Despite being a well-known and respected country all around the planet, unfortunately few Western visitors visit Japan. Perhaps that's because of the misunderstanding that Japan is a highly expensive country, an idea that stems from the bubble era in Japan when things were costly relative to Western states. But these days prices in Japan are on par with those of north America and Western Europe. Another reason few tourists come to Japan is that there's no standout traveller 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 lots of value to offer the visitor, but that price isn't to be found in any single site. It is to be found in the overall experience and cultural richness of Japan.
Kyoto is Japan's cultural capital, and previous imperial capital, and contains
UNESCO announced the "Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto" as a World Heritage site. That's not a single site, but rather seventeen sites in the Kyoto area. Perhaps the most well-known around the planet is Kinkakuji, the Golden Pavillion, but actually the cultural
Cost of Kyoto is to be found across a selection of sites. None of these sites individually will blow you away, but you'll be overwhelmed by the actual number of cultural and historic sites, churches, shrines, and gardens. Kyoto as a whole is Japan's cultural
Treasure, and one of the planet's treasures.
approximately 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 is a wonderful green city in which you can calmly amble and encounter deer while
Heading towards the subsequent cultural site. The most stimulating site for tourists is maybe Todaiji church, the biggest wooden building in the world. Inside lies the Great Buddha statue, a towering and provoking figure OK for such as impressively mammoth building. There are many other churches and museums in Nara, and it is easily worth spending a day in Nara when you are in the Kansai area. Nara is more relaxed and more walkable than Kyoto, which is a pretty large city.
In the Kanto area near Tokyo you will find two more excellent historical 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 church. Like Nara's Todaiji church it features a giant Buddha statue, which was once found inside the temple hall. But in the 15th century a strong gale wrecked the temple
Hall, leaving the statue in tact but outside.
Nikko lies in the beautiful mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, two hours north of Tokyo. The natural surroundings of Nikko and its wildlife are gorgeous enough to deserve an excursion, but its cultural sites combine with the striking scenery to form something wholely impressive. Among its churches and shrines is Rinnoji church, established in the year 766. It is a lovely and tasteful temple to go to. Much more flamboyant and colourful is Tosho-gu shrine, home of the 3 smart Monkeys. This shrine
Contains the crypt of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founding father of the Tokugawa shogunate. There are other beautiful and historically critical sites in Nikko, and you can explore amid the gorgeous natural surroundings and wandering monkeys.
even though it is simply a city, Tokyo is a city like no other and is a complete must see, at least for two 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 city and literally see no end to the stretch of buildings. Each street and each corner is brim-full of something new to see, and while there are few famous holiday maker sites, Tokyo is chock-full of fascinating neighbourhoods
With different tastes, full of great cafes of all varieties, and full of overpowering sites, sounds, and smells that assault you from each angle. For those seeking some culture and a chilled escape from the urban insanity, the Imperial Palace and the large park surrounding it offer a glance into the life of the Japanese royal family. If you visit on New Year's Day ( Jan first ) 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 public, but be prepared for strict security.
Japan is a thrilling country to visit for travelers with a little more cultural interest than the average 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 those with an appreciation of culture, religious heritage, and history will be impressed and moved by the wonders of Japan.
Billy Bobb is an avid traveler and citizen of the world. He's a geography nerd and can study maps for hours on end. His blog
Free Printable Maps features maps and travel destination profiles such as an
ancient map of Japan
