Why travel to Japan?
According to COUNTRYAAH, Japan is one of the most fascinating destinations in all of Asia. In the land of the rising sun, you will find major attractions on the continent, monasteries and shrines, breathtakingly beautiful gardens and varied natural landscapes, hypermodern high technology and delicious gastronomic experiences.
Japan is in many ways a unique travel destination. Japanese culture is very different from Northern European, so visitors are expected to find an exceptionally interesting country and people, as well as many new and fascinating experiences. The mere encounter of the Japanese people and their special customs, proud traditions, hospitality, humility and helpfulness are guaranteed to make a lasting impression.
On the one hand, centuries-old traditions still cherished in tea rooms, charming geishas, shrines, temples and Japanese gardens, and on the other hand, modern Japan’s hyper-modern architecture and state-of-the-art bullet train (Shinkansen) create a contrast that captures the heart of any traveler.
Few know that Japan’s thousands of islands in the Pacific also offer stunning sandy beaches and tropical exotics. It is possible to end the tour with a relaxing beach holiday, during which you can enjoy fine sandy beaches as well as good snorkelling and diving opportunities.
Our tour in Japan
Some of the trips cover a slightly smaller geographical area but offer correspondingly more opportunities to delve into Kyoto and Tokyo, while some offer the opportunity to tour Japan on a larger scale. In addition, some trips can be extended by combining them with a beach holiday.
Below you can read more about the sights and experiences that await you on our tours.
Kyoto
Kyoto is the heart of Japan, where traditions are strongly visible everywhere. Cobblestones still cover many ancient streets, and tourists dressed in traditional kimonos for the day can be seen everywhere.
In Kyoto, you can attend a traditional tea ceremony. You walk through the living and active geisha blocks, where you can see geisha students dressed in shimmering silk monkeys, or maiks, rushing from one tea room to another. The city’s nearly 2,000 shrines and other old buildings create a fascinating historic atmosphere in Kyoto. The ubiquitous picturesque gardens and waterways add to the atmosphere.
Tokyo
In Tokyo, everything is great, new and efficient. The city has many downtowns, each with its own story and meaning. Shinjuku is characterized by rugged skyscrapers where steel and glass have not been spared, as well as real architectural gems here and there.
The mega-stations at the heart of an incredibly efficient transport network are in themselves worth a visit. At the same time, the metropolis contains numerous lovingly cherished historical and culturally valuable sites, such as the Imperial Palace, beautiful and visitor-friendly parks, and the Senso-Jin Temple.
The Shibuya enclave is perhaps best known for the world’s busiest light-guided intersection, where thousands of people cross the street at the same time as traffic lights show green at the same time to people from all directions and red at all vehicles. The lively intersection is a particularly impressive sight when viewed from above, for which the surrounding buildings offer many opportunities.
Parks and zen gardens
Japan’s parks and gardens are world famous, and for good reason. Stunning gardens can often be found, especially in connection with shrines and temples.
In Tokyo’s larger parks, such as Ueno, you can experience many folk festivals, especially during the March-April period, especially during the cherry blossoms (Sakura). For the Japanese, watching cherry blossoms, or hanami, is one of the most significant celebrations of the year. They pack a picnic in a basket and go to the park with the whole family to enjoy being together and admire the delicate pink flowers floating quietly in the trees.
The area of the Daitoku-ji Temple Complex in Kyoto has several temples, each with its own Zen garden. Of these, perhaps the most popular photographic subject is Ryogen-in.
Shinkansen
Shinkansen bullet trains are the Fastest in the world, and traveling on them is a unique experience.
By train you can easily cover a distance of 500 km in just two hours. The streamlined design of the bullet trains also makes them beautiful. At railway stations, bullet trains have their own piers. As you wait for your own train on the dock, you can only marvel at the impressive speed of other passing Shinkansen trains as they whisper past you like missiles. When you’re already sitting in your seat, you can barely notice the train leaving. Shinkansen praise through landscapes like arrows, and their immense power and speed cannot be ignored.
If you want to feel Japanese, Onsen is the best place to do it. The name ‘Onsen’ means hot spring, but onsen also means hot tubs that receive water from hot springs. Bathing on Onsen has a history of hundreds of years in Japan. Onsen spas are sown naked, and there are certain rules of conduct. Both women and men bathed together until Western tourism began to become more common only a few years ago. Today, most Onsen spas have different genders bathing separately, but you can still experience an authentic Japanese cultural experience in them.
Onsen spas are both private and public, and a stay in mineral water is generally considered healthy. Onsen are often associated with Ryokans, or spa inns. Ryokans are traditional inns where you sleep on futons and enjoy traditional Japanese food.
An active, healthy and delicious holiday
Japan offers plenty of opportunities for active and healthy holidays as well as a huge amount of culinary delights. The average life expectancy of Japanese is the highest in the world, which is mainly the result of a very healthy diet that includes lots of fresh vegetables, fish, tofu and more. The Japanese also value quality in their food culture. Fresh ingredients are key, so you are aware of the many varied, varied and delicious taste experiences.
Japanese cuisine specialties include miso soup, yakitori, Sukiyaki, noodles, green tea and sake, and of course sushi and Kobe beef. Fish and seafood in all its forms are by far the favorite food of the Japanese, but chicken, beef and pork are also widely available – as is horsemeat, which is a fairly common dish in Japan.
Most Japanese strive to maintain healthy and active lifestyles that benefit both the soul and the body. Cycling and hiking are popular and it is easy for tourists to take part in the active life of the locals as there are hiking trails and bike paths everywhere.
Combine a tour with a beach vacation on the tropical island of Okinawa
The beautiful tropical island of Okinawa is located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 km from Tokyo. Okinawa provides the perfect setting for a relaxing beach holiday at the end of an eventful tour. On the island you can enjoy white sandy beaches, turquoise blue water and stunning coral reefs, as well as excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities.
Want to know more about our trips?
To learn more about individual trips to Japan, select the “Read More” button for each trip. Each trip page has a lot of information about the itinerary and prices and much more.