the following years many more people died from the overdose of radiation from the released uranium. The museum has an important goal, namely to contribute to the fight against the abolition of all nuclear weapons in the world. The museum was designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange.

Crow’s Castle of Matsumoto

Matsumoto's Crow's Castle was built in the 16th century. The color of the castle is pitch black just like a crow, hence the name Crow's Castle. The castle has clean lines and looks very modern although it is several centuries (1593-1594) old.

It is one of the most beautiful castles in Japan and one that you should not miss when you are in the country. The beautiful castle is located in Nagano Prefecture in the middle of Honshu Island in Matsumoto Town. It usually serves as a stopover for Takayama or Shirakawa-go and Gokayama on a round trip.

Foods to Try in Japan

It is a known fact that Japanese love food, especially Japanese dishes such as sushi and sashimi always go down well. Not only with the Japanese themselves! Preparing Japanese food is also a true culinary art form that takes several hours a day. But what exactly are all these tasty Japanese dishes and meals? Let’s take a closer look at some of the most popular Japanese dishes;

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  Sushi: The most famous form of Japanese food is of course sushi, a small rice roll of a few centimeters in size. It is prepared with white or brown rice, and usually includes raw fish or seafood.
• Ramen: Ramen is probably the most eaten Japanese dish, a kind of noodles. The dish that comes with it is often relatively simple, a piece of meat or fish stock along with the ramen garnished with spring onions or other cooked vegetables.
  
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  Yakitori: Negima Yakitori are skewers (yakitori) with chicken often baked on a teppan or barbecue.
• Miso Soup: A light soup made from (fish/chicken) bullion and often filled with tofu, shiitake and spring onion. This dish is often eaten for breakfast in Japan.
  

Japan Travel Tips

• Japan has over 100 airports. Choosing the right airport to start your Japan trip saves travel time and money.
• Japan has a lot to offer when it comes to accommodations. To experience the true Japan, you might want to choose to spend the night in a Japanese-style hotel (ryokan, minshuku, farm, temple or homestay)
• Traveling through Japan is unique. The possibilities of traveling with public transport are endless. This can be alternated by car or on foot or by bicycle. Japan has the most extensive and most comfortable train network in the world.
• Japan has moderately cold winters and oppressively hot summers. When traveling to Japan, come prepared with different types of clothing.