Worldwide 2024-25

FAR EAST • JAPAN
Discover Japan
Japan is a country like no other, at once
futuristic and high tech but also with a
strong sense of tradition and exceptional
natural beauty. Cities that set the trend for
the modern world rub side by side with
timeworn temples and gardens, snowy
volcanic peaks, valleys of spring cherry
blossom, remote mountains and
subtropical islands.
Experience the modern buzz of Tokyo,
discover the imperial past of Kyoto, retreat
to a Buddhist temple on Mount Koya, see
the snow monkeys in Yudanaka, or take part
in a traditional tea ceremony. High-speed
rail links mean that you can discover much
of the diversity of this country in comfort.
Tokyo
Neon cityscapes • World-class restaurants •
Ancient temples, palaces & gardens
Kyoto
Zen gardens, pavilions & temples • Geisha
district • Arashiyama bamboo grove
Asakusa Kannon temple, Tokyo
One of the largest and most densely populated
cities in the world, Tokyo merits several days’
exploration. A good starting point is the
Asakusa Kannon temple (Sensoji), the city’s
largest Buddhist temple and a popular meeting
place for locals. Nearby is Nakamise-dori, one
of Japan’s oldest shopping streets, where you’ll
find crafts and tempting street food. The East
Gardens of the Imperial Palace are open to the
public, where paths wind through manicured
lawns and waterlilies top pretty ponds. The
displays of the Tokyo National Museum could
take up a full day, while the districts of Ginza,
Shibuya and Shinjuku are lined with video
screens and gleaming department stores – the
classic vision of Tokyo by night.
The nation’s capital from the eighth century
until the Meiji Restoration in 1868, Kyoto is
known today as the cultural heart of Japan.
Historical treasures here include Kinkakuji (the
Golden Pavilion), covered entirely in glittering
gold leaf; and Nijo Castle. Other highlights
include Sanjusangendo Hall, known as the
‘Temple of 1,001 Images of Buddha’; and the
Fushimi Inari shrine, with its long arcades of
vermilion torii (shrine gates). Gion, Kyoto's
geisha district, is an area of hushed narrow
lanes and hidden alleys where you may come
across geisha going between appointments.
Arashiyama, to the west, is an area of wooded
hills, lakes and towering bamboo groves, and is
especially beautiful in cherry blossom season.
Arashiyama bamboo forest, Kyoto
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