Best of Japan with Japanese Alps & Koyasan: Autumn Leaves & Cherry Blossoms

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The outer Tsukiji Fish Market offers a variety of freshly prepared food products and ingredients. Travel in between the different stores and taste a few of their dishes, freshly prepared with some of the best ingredients.

The Imperial Palace is located in the center of Tokyo, only a short walk away from Tokyo station. The palace is home to the current Imperial Family. The inner grounds of the palace is not open to the public, except on January 2nd and December 23rd where guests are able to enter and see the current members of the Imperial Family from a balcony. Visitors can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds. The stone bridge in front is called Meganebashi (Eyeglass Bridge) for its looks. The bridge in the back was formerly a wooden bridge with two levels, from which the name Nijubashi (Double Bridge) is derived.

Take a lesson from an expert and prepare fresh sushi. Experience the difference in the taste of Japanese-grown ingredients. Then, enjoy eating your masterpiece for lunch after completing your sushi lesson.

The Sensoji Temple located in Asakusa is one of the most popular Buddhist temples to visit. The temple was built and completed in the year 645 and is Tokyo’s oldest temple. The surrounding area offers shopping for souvenirs and food. The Sanja Festival is one of Tokyo’s biggest festivals and is held every May at Asakusa Temple.

The Tokyo Skytree is Japan’s tallest structure ever built and the world’s second tallest structure ever built at the time of its completion. Located not too far from Asakusa, this 634 meter tall tower is now one of the most popular destinations for visitors. The main observatory is 350 meters high and the second observation deck is 450 meters high and both offer a breathtaking view of the city.

Mt. Fuji is a widely-known symbol of Japan. At 3,773 meters, Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain. “Station (gome)” is the unit representing one tenth of the length from the trail entrance to the top.The fifth station Mt. Fuji is the fifth point from the base at the height of 2,305 meter. Being the end of the Fuji Subaru Line toll road and the highest point that general cars can reach. From the observatory you can see below Komitake Shrine, an ancient place for prayer that has been visited by worshippers and disciplinant, and Yamanaka-ko, the largest lake among the five Fuji lakes.

One of the most popular ways to get around Hakone is by taking the Hakone Ropeway. The ropeway travels between Sounzan and Togendai. The Hakone Ropeway gives visitors a beautiful view of Hakone and on a clear day, it is possible to get a nice view of Mount Fuji as well.

Owakudani is located in Hakone and is an area around a crater where gaseous fumes, hot springs, and hot rivers exist. Just like most of Hakone, on a clear day, it is possible to see Mount Fuji as well. There are hiking trails available for guests, but these trails are difficult for inexperience hikers.

The shinkansen (or "bullet train") is a type of high speed train that travels between most of the major cities in Japan. By taking the shinkansen, trips between destinations that might take almost a full day by car can be reached in a few hours. The bullet trains can run up to 320 kilometers per hour (close to 200 miles per hour), and are known to be generally on time, comfortable and safe.

Discover the Obara Shikizakura Festival, a special fall festival where the bright fall leaves find a unique pairing with the local variety of cherry blossoms. Known locally as Shikizakara, or “four-seasons cherry tree”, these special trees create a scene as enchanting as any sakura park in Tokyo and as rare as the early-blooming Kawazu cherry. This particular kind of cherry tree blooms twice a year: once in spring with the rest of Japan, and once more in autumn, coming in around the same time as the brilliant autumn leaves. Mid-November in Obara Fureai Park brings a celebration that includes delicious snack food stalls, with taiko drumming and various other events amid a fantastic scene of contrasting colors. Although the park is the center of Obara’s festival scene, over ten thousand Shikizakura trees are planted around town. Their delicate pink petals against the fiery background of the autumn leaves is a stunning and unforgettable scene.

Every morning in Takayama there are two morning markets set up for tourist to visit. Both markets are well within walking distance from Takayama station. In front of the Takayama Jinya is the Jinya-Mae Market and along the Miyagawa River in the old town section is the Miyagawa Market. Guests can enjoy shopping for goods such as small crafts, foods, snacks and flowers.

Located by only a ten minute walk away from Takayama Station is the Takayama Jinya. The Takayama Jinya was once the former local government office until the year 1969, but now has been turned into a museum. Guests can see the various items on display such as past official documents and other historical items in this museum.

