It’s Friday evening and I’m sat within the nook of a dive bar in Hiroshima sipping an area plum wine and cheering on a gaggle of three Japanese businessmen, wearing full suit-and-briefcase apparel, battling it out enjoying Pac-Man on an previous arcade machine subsequent to me.

I can’t assist however surprise, has my Japan journey peaked?

Travelling throughout 5 major areas, the purpose of my two-and-a-half-week journey is to immerse myself in Japanese tradition, delicacies and historical past – and study extra about what this fascinating nation has to supply.

It appears my concept isn’t essentially the most authentic both – what with Japan now rating as one of many highest trending locations for 2024, in addition to lately being named the highest spot for solo travellers.

For these contemplating a visit there quickly, know that you could cram lots into simply a few weeks – primarily because of the nation’s high-speed bullet trains, which whiz you from one location to the following.

For instance, my 16-day vacation coated Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima – taking between 1-3 hours to leap from one location to the following. It’s additionally price stating that now Japan Rail Go costs have risen by 70%, it truly is perhaps cheaper so that you can pay for single journeys, relying in your route.

If the nation’s bountiful providing is sufficient to make you’re feeling overwhelmed, right here’s a two-and-a-half-week itinerary mapped out for you…

Tokyo (1-5 days)

Our journey began in Tokyo, and for Japan first timers the sheer measurement of the town is prone to be your major takeaway – it was the very first thing that blew me away after we touched down in Haneda airport. It’s the biggest metropolis by metropolitan space on the planet, with a inhabitants of 37.3 million.

One of the simplest ways to soak this up is by visiting one of many metropolis’s many viewpoints and Shibuya Sky must be prime of your listing for the 360-degree open-air issue. Simply be sure you e-book upfront and sundown is extensively thought-about the most effective instances to go, so you possibly can witness the town skyline by day and evening.

Whereas visiting Shibuya be sure you tick off the Meiji Jingu shrine and the Shibuya Crossing, which is usually dubbed as ‘the busiest pedestrian intersection on the planet.’

One among our Tokyo highlights was the colourful neighbourhood of Shinjuku, together with the tranquil nationwide backyard (with the concrete jungle skyscrapers because the backdrop) in addition to the tastiest, no-fuss (however scrumptious) ramen you’ll ever have at Tatsunoya, the place the tonkotsu broth (pork bones and water) is simmered for 15 plus hours. Our two ramen bowls, plus a beer and two cokes, value us simply £15.

Meals in Tokyo is available in two extremes, from genuine road meals – just like the sensational yakitori (grilled meat skewers) at Omoide Yokocho – to Michelin-starred eating, together with the likes of Narisawa (which is the last word luxurious eating expertise). Each displaying the town’s providing via utterly totally different culinary lenses.

Michelin-starred restaurant Est, situated in 4 Seasons Otemachi, was an absolute standout although – with wagyu, Hokkaido scallops and miso monkfish on the menu. This was my first time attempting Japanese wine too – not to mention a Japanese Chardonnay – and it was an sudden delight.

You don’t see a lot Japanese wine within the UK, and even in different elements of the world for that matter. That’s as a result of, as our sommelier tells us, the nation’s produce is so good, winemakers want to share it with the inhabitants reasonably than export it en masse.

On the subject of drinks, when you’re on the 4 Seasons a go to to award-winning VIRTÙ – headed up by the gifted Keith Motsi – is a should. Keith’s ardour for giving Japanese bars the eye they deserve shines via and his cocktail wizardry and excellent drinks data, in addition to the doting bar workers, makes leaving this opulent Artwork Deco watering gap fairly inconceivable.

For a boozy evening, bar-hop round Golden Gai, a community of six slim alleys with little bars peppered all through. 

Mount Fuji (2 days)

It could be a slight detour from bullet prepare routes, however spending a portion of your journey in Japan’s pure magnificence is a should. In any case, what journey to the nation can be full with out seeing the majestic Mount Fuji in all its glory? Among the many Fuji 5 Lakes – that are designated as a World Cultural Heritage – Lake Kawaguchiko is the simplest to entry (a two-hour bus from Tokyo). 

