Japan fascinates travellers with its gastronomy, arts and culture and stunning accommodations, making it renowned as a destination of multiple dimensions.
With Japan’s islands spanning over 3000km from north to south, there’s an experience here for every type of traveller.
From skiing the alpine slopes and scuba diving off tropical beaches, to exploring the culture and beauty of its towns, villages and countryside in between, a trip to Japan promises to indulge the senses and rouse the mind.
As well as the vast and varied encounters Japan has to offer, the destination also has an appreciation for the luxurious side of life like nowhere else on earth. Covering everything from gastronomy and arts and culture to scenic journeys, guided adventure tours and accommodation, here’s how to get a taste of the real Japan through an immersive and sophisticated escape.
Image by Zaborin Ryokan
Stay in style
There are many ways to enjoy an overnight stay in Japan which extend far beyond its luxurious hotels and resorts. Offering much more than a place to rest, some of the most unique and exclusive accommodation options in Japan invite you to connect with local history and culture, traditional customs, and the surrounding natural environment.
Located on Japan’s famed art island, Naoshima, and perched on a hilltop overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, is the Benesse House contemporary art museum and resort hotel. Built by architect Tadao Ando, the Benesse House Museum and resort comprises four buildings, each featuring unique artworks and luxury guest rooms. Along with exclusive 24-hour access to the museum, a night at Benesse House is a rare opportunity to experience life among the arts.
Staying overnight in a traditional Japanese ryokan is a must, but while Japan’s ryokan typically cater for all kinds of budgets, some are otherworldly. Nestled among the Hanazono woods of Hokkaido Prefecture, Zaborin’s contemporary ryokan offers 15 villas – each with private gardens and not just one, but two hot spring baths.
Meanwhile, you’ll be spoiled for choice with a stay at Gora Kadan, only two hours by train from Tokyo in Hakone offering a variety of individually designed suites with private onsen and views of the surrounding hills and woodland.
If you’re looking for overnight experiences out of the ordinary, then Japan is the place to visit having a wide selection of innovative accommodation options. Luxury glamping sites can be found all over the country, such as the Field Suite Hakuba Kitaone Resort high up in the mountains in Nagano, or perhaps staying in a luxuriously appointed cosy treehouse at the Treeful Treehouse sustainable resort could be another novel experience.
If you’re keen to practise some mindfulness during your stay in Japan, there are plenty of options. While you might consider a stay at the contemporary Zenbo Seinei nature and yoga retreat overlooking the treetops of Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture, a night of royal treatment and meditation at Kyoto’s World Heritage Ninna-ji Temple might satisfy an appetite for something more traditional.
Train Suite Shiki-Shima. Image by JR EastLuxury train travel
Everyone has heard of Japan’s high-speed shinkansen – a great alternative to flying when you want to travel the country in the fastest time. But Japan’s love for rail travel also encompasses some of the most scenic and opulent leisure journeys on the planet.
The Twilight Express Mizukaze travels through San’in and Sanyo regions, offering top-class culinary experiences and five-star suites. You can also experience Kyushu Prefecture from the comfort of the Seven Stars in Kyushu sleeper train, with sophisticated interiors combining Japanese and Western influences.
For a more contemporary rail experience, journey aboard the Train Suite Shiki-Shima which travels through regional Japan, including the Tohoku region and southern Hokkaido Prefecture, with its futuristic carriages and decadent champagne-gold suites.
Immersive private experiences
Time in Japan can be made so much more memorable by choosing from a range of private experiences that allow you to learn from some of the country’s most talented experts while getting hands-on with their craft.
Imagine you and your travel companion participating in your very own tea ceremony and tea milling experience at one of Kyoto’s historic tea houses – or even learning the basics of zazen meditation with a temple monk. If you’re curious about sake, you might enjoy a private sake tasting session with paired appetisers in the heart of Tokyo’s Roppongi district.
Other personalised experiences easy to find in Japan include private geisha performances and one-on-one classes to learn the arts of Japanese pottery, ikebana (flower arranging), taiko drumming, calligraphy, indigo dying, or creating your own lacquerware according to local style.
Mount Aso. Image by Kohji Asakawa on Unsplash
Tailored tours
Japan’s natural and urban landscapes are varied, vast and ripe for exploring. As a traveller, joining a tour led by a knowledgeable local guide is a great way to ensure you get the most from your experience.
Guided tours in Japan cover every interest and capability, from multi-day hikes in the Japan Alps to traversing the Kii Peninsula on the UNESCO World Heritage listed Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage trail south-east of Osaka – all complete with multi-course dinners and breakfasts and luxurious overnight ryokan stays.
Cycling provides a unique opportunity to soak up some of Japan’s most spellbinding scenery while having the freedom and flexibility to hop on and off through Japan’s ancient towns and villages.
The coast-to-coast journey from Tokyo to Kyoto across the Noto Peninsula is a popular cycling route offering a variety of luxurious guided experiences. On the journey, you’ll cruise past stunning scenes of terraced rice paddies, cliffs and coastal inlets, while stopping to enjoy local treasures such as traditional kaiseki-style dinners and local pastimes like taiko drumming and tea rituals.
Japan is also dotted with national parks offering a breadth of outdoor adventure activities which can be enjoyed independently or as part of a guided experience. With its many springs, waterfalls, hot springs and volcanic caldera, consider joining an exclusive tour of the Aso UNESCO Global Geopark where you can experience anything from horseback trekking and paragliding to private visits to hot springs and shrines.
Gastronomic delights
While there are many internationally recognised staples, Japan’s food scene is as diverse and innovative as its accommodation. Travellers keen to dine at the high end of town are well catered for, with the country having one of the highest numbers of Michelin starred restaurants in the world. There are said to be around 400 restaurants across Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka boasting at least one Michelin star.
Tokyo’s three-Michelin star Nihonryori RyuGin restaurant will tantalise the senses through its colourful array of traditional kaiseki cuisine with contemporary touches. Meanwhile, Kyoto’s Kikunoi Honten restaurant (opened in 1912) will serve up a slice of history with its exclusive dining experience and seasonal menu created with the finest locally-sourced ingredients.
For an alternative dining experience, Hajime restaurant (boasting three Michelin stars) in Osaka offers some of the best French cuisine with a uniquely Japanese twist. Meanwhile, not far from Tokyo in the Yamanashi wine region, there are a wide variety of wineries where visitors can complement tastings with delicious, artistically presented dishes overlooking the vineyards.
For more information on travel to Japan, visit www.japan.travel/en/au
*Hero image credit - Image by Zenbo Seinei, Awaji Island. Photo / Supplied.
