Places Where You can Discover the True Essence of Japan

With plentiful ancient temples, medieval fortresses and stunning landscapes to discover, Japan’s highlights span across the major cities and exotic countryside. Travellers can get to see the life under the terrible wartime, wander around the educational sites with family and shop around the bustling shopping districts surrounding the commercials hubs in the country.

Kyoto’s Tourism Highlights

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Koinzan Saiho-ji – This place is also known as the Koke-dera Temple or Moss Temple, because of the 120 different varieties of moss found inside the gardens. This temple was originally the 6th century home of Prince Shotoku but the Buddhist monk Muso Soseki turned the site into temple in 1339 and a two-tier garden was designed around the pond. As the city has only the restricted admission, one requires requesting the temple to provide reservation for admission.

Nijo-jo Castle – The castle was completed building in 1603. A vast moat and imposing walls surround the castle and the nightingale floors, the creaky boards instantly alerting the guards to the presence of any intruder, enhance its security. There is a vast collection of screen paintings and period artwork on display. The self-guided audio tours are rented by the visitors.

Japan’s Natural Wonders

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Mount Fuji – With the height of 12, 388 feet, Mount Fuji is the Japan’s tallest mountain. This is also the primary highlight of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu Park, situated around 2.5 hours from Tokyo. According to estimates, around 200,000 mountaineers climb Mount Fuji every year. At the park, one can also see the coastline along the Izu peninsula and indulge in swimming and SCUBA diving at the coastal stretches.

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Jigokudani-Yaenkown Park – Located inside the Yokuyu River valley in Nagano and well-known for snow monkeys, the Jigokudani-Yaenkown Park is one of the popular tourist spots in the Nagano prefecture. The average temperature in the winter lingers around 5 degrees whereas snow covers the ground for almost four months every year. One can take photographs of monkeys inside the park but cannot feed them. The park officials issue the warning urging visitors to avoid physical contacts with the monkeys, otherwise they may turn aggressive.

Tokyo’s Tourism Highlights

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Ginza – This was one of the earliest cities to modernise during the period of Meiji Restoration and houses plenty of upscale boutiques and retailers. Most department stores in Ginza host their own art galleries and serve varieties of cuisines in the form of refreshments and pre-packaged meals at depachika. On every weekend, the Chuo-dori that is the main thoroughfare in Ginza for pedestrian traffic is organised.

Sensoji Temple – The oldest worship site of Tokyo, the Kannondo Hall inside the temple was built by the Buddhist priest Shokai Shonin in 645 AD. On an estimate, the annual visitors’ count at the temple is around 30 million. In the month of July, the temple hosts Hozuki-Ichi festival.

There are several other locations thronged with the tourists throughout the year. One can get to know about these tourism hot spots on Japan travel guide book. Do not forget to go through the guide books before heading to this East Asian economy giant country.