Japanese Holidays

Japan's culture, traditions and destinations!

Your Japanese holiday in this truly fascinating travel destination, with a rich culture and heritage, will have you wanting to return for more.There is such a variety of experiences here.

Japan has a population of around 127 million people, 38 million of whom live in Tokyo. It is a country that is certainly alive with people! Yet it is surprisingly easy to get away from the crowds, and enjoy rural areas in the mountains, lakes, beaches, gardens, temples and many historic sites.

My outdoor activities mad son, who lives in Tokyo, loves it. Why, you might ask! His answer - he can be snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, or deep sea diving, all no more than 2 hours by train.

A country with a multitude of small islands, there are four main islands.Unless you have a lot of time, when planning your Japanese holidays, you will probably need to limit yourself to one area of this fascinating country.

HONSHU is the biggest and most populous. This is where most tourists will choose for their Japanese holiday destination, visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima.

There are so many lovely smaller towns and cities, well worth the stop, such as Himeji where the famous UNESCO Heritage Castle is.There is also a very lovely shrine you can reach by cable car.

Sapporo has the famous Yuki Matsuri Ice Festival – the annual ice carving festival – which I am going to get to one day! Hokkaido is a destination many who live and work in Japan as expatriates love to visit for their Japanese holidays for the outdoor adventures, and its unique beauty. It is very different to other parts of Japan. Wide open spaces but a very small population.

KYUSHU is the third largest island, the most southern of the four islands and a popular destination for Japanese holiday makers, and visitors alike.Many of the schools take their students here for experience of their own country.

Fukuoka is the biggest city, and now considered very cosmopolitan with a lively night life.

Nagasaki – with it’s Dutch flavour,looks distinctly European.

Kyushu has quite a bit of volcanic activity in several areas, you can share hot pools with monkeys at Beppu, walk beautiful gardens and parks, and visit historic castles.

For a very different Japanese holiday destination if you have time, you would almost certainly want to take a trip out to Okinawa or one of the string of islands in this area, where the climate is considered tropical.

SHIKOKU is probably the least visited by international tourists on their Japanese holidays, yet it has so much to see and do.

If you love adventure activities such as white water rafting, mountain biking and the like, you will thoroughly enjoy a few days on Shikoku. With stunning mountains, gorges cut by beautiful rushing green rivers, onsens and narrow mountain roads, this is a lovely part of Japan.

If beaches must be part of your Japanese holiday experience, Shikoku beaches offer the best surfing in Japan. It is also a very traditional area with 88 shrines, visited by Japanese pilgrims, who walk between them.

Tokushima is a pleasant city easily accessed from Kobe by bus. This is where thousands of Japanese and tourists head for the famous Awa-dori held in September.

Shikoku may be an island but this is Japan! It has three bridges connecting it, to the main island.Access is easy! A trip many like to do is cycle over a bridge to Hiroshima-ken.The views are apparently magnificent.

Knowing What to Expect!

Japan Culture - The Old and The New

There are regular traditional Japanese festivals throughout the year, meaning most tourists are sure to get to experience at least one in their travels.

Wonderful modern architecture, especially in Tokyo, displays a total contrast to the beautiful historic buildings, temples, and homes. Kyoto is an amazing city that has retained the history and exudes tradition, quite literally at every turn! Much of it can be walked. Your head will be like a corkscrew. It is such a fascinating place.

It is a real treat to see Japan's culture has preserved so much of its traditions, yet also has such up to the minute conveniences, styles and architecture.

Ryokans – the traditional Japanese guest house. Your holiday should include at least one night where you eat traditionally, and sleep on a futon – a thin mattress on the floor........for this is a wonderful way to experience the culture.

And generally ryokan's can be an inexpensive type of accommodation. The meals are usually included in the quoted price.

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