We travelled for a two-week holiday to Japan in November 2023. There are many places that one can visit in this unique country but we chose to go to Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kyoto and Osaka. We decided to go in November as it gave us the opportunity to see the fall foliage. Perhaps the cherry blossom season is more popular and well known but this is truly a fantastic time to visit the country to witness nature's beautiful palette of autumn colours.
We started our holiday in the bustling city of Tokyo. On our first full day, we booked the services of a local guide which was very useful to help us orientate ourselves and make the most of our time there. Navigating the metro and tram system was a very interesting experience!
After Tokyo we travelled by train to Hakone, which is close to Mount Fuji. On one of the days we went on a hike and had a wonderful view of the volcano in a clear blue sky. Hakone is a very interesting destination. There is a large lake which can be crossed on a 'pirate' ship, various walking trails, and for transport to some areas you can use the Hakone Ropeway (similar to ski gondolas). There is also a very large open-air museum where many famous artists' works are exhibited including Picasso.
After Hakone we traveled to Takayama, located in an area known as the Japanese Alps. This town is famous for its well-preserved Edo-era streets, traditional architecture and cultural heritage. It is a perfect destination for travellers who are looking to experience the rural life of old Japan, its history and culture.
The last major city we stayed in was Kyoto, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Here we visited many of the temples which were even more impressive because of the autumn foliage. The colours - reds, browns, mauves, yellows, oranges were simply amazing.
Interestingly, there are two major religions in Japan Buddhism and Shintoism and many Japanese follow both.
While in Kyoto, we took the opportunity to visit Osaka for a very interesting night food tour. The variety, quality and presentation in the food malls in both Tokyo and Osaka were a joy to see.
On one of our days in Kyoto we took the mountain train to Mount Kurama, a temple complex on the outskirts of Kyoto, where besides sightseeing we went on a very pleasant well signposted forest trail walk.
Of course, there are many, many more destinations in Japan to visit, as well as different activities for example sumo wrestling, tea ceremonies, theme parks, Japanese anime, gardens , Japanese theatre, animal cafes, swordsmanship classes (Batto), kimono dressing, local cuisine and even the Formula One Grand Prix or Tokyo Marathon if you want! The list goes on and on. We can easily organize a personalized itinerary to any destinations you would have in mind, not just the ones we visited ourselves of course, and include any activities.
We are sure that your holiday in Japan will be full of very memorable moments!