Things to do in Japan

Tokyo, the vast capital, is a constellation of districts, from Shibuya's crossing and Shinjuku's towers to Asakusa's temple and the calm of the Meiji Jingu shrine. Kyoto, the former imperial capital, is a city of temples, gardens and geisha quarters, with the torii gates of Fushimi Inari and the Golden Pavilion among its treasures.

Osaka, a short train ride from Kyoto, is the nation's kitchen, with neon canals, street food and a grand castle, and the deer park and great Buddha of Nara lie close by. Beyond the main cities, Mount Fuji and the hot springs of Hakone, the shrines of Nikko, the peace memorial at Hiroshima and the snowy north of Hokkaido reward further travel.

Japanese food is an art at every level, from sushi, ramen and tempura to street-side takoyaki and refined kaiseki. Spring brings cherry blossom and autumn brilliant foliage, the two most beloved seasons; summer is hot and humid with festivals, and winter is crisp, with deep snow in the mountains. The bullet trains make it easy to move between cities.