JAPAN
THE ASPIRE TOP 5
ABOVE: Hakodate
In Tokyo, culture meets crazy – and to experience one without the other would do the city an injustice. As Tokyo gears up for the 2020 Winter Olympics, the government is on a mission to ensure tourists experience more than just the capital and Kyoto. So it is building the profile of Aomori, in the north of the mainland, and Hakodate, on the island of Hokkaido. So leaving my Japanese mother and
the wonders of the capital behind, we headed off the beaten track for a little respite from city living.
Our first stop was Shirakami- Sanchi, a mountainous World Heritage Site that is home to one of the world’s largest beech forests. Many city dwellers keen to escape the intensity of Tokyo head to this serene area for retreats, hiking holidays and camping trips. Although my hiking trip wasn’t overly relaxing (red heads don’t fare well in 28C heat and 100% humidity), the stunning views of the mountain range curtailed my moaning. In the mid-1800s, Hakodate was the first port in Japan to open up to overseas trade, which led to the city’s rapid development.
According to our local guide, the view of the city from Mount Hakodate at night is deemed one of the best views in the world alongside Naples and Hong Kong – although she joked that she didn’t know where that information had come from. Take the cable car up the mountain just before sunset for an amazing view of the city and ocean.
This city is known across Japan
for its cuisine, particularly its ‘dancing squid’. Head to the Red Brick Warehouse district, which is so hip and trendy that it wouldn’t look out of place in east London. It’s rammed with bars, restaurants and shopping boutiques. Many visitors to Japan tend to head south after visiting the capital, but the north has plenty to offer. The area’s mountainous and volcanic landscape is ideal for hiking, while the cities offer craziness but at a more relaxed pace.
Inside Japan offers a 14-night Best of Japan tour taking in Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto and Osaka. Prices start at
£1,980, including flights.
INSIDEJAPANTOURS.COM
aspire september 2015 — 79
EXPLORING BEYOND TOKYO
Joe Sutcliffe, Wendy Wu Tours’ head of product and marketing, reveals his top tips for places to visit outside of Tokyo for the luxury market
1
FUJI FIVE LAKES – POPULAR FOR ITS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND HOT SPRINGS, THE AREA PROVIDES GREAT VIEWS OF JAPAN’S HIGHEST MOUNTAIN
2 3
KINKAKUJI TEMPLE – KYOTO’S GOLDEN PAVILION LIVES UP TO ITS NAME, WITH THE TOP TWO FLOORS COVERED IN GOLD LEAF
HIMEJI CASTLE – THE FEUDAL- ERA FORT, ONE OF JAPAN’S MOST IMPRESSIVE, TOWERS OVER THE CITY AND HAS FEATURED IN SEVERAL FILMS
4
KOYASAN – THIS HOLY MOUNTAIN IS HOME TO MORE THAN 100 MONASTERIES NESTLED IN A VALLEY ENCLOSED BY PEAKS AND SAID TO RESEMBLE A LOTUS FLOWER
5
ITSUKUSHIMA SHRINE – THIS INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE RISES FROM THE SEA
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