Out of all the countries I have been to thus far, Japan is perhaps the country that has astounded me the most. Japan is a beautiful country; abound with refreshing nature sceneries in all four seasons, full of historical culture and tradition yet modern in it’s leading technologies, and lastly, almost everyone you meet are so considerate and full of kindness. While every Asian culture has it’s uniqueness, I personally think Japan is somehow even more different and unique in it’s own way due to the courteousy of the people.
Japanese people in general are very hospitable and will go out of their way to try understand you and communicate with you in English if you don’t speak Japanese. However, I’d suggest you try and learn some of it before you go. In most major cities, there are plenty of signs in English but knowing some Japanese will help you get around, plus it’s a fun language to learn!
The more popular tourist routes in Japan would perhaps include Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. They are great places to explore if this is your first time in Japan, and I’ve got a couple of suggestions for places to check out in each city. If you’re all for the more off-beaten track however, skip through this section below to the next.
Tokyo
As the capital of Japan with a population of roughly 9 million people, it is the central hub to everything from new inventions to emerging pop cultures. Tokyo is probably a popular destination for many young people to visit due to the global reach of anime and manga. What many people actually don’t know, the monarchy is still there- though much like English royalty, they don’t hold anymore political power. The royal family to this day is living in the centre of Tokyo.
Imperial Palace East Gardens
This is part of the palace area that is open to the public. While your chances of spotting the Japanese monarchy here is as likely as you’d spot British monarchy at the Buckingham Palace, you’ll have a nice time soaking in the fresh air of the picturesque Japanese garden if nothing else.
Asakusa
Being a fan of traditional Japanese culture, Asakusa is my favourite area in Tokyo.
- Senso-ji: The most popular buddhist temple here in Tokyo, after passing through the Kaminarimon, a large gate that signifies the beginning of Sensoji, you’ll reach a long path lined with traditional-looking store fronts. At the end of it is where the temple is. Sensoji is enormous, and you can easily spend half a day (or more) wandering through the traditional streets here.
*Though for someone who’s looking for the truly traditional Japan experience, I’ll suggest you go to Kyoto which there is more information about below
Akihabara
Whether you’re an anime fan or simply curious about the latest technology, Akihabara is a great place to go for something.. different. All those weird, fascinating articles you read online about Japan? It probably was something from Akihabara. So what is there to do?
- Yodobashi Camera:
This is a shopping centre right outside the Akihabara train station is a great place to start for those of you what cool new technological gadgets there are out there. You have everything from fancy laptops, phones and cameras to adorable alien-like vacuum cleaners that can clean the house on it’s own without you supervising it.
- Maid Cafe:
From Yodobashi, if you’re an anime fan, you can head out to the streets to browse around the millions of maid cafes that litter the area. For those of you who have never heard of this before, it’s a cafe where waitresses dress up in frilly maid costumes and do cute dances and serenade you as they serve up food. Many of them are often have a particular theme to it, and it’s reflected in the way the girls are dressed and the way the food is presented.
I’ve volunteered and dressed up for a maid cafe in a Sydney anime convention before, but to be honest, the ‘cuteness’ maids are meant to show off actually scare me and I’ve never been to one as a customer myself. However for anyone who wants to see the quirky side of Japan, this is a great activity to try out.
Harajuku
If comparing this place to Australia, I would say Harajuku is the equivalent of Sydney’s Newtown. Japan’s teenage fashion and new outrageous trends are born out of this area with Takeshita-dori being the centre of it all. Check out the boutiques here as well as their trendy cafes and fast food.
Osaka
Osaka is the second largest city in Japan. If your international flight isn’t landing in Tokyo Narita or Haneda airport, then it’s probably landing in Osaka. If cities were people, Osaka would be the hilarious fun-loving larrikin compared to his brother, no-nonsense grim-faced Tokyo. People in Osaka are generally more relaxed and laid back, and that is reflected in the cheerful Kansai dialect spoken by many in the city.
