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Times
09-07-2025
- Times
10 of the most beautiful places in Japan
Even if you've never been to Japan, you probably know of its enchanting sights: the elegant cone of Mount Fuji, perhaps, or the intricate, Unesco-listed temples of Nikko. Unsurprisingly, in a country almost 2,000 miles from end to end and made up of thousands of islands, there are plenty of other incredible places to discover. Here are the must-see destinations to add to your itinerary — from startlingly blue crater lakes to hot spring towns surrounded by rice paddies. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue After a devastating 1925 earthquake, the residents of Kinosaki Onsen worked together to rebuild the town as it was, with wooden buildings lining the willow-draped canals. The community takes just as much pride in maintaining the picture-perfect townscape now. Each evening guests staying in the traditional ryokan inns stroll along the streets in their yukata cotton kimonos, going 'hot spring-hopping' between the many public baths. It's a cosy scene, with steam wafting from the baths, herons perching in the canals and the click-clack of geta clogs through the quiet streets. Nishimuraya Honkan is one of the best ryokan in Kinosaki, with hot springs, multi-course kaiseki cuisine and traditional hospitality. Public bath passes are included. Inside Japan's 11-night Hot Springs Honeymoon self-guided tour includes a night in Kinosaki. • Discover our full guide to Japan In a far-flung part of the already far-flung Okinawan archipelago, subtropical Taketomi feels like its own little world. The tiny island — less than two miles wide — is home to just 300 people who live in a village of small houses with sloping, terracotta-tiled roofs and surrounded by rustic stone walls garlanded with flowers. Spend the day cycling to beaches with star-shaped sand, riding suigyusha carts pulled by water buffalo or diving down to an undersea hot spring, then watch the stars come out as the balmy evening turns to a bright, clear night. You can stay in a classic Taketomi-style villa with red-tiled roof at the small Guesthouse Cago, conveniently located in the village at the heart of the island. G Adventures' Absolute Active Japan trip includes a day exploring Taketomi by bike. • The best Japanese islands to visit In the mountains north of Tokyo, Nikko combines a striking natural setting with elegant and historic shrines and temples. Chief among them is the ornate Toshogu, where each building is adorned with complex, brightly painted wood carvings by the best 17th-century artisans. One of the most popular carvings is a sweet depiction of a dozing cat above a doorway; pass through it and you'll find steps to a simple stone monument with pine trees leaning protectively over it — the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun and one of the country's Three Great Unifiers. Historic Nikko Kanaya Hotel has an ideal location near Shinkyo Bridge and retains much of its early 20th-century grandeur. There's an overnight stay in Nikko on the Highlights of Japan tour from Exodus Adventure Travels. • Best things to do in Japan In the wild, wide-open spaces of eastern Hokkaido — the northernmost of the four main Japanese islands — are three breathtakingly lovely lakes. The largest is Kussharo, where each winter whooper swans cluster in the few ice-free spots near the shore created by hot springs. Next is Mashu, a startlingly blue crater lake with some of the clearest water in the world. The delicate ecological balance of the smallest lake, Akan, produces marimo — bright green balls of algae that are celebrated in the torchlit Marimo Festival held by the indigenous Ainu people each October. Luxurious Akan Tsuruga Bessou Hinanoza has views over the lake, natural hot springs and some beautiful Ainu wood carvings. G Adventures' Active Japan: Hokkaido Adventure trip includes stops at viewpoints over lakes Kussharo and Mashu and an overnight stay by Lake Akan. • Best time to visit Japan: when to go and what to do With its cloud-shrouded mountains, vertiginous ravines and deep forests, the Iya Valley in Shikoku has a mysterious air. Its remoteness made it the perfect hideaway for the remains of the Taira samurai clan who fled here after their defeat in the Genpei War (1180–85), developing a unique culture in this secluded valley. Traces of the old ways of life are still present, from centuries-old thatched farmhouses to the vine bridges allegedly created by the Taira — they could be easily cut down, sending pursuing Minamoto warriors crashing into the turquoise waters of the Yoshino River below. A stay at Hotel Iyaonsen combines a spectacular mountain location, sweeping