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| Japan |
| An Introduction |
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A
beautiful mountainous group of islands, Japan is a multi-faceted country
where the modern technological age rubs shoulders comfortably with
centuries of tradition. The Japanese, all 124 million of them, keep the
best aspects of their life private, so to experience traditional Japan,
visitors must go off the beaten track of the major cities and into the
countryside. Most people confine their stay in Japan to the main island of Honshu where there are plenty of sights, including the capital, Tokyo, an enormous sprawling city with 23 wards, 26 cities, 7 towns, 8 villages and the 7 islands of Izu under its metropolitan jurisdiction. Tokyo,
because of its size, does things on a grand scale. It has big hotels, big
roads, big flyovers, big theatres and big shopping centres. The result is
a frantic, energetic, purposeful, automated atmosphere where visitors can
easily feel overwhelmed. It
takes a novice tourist one visit to a bar in the Ginza or to one of the
expensive clubs in Roppongi to spend a fortune, for on the surface this is
a 'work hard, play hard' city with just about every available
entertainment. Thankfully, alongside this modern frenetic activity are the
traditional Japanese customs such as the famous tea ceremony, flower
arrangement, sumo wrestling, kabuki theatre and so on. Traditional Japan is more apparent on the islands of Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, each of which offers a wonderful range of experiences that will deepen your appreciation of Japan and its culture. For instance, Hokkaido has magnificent scenery and a climate which resembles Scandinavia, so the long winters are a mecca for outdoor sports fans. Kyushu,
local lore says, has the strongest men and the most beautiful women in
Japan and features rolling green hills, tea plantations, wonderful hot
spring baths and several active volcanoes, including the magnificent Mount
Aso. Shikoku
is one of the least westernised parts of Japan and is famous for its
seafood as well as its 'micans' (Japanese oranges). The hills resemble
much smaller versions of Mount Fuji and the streams criss-cross the island
like gleaming latticework. On
all these islands the pace tends to be slower and prices are generally
lower, while the people seem more receptive to foreigners, for their
natural curiosity makes them more open and friendly. Any
visit to Japan is a wonderful exploration, a mix of old and new, subtle
and brash, expensive and cheap, so plan your visit carefully. There is so
much to see that you would need to spend more than a few weeks to really
appreciate all the sites. Some of the better known attractions include the magnificent Imperial Palace in Tokyo where you can stroll in the grounds, and the ancient Asakusa Kannon Temple in a more traditional area of Tokyo. North
of Tokyo is the Nikko National Park, a region noted for its lakes,
waterfalls and forests incorporating the Nasu and Shiobara spas. South-east of Tokyo is the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park which comprises four regions: Mount Fuji, the highest and most celebrated mountain in Japan and the resort area of the five lakes; Hakone, a volcanic mountain area with hot springs and a lake; the Izu peninsula, noted for its beaches and hot springs; and the Seven Islands of Izu scattered in the Pacific to the south. The three mainland regions of the park are all interconnected by rail or road and the islands can be reached by boat from the Izu peninsula. Kyoto, the ancient capital, is an important stop-off on Honshu because of its magnificent temples, inns and natural surroundings. It is a city graced by elegant timber buildings both religious and domestic, home to several hundred Shinto shrines and well over a thousand Buddhist temples, many designated national treasures.Other places worth visiting on Honshu island are Sendal, the capital of traditional crafts such as lacquerware, copper and iron utensils, textiles and kokeshi dolls, and Matsushima, a fishing village and seaside resort famous for its fascinating scenery. Nara, Nikko and the former seaside capital of Kamakura also attract thousands of visitors each year. For more general information on Japan, go to: |
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