Attractions of Japan

Located north-west of Tokyo, the giant cedar and cypress forests of Nikko have long been a scared site for both Buddhism and Shintoism. The main attraction here are the 17th century shrines and tombs of the Tokugawa shoguns. The Toshogu Shrine is the most opulent temple, housing the mausoleum of the great shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, as well as the famous ‘three monkeys’ carving that expresses the Zen maxim to 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'. The surrounding countryside is beautiful and perfect for exploring on foot, including the Chuzenji Lake, Kegon-no-taki waterfalls and the Senjogahara plateau.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Shrines and Temples of Nikko

Hakone National Park has a number of interesting features on the so-called Hakone Circuit which can be reached by funicular railway, cable car, lake steamer and train. The hot, bubbling sulphur springs at Owakudani are supposedly beneficial to your health and offer superb views of Mount Fuji. There are also hiking trails along the old shogun Tokaido highway, used to travel between the feudal court in Tokyo and regional centres. Other attractions include an open-air museum of modern sculpture and a cruise on the magnificent Lake Ashi.

Mount Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan at 3,776 metres and its almost perfect volcanic cone makes it one of the most recognised and photographed peaks in the world. The mountain is divided into ten stations and a climb to the top usually begins at Station 5 at approximately 2,400 metres. The trek to the summit takes about 6 hours but can be broken up to ensure you reach there for a spectacular sunrise. The summit is actually a circular crater rim and has a shrine, weather station, post office, and 24hr noodle bar! Mount Fuji is only open for climbing in July and August.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration

The spa town of Yudanaka is famous for the Jigokudani Onsen or ‘Snow Monkey Park’, where Japanese macaque monkeys descend from the hills to soak and play in the hot baths. There are also spots for human bathing as well as good hikes in the surrounding countryside.

Set in stunning scenery of mountains and dense forests, the scared sites of the Kii mountains - Koya San, Yoshino and Omine and Kumano Sanzan, are ancient sites home to numerous shrines reflecting the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism. The main monastery at Koya San is the centre of the Shingon school of Esoteric Buddhism which was founded in AD 816 by Kobo Daishi, Japan's most revered religious figure. His mausoleum is the most famous tomb of the Okunoin cemetery on Mount Koya, where it is believed he is in a state of catatonic meditation within the mausoleum lying in wait for the future Buddha Maitreya. The ancient Saiganto-ji Shrine of the Kumano sect is located along the cedar-lined Daimonzaka trail and overlooks the thundering wonder of Nachi Waterfall. It has attracted pilgrims here since the 10th century.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range

Itsukushima or Miyajima Island is one of the most scenic places in Japan and has been a holy place of Shintoism for centuries. Itsukushima is famous for its huge scarlet gate or torii that rises out of the waters of the bay. The present shrine on the island dates back to the 12th century and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, which combines nature and human creativity. The island is dominated by Mount Misen, which can be climbed on foot or by cable car. The summit has magnificent views over western Honshu and the island-studded Inland Sea as well as a colony of wild monkeys.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

The mountain and forests of Yakushima are located on Yaku island at the northern end of the Ryukyu archipelago in southern Japan. The area has a rich fauna with almost recognised 2,000 species, the most notable of which are Japanese cedar trees which can live for thousands of years - these are known as Yakusugi and are regarded as sacred trees.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Yakushima

Shirakami-Sanchi is located in northern Honshu and covers one-third of the Shirakami Mountains. The area includes the last virgin remains of the cool-temperate forest of Siebold's beech trees that once covered the hills and mountain slopes of northern Japan. The area is home to some 87 bird species including the golden eagle, Hodgson's hawk eagle and black woodpecker, as well as the Japanese black bear. The forest has no trails or man-made facilities so is almost completely undisturbed.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Shirakami-Sanchi

Shiretoko Peninsula is located in the northeast of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island, and is an important marine and terrestrial ecosystem for a number of endemic and endangered species.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Shiretoko

The Ogasawara Islands of Japan comprise more than 30 islands which are home to a range of endemic and endangered species. These include the Bonin Flying Fox, a critically endangered bat, and 195 endangered bird species. In addition there are over 400 endemic plant species on the islands while the surrounding waters support numerous species of fish, cetaceans and corals.

UNESCO World Heritage Site: Ogasawara Islands