Top 10 Great Japan Dream Journeys
1. New Lonely Planet: Japan - The Japan Alps & Central Honshu (ebook Chapter)
Japan's heartland in both geography and outlook, Central Honshu stretches out between the sprawling leviathans of Greater Tokyo and Kansai. The region's photogenic alpine uplands offer world-class skiing, hiking and onsen.
2. Japan - Tokyo (ebook Chapter) Lonely Planet
Tokyo offers a tapestry of sensory madness unlike anywhere else. It has all the sights that you expect of Japan - grand temples, elegant gardens and onsen. But to enjoy the city as the locals do, splurge on sushi, sing karakoke until dawn or shop for the latest must-haves.
3. New Lonely Planet: Japan - Kansai (ebook Chapter)
Kansai is the heart of Japan. Nowhere else in the country can you find so much of historical and cultural interest in such a compact area. Indeed, if you had to choose only one region of Japan to explore, Kansai would be the easy choice.
4. Japan - Kyoto (Chapter) Lonely Planet
Kyoto is the place to go to see what Japan is all about. Here is where you'll find all those things you associate with Japan: ancient temples, colourful shrines and sublime gardens.
5. Japan - Kyushu (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet
Japan's southern- and westernmost main island is its warmest, friendliest and (we're partial) most beautiful. Jomon ruins, Shinto's sun goddess, wealthy trading ports, cloistered foreigners, samurai rebels and one of the earth's greatest wartime tragedies all loom large.
6. Japan - Shikoku (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet
Shikoku is synonymous with natural beauty and the pursuit of spiritual perfection. Yet this is not merely a place for soul-searching - the stunning Iya Valley, a rugged Pacific Ocean Coastline, free-flowing rivers and mountain ranges all beckon to be explored.
7. Japan - Okinawa & The Southwest Islands (PDF Chapter) Lonely Planet
Japan's Southwest Islands are a nature lover's paradise. But spectacular nature is only part of it - they exude a peculiarly 'un-Japanese' culture. Indeed, the islands made up a separate country for most of their history, and the Ryukyu cultural heart still beats strongly here.
8. New Lonely Planet: Japan - Hiroshima & Western Honshu (ebook Chapter)
Hike through Western Honshu's inland gorges through caves. Visit the region's big name - indelibly scarred, thriving, warm-hearted Hiroshima. Or escape the mainland altogether by heading to the Inland Sea's galaxy of islands, or to remote Oki-shoto in the Sea of Japan.
9. Japan - Northern Honshu (Tohoku) (ebook chapter) Lonely Planet
Northern Honshu is a land of hulking volcanic massifs and remote hot springs, of ancient folk beliefs and unique customs born of centuries of isolation. The vast majority of the region was spared significant damage in the earthquake and tsunami of 2011, remaining as attractive as ever to those seeking an off-the-beaten-track adventure.
10. Japan - Mt Fuji & Around Tokyo (Chapter) Lonely Planet
With ancient sanctuaries and natural hot springs, mountains and beaches, the region surrounding Tokyo is a natural foil for the dizzying capital. Really, you couldn't design it any better if you tried.