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FAR EAST


JAPANESE CUISINE Miso, yakitori, tempura and plenty more – experiment with the vast array of alternative culinary fare on offer and perhaps even try your hand at making sushi.


MIYAKO ISLAND, OKINAWA Blue skies and white sandy beaches – closer to Shanghai than to Tokyo, Miyako has excellent snorkelling and diving sites and exceptionally hospitable people.


AUTUMN COLOURS Colourful autumnal leaves are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. The brilliant shades of reds, oranges and yellows are usually at their best in November when the many parks and gardens are a delight to visit.


RYOKAN EXPERIENCE Spend the night in a traditional Japanese inn, known as a ryokan, for an insight into Japanese culture.


KYOTO Boasting no fewer than 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this captivating city is a must for any visitor to Japan with delightful temples, shrines and gardens.


ONSEN BATHING CULTURE Learn all about local etiquette whilst enjoying a soak in a traditional Japanese hot spring bath.


NARA WALKING TOUR The best way to explore ancient Nara, meet the tame deer in the park and visit the enormous bronze Buddha image at Todaiji Temple.


A SUMO MATCH Watch an authentic Sumo tournament in Tokyo, a combat sport that can trace its roots to the Shinto harvest rituals of 2,000 years ago.


Sumo Match


FUSHIMI INARI SHRINE In a forest in Kyoto’s suburbs, the brightly coloured red ‘torii’ gates which lead up the hillside are reminiscent of Japan’s imperial past.


Fushimi Inari Shrine


MIYAKO ODORI Watch geishas perform a variety of Japanese arts including dance and tea ceremonies each April in Kyoto. For the dancers, the Miyako Odori, or “Cherry Dance” is quite gruelling, as they must perform flawlessly multiple times a day, but being able to participate is a great honour.


MATSURI Japanese ‘matsuri’ (festivals) are colourful events often with highly decorated floats parading the streets. The best parades are held in Takayama and Kyoto accompanied by sacred music.


WINTER IN JAPAN Winter is an ideal time to visit Japan’s enigmatic landscapes, when you can enjoy warm saki and the famous hot springs without the summer crowds.


GARDENS OF JAPAN An integral part of Japanese culture and one of the country’s major attractions, these stunning gardens uphold ancient traditions that reflect symbolic expressions of spiritual beauty.


BEST TIME TO TRAVEL Japan enjoys a varied climate with very distinctive seasons. Summer can be hot and the main rainy season is June. The best times to visit are spring and autumn, when temperatures are moderate and also coincide with many of the festivals held across the country. There are the added attractions of the cherry and plum blossoms in March and April and autumn colours later in the year. Note that ‘Golden Week’ (approximately 29th April to 5th May 2012) is a national holiday and many hotels may be full. Winters can be bitterly cold but also offer the opportunity of avoiding peak season crowds and clear mountain views in the alpine resorts.


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