Places
features on cities and towns to visit
Hiroshima – A Brief Guide
Destroyed by the first atomic bomb in 1945, Hiroshima is now a self-styled centre for peace and the vibrant city shows little evidence of previous horrors. Most of the city can be covered in a day, but Hiroshima is a great base for exploring Western Honshu and the Inland Sea, which has some of the most beautiful scenery in Japan.
Takayama Guide
Nestled in the mountains of the Hida region, Takayama is a taste of rural Japan. It's home to several sake breweries, morning markets, traditional temples and some of the most beautiful Shinto festivals in Japan.
Hakone – The Basics
Approximately 90km west of Tokyo is Hakone - an area on the shore of Lake Ashi with several pretty towns and villages, as well as picturesque views over the lake to Mount Fuji and onsen hot spring baths. The area can be visited in day, but an overnight stay makes for a more relaxing trip - the perfect antidote to the frenetic energy of Tokyo.
Kyoto – The Basics
Kyoto is the cultural capital of Japan and is home to hundreds of shrines, several imperial buildings, traditional teahouses and the majority of the remaining geisha training houses. It's also a great base for day trips around Japan, due to several rail lines converging at the futuristic Kyoto station.
Tokyo – The Basics
As the biggest metropolitan area in the world, a quick guide to Tokyo is an almost impossible task - central Tokyo alone is made up of 23 special wards. This guide aims to introduce the city and cover some of the key bits of information that will help you get the most from your visit.
