Japan’s Cultural Heartland

Tokyo oscillates between heightened refinement and sense-scrambling extremes. Stroll amid the moats and formal gardens of the Imperial Palace and the tranquil Meiji Shrine, then plunge into the vibrant whirl of Harajuku's anime-inspired fashion scene. The city’s charm lies in its ability to juxtapose tradition with cutting-edge trends, from the historic Asakusa Kannon Temple to the eclectic street styles of Omotesando. Tokyo is where the past, present and future coexist in electrifying harmony.

Set against the backdrop of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, Hakone is a haven of natural beauty and cultural treasures, the clear mountain air and invigorating hot springs making it a revitalizing escape from Tokyo. Begin any journey with a tranquil cruise across Lake Ashi, surrounded by lush, forested mountains before ascending in an aerial tram for breathtaking vistas of snow-capped Mount Fuji, its iconic silhouette cut out of the sky.  

As Japan’s former imperial capital for more than a thousand years, a place of shrines, bamboo groves and treasures, Kyoto has long been an incubator and preserver of high-art forms, from calligraphy and ceramics to tea ceremonies and refined geisha entertainments. Get a taste of this beguiling city at its private teahouses, Buddhist temples and traditional gardens. Or, indeed, over dinner – though barely one-ninth the size of Tokyo, Kyoto has the highest Michelin-star quotient per capita of any city on earth. Nearby Nara offers a different pace, where free-roaming deer and the colossal bronze Buddha at Todai-ji Temple anchor travellers in a landscape that feels timeless.