Spirited Away ⛩: Japan

Travel Advisory: COVID-19 : Important notice for traveler Read more

Japan is a country with a rich cultural heritage dating back centuries, which can be experienced by visitors through traditional arts, crafts, architecture, and cuisine, include calligraphy, origami, ikebana, and kimono and for sure, matcha and sushi.

Japan is probably the easiest place to get around. You can do a whole trip using nothing but its immaculate, efficient public transport. The shinkansen (bullet train) network now runs all the way from the southern tip of Kyūshū (the southernmost of Japan's major islands) up to Hokkaidō (its northernmost), and reasonably priced rail passes make it affordable.

Major cities have subway networks that are signposted in English and these days we're seeing and hearing more English all over. But if getting off the beaten track and outside your comfort zone is what you're after, you can have that experience, too.

There are so many amazing places to visit in Japan! You could even spend a lifetime sampling the country’s delights, but some towns and sights are staples; core ingredients to any great Japan trip.

Well, here’s few of the best places to visit in Japan:

1. Tokyo: Best for contemporary culture

There's no place quite like Tokyo. It's a city forever reaching into the future, pushing the boundaries of what's possible on densely populated, earthquake-prone land, adding ever taller, sleeker structures. It's Japan's top spot for contemporary art and architecture, pop culture, shopping, drinking and entertainment (and a tie with Kyoto for dining).

i. Ghibli Museum

Ghibli Museum is the heart of the Studio Ghibli world, a beloved (even 'adored') film studio responsible for classic, critically-acclaimed animated titles like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Ponyo and Princess Mononoke, among countless others. Unlike Disney World, this is a museum, not a theme park, but the levels of fandom on show are likely to be just as intense.

ii. Shibuya Crossing

Shibuya crossing is rumoured to be the busiest intersection in the world. With hundreds of people crossing at a time, it is a sight to see. To get the best vantage point, head to the Starbucks on the second level of the nearby QFRONT building and look down.

iii. teamLab Borderless

The teamLab Borderless Museum is an art museum like no other- where art and the viewer become one. With 60 different interactive artworks, this museum is a fantasy world come to life. From the Crystal World, to the Athletics Forest, teamLab Borderless Museum will never disappoints its audiences.

But more than any one sight, it's the city itself that enchants visitors. It's a sprawling, organic thing, stretching as far as the eye can see. Always changing, and with a diverse collection of neighborhoods, no two experiences of it are ever the same.

2. Kyoto: Best for traditional experiences

Kyoto, Japan's imperial capital for a thousand years, gained more than a thousand temples  including the monumental Kinkaku-ji and the meditative Ryōan-ji. Kyoto is also known for the culture of tea, the art of the geisha, and its rich food culture, including kaiseki.

Despite Japan's overall modernization, many traditional arts and crafts are still alive in Kyoto. This is due in part to Kyoto's roots as the country's cultural capital. As such, wandering the streets downtown will reveal many historic shops selling traditional goods like tofu, washi (Japanese handmade paper), tea, lacquerware, chazutsu (tea canisters), and noren (hanging curtains).

i. Fushimi Inari-Taisha