views of the valley, soothing natural hot springs and delicious traditional food. You can call a farmhouse in the Iya Valley home for two nights on Inside Japan's Secrets of Shikoku trip. • The best tours of Japan In a serene rural location, surrounded by rice paddies and mountains in eastern Kyushu, Yufuin Onsen is one of the prettiest hot-spring towns in Japan. Unusually its ryokan are dotted around, away from the centre, which is instead full of cute cafés and interesting museums, giving them a sense of calm and privacy. Each season has distinctive charms in Yufuin. On winter mornings, mist rises from the river that snakes through town and Mount Yufu is delicately dusted with snow. By summer, town and mountain are lush with greenery and the drone of cicadas drifts lazily on the air. In a quiet spot amid rice fields, Hoshino Resorts KAI Yufuin is a chic and comfortable retreat with spa treatments and shared and in-room hot-spring baths. Intrepid's 24-day Ultimate Japan trip includes two nights in neighbouring Beppu, with plenty of time to linger in Yufuin. • Best ski resorts in Japan Though it's now a sleepy historic town, in the 12th century Hiraizumi was the northern headquarters of the powerful Fujiwara samurai clan, and some treasures from that time still exist. For example, there's Chusonji, a temple where you can walk along avenues lined with centuries-old trees and admire the Konjikido, a hall covered in gold leaf. At Motsuji, people in Fujiwara-style court dress compose poetry at the Kyokusui no En festival in May and some 30,000 irises bloom each June. And west of town you can marvel at Takkoku-no-iwaya, a 9th-century temple built into a cliff face. Also to the west of town, Soba'an Shizukatei is a quiet and welcoming hot-spring hotel serving up handmade soba noodles and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden. Wendy Wu's 14-day Journey Through Japan tour includes a stop in Hiraizumi. Mount Fuji has inspired Japanese artists and writers for as long as they have been there to see it, and it remains a powerful symbol of the country. The serene symmetry of the volcano is interrupted by a small second crater, which gives it a charming wabi-sabi quality — the Japanese concept of beauty in imperfection — and the surrounding Fuji Five Lakes area gives you plenty of good vantage points. One of the most famous of these lakes is Kawaguchi, which is easily accessible. When the leaves change colour each autumn, the Momiji Tunnel — a spot on the north shore — perfectly frames the snow-capped peak in reds and golds. In a wooded area near Lake Kawaguchi, Glamping Villa Hanz has private villas and geometric dome tents called Pao — and, of course, Fuji views. The 16-day Japan Unveiled tour from Newmarket Holidays includes a visit to Lake Kawaguchi in the Fuji Five Lakes area, and views of the mountain from Lake Ashi in Hakone. In a country prone to earthquakes, Hagi is a remarkably unspoiled historic town in western Japan. Its castle may have been destroyed in the 19th century — leaving behind a lovely coastal park ideal for walking and cycling — but the surrounding district offers a glimpse into everyday life when it was still standing. Stroll its streets and you'll see the stern black-and-white walls of samurai mansions, wooden buildings that served as shops and inns and the distinctively latticed plasterwork of former storehouses that are now museums, shops and restaurants. Hagi no Yado Tomoe puts an elegant modern twist on traditional Japanese aesthetics — the raked gravel garden is particularly lovely. You can experience a homestay and cycling in Hagi on G Adventures' 11-day Back Roads of Japan trip. It may look tiny on a map — just a drop of ink below Kyushu — but Yakushima feels huge. The eight highest mountains in Kyushu are all on this island, their rocky slopes descending into a thick tangle of rainforest, which finally thins out into fruit orchards, fishing towns and white-sand beaches where sea turtles nest. The misty forests are the real draw, with several towering cedar trees that have been growing for thousands of years hidden in their depths. It's a place where you can step back through time, connecting with deep history and truly wild nature. Sankara Hotel & Spa is a tranquil escape in southeastern Yakushima, with relaxing wellness treatments and sea views from every room. YellowWood Adventures' 11-day Lost Islands of Japan tour includes two nights on Yakushima. • Best things to do in Kyoto• Best things to do in Tokyo What's the most beautiful place you have been to in Japan? Please share in the comments below
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Traveling to Japan with kids? Here's how to find the right tour for your family.
