Asia Brochure 2023

86 Japan What not to miss

87 Japan

A trip to Japan offers a whirlwind experience. It’s hard to make a wrong step during your holiday, particularly when you include one of our top picks.

Fushimi Inari Taisha

I f you fancy a taste of true Japanese hospitality, spending a night at a traditional inn – known as a ryokan – is a great way to go. These cosy accommodations are dotted across the country, but they’re usually perched beside onsen - hot springs. Most rooms will follow a similar style, featuring calming, minimalist décor with a woven tatami mat covering the floor. Upon your arrival, you’ll be given traditional clothing to change into before being treated to an elaborate, multi-course evening meal, which the Japanese call kaiseki.

Perfect if you want to discover more about Japan’s history and culture, experiencing a tea ceremony is another thing you can’t miss. This age-old ritual finds its roots in Zen Buddhism, with many monks using tea-making as a means of prompting meditation. Eventually, the process became more ceremonial, using powdered matcha, a bamboo whisk and hot water to prepare the perfect cup. The best place to see it (and taste it!) for yourself is in Kyoto, where it’s believed the best tea in the country is grown. You’ll learn all about traditional etiquette and hear about Japan’s most famous tea masters.

For any budding photographers or animal lovers visiting Japan, carving out some time to see this country’s fantastic wildlife is a must. There are a number of can’t-miss experiences across this Asian archipelago, from seeing snow monkeys in the Japanese Alps to witnessing white-feathered cranes on the island of Hokkaido. But, for those looking for something a little more accessible, Nara Park is the place to go. Nestled in the centre of Nara City, this beauty spot is home to over 1,000 freely roaming deer. It’s a quirk these creatures have that makes it a ‘must visit’, as the deer are known to bow towards visitors, particularly those that bow first.

Of course, it’s impossible to talk about Japan’s unmissable sights and experiences without mentioning the brilliant temples and shrines scattered across the country. If it’s a frame-worthy photograph you’re after, Kyoto’s famous shrine, Fushimi Inari Taisha, and the water-top Itsukushima Jinja shrine are both undeniably hard to beat in that regard. Whether you opt for a tea ceremony or a temple visit, you’ll be bowled over by what Japan has to offer. So, if you’re feeling inspired, perhaps it’s time to start planning that trip of a lifetime.

The Essentials

FUN FACT Tea was initially brought to Japan as a medicine, only later becoming a popular drink.

BEST TIME TO GO Experience onsen at its best by visiting Japan in either winter or autumn.

OUT THERE MADE EASY

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