One of the most popular attractions for visitors in Takayama is the old town district. Many of the buildings and houses in this area have been preserved since the Edo Period. There are many shops, sake breweries, tea houses, and even some homes open for the public to enjoy.

An open air museum that exhibits farmhouses and other structures relocated to Ogimachi in order to save them from destruction

Located in Kanazawa is the Kenrokuen Garden, which is one of Japan’s most famous and three most beautiful landscape gardens. The garden is especially beautiful during the plum blossom season and cherry blossom season with the different flowers that bloom as well. This garden is also a popular location to view the fall colors during autumn. Nearby are plenty of attractions including restaurants, shops, and the popular Kanazawa Castle.

Arashiyama is located on the western outskirts of Kyoto and is a well-known destination for both the cherry blossoms and fall colors seasons. North of the famous Togetsukyo Bridge is Sagano, and together they make this place a nice little getaway from temples and shrines to enjoy nature. Popular destinations include the Togetsukyo Bridge and the Bamboo Forest of Arashiyama.

Located in the Arashiyama district in Kyoto, the Tenryu- Ji Temple is Arashiyama’s most popular temple. The temple is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The original buildings of Tenryu-Ji Temple was lost many times throughout its history, except for Tenryu-Ji’s garden. The Tenryu-Ji Temple Zen Garden that visitors see today is the original garden and landscape.

One of the most popular and well-known spots for visitors is the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. A nice walking path takes visitors through the groves of bamboos. The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is also one of the most famous and photographed places in all of Kyoto and brings many visitors every year during the autumn color season.

The famous Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion) Temple is located in northern Kyoto and is most known for the building covered in gold leaf. This famous building is the number one most popular destination for tourist visiting Kyoto. The Golden Pavilion sits overlooking a large pond and various small attractions and shops are available for visitors.

Take the chance of interacting with a maiko while drinking tea, ask her about her profession, training, and lifestyle. What is different between her life and other girls in Japan? Drink a cup of tea with her, and fulfill some of your curiosity, and even take a picture with her.

The Kiyomizu-Dera Temple is located only 15 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station to the eastern side of Kyoto. This temple is one of the most popular temples in Kyoto and is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple features a large wooden terrace that offers a fantastic view of the cherry blossoms in the spring and autumn colors during the fall season with the city of Kyoto in the background.

Located only 20 minutes away by bus from Kyoto Station, is the Gion Geisha District. The Gion Geisha District is one of the most famous and popular destinations for tourist visiting Kyoto. This area is filled with restaurants, teahouses, shops, and other attractions to entertain guests. The machiya merchant houses along with river and the occasional geisha walking around, brings visitors from everywhere to experience everything that this area has to offer.

The Fushimi Inari-Taisha Grand Shrine is located in southern Kyoto and is one of the most famous and visited shrines in Kyoto. This shrine is only five minutes away from Kyoto Station by train, and features over a thousand vermillion colored torii gates that brings many tourist to this shrine every year.

Located north of Nara Park is one of Japan’s most historic and famous temple called the Todai-Ji Temple. This temple is listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temple’s main hall named Daibutsuden, is the largest wooden building in the world. It is home to one of Japan’s largest bronze statues of Buddha siting at fifteen meters tall.

Located in central Nara is Nara Park, it is one of the most famous and popular parks in Japan. The park is famous and popular because it is home to over one thousand deer. The deer roam freely throughout the park and visitors are able to get up close and feed the deer as well. This park is conveniently located near most of Nara’s main tourist destinations, which include Todai-Ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Kofuku-Ji Temple, and the Nara National Museum.

Shinsaibashi is Osaka’s main and most popular shopping center. This crowded area is full of stores that cover everything from clothes to food and entertainment. Nearby this busy shopping center is also the famous entertainment district called Namba. This area also is full of restaurants and shops as well.

Himeji Castle is located in the city of Himeji and is only a five minute bus ride away from Himeji Station. Himeji Castle the most popular and visited castle in Japan, it is also listed both as one of Japan’s national treasure castles and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This castle is also one of Japan’s twelve original castles, which means it was never destroyed in its history and has been standing since it was originally completed in the year 1609. The surrounding area is also one of Japan’s most popular cherry blossom destinations during the spring.

