Public Servant Lifestyle

Japan is a land of incredible history, of strong values, magnificent castles, mystical charms and dramatic scenery.

Rich in culture, history and beauty the cities and towns of the Japanese islands are ultra high-tech and swarming, whilst the rural areas are amongst some of the most strikingly beautiful to be found anywhere in the world.

A relatively small country when compared to the number of people who live there it is perhaps this concentration - more than any other single factor - that makes for a fast paced and cosmopolitan lifestyle. For whatever reason you go there, go there with an open mind and prepare to be dazzled!

Tokyo

Tokyo reflects the diverse nature of Japan. Crowded and tiny housing and crammed motorways represent the bad side of modernity, but don’t lose sight of the fact that this is the archetypal Japanese success story. Amazingly, though, in spite of the wealth, the streets are still lined with little dedicated shops and restaurants open late into the night rather than the large hyper-markets that are now commonplace in the West.

Try to take the time to wander through the streets of the 'real' Tokyo with its old wooden houses, traditional saki houses and kimono-wearing elder statesmen. The contrasts that you will encounter between the hustle and bustle and the older traditional culture make this a place that you will never tire of exploring.

Tokyo’s recent history is a torrid one and it has truly risen like a phoenix from the flames after the earthquake in the 1920s and the extensive bombing by the Allies during World War Two. The rebuild has led to a city divide being created by the central Ginza shopping district. The West reflects all things brash and glamorous, whilst the East is the more residential and down-to-earth style.

Fix in your mind the fact that Tokyo is not a city of museums and monuments but more a living and breathing thing: visit here for soaking in Japanese culture not for sight seeing.

Start in the Ginza shopping district. Free-spending is a social must in one of the many designer shops. The small private galleries here are as appealing to the art lover as to the art buyer. Some of Japan's best galleries can be found in the Ueno-keon Park north of the centre. You will find scientific wonders here, too, in the National Science Museum and for history try the Shitamachi History Museum.

Those with an eye for the finer things in life would do well to look at some of the many examples of Ikebana - the art of Japanese flower arranging - and of Kazari - the 15th-19th century Japanese art of arranging decorative objects, the evolution of which strictly governs the art and principles of display. For the latter, check out the Suntory Museum of Art in Akasaka, Tokyo. This striking museum - originated by one of Japan's largest manafaturers of non-alchoholic drinks, including GOO-BEE! BIKKLE and 'Beautiful Water'(!) - offers a wide-ranging collection of some 3,000 pieces. At its core are items intimately connected with daily life in Japan, including: paintings, ceramics, lacquerware, textiles, and glassware.

Asakusa

Asakusa is the place to travel for a look at the old style of life. The main point of interest here is the Senso-ji Temple, which is the liveliest place of worship in all of Japan. The way Asakusa looks now is a far cry from its time as a pleasure district in days gone by.

For entertainment and adventure try Shinjuku. This is a district full of everything from top-quality department stores to bargain shops, noodle bars, flashing neon signs, enormous building-mounted TV screens and sleazy strip bars.

One thought to bear in mind is that Tokyo itself is expensive to stay in, so try places like Ueno, Ikebukuro or even Shinjuku. The same is true as with eating and drinking, and Ginza provides an alternative, albeit another expensive one.

Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji is probably the most recognisable tourist attraction in Japan. A huge symmetrical volcanic rock, it is 12,385ft high, and on a clear day can be seen from 60 miles away in Tokyo. Sadly this does not happen very often as the mountain is invariably hidden by cloud. The views are usually best in winter and early spring when the possibility of snow adds to the spectacle. That said, climbing season is in the summer months of July and August and is packed with Japanese tourists at these times. Do bear in mind that this is not walking in the hills, and is a serious climb where altitude sickness and changeable weather make it something not to be undertaken lightheartedly. One for experts and the well-prepared only!

The five lakes of Fuji which sprawl around the northern side of the mountain are popular with the Japanese for water sports, amusement parks and ice caves and due to their accessibility from Tokyo by all forms of transport.

Kyoto

Kyoto functions as the major cultural centre for all of Japan. With hundreds of temples and gardens, it is a reminder of the imperial status the city once had. With geisha girls and visible temple roofs prominent amongst the industrial and commercial structures, this the place lives up to the Western cliché of Japan. In the centre of Kyoto there are not many sights to see, but one of the few is the Imperial Palace, which dates back to 1855.

If quantity and quality of sights are important, then visit the eastern district of Higashiyama for fine temples, peace and quiet and traditional evening entertainment. A visit to the Sanjusangen-do temple will reveal the magnificent statues of the Thousand-Armed Kannon, 1001 to be precise!

A truly odd sight in the north-west of Kyoto is the gold-foil-covered Kinkaku-ji Temple, reconstructed after a crazed monk's arson attack in the 1950s.

In the Takao district to the north-west is the finest standing castle in all of Japan, the Himeji-jo castle, known as the 'White Egret' due to its white form.

More must-see attractions for the holidaymaker are the various festivals held in Kyoto. But beware - the city becomes very crowded and accommodation prices are at a premium, so book early! The Gion Matsuri is Japan's most renowned festival, which climaxes in a huge parade when enormous fires are lit to bid farewell to the souls of ancestors long since passed away. For eating out at all times, central Kyoto is excellent, with reasonably-priced traditional Japanese and international cuisine.

Hokkaido

Nature lovers should take a trip to Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido, one of Japan's largest and northernmost islands. The park consists of mountain groups, volcanoes, lakes and forests, ideal for hiking, skiing and view-seeking.

Sounkyo is the tourist centre of the island where there is a hot spring resort and a gorge. The park is also home to Japan's most popular ski resort, Furano, where the powder skiing is considered to be among the world's best. North of here are the hot spring villages of Tokachidake and Shirogane, which are both picturesque and not as crowded as elsewhere on the island.

Nagasaki

Nagasaki is famous for all the wrong reasons. This is the place where the second atomic bomb was dropped, and in the aftermath many of the historical sights created by the Dutch and Portuguese were destroyed.

Reminders of the past are evident at Ukrami, the now-prosperous and peaceful centre of the explosion, where one of the main attractions is the A-bomb museum. The Hypocentre Park has a black stone column that marks the exact spot where the bomb landed, as well as interesting artefacts and relics from the blast.

The southern end of Nagasaki is where the former homes of European settlers have been reconstructed. Glover garden is awash with moving stairways, fish and fountains, and resembles an idyllic American theme park.

From London to Tokyo is 11 hours 30 minutes on a direct flight (stopovers can add a further 5 or 6 hours) and to Osaka is 12 hours. Average summer (July to September) temperature: 20-26°C.

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