When you’re there, Villa Hanz Glamping is the proper base for the agricultural a part of your itinerary, significantly with the three,776-metre excessive stratovolcano because the backdrop to this resort.

This luxurious glamping web site (assume bougie pods with heaters and mini fridges) will make you’re feeling proper at dwelling, whereas the resort’s exercise providing of climbing, kayaking and stargazing will make sure you take advantage of rural retreat.

Kyoto (1-3 days)

My first impression of Kyoto was the way it was the proper instance of previous meets new, however the factor that stood out essentially the most was merely how gorgeous it was – a respite from Tokyo’s concrete jungle. 

The previous Japanese capital has historic temples and elegant gardens nestled alongside bustling new meals markets and buying districts. It’s a metropolis with loads of pure magnificence that additionally someway spotlights the world’s wealthy historical past, from the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest to the ‘Golden Pavilion’. 

When you tick off one attraction in Kyoto, let or not it’s the well-known Fushimi Inari-Taisha. The pink shrine gates comply with a pathway that wanders 4km up the mountain – which, after a complete day of sightseeing, was fairly knackering. Nonetheless, was price it for the view on the prime – even in the dead of night.

Kyoto can also be a great spot to pattern a number of the nation’s huge delicacies. Consolation meals doesn’t get significantly better than the curry udon at Mimikou – the place a Kyoto-style curry soup marries thick wheat noodles in a curry powder-thickened Japanese soup inventory known as ‘dashi’.

You can also’t go to Japan with out attempting conventional okonomiyaki (a Japanese teppanyaki, savory pancake dish made with cabbage, meat and cheese) and Kyo Chabana is the spot to pattern it in Kyoto.

Hiroshima (2 days)

It may appear barely out of the way in which, geographically, for a two-week Japan journey however consider me after I say this cease ought to positively be in your itinerary. Plus, it’s solely a tour-hour prepare on the trusty (actually, it’s by no means late) bullet prepare.

As somebody who has at all times been excited about WW2 historical past, visiting Hiroshima felt extra than simply an itinerary pit spot, it felt like a necessity – and it was a sobering reminder of what came about at 8.15am on the morning of August 6 1945, and its aftermath.

The bomb obliterated almost all the things inside a two kilometer radius – now the town’s re-built legacy urges one essential message: by no means once more.

The A-Bomb Dome, nonetheless in its authentic bombed-out situation with items of 1945 rubble on the bottom, stays in tact – however actually that’s it. All the things else has been rebuilt. Now there’s a well-manicured Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and a Museum – which homes belongings and artefacts, and tells the tales of the victims.

However what caught me off-guard essentially the most was the town’s unbelievable underground nightlife scene – dive bars like Mac Bar and Stevie Wonderland, specifically, the place you possibly can whereas away the hours listening to vinyls whereas sipping on native beers and conventional plum wine.

Osaka and Nara (3-4 days)

An hour-and-a-half away from Hiroshima and on the way in which again to Tokyo, neon playground Osaka is the perfect spot on your journey’s finale.

What can solely be described as Japan’s equal to Time Sq., the Dōtonbori district comes alive at nighttime with eye-catching signage and riverside outlets and eating places. 

A day journey to Nara Park will even see you rise up shut and private with TikTok’s well-known ‘well mannered’ deer, which bow to you in return for crackers.

Prime tip, attempt to feed a solo deer, in any other case you is perhaps subjected to a herd showdown, with a number of chasing you on your crumbs (belief me, I communicate from expertise right here).

My major takeaway from my two-week journey, nonetheless, is just how all the things is best in Japan: from self-flushing bogs and distinctive hospitality, to the best normal of meals – past something I’ve ever tasted.

It’s a rustic that’s stolen a bit of my coronary heart – and has left me dreaming of these environment friendly bullet trains whereas I’m ready 10 minutes for the dreaded Circle Line again dwelling.

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