Japan

Japan lies in East Asia across four main islands — Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku — and thousands of smaller ones, the Ryukyu chain among them. Washed by the Pacific, the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, the country is largely mountainous, crowned by Mount Fuji at 3,776 m. Its island isolation shaped a culture like no other: the tea ceremony, rock gardens, kabuki, sumo, haiku and origami, and a cuisine that has become a benchmark the world over.

Tokyo, on Honshu, is a metropolis where Shinto shrines stand among skyscrapers and exacting service meets cutting-edge technology. Kyoto, the old imperial capital, keeps hundreds of Buddhist temples, the wooden streets of Higashiyama and the mood of old Japan, while Osaka, with its celebrated castle, is known for its food and lively city pace.

The north is temperate, the south subtropical. The best times to travel are spring (late March to May), when the cherry trees blossom, and autumn (October to November), when the summer humidity has lifted and the maples turn crimson. Japan suits travellers drawn to culture, history and food, couples and families, and anyone seeking a rare balance of tradition, calm and modernity.