Japan is a country steeped in history, whimsy, and currently, sportsmen and women. While travel restrictions are preventing most people from visiting at the moment, there’s no harm in planning in advance.
These are our top picks for Japan:
Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park
Japan’s highest, and most famous mountain, dominates the landscape around the park. Mount Fuji plays such an integral role in Japan’s culture and history that it has been recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO. For the intrepid traveller, Mount Fuji’s most popular climb begins at the 5th station, about half-way up, has an overnight stop, allowing climbers to summit around sunrise. For the less adventurous, enjoy the views of Mount Fuji from the comfort of your high speed train, or one of the many hot springs in the region.
Kappabashi Kitchen Town
If you’re into food, cooking and kitchen gadgets then you can’t miss Kappabashi Kitchen Town in Tokyo. Chefs and restaurateurs head here to stock up their kitchens – you’ll find every type of knife imaginable. The road is a kilometre long, and has café stops for the weary shopper along the way. You’re unlikely to come away empty-handed, whether you buy for practical use, décor, or fun.
Wild Snow Monkey Park
Open since 1964, the Wild Snow Monkey Park, allows visitors to get up and close with wild monkeys in beautiful mountainous settings. In the Winter months, the Snow Monkeys, or Japanese Macaques, tend to bathe in the pools around the park. The park is unfenced and the animals roam freely – while the monkeys are a key attraction, the surroundings are appealing enough to draw visitors. The park is open 7-days a week throughout the year.
Animal Islands Around Japan
Another fauna-based attraction that makes our list are the animal islands dotted around Japan. This might not be a trip for the easily allergic – Okuno Island, for example, is home to over 900 rabbits, hence its alternative name of rabbit island. Similarly, there are a number of Cat islands, where the feline population far exceeds the human. One of the islands, Tashiro, has a shrine to the cats that once helped the silk producers rid the island of rats.
Ghibli Museum
Studio Ghibli, best known for their animated work, is behind this homage to all that’s weird, and wonderful, in the colourful Ghibli world. As you near the Ghibli Museum entrance, you’ll be greeted by a large Totoro before being ushered into a blast of colour and creativity. Every room is different – there’s a theatre, and a room full of sketches illustrating the nascent days of a film. On the roof you’ll find a garden and a five metre tall Robot Soldier from Castle in the Sky. Stop for lunch at Straw Hat Café, surrounded by rare red pine trees. Please note, visitors must book their tickets to the museum in advance.
