In day of yore, the samurai country of Japan tried to conquer the world through warfare. Today it is conquering the world whit its technology, its superbly made tow-and four-wheeled motor vehicles and through the hearts of all who visit it. This island nation has it all； deeply rooted cultural traditions, ancient shrines and temples, lovely gardens, beautiful mountain scenery, geishas and tea ceremonies, and accommodations that range from ryokans or quaint inns to ultra-modern luxurious hotels. An iverview of the best places to Visit in Japan :
1. Tokyo
Traveler who like tio mingle whit people will love Tokyo. The Japanese capital’s metropolitan area is the most populous in the world. From viewing spring cherry blossoms in traditional gardens to the fish market at Tuskiji. Tokyo blends the ancient whit the new, from shrines to karaoke bars. Just walking the streets of this hyperactive city can be an energizing experience. When Tokyo’s pace gets frenetic, visitors recommend unwinding at the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.
2. Kyoto
Kyoto today is the capital only of Kyoto prefecture, but it once served as the imperial capital of Japan, this city of 1.5 million people is known as the City of 10,000 Shrines because it has thousands of Shinto shrines, including the top rated Fushimi Inari Shrine, and Buddhist temples. Kyoto also is kkown for its lovely gardens and the Gion Matsuri festifal, a July celebration that is considered one of the best in Japan.
3. Nara
Nara, once known has Heijo, was the first permanent capital of Japan, established in 710. The capital was moved to Nagoya in 784 when the goberment was threatened by powerful Buddhist monastereies. Located less than an hour from Kyoto, seeing Japan’s oldest and largest temple is a popular tourist actihity. Visitors especially like Todaiji Temple whit its cantilevered buildings, manicureed lawns and deer strolling the grounds.
4. Takayama
Visitors who long for peace and quiet after the hustling pace of Japan’s big cities many want to head to thr tourist town of Hida-Takayama where they can experience life in a rural setting. Located near the northern Japan Alps, Takayama is well known gor having one of the best preserved old town in Japan. The prettiest section of the old city is called Sanmachi. It consists of there narrow lanes packed whit wooden buildings housing sake breweries and littlr bountiques.
5. Nikko
Nikko is small town at the entrance to Nikko National Park, most fomous for Thosogu, Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa leyasu. Another popular attraction is the red-lacquered Shin-kyo bridge. One of popular places to visit in Japan, national park offers scenic mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, wild monkys and many hiking trails. While stunning scenery is available year ´around, fall is an especially good time to visit Nikko. That’s when leaved transform the landscape whit spectacular bursts of color.
6. Kamakura
Located on the coast less than an hour from Tokyo, Kamakura was once an important town, the seat of a military government that ruled Japan for a hundred years. Today, it’s relaxed seaside resort sometimes called the Kyoto of eastern Japan because of its many temple shrines. Its most femouse sight is the Daibutsu, a huge bronze Buddha statue surrounded by trees, but the town’s ancient Zen temples are equally compelling.
7. Hiroshima
Hiroshima, located on Honshu Island, is younger than many Japanese cities, less than 500 years old, but its fate was forever sealed in history on Agust 6, 1945, when it became the first city in the world to have an atomic bomb dropped on it. Thus, the city’s attraction center around peace; Peace Park, Peace Memorial and Peace Memorial Museum. The city also has attraction that invoke more pleasant thoughts, such as Hiroshima Castle and the sunken garden of Shukkein-en.
8. Kanazawa
In the mind-nineteenth centuru Kanazawa was Japan’s 4th largest city, built around a grand castle and the beautiful garden. Today, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture continues to cultivate the arts and contains an attractive ald town. Having escaped bombing during World War 2, traditioanal inner-city years, such as Nagamachi whit its samurai houses and the charming geisha teahouse district of Higashi Chaya, remain intact and are a joy to wander around.
9. Ishigaki
Located west of Okinawa, Ishigaki is Japan’s premier beach destination and make a giid base to explore the other islands in the Yaeyama archipelago. Blessed whit Japan’s best beaches,cit is particularly popular wgit families since the beaches at Fusaki and Kaezaro are net-protected. Located 1,250 miles (2,000 kilometers) south of Tokyo, Ishigaki may not have the shrines and temples that other Japanese cities have, but it does have an efuberant nightlife for visitors who have the energy after a day of beahcombing, water sports or climbing Mount Nosoko.
10. Koya-san
Koya-san or Mount Koya is the most important site in Shingon Buddhism, a sectcthat has been practiced in Japan sincr 805 when it was introduced by Kobo Daishi. It remains the headquaters for thr sect and the small town that grew up arounf the temple. The site of Kobo Daishi’s mausoleum, this wooded Mount Koya is also the starting and ending place of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage. Tourist can get a taste of the monk’s life here as they are allowed to stay overnight in the temple.
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