Dreamy videos of Kyoto blanketed in pastel cherry blossoms and Tokyo's anime-inspired street fashion have saturated social media, making it the top bucket list destination for families with teenagers. While there's plenty for all ages to enjoy in Japan, from the more affordable Tokyo Disneyland to ancient samurai villages, monkey parks, and castles, planning a trip there can be daunting, says Tamatha Frederick, senior Japan specialist with Audley Travel. Once you get out of Tokyo, English language translations on websites and family-friendly hotel accommodations—such as connecting rooms, and vacation rentals with a kitchenette—can be hard to find. That's why many parents opt for the ease of a cruise or guided land tour around Japan. Each has some advantages over land tours, but also some tradeoffs. Here are some points to consider when choosing between a cruise or land tour, and the option that holds the advantage. (Related: Top 10 things do in Japan) Both cruises and land tours have something to offer for children of all ages. However, the kids and teens clubs on cruise lines offer a break to exhausted parents and entertainment for wired kids, provided your child is at least three years old and potty trained. Cruises also provide an easy source of kid-friendly menus at breakfast and dinner, allowing travelers to grab a quick meal before sampling authentic set lunches and hot pot meals in town. Most importantly, you only have to unpack suitcases, gear, and toys once. Your stateroom may not be as big as some hotel rooms, but it is close to the areas where you will be eating, and the ship provides safe spaces such as ice cream bars and pools for older kids to escape to, as well as big screen movies to watch on deck or evening shows, like a performance by a famous balloon artist. Many cruise lines also offer premium packages with food and drink delivery to the room, which is handy if you or your kid are too tired to dine at a restaurant after a long day touring. Of course, this convenience means you don't get to experience the authentic stays and cuisine available on land tours, like going to Japanese inns or Ryokans, with traditional tatami mats, low tables and onsens, or hot springs. One area where custom land tours have a definite edge is in curating itineraries to meet the needs of individual families. They can provide more hands-on experiences to keep younger kids engaged, such as ramen-making experiences, taiko drumming, and ninja dojo classes, in addition to the shrine and samurai village tours that are a staple on both land and sea tours. Cruise lines do provide visits to kid-friendly attractions like aquariums and hot springs, but they are trying to cater to big groups of people, not your family's special interests. InsideJapan Tours, for instance, can do a whole itinerary just for theme park enthusiasts, including Tokyo Disneyland, Hello Kitty's Sanrio Puroland, and Fuji-Q Highland's rollercoasters. Tour operators can also get hard-to-get tickets to events or attractions such as the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, and off-the-beaten path experiences, which can be valuable during the peak tourist season between April and June. Bethan Grant, whose husband Simon King co-founded InsideJapan Tours, says it's some of these off-the-beaten-path experiences that stood out for her and her family when they vacationed there last summer, such as taking taxi boats near Tokyo, wandering into a tour of the National Diet (Japan's parliament), going to a sumo tournament, or paddle boarding around Lake Ashi near Fuji. 'There's only so much trailing around and looking at things before kids get bored,' she says. (Related: How to avoid touristy spots and experience Japan like a local) Cruise line touring is limited to the ports you visit for that specific sailing. There's almost no limit to where you can go on a land tour, thanks to taxis, buses, and the efficient train system in Japan, including the Shinkansen bullet train, which can cover 311 miles in two-and-a-half hours. That does not mean that you cannot see some of the most popular areas outside of Tokyo such as Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, or Mt. Fuji on a cruise, you just need to choose the right sailing. If your specific vacation window doesn't include a sailing with that stop, then you're not seeing it. And on many cruises, you're limited to only one day per destination. You can, though, add days to the front and back-end of your stay to see places not included on your trip, such as the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo or a major league baseball game near the cruise port in Yokohama. (Related: Tried street food in Osaka? Then go to Fukuoka) Cruises can be the more affordable option depending on your accommodations. However, once you start adding in excursions in each port, Wi-Fi, and premium food and drink packages for those morning lattes and evening cocktails, the cost starts to add up. The base price per day of my 11-day sailing on Princess Cruises with my teenage son cost between $193 to $694 per day, starting from inside staterooms to those with a balcony. Cruise line promotions, which can range from a child sailing free to stateroom upgrades, can bring down that price, so it's important to shop around. There are several other family-friendly cruise lines that sail around Japan, such as Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Holland America. Custom land tours such as those offered by Audley average around $500 to $700 per person a day, and include transportation such as train tickets, admission, accommodations, and local guides. Both can provide a memorable family vacation. It's just a matter of what you're comfortable with, and what works best for your family's budget, and interests. (Related: 6 heritage towns in Japan to rival Kyoto) Melinda Fulmer is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor with travel, food, and wellness bylines in the Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, AFAR, BBC, Los Angeles Times, Time, and the Washington Post. She loves outdoor adventure and is a passionate advocate for more accessible and inclusive travel. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @melindafulmer.
