Ketat Sampai Nampak S3luar Dalam? Penampilan Ainul Aishah Cukup Berani

Japan is somewhere I think everyone should visit. From futuristic skyscrapers to tranquil bamboo forests and neon arcades to serene temples, it’s like nowhere else on the planet. The food is incredible, the people are ultra polite, and it has one of the most efficient public transport systems in the world. We love the combination of ease of travel and glorious bewilderment. Japan has so much to offer but where should you start? These are our picks for the absolute best places to visit in Japan, perfect for your first or second trip to the country (plus suggestions for the repeat visits that are likely to happen!). I’ve included our favourite things to do in each place, how long to spend there, and where we stayed. At the end of the post you’ll find a map of all these Japan destinations to start planning your route. I recommend mixing a few of the popular cities (most people won’t want to miss Tokyo and Kyoto) with some quieter, more rural places in Japan to see a different side of the country and take a break from the crowds. 1) Kyoto If you only have time for one Japan destination, make it Kyoto. This is traditional Japan as you imagined it—geisha in brightly coloured kimonos emerging from wooden teahouses, forests of bamboo, temples and shrines in gold and silver and scarlet, raked gravel Zen gardens, intricate feasts served on lacquered plates, graceful tea ceremonies, and markets full of intriguing but unidentifiable ingredients. The concrete high-rises of downtown Kyoto can be disappointing, so head out towards the mountains to the surrounding neighbourhoods where you’ll find narrow stone streets, old wooden houses, monks in flowing robes, and the sounds of chanting and gongs from the many temples and shrines. Gion is the place to spot geisha, Higashiyama has many beautiful temples to explore, and Arashiyama, up in the western hills, is one of the most traditional neighbourhoods and home to bamboo groves, quirky temples, and monkeys. Kyoto is one of the top Japan tourist spots, so try to visit the popular temples early in the morning as they do get crowded. In Kyoto don’t miss: Wandering through the red torii gates of Fushimi Inari shrine Learning to cook traditional Japanese cuisine with Emi Getting your fortune from a vending machine at Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Temple) Taking the train to the village of Kibune and walking across the valley to the beautiful Kurama-dera temple Retreating from the busy streets of Gion to the magical Yasaka-jinja at night Strolling the Philosopher’s Path Experiencing Zen Buddhist cuisine at the Tenryu-ji temple Getting off the beaten track at the quirky Otagi Nenbutsuji temple Exploring these magical Kyoto cherry blossom spots if you visit in late-March or early-April How Long to Spend: 3 nights minimum but 5 nights would be better. We’ve spent two months in Kyoto and still haven’t done everything! A longer stay also allows you to avoid the crowds more easily (you have more early mornings available) and take some of these wonderful day trips from Kyoto. 2) Tokyo If Kyoto is the heart of traditional Japan, Tokyo is its ultramodern counterpart. It’s here you’ll find the skyscrapers, noisy arcades, busy pedestrian crossings, crazy youth fashions, and many many incredibly delicious restaurants. If all you do in Tokyo is eat, you’ll have an amazing time—even as vegetarians we ate so well. Tokyo is also home to some of the weirdest activities we’ve ever done. From themed cafes (cats, owls, maids, robots, goats—you name it, Tokyo has it) to sensory-overload shows and arcades to cos-play go-karting. On my first trip to Tokyo I was overwhelmed by the sprawling city and couldn’t help comparing it unfavourably to Kyoto. On repeat visits I’ve grown to love the city (the food certainly helped) and while it isn’t as attractive as Kyoto, there is so much to do that you won’t want to skip it. In Tokyo don’t miss: Driving a go-kart on the real roads while dressed as your favourite character. Insanity but so much fun! Eating in a tiny restaurant on atmospheric Memory Lane Gazing at the night skyline from the free Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku Walking across the famous Shibuya Crossing Gawping at the crazy fashions of Takeshita Street in Harajuku Visiting the brilliant DisneySea (possibly our favourite Disney park in the world!) or neighbouring Tokyo Disneyland (or both if you have two days spare) Getting sensory overload at the bizarre Robot Restaurant show Immersing yourself in the colourful digital arts museum, TeamLab Borderless How Long to Spend: 3 – 5 nights or longer if you want to take day trips (such as to Nikko, Kawaguchiko or Hakone (for Mt Fuji), and Kamakura). We’ve spend over a month here on various trips and still find new things to do. If time is limited, I would allocate more time to Kyoto than Tokyo. 3) Takayama Takayama is an utterly gorgeous small town on the edge of the Japan Alps and one of the best less-visited places to go in Japan. I loved wandering the historic centre full of traditional wooden houses, colourful shrines, neatly shaped trees, and bright red bridges over the river. In Takayama don’t miss: Wandering the old town in the early morning before the crowds arrive Buying delicious fruit from the morning markets Snacking on mitarashi-dango (rice balls grilled in soy) from a street stall Seeing the extravagant floats at the Festival Floats Exhibition Hall Visiting the Hida Folk Village to see traditional thatched houses Cycling through the countryside with Satoyama Experience How Long to Spend: 2-3 nights. We had 2 nights and wished we’d had longer because there’s lots to do in the surrounding countryside. With a longer stay you could take day trips to the traditional thatched roof houses of Shirakawa-go and go hiking in Kamikochi in the Japan Alps. 4) Hakone Mount Fuji is on most people’s lists of places to visit in Japan, but this must-see Japan landmark can be rather elusive and is often hidden by clouds. There are a number of places you can see the mountain from (Kawaguchiko is another great option—see below), but Hakone is easy to reach from Tokyo and there are lots of other things to do in the area in case you are out of luck with a sighting. Despite visiting on a cloudy, drizzly day, we were lucky that Mount Fuji emerged from the clouds above Lake Ashi and it was magical! Hakone is also fun to visit because you can do a loop of the sights on different modes of transport—train, bus, pirate boat (yes, really!), and cable car. In Hakone don’t miss: Buying a Hakone Free Pass so you can hop on and off all the transport options on the Hakone Loop. Seeing Mount Fuji from the lake or cable car Eating a black egg cooked in the hot sulphur springs at volcanic Owakudani (not really, these look gross, but the Japanese go crazy for them) Soaking in an onsen Staying in a tatami room in a ryokan (traditional inn) and enjoying an elaborate dinner Wandering the outdoor sculpture gallery at Hakone Open Air Museum How Long to Spend: You could visit on a day trip from Tokyo but I recommend 1-2 nights to experience a ryokan and onsen. We had one night and did part of the loop in the afternoon we arrived and the rest in the morning. While it was just enough for the main sights, we wished we’d had longer to enjoy our ryokan.