3 Locations To Visit In Japan

Any traveller worth his salt should visit Japan at least once. From whispering bamboo forests to the hustle and bustle of its hypermodern cities and the soothing gardens to the cyberpunk neon lights of Tokyo at night, it’s a place of contrast and a place of perfect balance. To ensure an unforgettable experience, check out this Japan Traveller Guide before you start planning your route. Here are 3 locations that you definitely shouldn’t miss while you’re in the country:

1. Kyoto

Kyoto, where emperors ruled for more than a thousand years, is one of Japan’s most visited cities. The city is a charming mixture of the old and the modern, of old buildings and modern high-rises. There are streets paved with stones, timeless wooden houses, bamboo forests, wooden teahouses, shrines and temples, and vibrant markets.

Explore Kyoto in the spring or fall. Temperatures are pleasant, plus you can catch a few festivals. However, during Golden Week (four national holidays in a week!), the city is bursting with visitors. So be warned.

Cherry blossoms bloom in late March when the season and the city are at their glorious best. And although flowers are a-blooming, the weather will be chilly in the morning and at dusk. If you don’t care about the crowds, you’d want to visit Kyoto between February and late March. This period is when the city is least crowded.

Kyoto is an important cultural center in Japan; its many museums and art galleries attest to that. There are also Buddhist temples, like the 14th-century Zen temple Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), whose top two floors are covered in gold leaf. And you don’t want to miss Nijo Castle, built in 1603 and where the first Shogun of the Edo Period, Tokugawa Ieyasu, lived.

Another important landmark is the Kyoto Imperial Palace. The palace was the Emperor’s family’s residence until 1868 when the capital and the imperial household moved to Tokyo. And to round up your Kyoto tour, visit the beautiful Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, which is just a few minutes away from the city center.

2. Tokyo

Kyoto is where you’ll get a glimpse of Japan’s feudal past, but Tokyo is its ultramodern counterpart, where the traditional is challenged by the modern. This is Japan at its most vibrant: the crush of people on pedestrian crossings, busy arcades, fashionable streetwear, and of course the restaurants—those purveyors of sublime and delicious food, which is, in Japan, almost a religion in itself. Walking around the city can be a sensory overload, so plan your itinerary.

If you plan to go on a foodie tour, it’s best to start early in the morning in Tsukiji Market, where you can feast on sushi in one of the many excellent eateries around the area. For a glimpse of Tokyo’s past, the Asakusa and Ueno districts are the best places to visit. Harajuku and Akibahara are for pop culture lovers—these places have shops dedicated to the otaku culture, interspersed with electronic shops.

To experience Tokyo’s nightlife, head on to Shinjuku and Shibuya. Nakameguro and Daikama (nicknamed Tokyo’s little Brooklyn) are popular destinations for locals and visitors who enjoy a more relaxed and trendier vibe, a break from the city’s more frenetic parts.

Ginza is dotted with department stores that cater to shoppers of all ages and different tastes. There are also cafes where you can rest and eat. Ginza is only 2.3 kilometres away from the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

The palace is the Royal Family’s official residence. Except for two days a year, New Year and December 23 (the Emperor’s birthday), the palace buildings and inner gardens are closed to the public. The Imperial Palace East Gardens, however, are open for visitors.

The optimum time to experience Tokyo is between March and April when spring offers people a chance to view the blooming cherry blossoms; the city is awash in hues of pink, and the days are sunny and mild. Autumn is a great time to visit Tokyo, too. You can visit the city’s many gardens, like the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden, and see fall’s gaudy leaves turn the city into an impressionist’s palette. During this period, temperatures are comfortable, too, so you can still take advantage of all the delights Tokyo can offer before cold weather sets in.

3. Kanazawa

Nestled in the mountainous region of Hokuriku, Kanazawa retained its Edo period architecture and culture. In Kyoto, you might have had a glimpse of Japan’s feudal past, but in Kanazawa, you’d half-expect to see samurais bristling with swords walk down the city’s cobbled streets. The area has historic districts, shrines, temples, and castles straight from the Edo period, perfectly preserved.

Kanazawa’s Kenrokuen Garden, one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, is a favorite among locals and foreign visitors. When you get there, you’ll know why—the Garden is breathtakingly beautiful year-round, but when you see it in the spring or autumn, that’s when its beauty truly shines. Nearby is the 21^st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, which showcases sculptures, exhibits, and architecture that give a nice contrast to the reminders of a bygone era that surrounds it.

In Kanazawa, you can see geishas in the city’s historic chaya (teahouses) districts. There are three: the Higashi Chayagai, Nisi Chayagai, and the Kazuemachi. The largest is the Higashi Chaya District; two of the teahouses, the Shima Teahouse and the Kaikaro Teahouse, are open to the public. The district’s central street has cafes and shops for souvenir hunters.

Visiting Japan

Japan is a country of extreme weathers, so if you want to avoid the chilly winters and humid summers, the best time to visit Japan is from March to May, and from September to November.