Travel to Japan
There are many who dream of going to Japan and if you make the trip it is an experience that you will soon forget.
Japan is a very special country as it is long and narrow and consists of several islands! In the north they have cold winters with a lot of snow while the southernmost islands have a subtropical climate with heat and summer basically all year round.
The cities
According to transporthint, the most famous cities in Japan are the capital Tokyo, but also Osaka, Kyoto and Nara. There are many more cities that are worth visiting but it all depends on how much time you have and what you are looking for. Nagano became known to many when Japan hosted the Winter Olympics and the city has since been extremely popular as a winter tourist destination with skiing, and much more.
Historic and religious sites
In addition to visiting cities, there is much else to do in Japan. The country has a unique history where religion is important. There are an incredible number of sacred places and shrines to visit, both in the city and in more distant places. All are places of prayer and of spiritual recovery. As a western tourist, you should think about dressing properly, not showing too much skin and above all covering over tattoos. This is especially important for women.
Shinto is the main religion in Japan mixed with Buddhism which is noticeable on the food and how the people are. There are not many Christians so you will not find churches but shrines are their temples. If you can, avoid visiting these on January 1 because it is New Year’s in Japan and all Japanese go to their local shrine to ask for happiness and prosperity during the new year.
Nature
As I said, Japan is an island and they all have different environments. In the north you can see monkeys swimming in hot springs during the winter while in the south it is a completely different climate. In the spring, many people go to Japan to see the plum trees bloom and then the Japanese cherry trees.
If you are interested in Japan and its nature, a visit to Mount Fuji is a must. Calling it a mountain is really misleading as it is actually an active sleeping volcano.
Transport
In the cities there are many different ways to get there, the most common is to either walk or take the subway. The traffic jams can be long so it can take time to get there in another way. The subway is very clean, runs on time and is fast. On evenings, nights and weekends there are carriages for women only. It is recommended that you use these as a woman.
If you are going to travel from one city to another, there are trains and high-speed trains. Between Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo is the Shinskansen, which is the best and fastest way to get between the cities.
If you are going to other parts of the country, it is otherwise recommended to fly, but if you have time and want to see a lot locally and be able to stay whenever you want, it is wonderful to rent a car and get to know the real Japan. But then you also have to reckon with the fact that you cannot make yourself understood if you do not speak Japanese.
