Must See

Hokkaido

Hokkaido, the northernmost island in the Japanese archipelago, is home to the indigenous Ainu people. It is linked with Honshu (Japan's main island) by the 54-kilometre (34-mile) Seikan tunnel.

Large parts of Hokkaido are protected as National Parks, with mountains, volcanic scenery, crater lakes and steamy hot springs making it a region a place of great natural beauty. The port city of Hakodate is known for its historic Goryokaku Fort and gorgeous night views.

Hokkaido is very cold and snowy in the winter (with some good ski resorts) and warm in summer. During the winter, visitors come to the island to see two of Hokkaido's outstanding natural phenomena: hot-spring-bathing snow monkeys and 'dancing' cranes.

Kyoto

The historic former capital, Kyoto is located in central Honshu, surrounded by hills and near the southwest end of Lake Biwa. Founded in 794, the city is blessed with vast numbers of temples, shrines, museums and other historical sites, including the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji), the medieval Nijo Castle, the minimalist Zen rock garden of Ryoanji, the Buddhist art treasures of Sanjusangendo Temple, the Imperial gardens and villas of Katsura and Shugakuin, the impressive Kiyomizu Temple and the vermilion-lacquered Heian Shrine. The city's historical neighbourhoods, such as the Gion geisha district, the textile workshops of Nishijin and the rural temples of Arashiyama, are best explored on foot.

Mount Fuji

This symmetrical volcano cone lies within the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and is the country's highest mountain at 3,776 metres. The correct Japanese name for the mountain is Fuji-san, and it has been revered as a sacred mountain, the home of the gods since early times. From the 12th century, Buddhist teaching held that it was the gateway to another world.

Fuji is best climbed during the summer (the main climbing season is July and August), as there is a risk of avalanches during the winter. Over a million people climb the mountain every year; for many it is almost religious act, the culmination of which is the observation of sunrise on the summit (Goraiko).

Miyajima

The beautiful island of Miyajima (Shrine Island) is located in Hiroshima Bay, and is sometimes known as Itsukushima after its famous shrine. It has been a scared island since early times and ranks among the three most celebrated stretches of coastal scenery in Japan.

Miyajima is well-known for its red Shinto torii gateway, which seemingly floats on the sea at high tide. Visitors may take a cable car up the central mountain for panoramic views; the tame fallow deer are also a major attraction.

Nara

The city of Nara, one hour south of Kyoto to the south of Lake Biwa, is a major Buddhist centre and acted as Japan's capital during the eighth century AD. It has a wealth of ancient and historic buildings and its treasures of art attract more than a million visitors every year. Its historic buildings lie in a particularly beautiful setting of which there are fine views from Mount Mikasayama.

One of the city's highlights is the famous 'great Buddha' of Todai-ji Temple (Great East Temple), the world's largest wooden structure at 57 metres high. Others include the Buddhist sculptures of Kofuku-ji Temple and the ancient Kasuga Shrine. The 7th century Horyuji Temple is the world's oldest wooden structure, and Japan's oldest existing Buddhist temple. Nearby, the beautiful expanses of Nara Park are home to hundreds of sacred deer.

Nara's best-known craft products are lacquerware (Nara-shikki), carved wooden dolls (Nara-ningyo), ceramics (Akahada-yaki) and fans (Nara-uchiwa).

Nikko

The extraordinary Toshogu Shrine complex is located 2 hours north of Tokyo in Nikko, and includes the mausoleum of the founder of Japan's Tokugawa Shogunate. The shrine is Japan's most important, and was constructed by the labours of over 15,000 craftsmen, who created a complex of buildings with a lavish profusion of decoration.

Nagoya

Nagoya, located in the spacious Ise Bay in central Honshu, is Japan's fourth-largest city, noted for its porcelain industry, textile and lacquer crafts. Nagoya Castle (built in 1612 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the then-shogun of the Edo government) is an impressive sight, as is Atsuta-jingu, the most important Shinto shrine in Japan. Meiji Mura is an extensive outdoor museum of characteristic buildings from the Meiji period.

Okinawa

A lush, sub-tropical chain of 161 islands that stretch, like stepping stones, between the southern island of Kyushu and Taiwan. Fine beaches, turquoise seas and warm climate make the islands a Japanese holiday favourite. It is surrounded by coral reefs.

Osaka

Lying on the south coast of western Honshu, at the point where the River Yodo flows into the wide sweep of Osake Bay, Osaka is one of Japan's largest cities. The delta of the Yodo has created a network of canals and watercourses, spanned by more than a thousand bridges, which has earned the city the name "The Venice of the East". It is also renowned for its many excellent restaurants, and the performing arts of Kabuki and Bunraku. Other highlights include the historic Osaka Castle, superb Museum of Oriental Ceramics and an impressive aquarium. The Dotonburi area is particularly vibrant after dark and the city's busy Umeda and Namba districts are well-known for their nightlife. Universal Studios Japan, a 140-acre theme park in Osaka, is extremely popular.

Spas

Hot springs are an intrinsic part of Japanese life, a way to relax, socialise and get away from the frenetic pace of modern Japan, by sinking deep into a steaming hot pool. Dogo Spa is among the oldest in Japan, whilst Ibusuki Spa, on the southern tip of Kyushu is renowned for its hot-sand saunas.

Sumo

You can join enthusiastic crowds at one of the six annual sumo wrestling contests, held in the cities of Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka. The tournaments last 15 days and are highly ritualised affairs.

Tokyo

Situated in East-Central Honshu (the largest of Japan's main islands), north of the Bay of Tokyo, this capital city is the epitome of ultra-modern, technology-savvy Japan. Tokyo is a sprawling and energetic 24-hour city, characterised by futuristic skylines, neon lights and digitised vending outlets. It's also a city of contrasts, with many traditional practices still in evidence.

West Shinjuku is Tokyo's high-rise metropolis with its plazas and 'Gotham City' skyscrapers. The twin-towers of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building soars high above the district and is now an iconic feature of the skyline. To the east, Shinjuku's neon-lit nightlife and bustling shopping districts contrast strongly with the calm beauty of the nearby Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden.

Ginza is Tokyo's most famous shopping centre, and is lined by imposing palatial stores and exclusive shops. The area is also home to a number of tea and coffee shops, cáfes, bars and restaurants. Also within the precinct of the shopping street lies the Kabuki-za Theatre in which Kabuki (traditional Japanese theatre) performances take place. Even if you don't understand Japanese, it is well worth going to see this medieval, highly skilled and often burlesque theatrical form. Spectators stay just as long as they wish, and come or go away whenever they feel like it.

For a taste of 'Old Tokyo', head over to downtown Shitamachi, particularly in the summer when three enormous festivals attract vast crowds spectators. The Asakusa-Kannon Temple is the area's main tourist draw, a vibrant Buddhist complex dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of compassion. According to legend, the Temple was founded in 628 by three fishermen who had found a statuette of the goddess in their nets when they hauled them in.

Across the river, Ryogoku is the location of the excellent Edo-Tokyo Museum and the famous National Sumo Stadium. Ueno is famous for its large park (212 acres), criss-crossed by gravel paths. It contains a zoo and aquarium, a number of museums, along with many temples, shrines and pagodas. On the reed-fringed Shinobazu Pond, boats can be hired for trips around a little island with its Bentendo Temple.

The National Museum of Tokyo comprises 25 exhibition galleries and houses more than 100,000 works of Japanese, Chinese and Indian art.