ng
URBAN JAPAN
Today’ s Japan is just as fascinating with cutting edge technology and wonderful architecture. The neon-lit streetscapes of Japan’ s cities look like sci-fi film sets, even though many of them are decades old. Meanwhile, cities such as Tokyo and Osaka have been adding new architectural wonders that redefine what buildings – and cities – should look like. There’ s an indelible buzz to these urban centres, with their vibrant street life, 24-hour drinking and dining scenes, and creative hubs that turn out fashion and pop culture trends consumed the world over.
CULTURE
If culture is more to your taste, you can’ t get much better than Japan’ s colourful and rich heritage. Feast your eyes on architectural marvels and historic monuments in cities such as Kyoto or Nara, spend the night in a ryokan sleeping on futons and tatami mats, pad through well-worn wooden halls to the bathhouse with monks or learn how to whisk matcha( green tea) into a froth. From the splendour of a Kyoto geisha dance to the spare beauty of a Zen rock garden, Japan truly has the power to enthral even the most jaded traveller.
CUISINE
With astonishing levels of service and hospitality- not to mention worldclass cuisine at extremely economical prices- wherever you are in Japan, it seems, you’ re never more than 500m from a great meal. Restaurants often specialise in just one dish – perhaps having spent generations perfecting it – paying close attention to detail at every stage, from sourcing the freshest, local ingredients to assembling the dish attractively.
You don’ t have to travel far to discover that Japanese cuisine is deeply varied. The hearty hotpots of the mountains are dramatically different from the delicate sushi for which the coast is famous and the street food paradise of Osaka- Japan’ s food capital- reveals the wisdom of UNESCO’ s decision to add Japanese cuisine to its Cultural Heritage list!