Japan
- Destination Profiles From spectacular mountain ranges
covered in beautiful forests and lakes, to beautiful
sandy beaches lapped by emerald seas, Japan has the
whole spectrum of beauty to entice the tourist. Combined
with its history, culture, tradition and technology
Japan offers you an endless world of discovery.
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[
Hokkaido ]
Place
to Visit
Brief
Description
Daisetzuan
National Park
The
largest national park in Japan. It includes 3
volcanic ranges featuring virgin forests, gorges
and spas.
Hakodate
Explore
either on foot or by tram, one of the first Japanese
ports to be opened to trade with the West. The
old international flavour of its past can still
be found in the architecturally diverse Motomachi
distric.
Sapporo
Hokkaido's
capital city with its spacious grid layout of
parks and avenues, is a good place to start your
exploration of Hokkaido. Sites of interest are
its Clock Tower & the Sapporo Beer Garden
& Museum.
Shikotsu-Toya,
National Park
Noted
for its diverse volcanoes & caldera lakes.
The main features are Lakes Shikotsu & Toya
& the graceful contours of Mt Yotei.
The
'Little Kyoto' of northern Japan is a Lake charming
town to visit, with its 350 year old. samurai
houses & Arcade of Cherry Trees. Only a short
journey away is Lake Tazawa, Japan's deepest lake
an ideal place from which to explore the surrounding
hiking trails of Mt Komagatake.
Sado
Island
Once
an island where undesirables were exiled, later
on the site of a gold rush, the small Sado island
is the fifth largest island of Japan. Explore
its stunning scenery of mountains, farmland and
coastal beaches.
Towada-Hachimantai,
National Park
In
this park of great natural beauty can be found
the beautiful crater lake, Lake Towada, and the
'must-see' Oirase River. Explore the Hachimantai
Plateau with its bubbling mud pools and steaming
vents.
In
Japan's capital city, home to 12 million people,
you will be able to see the Japan of past, present
& future. A visit to such beautiful historical
sites as the Imperial Palace, Meiji Shrine &
Asakusa- Kannon Temple will transport you back
in time. The bright neon lights & hustle &
bustle of such areas as Ginza, Shinjuku and Akihabara
will amaze you.
Mount
Fuji & Hakone
No
trip would be complete without a tour to Japan's
highest mountain, Mount Fuji. In the beautiful
surrounding area take a relaxing cruise of Lake
Ashi, jump on a cable car up Mt. Komagatake &
spend a restful night in one of Hakone's many
'onsen' (hot spring) resorts.
Nikko
Escape
from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to the tranquillity
of Nikko, the city of Shinto shrines & explore
the picturesque Nikko National Park.
Kamakura
Explore
the shrines, temples and gardens of this historical
capital of Japan. See the Great Buddha, Tsurugaoka
Hachimangu Shrine & Hase Kannon Temple.
Kanazawa
The
highlight of a visit to Kanazawa is the splendid
Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three most beautiful
gardens. Take a walk along the city's narrow winding
streets in search of samurai houses, temples &
the old geisha quarter.
Takayama
Takayama's
streets are filled with old merchant's shops and
a variety of other historical buildings. In this
'elegant city of craftsmen' situated in Japan's
Alps, view its beautiful festival floats and wander
round its famous markets.
Shirakawago
Shirakawago,
the hamlet of "praying-hands" houses
(gassho-zukuri) is situated in the beautiful Shokawa
Valley. See its impressive three-storey farmhouses
with steeped roofs, built hundreds of years ago
to protect the inhabitants during Winter.
Matsumoto
Matsumoto
is an ideal place from which to explore the surrounding
spectacular Japan Alps. In the city itself is
the fantastic Matsumoto Castle, one of Japan's
'National Treasures'.
Osaka
is Japan's third largest city and certainly one
of its most dynamic & vibrant. Having been
an important centre of trade from the earliest
times, this city has its own proud distinctive
character. Definitely a place to eat, drink &
shop until you drop.
Kyoto
As
Japan's capital for over 1000 years, Kyoto is
an absolute must on anyone's itinerary. As a flourishing
centre of Japanese art, culture, religion &
tradition, Kyoto symbolises the Japan of old most
people conjure up in their minds. Visit Kyoto
Imperial Palace home to countless emperors &
their courtiers; marvel at Nijo Castle, once the
residence of mighty Shoguns & their warriors;
&. stroll around the old entertainment &
geisha district of Gion.
