Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People’s Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters which make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin”, which is why Japan is sometimes identified as the “Land of the Rising Sun”.Japan offers a very wide range of attractions, from historical and cultural treasures to modern and futuristic sights and beautiful forests, mountains and sea coasts.

Places to visit

Tokyo

Tokyo , officially Tokyo Metropolis ,is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and is located on the eastern side of the main island Honshu.Tokyo is a modern and cosmopolitan city of skyscrapers, neon, electronics stores, large shopping complexes and countless bars and clubs. But Tokyo is also steeped in history and tradition, with shrines and temples, sushi and noodles, public bathhouses and ryokans (guest houses). The city’s dozens of museums range from the traditional (art and history) to the unusual (parasites). Other popular attractions are the Tsukiji Fish Market, boat rides up the Sumida River and, of course, karaoke bars.

Osaka

Osaka ja-Osaka.ogg listen (help·info) is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshu.Osaka has historically been the commercial capital of Japan, and is at the heart of Japan’s second largest metropolitan area of Keihanshin (Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto), whose population is 18,643,915.Osaka has traditionally been referred to as the “nation’s kitchen” , or the mecca of gourmet food.The places of interest in Osaka are Osaka Castle,Sanko Shrine,Nakanoshima Park,Sumiyoshi Park,Tempozan Harbor Village Ferris wheel,Universal Studios Japan etc.

Kyoto

Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshu, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japan. Here you can rest in the shade of Buddhist temples that have stood for over a thousand years or peruse the offerings of ultramodern department stores. You can join in the time-honored tea ceremony or unwind with a cup of coffee at a fashionable cafe.Only in Kyoto is it possible to cross paths with a real geisha as you stop for a snack at a convenient store. You can take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air as you stroll leisurely through a bamboo thicket. Or you can savor the sight of cherry blossoms overhead as you picnic with the locals on the banks of the Kamogawa River.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 m (12,388 ft).Along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku, it is one of Japan’s “Three Holy Mountains” . An active volcano[3] that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji straddles the boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi prefectures just west of Tokyo, from which it can be seen on a clear day. It is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshu. Three small cities surround it: Gotemba (south), Fujiyoshida (north) and Fujinomiya (southwest). Mount Fuji’s exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and photographs, as well as visited by sightseers and climbers.

Nikko

Nikko is a city located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Located approximately 140 km north of Tokyo and approximately 35 km west of Utsunomiya, the capital of Tochigi, it is a popular destination for Japanese and international tourists, housing the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and that of his grandson Iemitsu , as well as the Futarasan Shrine, which dates to the year 767. There are also many famous hot springs in the area. Elevations range from 200 to 2,000 m.The mountains west of the main city are part of Nikko National Park and contain some of the country’s most spectacular waterfalls and scenic trails.

Best time to visit

The ideal time to visit is in spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) when the weather is pleasant; it is also a time when many Japanese festivals are held. May, known as the Cherry blossom season, is a popular holiday period.

Getting Here

By Air

Japan is well connected to every corner of the world by air. More than a hundred airlines operate their direct flights to and from Japan. Nippon, Fly Emirates, Gulf Air, British Airways and all major airlines have their flights to all major cities of Japan. The cities in Japan like Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Osaka, Fukuoka and Kobe have world class airports with ultramodern structural designs and equipments.

Hotels in Japan

www.japanhotel.net

www.asiarooms.com/japan