Japan is a must-visit destination for the well-heeled traveler. For westerners, it is an indulgence into the exotic. The culture, architecture, landmarks, and culinary experiences are simply unforgettable.  The Golden Route is Japan’s most visited areas by Western tourists: Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.  For first time visitors, these three destinations give a good glimpse into the Japanese experience giving a good mix to sight seeing, culture, and the glorious food.

Japan’s Kitchen
Osaka is Japan’s foodie capital – namely home to its street food. Indeed, Netflix have just released a new series on the world’s street food destinations (one of the episodes is on Osaka) and the BBC has recorded its own show there with Paul Hollywood. The BBC filmed their episode with the enthusiastic Ayako Kiyono – a bubbly and likeable character who can show you the sights (and tastes) of Dotonbori – the heart of Osaka’s street food. You can book Aya through InsideJapanTours.com – the leading Japan travel specialist able to tailor travel to suit interests, time frames and budgets. While on your holiday, it can also be very helpful if you are equipped with an eSIM  Japan while you travel so you can stay connected and share your memories online

There are three important ingredients to Osaka’s food: pumpkin, yam and octopus, while cabbage is used frequently because it aids digestion.

Among Osaka’s culinary delights you’ll discover gyoza, which was brought over to Japan from China by soldiers; takoyaki, octopus-filled balls which used to be made with beef until the 1930s when beef became too expensive; okonomiyaki is a popular dish unique to Osakans that was invented at a tea ceremony 400 years ago; and kushikatsu skewers, which come in a wide range of deep fried varieties and were originally invented for the workers and remain cheap to this day, working out to roughly 80-90p per skewer!

Japan’s Culture
For a taste of authentic Japanese culture travel to Kyoto. Japan’s capital from 794 to 1868, it used to be called Heian-kyo (the kyo means capital and Heian reflects the Heian period, when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height; Tokyo means east capital). The government moved the capital to Tokyo because of a sewage problem.

The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) of Kyoto is a must visit. The gold leafed Buddhist temple is breathtaking in its beauty, dazzling visitors from all over the world. Ryoan-ji Temple is home to Japan’s most famous Zen Garden, the highlight being 15 mystical rocks floating in a sea of pure white sand, while the Fushimi Inari Shrine has to be the social media elite’s most popular choice thanks to its series of red gates. It’s also reportedly home to Japan’s mythical Inari foxes, so keep your eyes peeled.

Speaking of series, make time for the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, which offers several pathways for tourists to immerse themselves in. Gion, too, is not to be missed. It’s the home the geisha!

Japan’s Luxury
Tokyo is renowned for its luxury and boasts the world’s most Michelin-starred restaurants with a total of 230 restaurants owning the prestigious honour. The Capitol offers views of the Imperial Palace, has an interior designed by Kengo Kuma (the man who’s building the Olympic stadium for 2020) and a series of restaurants, one of which – Origami – is where Shinzo Abe (Japan’s Prime Minister) goes for his lunch.

Speaking of the Imperial Palace, you can’t get much closer than Palace Hotel Tokyo – it’s right across the road! This stunning 5-star hotel is adjacent to the Palace gardens, located in the urban business hub of Tokyo, which bears resemblance to New York’s Madison Avenue. The views from the 278 rooms and 12 suites of this towering skyscraper are sensational, while among its 10 restaurants and bars is the gem Wadakura. This gorgeous restaurant pays a beautiful homage to kaiseki – the multi-course dining experience that’s synonymous with Japanese culture. An evian spa, a sweets & deli pastry shop, a number of high-end function spaces and its own direct access to an underground high street of shops, restaurants and bars which leads to the subway makes Palace Hotel Tokyo one of the city’s finest. Did I mention the bespoke services including Olympic-themed city tours with former Olympian swimmers, cyclists and runners?

Another option to consider in Tokyo is The Prince Park Tower Tokyo,a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Directly opposite Tokyo Tower, it offers enchanting city views (particularly at night), a fantastic service especially in the club lounge and spacious rooms.

Tokyo has so much to offer that at first it can seem intimidating to navigate. The best bet is to hire a guide (visit seotravel.co.uk and trueluxury.travel) to show you the sights of Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Ginza, Akihabara, Daikanyama and much more.

 

Unseen Japan
Fancy getting off the beaten track? Visit Karuizawa in Nagano, just 90 minutes away on the bullet train (let the Japan National Tourism Organization arrange your pass if you’re not hiring a car) from Tokyo; it’s a mountain resort where many city-dwellers have their holiday homes and home to two bakers which were the favourites of John Lennon! Karuizawa Prince Hotel East is an excellent choice if you’re into skiing (they have their own slopes), while HOSHINOYA is an incredible oasis of tranquillity, a resort village that’s completely at one with nature and offers a glimpse of what Japan must have been like without “Westernization”.

HOSHINOYA shares its surroundings with Picchio, an incredibly hard-working team that’s dedicated its cause to the wellbeing of the animals and eco-system of the area. Their nature tours include a glimpse into their bear conservation work and a peek into the nightly awakenings of giant flying squirrels. Expect to come away with deep-seated respect for the Picchio staff’s efforts, a newfound knowledge they’ll gladly share with you and a love for the Japanese countryside. Just remember to wrap up warm, temperatures can plummet to -15 degrees Celsius!

Japan is truly a remarkable destination. For first time visitors, the Golden Route of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are a good start when indulging in the Japanese travel experience.