Bucket List Japan

Japan is one of those destinations that seems to appear on bucket lists again and again. And I completely understand why.

It is a country where the ultra-modern and the deeply traditional sit side by side: neon-lit Tokyo and ancient temples; bullet trains and centuries-old tea ceremonies; extraordinary food, beautiful gardens, shrines, castles and landscapes dominated by perhaps the most recognisable mountain in the world.

But there is one thing I hear surprisingly often:

“I’d love to go to Japan, but isn’t it incredibly expensive?”

Japan certainly earned that reputation in the past, and some very high-end experiences can still come with equally high-end price tags. But a holiday to Japan today does not necessarily have to cost a fortune. In fact, with the right itinerary it can offer remarkably good value.

For a first visit, I particularly recommend seeing Japan as a touring holiday. You can travel privately, join a small escorted group, or choose a well-organised independent itinerary that gives you the framework while still leaving plenty of freedom to explore.

And getting around is part of the experience. Riding Japan's famous Shinkansen — the bullet train — between cities is surely a bucket-list moment in itself.

Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka

A really good introduction is the classic trio of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

Begin in Tokyo, where you can stand amid the organised chaos of Shibuya Crossing, explore neighbourhoods that seem almost futuristic and then step through the gates of a peaceful shrine moments later. Perhaps take in a guided Shibuya walking tour or add an excursion to Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi.

Then take the bullet train to Kyoto.

This is the Japan many of us have pictured before we ever arrive: wooden townhouses, temples, gardens and atmospheric lantern-lit streets. An evening walking tour through Gion, Kyoto's famous geisha district, is a must. You could also add a day visiting the Golden Pavilion, walk beneath the seemingly endless vermilion gates of Fushimi Inari, and travel to Nara, where deer wander amongst temples and parkland.

Finally there is Osaka; vibrant, colourful and wonderfully food-obsessed. Think neon-lit Dōtonbori, street food, nightlife and another completely different side of Japan.

Or let me take you beyond the obvious Japan

If you want something more individual, this is where a private tailor-made journey becomes really exciting.

We can still include Tokyo, Kyoto and Mount Fuji, but we can also take you beyond the classic route.

Perhaps stay in a traditional ryokan and soak in an onsen. Learn the ritual of a Japanese tea ceremony; a tradition in which preparing and serving matcha has been elevated into an art form. Or head into Shizuoka, where green tea plantations spread across the landscape beneath Mount Fuji.

You could take a sushi-making class, spend a night in a Buddhist temple, experience a sumo tournament when dates allow, visit Hiroshima and Miyajima, explore rural villages or travel during cherry blossom or autumn colour season.

And then there is a side of Japan that many first-time visitors don't even realise exists.

Okinawa.

Japan's southernmost prefecture is subtropical, with white-sand beaches, coral reefs, clear blue seas, mangrove forests and its own distinctive Ryukyu culture. It can feel a world away from Tokyo and Kyoto; yet there are frequent flights south from the Japanese mainland.

That's the joy of designing Japan privately. We can create your Japan, rather than simply following everybody else's route.

Whether that means the classic highlights at a surprisingly accessible price or an extraordinary private journey combining bullet trains, temples, tea fields, mountains and tropical islands, Japan is one destination I think thoroughly deserves its place on a bucket list.

And what about skiing in Japan?

Japan isn’t only a bucket-list destination for temples, bullet trains and cherry blossom. For skiers and snowboarders, it is something rather special too. I’ve had clients travel to Japan specifically to ski and they have absolutely loved it; not only for the skiing itself, but because the whole experience feels so different from a European or North American ski holiday.

Japan is world-famous for the quality of its snow, particularly the extraordinarily light, dry powder found in resorts such as Niseko in Hokkaido and Hakuba in the Japanese Alps. 

A typical ski trip might begin with a night in Tokyo after your international flight; a chance to recover from the journey, enjoy a fabulous dinner and perhaps get your first taste of this extraordinary city. Then it's time to head for the mountains. For resorts around Nagano and Hakuba, the Shinkansen whisks you out of Tokyo before a short onward transfer to the slopes; for Niseko, it's normally a domestic flight north to Hokkaido followed by a resort transfer. 

And, as you would expect from Japan, it isn’t simply about the snow. The accommodation, food and service can be exceptional, while soaking in a steaming onsen after a day on the mountain is a rather wonderful alternative to the traditional Alpine après-ski. There are resorts and hotels to suit different styles and budgets, from contemporary ski-in/ski-out properties to more traditional Japanese stays.

So if skiing somewhere completely different has ever featured on your bucket list, I’d encourage you to think beyond the European Alps. Japan combines genuinely world-class snow with everything else that makes the country so fascinating — culture, food, hospitality and a sense that even your journey to the slopes is part of the adventure.

Japan has been on your list for long enough. Perhaps it's time to go.

Ask me about Japan