Mountain ranges of Niigata Prefecture. Photo by Sy on Unsplash.
Japan is open again, and many of us are enjoying the excitement and buzz of planning a long-awaited visit to the Land of The Rising Sun.
If you’ve got a trip to Japan in your sights, your adventure will no doubt begin in the country’s capital and key gateway city of Tokyo, which is both glistening and modern, and ancient and quaint in equal measures.
While there are plenty of new things to see and experience in Tokyo since you last visited, no trip to Japan would be complete without venturing away from the bustle and into Japan’s unique countryside and cultural heartland.
Here are some of the best ways to spend your time in the city, as well as some ideas for where to go within easy reach of this buzzing metropolis to experience outdoor adventure, local culture, art, and delicious regional food.
What’s New in Tokyo
Accommodation
Located near the waterfront within the aptly named ‘WATERS Takeshiba Precinct’, Mesm Tokyo 
brings authentic Japanese design and hospitality combined to make for the ideal choice for travellers seeking innovation and creativity. On the other side of town in the heart of Shinjuku, Kimpton Shinjuku is a sophisticated boutique hotel offering an edgy ambience, stellar city views and seamless service.
In Toranomon, Tokyo EDITION features 206 guest rooms including 22 suites with iconic views of the Tokyo skyline. The hotel includes 3 restaurants with an outdoor terrace overlooking Tokyo Tower and its new Gold Bar offers prime people-watching and a drinks list that pays homage to the pre-Prohibition golden age of tipples.
Hot Culinary Scene Additions
The Michelin Guide Tokyo 2022 has been released, now including 432 restaurants in the metropolis. Maz Tokyo , led by Santiago Fernandez, explores Peru’s food culture in inventive combinations while star chef Daniel Calvert is in the kitchen at Sezanne , situated in an art-filled space inside the Four Seasons, Marunouchi.
Meanwhile at Gucci Osteria da Massimo Bottura , head chef, Antonio Lacoviello, interprets Japanese ingredients through the lens of Italian cuisine. For ramen lovers, the recently opened Michelin starred, Ginza Hachigo , serves beautifully complex soup created by combining Japanese and Western elements.
Arts, activities, and adventure
Tokyo has always been known for its creativity and art. Launched by teamLab , ‘Planets Tokyo’ sees guests walk through water installations or take in the scents of 13,000 real orchids that ‘react’ by making space for visitors to walk around. Michelin-starred restaurant Vegan Ramen UZU Tokyo has also opened on site.
For a slice of Olympic history, visitors are now free to explore the Japan National Stadium – the tour lets visitors explore various parts of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium at leisure. Meanwhile for Disney fans, the beloved Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea is offering a 20 percent discount on one-day park tickets with fixed-date admission until January 31, 2023.
Top destinations beyond the bright lights (and how to get there)
Yamanashi
In less than 2 hours from Tokyo by express train, you could be in the scenic foothills of Mt Fuji – also known as Japan’s wine country. In Yamanashi Prefecture, you’ll discover rolling hills, sprawling vineyards, and welcoming cellar doors to rival any other well-known wine region around the world.
The region is specifically known for its native grape, the koshu varietal, with some of the wineries in the area, including the popular Risonare Yatsugatake Wine Resort , offering luxury overnight accommodation and winery tours.
Yamanashi Prefecture is also known for its locally grown produce and its many outdoor activities including hiking, camping, and hot springs. Meanwhile Mt Fuji and the picturesque Fuji Five Lakes are a huge drawcard for visitors.
Lake Kawaguchi, Yamanashi Prefecture. Photo by Sunil Naik on Unsplash.
Hokuriku-Shinetsu
With frequent shinkansen services connecting much of the Hokuriku-Shinetsu region with Tokyo in under two and a half hours, you can’t miss the opportunity to explore the Japan Alps. Including Nagano and Niigata Prefectures, the west coast region is known for its sky-piercing mountains which attract skiers and snowboarders from all over the world.
At the same time, the region’s many towns and cities including the coastal capital of Kanazawa are recognised for their thriving arts, food, and cultural scenes. Enjoying plenty of fresh seafood, local sake, and marvelling at ancient crafts are a must in the region alongside admiring the incredible architecture and idyllic rural surrounds.
Gunma
Positioned in the centre of Japan and surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, Gunma Prefecture is a mecca for outdoor adventure. Accessible from Tokyo in approximately 50 minutes, which makes it a great location for a day trip if you don’t have time for an overnight stay, visitors can enjoy scenic natural hot springs including the historical Ikaho and Kusatsu hot springs, mountain hiking or more thrilling pursuits like rafting, canyoning or canoeing in the rivers and gorges.
Hot springs in Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. Photo by Nguyen TP Hai on Unsplash.
Tohoku
Depending on where you visit, much of Japan’s Tohoku region can be reached by Shinkansen from Tokyo in under three hours. With six prefectures including Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima, the region is ideal for both summer and winter activities offering scenic mountains and gorges, rivers and waterfalls, vibrant cities and beautiful towns and villages steeped in history and culture.
Popular highlights of Tohoku include the rocky coastline and islets of Iwate and Miyagi, the mesmerising volcanic craters of Zao between Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures, and the temples, shrines, castles, colourful festivals, and hot springs of Aomori.
Shizuoka
Conveniently connected to Tokyo by shinkansen in around one hour, Shizuoka Prefecture offers mountainous landscapes and lush forests in abundance and is also known for its sprawling tea plantations which produce much of Japan’s green tea.
Made up of volcanic foothills which stretch from Mt Fuji to the coast, Shizuoka is the ideal place to enjoy spectacular views of Mt Fuji, top class onsen resorts, temples, and to explore the beaches and rugged coastline of Izu Peninsula. With their picturesque harboursides, the seaside onsen resort towns of Atami and Ito are a must-see for visitors to Shizuoka.
Shirahama Shrine, Izu, Shizuoka Prefecture. Photo by Wren Chai on Unsplash.
Must-have passes in Tokyo and beyond
Where you can go
The Japan Rail Pass is arguably the rail pass granddaddy, offering unlimited rides on almost all JR trains and shinkansen across the country. But if you’re only staying close to Tokyo, the JR East Tokyo Wide Pass can offer a better value alternative and allows you to visit nearby Nikko, Izu, Karuizawa, Kawaguchiko, the Mt Fuji area (and more) using the three-day train and shinkansen pass.
If you’re looking for a slightly further venture from Tokyo, the JR East Tohoku Area Pass opens the way for travel to the Tohoku region including Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Miyagi, Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita, Iwate and Aomori Prefectures.
Similarly, the JR East Nagano Niigata Area Pass gets you to the top destinations in Nagano and Niigata Prefectures including Matsumoto, Karuizawa and Tokamachi. You’ll also be able to visit popular ski resorts like Hakuba, Echigo-Yuzawa and Nozawa Onsen.
What to buy
If you’re unsure of your plans there are several reloadable smart cards allowing you to tap on and tap off at nearly any public transport in major cities, and many regional areas (often with a discount compared to the cash fare). In Tokyo, the main options are SUICA and PASMO . Each card starts from 1000 yen, which includes a refundable 500 yen deposit and 500 yen of credit.
Aside from the popular rail passes, there are also a number of other discount passes that could save you money. Starting from 6,800 yen for a 2-day pass, THE TOKYO PASS gets you entry to over 35 of Japan's leading museums, parks, gardens, zoos, and aquariums, as well as all unlimited rides on Tokyo’s subway.
For more information, please contact:
James Cooley | james@thelucidagency.com.au | +61 401 316 701
