Traveling in Japan | Beyond a Simple Vacation

Despite being a well-known and respected country all around the planet, unfortunately few Western travellers visit Japan. Maybe that's due to the misconception that Japan is a very expensive country, a concept that stems from the bubble time in Japan when things were expensive relative to Western nations. But these days costs in Japan are on par with those of Northern America and Western Europe. One more reason few visitors come to Japan is that there is not any standout tourist attraction. China has the Great Wall, Paris has the Eiffel Tower, Italy has the Coliseum, but what does Japan have? The reality is that Japan has plenty of price to offer the visitor, but that worth isn't to be found in any single site. It is to be found in the experience and cultural richness of Japan.

Kyoto is Japan's cultural capital, and previous imperial capital, and contains
UNESCO declared the "Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto" as a World Heritage site. That's not a single site, but rather 17 sites within the Kyoto area. Maybe the most well-known around the planet is Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavillion, but really the cultural
Price of Kyoto is to be found across a range of sites. None of these sites individually will blow you away, but you will be overpowered by the sheer number of cultural and historical sites, temples, shrines, and gardens. Kyoto in total is Japan's cultural
Treasure, and one of the world's treasures.

roughly an hour away from Kyoto lies Nara, another of Japan's ancient capital cities. Like Kyoto, Nara is saturated with cultural sites, especially the Nara Park area. It's a wonderful green town in which you can quietly walk and encounter deer while
Heading towards the subsequent cultural site. The most exciting site for holiday makers is probably Todaiji temple, the largest wooden building in the world. Inside lies the Great Buddha statue, a towering and galvanizing figure acceptable for like impressively mammoth building. There are a lot of other temples and museums in Nara, and it is definitely worth spending a day in Nara when you are in the Kansai region. Nara is more relaxed and more walkable than Kyoto, which is a fairly large town.

In the Kanto region near Tokyo you can find 2 more splendid historic cities full of cultural and non secular relics. They are Nikko and Kamakura. Kamakura features many well-known Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. One of the most famed is Kotoku-in temple. Like Nara's Todaiji temple it includes a giant Buddha statue, which was once found inside the church hall. But in the fifteenth century a powerful typhoon destroyed the church
Hall, leaving the statue in tact but outdoors.

Nikko lies in the beautiful mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, 2 hours north of Tokyo. The natural surroundings of Nikko and its wildlife are pretty enough to warrant an excursion, but its cultural sites combine with the stunning views to make something wholely impressive. Among its temples and shrines is Rinnoji temple, established in the year 766. It's a wonderful and tasteful church to go to. Much more showy and colourful is Tosho-gu shrine, home of the 3 sensible Monkeys. This shrine
Contains the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. There are more beautiful and traditionally important sites in Nikko, and you can explore amid the gorgeous natural environment and rambling monkeys.

even though it is simply a town, Tokyo is a town like no other and is a total must see, at least for 2 days to get an understanding of this massive metropolis. The sheer size and scale of Tokyo are mind-boggling. From the free observation deck of the Tokyo city
Building in Shinjuku, you can look out over the town and literally see no end to the stretch of buildings. Every street and each corner is brim-full of something new to see, and while there aren't many famous holiday maker sites, Tokyo is chock-full of fascinating neighbourhoods
With different flavors, full of great restaurants of all varieties, and full of overwhelming sites, sounds, and smells that assault you from each angle. For those looking for some culture and a chilled escape from the urban insanity, the Imperial Palace and the massive park surrounding it supply a glance into the life of the Japanese royal family. If you visit on New Year's Day ( Jan 1st ) or the Emperor's birthday ( December 23rd ) you can join a crowd of gatherers to see the royal family, who come out of their
Palace to greet the gang with waves and a short speech from the emperor. This is open to the general public, but be prepared for heavy security.

Japan is an exciting country to visit for those with a little more cultural curiosity than a recreational tourist. If you simplyjust want a big and flashy tourist site that you've seen on tv a zillion times, then you may not be too impressed. But travelers with a taste for culture, religious heritage, and history will be impressed and moved by the wonders of Japan.