National Geographic
25-04-2025
- National Geographic
By land or by sea? Here are 2 ways to see Japan
Dreamy videos of Kyoto blanketed in pastel cherry blossoms and Tokyo's anime-inspired street fashion have saturated social media, making it the top bucket list destination for families with teenagers. While there's plenty for all ages to enjoy in Japan, from the more affordable Tokyo Disneyland to ancient samurai villages, monkey parks, and castles, planning a trip there can be daunting, says Tamatha Frederick, senior Japan specialist with Audley Travel. Once you get out of Tokyo, English language translations on websites and family-friendly hotel accommodations—such as connecting rooms, and vacation rentals with a kitchenette—can be hard to find. That's why many parents opt for the ease of a cruise or guided land tour around Japan. Each has some advantages over land tours, but also some tradeoffs. Here are some points to consider when choosing between a cruise or land tour, and the option that holds the advantage. (Related: Top 10 things do in Japan) Ease and convenience (Winner: Cruises) Both cruises and land tours have something to offer for children of all ages. However, the kids and teens clubs on cruise lines offer a break to exhausted parents and entertainment for wired kids, provided your child is at least three years old and potty trained. Cruises also provide an easy source of kid-friendly menus at breakfast and dinner, allowing travelers to grab a quick meal before sampling authentic set lunches and hot pot meals in town. Most importantly, you only have to unpack suitcases, gear, and toys once. Your stateroom may not be as big as some hotel rooms, but it is close to the areas where you will be eating, and the ship provides safe spaces such as ice cream bars and pools for older kids to escape to, as well as big screen movies to watch on deck or evening shows, like a performance by a famous balloon artist. Many cruise lines also offer premium packages with food and drink delivery to the room, which is handy if you or your kid are too tired to dine at a restaurant after a long day touring. Of course, this convenience means you don't get to experience the authentic stays and cuisine available on land tours, like going to Japanese inns or Ryokans, with traditional tatami mats, low tables and onsens, or hot springs. Range of activities (Winner: Land tours) One area where custom land tours have a definite edge is in curating itineraries to meet the needs of individual families. They can provide more hands-on experiences to keep younger kids engaged, such as ramen-making experiences, taiko drumming, and ninja dojo classes, in addition to the shrine and samurai village tours that are a staple on both land and sea tours. Cruise lines do provide visits to kid-friendly attractions like aquariums and hot springs, but they are trying to cater to big groups of people, not your family's special interests. InsideJapan Tours, for instance, can do a whole itinerary just for theme park enthusiasts, including Tokyo Disneyland, Hello Kitty's Sanrio Puroland, and Fuji-Q Highland's rollercoasters. Tour operators can also get hard-to-get tickets to events or attractions such as the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, and off-the-beaten path experiences, which can be valuable during the peak tourist season between April and June. The water tank at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the largest in the world. Photograph by Yagi Studio, Getty Images The Shining Flower Ferris wheel at Fuji-Q Highland gives riders a prime view of Mount Fuji. Photograph by Jon Arnold Images Ltd, Alamy Stock Photo Bethan Grant, whose husband Simon King co-founded InsideJapan Tours, says it's some of these off-the-beaten-path experiences that stood out for her and her family when they vacationed there last summer, such as taking taxi boats near Tokyo, wandering into a tour of the National Diet (Japan's parliament), going to a sumo tournament, or paddle boarding around Lake Ashi near Fuji. 'There's only so much trailing around and looking at things before kids get bored,' she says. (Related: How to avoid touristy spots and experience Japan like a local) Choice of cities (Winner: Land tours) Cruise line touring is limited to the ports you visit for that specific sailing. There's almost no limit to where you can go on a land tour, thanks to taxis, buses, and the efficient train system in Japan, including the Shinkansen bullet train, which can cover 311 miles in two-and-a-half hours. That does not mean that you cannot see some of the most popular areas outside of Tokyo such as Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, or Mt. Fuji on a cruise, you just need to choose the right sailing. If your specific vacation window doesn't include a sailing with that stop, then you're not seeing it. And on many cruises, you're limited to only one day per destination. You can, though, add days to the front and back-end of your stay to see places not included on your trip, such as the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo or a major league baseball game near the cruise port in Yokohama. (Related: Tried street food in Osaka? Then go to Fukuoka) Affordability (Winner: Cruises) Cruises can be the more affordable option depending on your accommodations. However, once you start adding in excursions in each port, Wi-Fi, and premium food and drink packages for those morning lattes and evening cocktails, the cost starts to add up. The base price per day of my 11-day sailing on Princess Cruises with my teenage son cost between $193 to $694 per day, starting from inside staterooms to those with a balcony. Cruise line promotions, which can range from a child sailing free to stateroom upgrades, can bring down that price, so it's important to shop around. There are several other family-friendly cruise lines that sail around Japan, such as Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Holland America. Custom land tours such as those offered by Audley average around $500 to $700 per person a day, and include transportation such as train tickets, admission, accommodations, and local guides. Both can provide a memorable family vacation. It's just a matter of what you're comfortable with, and what works best for your family's budget, and interests. (Related: 6 heritage towns in Japan to rival Kyoto) Melinda Fulmer is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor with travel, food, and wellness bylines in the Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, AFAR, BBC, Los Angeles Times, Time, and the Washington Post. She loves outdoor adventure and is a passionate advocate for more accessible and inclusive travel. You can follow her adventures on Instagram @melindafulmer.