Dotonburi
Bring a pair of loose pants with you because your belly is going to be bursting by the end! This is the central gastronomic hub with some of the best Osaka dishes. You’d have to try what Osaka is also most famous for- okonomiyaki and takoyaki.
- Okonomiyaki:
This is a savoury pancake that you get to cook on a hot teppan grill by yourself. The pancake mix will contain a variety of things you can choose from, from cabbage, pork, beef to seafood. When your okonomiyaki is ready, you can top it with special sauce (a combination of ketchup and Worcestershire), mayo and some Katsuo flakes. The DIY aspect makes it twice as delicious and feels like you’re having a BBQ with friends (but with pancake!)
- Takoyaki:
This is basically savoury pancake in ball form, filled with tako (or in english, octopus). It’s a good snack to grab as you keep wandering around the streets of Osaka. Like okonomiyaki, it’s also often topped with special sauce, mayo and Katsuo flakes.
Kyoto
Kyoto houses the world’s most UNESCO heritage sites and for good reason- there are over 2000 shrines and temples just in this city. It’ll take you years to visit them all! Kyoto is right next to Osaka and is just a 30 minute train ride away. If you could only pick one of these three big cities to travel around, I would say pick Kyoto over Osaka and Tokyo.
Kiyomizu Temple
Kiyomizu Temple is one of Kyoto’s UNESCO sites. To get to Kiyomizu Temple, you need to hike up Matsubara-dori which has a path full of traditional store fronts. You’d never have to worry about going hungry here because almost every single store offers free “Yatsuhashi” samples, a sweet triangular snack of mochi wrapped around a variety of different pastes ranging from traditional red bean to chocolate.
The temple itself offers a sense of serenity and views overlooking the city. In the autumn period when the surrounding maple trees turn red and yellow, the view is simply breathtaking. They occasionally also have “Light-up” events when they shine some lights onto the buildings at night so you can have a better view of the temple at night as well.
After your visit at the temple, you can easily explore the streets around the Kiyomizu area and stroll to Gion from there. The shops here all continue to have a beautiful traditional store front and there are many beautiful souvenir items you can purchase inside. There are also many restaurants that have been owned by the same family for many generations, with their own secret recipes for the most scrumptious Japanese meals.
Gion
Gion is also an ancient area where Geishas, hostesses trained in the arts of dancing and singing still roam to this day. Geishas still remain a mystery to all, even to most Japanese people as they are hidden away from society and only entertain a very exclusive circle of people in Ochaya tea houses. Around Gion, there aresome stores that offer kimono rental and you can dress up like a geisha while you wander the streets of Kyoto.
For that complete ancient Japan experience, why not meet a Maiko (geisha in training) or Geiko(fully trained geisha)? In the past it was quite difficult to meet a Geiko (fully trained geisha) as you needed to be introduced into an Ochaya by another customer, but Ochaya businesses are now changing the way they manage things and it is possible to meet a real life Geisha!
Fushimi-inari Shrine
This shrine is a little further away from the city centre, but undoubtedly one of the most spectacular. This shrine is also atop a hill, with a little more walking required than Kiyomizu temple. You’ll be rewarded with stunning red tori gates that light up the path to the very top of the mountain. On average, most people take about 30 minutes or so to get to the top, but if you’re short on time, you’ll be able to get a good look of the tori gates close to the bottom of the hill as well.
The views of the city at the top is blocked off by trees, but you do get that nice sense of accomplishment when you reach the end of the walk. Plus, you’ll get less tourists chattering away and some better pictures free of the unexpected photobomb.
-The Off-beat track –
So if you’re a little more adventurous or like to avoid the big tourist crowds, anywhere in Japan would be a great place to explore. Each prefecture or region has it’s own charm, and their own specialities when it comes to food. A majority of people who visit Japan only visit Honshuu, the main island where Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are located. However if you get the chance, I highly recommend going out to explore other regions, including the other 3 main islands- Kyushu, Shikoku and Hokkaido. If you have absolutely no idea where to start though, here’s a couple of places I can recommend to look into visiting.
