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| It is the land of the future, with humanoid robots, bullet trains and bizarre subcultures. And yet, it lives in the past: centuries-old art forms like kabuki, sumi-e and haiku are still practiced, still cherished. Suit-clad businessmen walk the same streets as geishas garbed in kimonos. It is here that you will find ancient Shinto shrines and astoundingly avant-garde buildings. The Land of the Rising Sun refuses to be pigeonholed into a single era.
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Tokyo
Tokyo is bizarre, mercurial and alive. It’s a hub of subcultures: Lolita fashion, cosplay and manga fandom. And yet, even as gadgets get outdated within a day, you’ll notice that old traditions live on. Ikebana arrangements are still found everywhere. And paper fortunes are still tied outside Shinto shrines. While many find this dichotomy baffling, it’s best not to dissect Tokyo’s culture. Enter Tokyo ready to experiment; you’ll find it most enthralling. |
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Kyoto
Kyoto, it seems, is jealous of her heritage. Enter the city with its concrete walls and neon lights, and you’d never suspect that it is here that the Japan of one’s imagination exists. Pagoda roofs partly obscured by branches of cherry blossom. Boatmen in conical hats guiding their boats down the river. Geishas teaching their apprentices the art of pouring sake. The heart of Kyoto is hidden to the casual observer; but show even the slightest inclination to explore and you will be rewarded with glimpses of exquisite beauty. |
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Hakone
At Hakone you will see one of the most enduring symbols of Japan — Mount Fuji. Blessed with exceptional natural beauty, Hakone comes as a pleasant interlude. Here you can take a dip at an onsen (Japanese hot spring), eat eggs boiled in them, or go hiking. For those who want to get a taste of Japan’s great outdoors, Hakone is the place to be. |
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Nara
Nara boasts architecture and history that matches Kyoto’s (its more popular neighbour); but a fraction of the tourists. Here you will find some of Japan’s oldest and largest temples and poetry-inspiring scenes. Nara might be much more diffident than its famous neighbour, but it’s just as charming a host. |
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Nagoya
Home to the headquarters of Toyota and Mistubishi, Nagoya is something of a Mecca for car lovers. There’s also a 17th century castle; Atsuta Shrine, Japan’s second most venerable shrine; and best of all, few tourists. Nagoya is one of Japan’s best kept secrets. |
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Hiroshima
Hiroshima has risen from the ashes as an avant-garde cosmopolitan with a great nightlife and excellent restaurants. True, the bombing has not been forgotten; but it’s remembered through eternally optimistic monuments. Hiroshima uses its traumatising past as a reason to be thankful for the present and embrace the future. |
