A heady mix of the cutting edge and deeply traditional, Japan remains a major drawcard for travellers from all over the globe and is a country that leaves its mark on all who visit.

Inherently safe, one-flight away, and offering a plethora of culturally contrasting experiences, it’s no wonder Australian travellers are yearning for a trip to the Land Of The Rising Sun. And the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics certainly put the destination back on the world stage at a time when we were all in need of a ‘pick-me-up’.

With the Tokyo 2020 Games now behind us and the medal counting over, it’s a good time to reflect on the things we’ve learned about the hosting nation, and Japan’s respect and drive for sustainability would probably be top of the list.

While we bunker down for winter in Australia, summer in the northern hemisphere is in full swing. And with such contrasting seasons – spanning from sub-zero to sub-tropical – the warmer weather in Japan is always a great excuse to try out new things and enjoy life in a different way. 

Tokyo is no stranger to the summer Olympics, having already hosted the games back in 1964. And, while no other city in the world has held the Olympics more than once since then, Japan has also hosted the winter Olympics twice in between times – Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998. This makes Japan more familiar with the games than any other country in the world alongside the United States. But what makes Japan the ideal sporting destination?