A holiday in Japan opens us to one of Asia’s most fascinating and vibrant countries. The crowning glory of the Pacific rim of fire, Japan is a destination like no other and few travel spots cast a spell on travellers the way Japan does. A land of contrasts; where the breakneck speed of Tokyo becomes a distant memory sitting under a cherry blossom tree in Kyoto; where ancient farmers plough their fields by ox-power as the Shinkansen bullet train roars past at 300kph.
This is the land of the Rising Sun; a land where an Imperial past lives in perfect harmony with unprecedented modernity.
First stop: Tokyo. Orient yourself with breathtaking views of this mega-metropolis from the 250m observatory deck of Tokyo Tower. You’ll pick out some outstanding sites to visit, like the Imperial palace, the Asukusa Kannon Temple and Meiji Shinto shrine. Of course no self-respecting visitor would consider leaving Tokyo before making a plunge into Tokyo’s pounding retail and entertainment heart; Ginza.
Head for Nagoya to inspect the impressive Noritake Museum, and check out the amazing views of Mt Fuji at Hakone, on the way through. For a quieter view of Japan consider exploring the ancient towns of the Kiso Valley and the 16thC castle of Matsumoto Jo. Cross the Japanese Alps to Takayama where the 16th century lives on, in the geisha districts and the Old Town. Hop on the Bullet train and speed to Hiroshima to explore the Peace Park and the magnificent shrines on the Inland Sea.
Don’t forget the achingly beautiful city of Kyoto; Japan’s capital for more than a thousand years, today it’s home to a huge array of temples, shrines and tea houses scattered among the ancient alley ways. Take time out to indulge in a bath house ritual and indulge in some quality souvenir shopping in the geisha quarter.
With four main islands you’ll need a lot of time to absorb all that makes up the Japanese way of life, but the effort will reward with history, culture and cuisine of remarkable depth.
Japan fun facts
More than 70 percent of the country is mountains and hills
The Japanese poetry form ‘Haiku’ comprises of only 3 lines
Japanese enjoy slurping while eating; it means that the food is delicious
The wonders of Cambodia
Monday 20th August 2007
Travel Counsellor: David Phillips
Newspapers and the web give us endless lists of the 1000 things to do before you die. Well here's one thats high on my list - Cambodia, a country racked with conflict in the 20th century, but its history in the 10th and 11th century is what we all need to see.
Where to go - Siem Reap is the nearest town to the Khmer temple complex of Angkor. It used to be a sleepy countryside town and even amongst all the new international hotels it still hasn't lost this charm. The main focus is now clearly on tourism and the little town is growing rapidly - a 3 to 4 day trip to see the wonderful temples the guide books do recommend. Angkor Wat is the key element, but there is so much more to see, not only in Siem Reap.
The capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, is located at the confluence of three rivers - the Mekong, the Bassac and Tonle Sap. The city is divided into three sections - the north, an attractive residential area; the south or the French part of the city with its ministries,... view full story
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