Situated between Kyoto and Nara, Uji is famous for being the home of a Japanese staple, green tea, which was first cultivated in the region in the 12th Century.
The town also offers a range of historic architecture to explore, including a number of rustic temples and the oldest Japanese shrine still in existence.
With your Japan Rail Pass, it’s easy to visit both Tokyo and Kyoto and make the most of your trip. Regular bullet trains connect the 2 cities, meaning you can make the journey in just a few hours.
This guide explains how to travel from Tokyo to Kyoto, including bullet train services and journey times. You’ll also find details on alternative ways to make the trip, including daytime coach services and night buses.
Sendai may not be as renowned at the neon metropolis of Tokyo, but it is ranked among Japan’s largest cities. It is also known as “the city of trees.” Why? Sendai features broad streets punctuated by parks and green public spaces. Even its covered shopping arcade has trees growing within it.
Sendai is also home to a rich and vigorous history. The city was founded by a powerful feudal lord around the year 1600. Many of the tourist attractions in Sendai reflect its history and that of its founding family.
Nagano is a prefecture full of breath-taking mountain scenery and rich history. Its capital, Nagano City, originated as a humble “temple town,” centered on the popular Zenkoji temple.
The rugged forests north of Nagano City still resonate with the legends and realities of the ninja, skilled warriors of the past. In modern times, Nagano again invited “warriors” of great skill when it hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. In fact, the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in October 1997, just in time for the games.
Japan’s second-largest city after Tokyo, Yokohama is located half an hour south of Tokyo. One of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade, in 1859, Yokohama has a reputation as a truly multicultural city and draws a large number of both Japanese and international visitors.
Its range of diverse attractions includes one of the largest Chinatowns in the world, a range of gastronomic experiences such as a Ramen Museum and brewery tours, and a large zoo and sea-themed amusement park.
Imagine walking in the sands of a beautiful island in the Seto Inland Sea. You approach a concrete pier jutting out into the water. Rather than your usual retinue of fishermen and tourists, you are greeted by an enormous black and golden pumpkin.
The scene described is no fairytale or dream. It is part of the sculptures and modern art for which the island of Naoshima is known. The island enjoys sunny weather and rural living that rivals that of Europe’s Mediterranean region.
