Traveling In Japan | Beyond A Simple Vacation

By Author: Billy Bobb
Total Articles: 41
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Despite being a well known and respected country all around the world, sadly few Western visitors visit Japan. Perhaps that is because of the misperception that Japan is an extremely expensive country, a concept that stems from the bubble era in Japan when things were costly relative to Western states. But nowadays costs in Japan are on par with those of North America and Western Europe. One more reason few visitors come to Japan is that there is not any 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 plenty of worth to offer the visitor, but that value is not 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 former imperial capital, and contains
UNESCO declared the "Historic Monuments of ancient Kyoto" as a World Heritage site. That is 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 truly ...
... the cultural
Cost of Kyoto is to be found across a variety of sites. None of these sites individually will blow you away, but you will be overwhelmed by the sheer number of cultural and historical sites, temples, shrines, and gardens. Kyoto as a whole is Japan's cultural
Treasure, and one of the planet's treasures.

roughly an hour away from Kyoto lies Nara, another of Japan's traditional capital towns. Like Kyoto, Nara is saturated with cultural sites, particularly the Nara Park area. It is a wonderful green city in which you can calmly walk and encounter deer while
Heading towards the next cultural site. The most exciting site for tourists is perhaps Todaiji church, the biggest wooden building in the world. Within lies the Great Buddha statue, a towering and galvanizing figure acceptable for like impressively mammoth building. There are a lot of other temples and museums in Nara, and it is well 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 big town.

In the Kanto area near Tokyo you'll be able to find two more splendid historical towns full of cultural and religious relics. They are Nikko and Kamakura. Kamakura features many well known Buddhist churches and Shinto shrines. One of the most famous is Kotoku-in church. Like Nara's Todaiji church it features a giant Buddha statue, which was once located within the temple hall. But in the fifteenth century a powerful storm destroyed the temple
Hall, leaving the statue in tact but out of doors.

Nikko lies in the lovely mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, two hours north of Tokyo. The natural environment of Nikko and its wildlife are pretty enough to warrant an excursion, but its cultural sites mix with the stunning scenery to create something wholely electrifying. Among its temples and shrines is Rinnoji church, established in the year 766. It is a wonderful and classy temple to visit. Much more showy and colorful is Tosho-gu shrine, home of the 3 sensible Monkeys. This shrine
Contains the crypt of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. There are other pretty and historically important sites in Nikko, and you can explore amid the gorgeous natural surroundings and roaming monkeys.

although 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 community
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 totally full of something new to see, and while there aren't many famous tourist sites, Tokyo is chock-full of fascinating neighbourhoods
With different flavors, full of great eateries of all varieties, and full of overwhelming sites, sounds, and smells that assault you from each angle. For those seeking some culture and a calming escape from the urban insanity, the Imperial Palace and the massive park surrounding it provide a glance into the life of the japanese royal family. If you visit on New Year's Day ( January 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 group with waves and a short speech from the emperor. This is open to the public, but be prepared for heavy security.

Japan is an exciting destination to visit for tourists with a little more cultural curiosity than the average tourist. If you just want a big and flashy tourist attraction that you've seen on tv a million times, then you may not be impressed. But people with an interest in culture, religious heritage, and history will be impressed and moved by the wonders of Japan.
Billy Bobb is an enthusiastic traveler and citizen of the Earth. 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