Japan is an island country in Eastern Asia. The Japanese Archipelago comprises over three thousand islands, the largest of which are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. Most of the islands of Japan are mountainous, of which many are volcanic, the best example of such a mountain is the famous Mount Fuji.
Japan has the world's tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. If you are planning to go Japan for a traveling trip then you are in a right track. Japan offers a very wide and varied range of attractions, from historical and cultural treasures to contemporary and revolutionary sights and beautiful forests, mountains and sea coasts.
Among the sites of historical cultural heritage of Japan, visitors will find many buildings influenced by the unique sensitivities of the Japanese people. These places should be an integral part of your itinerary in Japan, and one must visit all these places to attain an insight into the state of mind of the Japanese people and into the roots of their rich culture.
Some well known travel destinations in Japan are mentioned below:
- Shiretoko
- Shirakami-sanchi Mountain Range
- The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
- The Shrines and Temples of Nikko
- The Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
- Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
- Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range
- Himeji-jo Castle
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial
- Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
- Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu
- Yakushima Island
Visitors on their travels to Japan can also participate in the many traditional and annual festivals and events. There are countless local festivals in Japan because almost every city, town, village or shrine celebrates its own festival. Most festivals are held annually and celebrate special occasions like the Cherry Blossom Festival or the day of the shrine's deity or a seasonal or historical event. Several of these festivals are held over a number of days.
Few of them are mentioned below:
- Sapporo Snow Festival
- Takayama Matsuri
- Sanja Matsuri
- Kyoto Gion Matsuri
- Nebuta Matsuri
- Awaodori
- Nagasaki Kunchi
- Chichibu Festival and many more.
