Japan is a place I've wanted to see for a long time, with amazing mountain beauty, one of the world's most chaotic and quirky cities (Tokyo), a long history of culture and tradition, and, of course, incredible cuisine with true sushi on offer everywhere you turn.
Instead of flying in for a brief city trip to Tokyo or a ski holiday in one of Japan's major ski resorts, I intended to see the nation as a whole over at least two weeks.
It's an adventure. It envelops you. Every day is loaded with new discoveries, cultural differences, and absolute delights. I can't go any further than that, but everyone who has gone understands exactly what I'm talking about.
The capital of Japan Tokyo is strange, fantastic, and occasionally absolutely insane – yet that is precisely what makes it such a popular destination for international travellers.
Our journey began in Tokyo, the country's primary gateway and a terrific place to spend a few days exploring its numerous corners - from the buzz and bustle of Shibuya and Shinjuku, to the tranquil peace and serenity of Japan's public parks, and all the way through to Tokyo's gaming district, Akihabara.
On my first night in Tokyo, I was hunting for a restaurant in a mall when I came across a leaflet with the words Mall Directory in ornate script. When I opened it, everything was in Japanese. The English were just employed for aesthetic purposes.
Allow yourself one day after experiencing all of Tokyo's chaos and crazy to escape to nearby Mt. Fuji to admire the majestic peak, where many Japanese and foreign visitors climb to the summit each year.
Enjoy beautiful views of Lake Kawaguchi (weather permitting) and a lovely blueberry + vanilla soft serve from the gift shop while you're here.
Following our visit to Mt. Fuji, we went on to Hakone, a little village on Lake Ashi that also gives magnificent views of Mt. Fuji from afar by riding the cable car to the viewing platform.
Gokoyama & Shirakawago
After two nights in Tokyo, we drove through rural villages into the bustling city of Kanazawa – but, as is often the case, it was all about the journey.
We stopped at two historic villages along the way, which were distinguished by thatched roofs and traditional wooden buildings. These two villages are UNESCO World Heritage Sites because they depict Japanese traditional culture in its purest form - so take plenty of shots!
We continued on to a Nomura House, a classic samurai house where we heard about the surrounding region's history, ongoing traditions, and the history of the samurai.
Kyoto
Kyoto, Japan's former capital, is as lovely as one could expect Japan to be. Although the attractiveness of Kyoto lurks beneath the bustling metropolis that it is now, when you stroll the back streets, you will soon uncover the history, culture, and traditions that continue to exist in Japan today.
Be sure to visit Geon, Kyoto's most famous Geisha neighborhood and a green tea (matcha) lover's paradise! Green tea is available in a variety of formats here, including ice cream, parfaits, frappes, hot lattes, and more!
Osaka
Although Osaka was not on our tour plan, we had an extra stay in Kyoto at the conclusion, which allowed for a spontaneous journey to adjacent Osaka (30 minutes by express train from Kyoto). We were sitting in our hotel room formulating a plan for the next two days, deciding when would be ideal to visit each destination for fewer people, especially since it was a public holiday that day. We took the spontaneous decision to travel from Kyoto to nearby Osaka and enjoy the hustle and bustle of what is now my absolute favourite city in Japan.
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