Planning a trip to Japan? Here are 10 unique ideas to add to your itinerary taken from our brand new book Ultimate Japan...
Make a wish at Japan’s most beautifully located shrine
While you might have seen Kyoto’s famous Fushimi Inari shrine all over social media, there’s no beating Nagato’s Motonosumi Inari Taisha when it comes to location. Its 123 bright red torii snake along a clifftop path, creating a dramatic contrast with the sea below. An offertory box is fixed to the top of a torii, so you’ll need good aim to land a five-yen coin inside in order to make a wish and receive the shrine's blessing.
Eat the ancient cuisine of Buddhist monks
The 200-year-old restaurant Kakusho is set in a traditional house and gardens near a picturesque neighbourhood in Takayama. It’s an atmospheric place to try shojin-ryori, “the ultimate slow food,” which has its roots in Zen Buddhism and focuses on seasonality, mindfulness and minimizing waste. Expect classic dishes like sesame tofu, vegetable tempura and miso aubergine, as well as creative faux-meat dishes.
Admire forward-thinking architecture in a town above the clouds
Yusuhara sits in the mountains of Shikoku’s interior, surrounded by forests draped in clouds. It’s a wonderfully ethereal setting where you’ll be surprised to find cutting edge architectural design. Here, superstar architect Kengo Kuma has designed six buildings including a combined market and hotel, a gallery, a library and a welfare centre. These practical but beautifully elegant buildings lovingly incorporate local materials like fragrant cedar wood, as well as thatching and carpentry techniques that have stood the test of time.
Sample street food at a yatai
There’s no argument: Fukuoka is one of Japan’s great food cities. Hearty dishes like Hakata ramen, goboten udon and ultra-fresh mackerel sashimi are best enjoyed at the city’s beloved yatai (food stalls). The setup is cosy with everyone squeezed together around a counter, but knocking elbows with your neighbour as you slurp noodles or raise a glass of chu-hai is all part of the fun.
Explore the ancient forests that inspired Princess Mononoke
The visionary founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, sought inspiration on the island of Yakushima for his environmentalist epic Princess Mononoke. It’s easy to see why – stepping into the forest here, you feel closed off from the outside world, plunged into a reality distinctly different from the everyday. Even a 30-minute walk reveals awe-inspiring scenery, including the star attraction cedar trees that have outlived empires.
Bask in the light of Yokohoma Bay
When it comes to the most famous skylines in Japan, Tokyo’s usually comes in first – though only just. Not far behind is another city, Yokohama. Located on the edge of Tokyo Bay, just an hour away from the capital, this bustling port city manages to hold its own. Illuminated at night, the skyscrapers of Minato Mirai 21 make for a dazzling sight. The best way to take it all in? On a nighttime cruise around the bay.
Browse Kyoto's Kitchen
Nishiki Market, a covered shopping arcade, is home to over 100 shops and Kyoto’s best food market. It’s been operating for centuries, beginning life as a fish market and later expanding to sell everything from local produce to handmade kitchenware. Today, it’s all about the food, making it a great place to explore Kyoto's diverse cuisine. Just remember that eating while walking is frowned upon in Japan so it’s best to enjoy your spoils right there, standing or sitting by the stall and taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this historic market.
Meet Japan’s most-beloved mascot
Kumamon, the bear-like mascot of Kumamoto, has become a Japanese obsession. As the area’s Sales Manager and Happiness Manager, Kumamon is responsible for the prefecture’s tourism promotions. With signature enthusiasm, he introduces visitors to Kumamoto’s attractions – among them an imposing castle, Mount Aso’s smoking crater and the hot-spring town of Kurokawa Onsen. But such is his success that the bear himself has become a draw. Catch a glimpse of him at Kumamon Square, where he comes out to dance once or twice most days.
Dive with manta rays and sea turtles
The Yaeyama Islands in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture promise a haven for divers: coral reefs, underwater hot springs, huge rock formations and schools of tropical fish. You might spot sea turtles and butterfly fish flitting about the reef or the world’s largest ray species gliding through the water. If you’re diving between November and April, you may even catch hammerhead sharks migrating by Irizaki on Yonaguni’s western side.
Step into a winter wonderland
In the depths of winter, drift ice clusters around the shore of Shiretoko National Park, and, with an expert tour guide to lead the way, you can safely walk across it. Shiretoko means “the end of the earth” in the Ainu language, and this peninsula protruding from northeastern Hokkaido certainly feels remote. It is the only place in the country where you can make this remarkable journey. With the howl of the wind, eerie creaking of the ice and the piercing cries of eagles for company, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into some mythical frozen land.
Need more inspiration? Look no further
Our brand new book Ultimate Japan brings together everything that makes the country so exciting, taking you one step closer to the trip of a lifetime.