Nara
Visit
delightful Nara, Japan's first real capital. Visit
the world's largest wooden building the Todaiji
Temple, stroll through Nara Garden Park &
meet its tame deer.
Himeji
Himeji
Castle or 'the White Heron Castle', built in 1580,
is one of only a few castles in Japan still in
its original medieval form. With its towers, turrets,
ramparts & moats, it is undoubtedly one of
Japan's finest castles. It is registered on UNESCO's
World Heritage list.
Kobe
For
centuries Kobe has been one of Japan's most important
ports, as it still is today. The international
influences on this 'gateway for trade' are reflected
in the architecture, food and character of this
city. Visit the Ijinkan, the old foreign district,
or view Kobe from the vantage point of the surrounding
Rokko Mountains.
Ise-Shima,
National Park
This
National Park is home to a superb variety of interesting
sightseeing destinations. Visit Ise Jingu, one
of Japan's most important Shinto shrines or watch
the women pearl divers on Mikimoto Pearl Island,
the birthplace of cultured pearls.
Mount
Koya
Surrounded
by forest covered mountains situated 3000 feet
up on a tableland is the Buddhist temple complex
of Mt.Koya. As a centre of Japanese Buddhism since
the 9th century, Mt Koya is the perfect place
to experience Japanese Buddhist life.
'
The garden of taking pleasure later' or Koraku-en
Garden, constructed in the 17th century, is considered
to be one of Japan's finest gardens. Walking around
its tranquil landscaped grounds you will come
upon streams, waterfalls, bamboo groves, teahouses
& even a small tea plantation.
Kurashiki
This
delightful old 'warehouse village' that once prospered
from the trade of rice, sake & cotton, is
a must on anyoneOs itinerary. Stroll along its
many willow-lined canals surrounded by the homes
of samurai & wealthy merchant families &
many black tiled warehouses that date back hundreds
of years, now housing museums, ryokans, restaurants
and boutiques.
Hiroshima
This
lively modern city was the site of one of the
most horrific events in history. On 06 Aug 1945
it was the target of the 1st Atomic bomb used
in war. A visit to the Peace Memorial Park with
its museum, hall & cenotaph, dedicated to
the victims of the bomb & to world peace,
will leave a lasting impression on you.
Miyajima
The
'Island of Shrines' situated in the Seto Inland
Sea has been a sacred site of Shintoism - Japan's
indigenous religion - since as far back as the
6th century. The highlights of a visit to this
island are Itsukushima Shrine built over the water
on stilts & out to sea in front of it, the
seemingly floating red 'torii' Shinto gate.
On
Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's 4 islands, you
will be able to explore the natural beauty of
Ritsurin Koen: a magnificent traditional Japanese
garden containing winding paths, bridges, teahouses,
ponds and pine forests.
Matsuyama
In
NW Shikoku you will find Matsuyama City, the largest
city in Shikoku, famous for Matsuyama Castle &
Dogo Spa. Why not take a relaxing dip in the spa,
reputed to the oldest one in Japan.
Kumamoto,
often called the "forested city", brims
with historical sites, museums & areas of
natural beauty. The centrepiece of the city is
the impressive Kumamoto Castle and to the east
is the beautiful Suizenji Park.
Mount
Aso
A
visit to the double coned volcano, Mount Aso,
will help you to understand why Kumamoto Prefecture
has been called the "Land of Fire".
3 climbing paths lead to the crater. Explore the
surrounding park, which abounds in many hot springs.
Nagasaki
Nagasaki
once was the only open window to trade in a period
of 200 years of Japanese international isolation.
With an intermingling of Portuguese, Dutch &
Chinese influences many consider this city to
be one of the most beautiful in Japan.
Kagoshima
With
its sunshine, palms trees, beautiful sea &
wide avenues, Kagoshima has been dubbed by some
the 'Naples of the Orient'. The awe-inspiring
beauty of Kirishima National Park is on its doorstep
including the active volcano, Sakurajima.
Okinawa
is the largest of a string islands stretching
for over a 1000 km from Kyushu down towards Taiwan.
The islands offer brilliant sunshine, emeralds
seas, & golden beaches. Watersports are plentiful
as to are historical sites of interest.
Japan
- Destination Profiles From spectacular mountain ranges
covered in beautiful forests and lakes, to beautiful
sandy beaches lapped by emerald seas, Japan has the
whole spectrum of beauty to entice the tourist. Combined
with its history, culture, tradition and technology
Japan offers you an endless world of discovery.
