New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Japan is one of the most magical destinations you can visit today! The well-maintained traditions, amazing views, multi-layered culture and incredible technology advancements are just a few of the reasons why you should plan your next holiday to this wonderful country. There are so many things to do in Japan that it's almost impossible to get bored!
A few decades ago, tourism in Japan was a very expensive destination, but this recently changed because of the decrease in value of the Yen. To be honest, it is still quite costly compared to other countries, but trust me, it is worth every penny! Leaving the money aside, there will be one great problem you will face on your first trip - not having enough time to do all the fun activities you've planned. No worries, below you can find a list of the top five things you should not miss out on your journey:
Take a bath in an Onsen
Japan is famous for its over ten-thousands hot springs. All the villages and cities have at least one Onsen (Japanese for "hot spring") and you must not leave without bathing in one of them.
Beppu is the best destination if you're exclusively looking for hot springs. The city even has a volcanic sand bath, or you can visit the local amusement park called "The hells", which is made from the springs that were too hot or sulfurous to bath in. The bath in an Onsen can't be absent from your Japan checklist!
Be advised that the majority of Onsen are not your standard western spa, they are mainly bathhouses and they are quintessential to the Japanese culture. If you're looking for something more remarkable, the Takaragwa-Onsen is the best choice. It is located along the banks of a wild mountain river and the views are simply breathtaking.
Visit the Ise Grand Shrine
Dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu, the Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮 Ise Jingū) is the greatest symbol of the prevalent Shinto religion. The Japanese people believe in the ephemerality of all things, but also consider old places to hold the evil spirits. The shrine was built around the 7th century A.D. and they rebuild it every 20 years. There is a huge festival that marks the rebuilding ceremony. The next rebuilding will happen in 2033, but don't worry, visiting the shrine alone is a mesmerizing and enlightening experience.
Play Spider Solitaire Online
You can play Spider Solitaire online even from your phone, but of course if you would like to have a better experience you could try to play the Spider Solitaire game from a big laptop screen.
Take the Shinkansen
By now you already know that there are many places that you have to visit in Japan, but there are also some Japanese day-to-day activities that you should also experience. The bullet train or Shinkansen is one of the most essential things for the regular Japanese, but for tourists, riding it can be a thrilling and one-of-a-kind adventure. It represents the fastest (up to 177 mph), cheapest and easiest way to travel anywhere on Honshu, the main island of Japan.
These trains are great, having an average delay of only 54 seconds and 13 trains on track every hour. Despite of the regular occurrence of natural disasters (like earthquakes and typhoons), there were no accidents caused by technical difficulties in the 50-year long history of the Shinkansen.
We suggest you apply in advance for a Japan Rail Pass. Doing this before leaving from home will give you unlimited train rides for a very small price (drastically discounted for tourists only), which will come in handy once you arrive in Japan, as it is the fastest way to travel around the country.
Play Online Casinos from the comfort of your hotel room
If you're on a budget, we recommend you try out the sci-fi looking Japanese capsule hotel where you only get a bed and lights. However, for those that want to stay in a 4 or 5-star hotel, we have good news! The exclusive hotels in Japan offer a great view and impressive service, while also representing a good spot for you to relax after a day filled with activities.
Even if the gambling tourism is still in its infancy, you can still enjoy your favorite online casino games while you sit in your room and have nothing better to do. Who knows, maybe you win some money and extend your holiday.
On top of that, in 2018, the government approved the launch of the greatest casino resort which will be available to the public in 2021. This is good news, especially for the gambling enthusiasts.
Japan is an incredible country. Many tourists say it was a unique and relaxing experience and that they would recommend it to their close relatives. How much of this is true? The answer is "It depends". Because it really depends on how you plan your trip and how well you accommodate to the local customs and traditions. The five suggestions we offered you should give a brief overview of how amazing your journey can be, but there are many other things you could do in Japan that are worth checking out, like spending a night at a Buddhist temple, visiting the temples of Mount Koya or even see a bamboo forest!
We hope you have a wonderful holiday in Japan! There are special events for every season, so if you get the chance, you should visit it multiple times, but in different seasons. It is worth it!
