Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun

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Guest Contributor

Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun, has one of the most uniquely preserved cultures on the entire planet. For fans of modern life, it has new progressive technologies not found anywhere else, the bustling nightlife of Tokyo, and so much more. For those who like a slower pace, vast forests and mountains offer scenic hikes, traditional hot springs and bath houses allow for world-class relaxation, and you can even still have tea served to you by a traditional geisha.

No matter what you look for in a vacation, Japan is the perfect destination to move to the top of your bucket list.

What’s All Included?

A trip booked through TravelVerse will mean you won’t have to worry about where to go or whether you will get to see all the best attractions. TravelVerse works with local travel agencies to find the best accommodations, the most authentic tours, and access to public and private transportation.

With TravelVerse, a nine-day trip around Japan will include visits to the sprawling modern cities of Tokyo and Osaka, as well as smaller cities such as Takayama and Kyoto.

Why You Should Book Through TravelVerse

There are many benefits to booking your trip through a travel agency vs planning the whole thing yourself. If you are traveling to a place you’ve never been before, it can be difficult to know which places are ideal to visit or where the best hotels are.

Even if you can do enough research to learn where all the best spots are, you aren’t guaranteed to know what normal prices are like, and whether or not certain businesses gauge their prices for tourists.

A local travel agency will have all of this information on-hand and will able to save you both time and money during your travels.

Tokyo

As Tokyo is known as one of the fashion capitals of the world, as well as one of the most technologically advanced, you no doubt have already heard of it. Most international flights land in Tokyo, and this is where you would begin your nine-day tour with TravelVerse.

Tokyo is not only known as one of the busiest cities in the world, but it is also one of the cleanest. Since it is considered incredibly rude in Japan to walk and eat at the same time, you won’t find food wrappers and other litter on the streets like you will in other countries. Visitors are often astounded by how clean the city is despite being so densely populated.

You will certainly have plenty to do, but don’t beat yourself up for not being able to see the whole city in one day. Popular sites to visit include the Metropolitan government of Tokyo Shinjuku, the Meiji Jingu, and the Harajuku and Omotesando districts.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan (3,776.24, or 12,389 ft) and is located on the island of Honshu. It is technically an active volcano, but don’t worry. It hasn’t erupted since the early 1700’s. It’s the seventh-tallest mountain on the planet, and people come from all over to take in its beauty and attempt to climb the peak.

A great spot where you can stop and take photos is Lake Kawaguchi. Here, you can take a break, have a picnic, and bask in the amazing view of the Mount Fuji as it stands alone on the horizon.

Takayama

The small city of Takayama is ideal for those who want to add a rural, rustic stop to their trip. This town has worked very hard to maintain the old, wooden architecture that makes up the picturesque atmosphere of what every traveler imagined a feudal Japanese town would look like.

Although Takayama is somewhat far out in the country, it rose to popularity due to the abundance of lumber and skilled carpenters. The shogun took control of the city and allowed it to rise to local fame by regulating commerce and defending it from invaders.

Matsumoto Castle

Matsumoto Castle is an experience unlike any other in Japan. The country has many castles, but most of them were build in hills or on the side of mountains. Matsumoto Castle is one of the few castles that was built on a plain and therefore was more vulnerable to invaders.

Another feature that sets this castle apart from others is the unique interior. Most castle interiors were built with ferro-concrete. However, the inside of this castle is made entirely of dark wood, making it a luxurious and immersive experience for all who step inside.

To this day, it is a major destination during cherry blossom season, and travelers come from all across the country to take pictures and spend time with loved ones underneath the delicate branches of the cherry blossom trees.

Kyoto

Kyoto is another smaller and somewhat rural town that is best known for its samurai and geisha. The Fushimi-inari gates are bright countless bright orange archest that shelter a path that leads up to the Kinkakuji Temple, or the “temple of the Golden Pavilion.”

You can also visit Nijo Castle, home of the Tokugawa Shogun. The shogun weren’t monarchs, but rather local warlords. Their castles were built for optimal defense, but also for convenience and luxury. You can see where the Shogun lived and conducted their business, as well as all the other members of the communities lived out their daily lives.

The Gion district in Kyoto used to be a humble rest stop that people passed by on their way to Gion Shrine. Today, it is a quaint area with original architecture, countless small shops and restaurants, and teahouses where you can spend time with a real geisha.

Ise City

This small town is a step into the past, as it primarily comprised of shrines and recreated feudal townscapes. It is located on the Shima Peninsula and is home to the most sacred Shinto shrines in the entire country. There are two main shrines, the Geku (Outer) Shrine and the Naiku (Inner) Shrine.

These two shrines are multiple kilometers apart from each other, and more than one hundred smaller shrines are spread out between them.

 

 

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