Kurashiki’s canal area is one of Japan’s most beautifully preserved canals that date back as far to the Edo Period. The canals were once used to transport rice into the storehouses where they would be shipped to cities such as Osaka and Tokyo (was known as Edo during those times). Now this historic area is the most popular destination for tourist visiting Kurashiki. Many of the historic storehouses have been turned into shops, cafes, restaurants, and museums for guests to enjoy.

The Hiroshima Peace Park is a memorial park located in the center of the Hiroshima City. Many of the memorials related to the dropping of the atomic bomb are located in and around this area. The park is the location to the memorials such as the A-Bomb Dome, Children’s Peace Monument, and the Peace Memorial Museum. This area is also listed as one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Peace Memorial Museum is one of the main destinations for guests visiting the Hiroshima Peace Park. The features the history of Hiroshima, effects of the atomic bomb, and its aftermath. Guests visiting the museum can explore the various artifacts and displays related to the atomic blast.

One of the most famous and well known shrines in Japan is the Itsukushima Shrine. This location is one of Japan’s top three most scenic places along with the famous Matsushima Bay and Amanohashidate, and brings plenty of tourist every year. This shrine and its famous torii gate are built over the water, which makes it seem like it is floating in the sea. Guests can stay in the ryokan hotels nearby or ride one of the many boat cruises while here.

One of the most unique attractions in Onomichi City is the Shimanami Kaido. This long 60 km (close to 37.25 miles) road connects the main island of Honshu to Japan’s Shikoku Island and passes over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. This roadway is the only way to travel into Japan’s Shikoku Island by foot or bicycle. Visitors can rent bikes to travel between Onomichi, the small six islands, and Imabari City on Shikoku Island. The scenery is spectacular and lets travelers enjoy the natural beauty of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands.

Oboke Gorge is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Japan along with the Koboke Gorge in the Iya Valley area. One of the most popular activities for guests visiting the area is riding one of the Oboke Gorge boat rides. Visitors that are not interested in the strenuous outdoor activities, such as hiking or rafting, can instead enjoy a pleasant ride down the Yoshino River.

Ritsurin Koen Park is one of Japan’s most beautiful landscape garden located in the city of Takamastu. Many consider this garden to belong on the list of Japan’s three most beautiful gardens. This spacious and beautiful park features many ponds, hills, trees, bridges, and pavilions. There are a number of walking routes throughout the park and provides views that would leave any guest satisfied.

There are many restaurants located within Kobe that serve Japanese or international cuisine, but there are many places that offer Kobe beef. Kobe is known around the world for its famous Kobe beef, which is beautifully marbled, delicious, and very expensive beef. The most popular way to enjoy Kobe beef is in a restaurant where the chef grills the meat in front of the guests. Eating Kobe beef is a popular activity for tourist visiting Kobe and can provide a delicious and unforgettable experience.

Kuromon Ichiba, or "Black Gate Market" is a major produce and seafood market in the city of Osaka. It sells not only seafood, fruit, and vegetables, but also sweets, picked foods (or "tsukemono"), meat, and even clothing. This large outdoor covered market dates back to the Edo period, and has since become a top destination for visiting tourists to browse and sample some of Osaka's famous street food. Some of those stores have been in business for a very long time, including a tea shop that opened in 1937. While you can find a good assortment of street food, including Osaka's famed Takoyaki, and delectable sweets like strawberry daifuku (strawberries covered in mochi), the reason why Kuromon is so popular is that many of the produce sellers will cook the fresh seafood you want right there in front of you. As the market can become busy and packed with visitors, all the shop owners ask is that visitors be patient and respectful of others.