Hiroshima
Hiroshima is perhaps known for the tragic atomic bomb dropped in the city during World War II which killed 90 000- 146 000 people. The city has been rebuilt but has kept some of the destroyed buildings as a reminder of those who lost their lives and the importance of world peace. Located on the South of the Honshu island, it is quite close the Kyushu island hence a good place to stop for a night or two before going to Kyushu.
Peace Memorial
If you’re in Hiroshima, you absolutely must visit this place. This place is incredibly humbling as you discover how the tragedy unfolded on Hiroshima’s people from their point of view. There is also a statue in the park around the memorial dedicated to a young girl named Sadako who battled against her cancer (an aftermath of the atomic bomb) by folding 1000 origami paper cranes. Sadly, she passed away at a young age but has been remembered for her valiant efforts and her story is a symbol of strength and hopes for worldwide peace.
Miyajima
A little away from Hiroshima city, you can reach this place by ferry. The island gives you a nice getaway from modern city life and brings you back into nature. This island is perhaps recognised by the iconic red tori gates half submerged in water during high tides. In addition to this, there are many more beautiful sights around the mountain, including its variety of shinto and buddhist temples/shrines and a panoramic view when you hike up Mount Misen.
Onomichi to Imabari Island hopping
From Onomichi, which is located on the main Honshu island to Imabari, a city located on Shikoku island, there is a string of islands in between and they are all connected by the Shimanami Kaidou Road. This expressway is 60km long and is frequently used by buses and cyclists. I recommend cycling across, or part way across the islands to get a taste of small town feel. Alternatively, you can also catch a ferry across to some of these islands.
If you want to run away from the foreign tourist crowd, this would be the great place to do so. I think the only people who don’t permanently live here that I came across were crazy fit Japanese cyclists that wanted to challenge their abilities.
Kousanji Temple
My favourite place was Kousanji temple on Ikuchi island. When you first enter, you’ll see a beautiful colourful facade. But as you wander around further, you’ll discover a cave that twists and turns beneath the temple for a long enough time for you to wonder if you did accidentally walk into hell. Fear not, you’ll eventually reach the exit. Not far from the exit, you’ll find Miraishin no Oka, an abstract artistic section of the temple made entirely out of marble. I’ve visited plenty of different temples and shrines in Japan, but there was nothing that can compare with Kousanji in terms of it’s size and intricate underground cave.
Post island hopping from Onomichi, to Imabari, I would also suggest you stay on Shikoku island for some time to explore the cities on this under visited island. The cities on this island are much smaller compared to the major cities on Honshu where Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are. But it’s way less touristic and you’d get to see a new side to Japan.
Hakodate
This port town is located at the very Southern tip of Hokkaido, and can be reached by a ferry from Aomori on Honshu island or a Shinkansen ride from Tokyo. There is a very unique mix of Japanese, Russian and Colonial architecture here as this was one of the first towns that opened up to foreign trade after a period where Japan had closed its borders off from the rest of the world during an Isolationist period from early 1600s to mid 1800s.
There is a relaxed, chilled atmosphere to this town and there is an abundance old traditional houses transformed into chic cafes. In addition to beautiful architecture, there’s a beautiful star-shaped garden that has some of the best cherry blossoms in Spring and enviable night views of the city from the top of Mt Hakodate throughout the year.
Last but not least, the food is absolutely delicious! Here, you’ll get the freshest possible seafood and the most flavoursome milk you’ll ever taste. Perhaps it’s because the souls who live in this city are of such kind, gentle spirit, but you can taste the care they put into the food here.
Having lived here myself during a 6-month student exchange, for anyone who wishes to visit, I have a guide for you here.