Kinpusenji Temple is located on Mount Yoshino, and is an important temple in the Shugendo religion, which is a syncretism between Japanese Buddhism, Shinto mountain-worship, and local folk traditions. The temple's main hall, or "Zaodo" , is considered a National Treasure of Japan, and houses three statues of Zao Gongen, which is a principal object of worship to the Shugendo practitioners, known as Yamabushi, or "Mountain Monks". Kinpusenji is an especially popular place to visit in spring, as the cherry trees all over Mount Yoshino begin to bloom, blanketing the regions near the temple in clouds of pastel pink. Within the temple complex are four cherry trees of exceptional beauty, which were planted in remembrance of Prince Moriyoshi, the son of Emperor Go-Daigo. The temple is a part of the Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Yoshimizu Shrine is a Shinto Shrine on Mount Yoshino, once part of the Shugendo facilities like Kinpusenji Temple, but became a Shinto Shrine when Shinto and Buddhist facilities were separated by imperial decree during the Meiji period. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Go-Daigo, who once lived there during the Nanboku-cho period, and Masashige Kusunoki, his loyal general. Because of the beauty of the cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino, the shrine became famous as a site for "hanami", or cherry blossom viewing parties. The samurai warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi enjoyed several hanami parties from the shrine. The shrine has also become famous for history surrounding the 12th century warrior-hero Minamoto Yoshitsune, who hid there from. Yoshimizu Shrine is a part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Its wooden Shoin building is the oldest example of native shoin-zukuri architecture in the country.

Yoshimizu Shrine is a Shinto Shrine on Mount Yoshino, once part of the Shugendo facilities like Kinpusenji Temple, but became a Shinto Shrine when Shinto and Buddhist facilities were separated by imperial decree during the Meiji period. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Emperor Go-Daigo, who once lived there during the Nanboku-cho period, and Masashige Kusunoki, his loyal general. Because of the beauty of the cherry blossoms on Mount Yoshino, the shrine became famous as a site for "hanami", or cherry blossom viewing parties. The samurai warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi enjoyed several hanami parties from the shrine. The shrine has also become famous for history surrounding the 12th century warrior-hero Minamoto Yoshitsune, who hid there from. Yoshimizu Shrine is a part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Its wooden Shoin building is the oldest example of native shoin-zukuri architecture in the country.

Shukubo is known as temple lodging, one of the best places in Japan to experience Shukubo is at the temples in the Mount Koya region. One of the best way to culturally experience Japan is staying overnight in a sacred Buddhist temple. Guests are treated to dinner and breakfast featuring delicious shojin ryori (vegetarian monk cuisine). Guests are also welcome to join the monk’s morning prayers and enjoy the temple’s gardens, halls, and baths.

Shojin Ryori is the famous vegetarian monk cuisine that has been developed since it was first introduced in Japan in the 6th century. There are a few locations and restaurants where guests can experience this delicious cuisine. The most popular location to experience this cuisine is in the temple lodging, where guests can stay overnight in a Buddhist temple and guests are served shojin ryori dinner and breakfast.

Mount Koya has many temple lodging locations where guests can stay overnight at a Buddhist temple. Staying overnight usually includes eating the famous and delicious shojin ryori cuisine, which is vegetarian monk cuisine for dinner and breakfast. But before breakfast, guests are invited to participate in morning prayers with the monks. Taking part in morning meditations with the monks is a fun and unique cultural experience that any guests will appreciate.

Okunoin Temple is one of the most famous and sacred temples in all of Japan. It is the location of the famous mausoleum of Kobo Daishi, who is one of the most famous and revered person in the religious history of Japan. There are plenty of cultural activities and landmarks for visitors to experience, including a walkthrough of Okunoin’s cemetery, which is the largest cemetery in Japan.

Another one of the most popular temples located in the Mount Koya area is the Kongobuji Temple. Originally built in the year 1593, visitors can experience this historic temple by learning and exploring the many rooms in the temple grounds. The rooms in this temple were once used for important rituals and ceremonies. Visitors can also enjoy tea and snacks in the large tatami hall or enjoy the rock garden outside, which is the largest rock garden in Japan.

The Danjo Garan is another one of the most popular temples located in the Mount Koya area. The legend goes that the founder of Shingon Buddhism (Kobo Daishi) threw his sankosho from China towards Japan. While searching Japan to establish his religion, he found his sankosho in a pine tree and the Danjo Garan Temple was built, and the pine tree still stands there today. Visitors can tour both Kondo Hall and the Konpon Daito Pagoda. Guests can experience the large wooden temple of Kondo Hall where ceremonies are still held. Next to the hall is the Konpon Daito Pagoda where it the popular Dainichi Nyorai statue.