Japan Vacations and Tours to Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands, the four largest islands, Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, accounting for ninety-seven percent of Japan's land area. Eco tourism in Japan started getting attention about 15 years ago and participates in TIES, the world's oldest and largest eco tourism organization, to promote the principles of eco tourism in Japan. Consequently, there is a wide range of eco Japan vacations.
Honshu is the largest island of Japan and has everything that vacations to Japan should include; the bright lights and confusion of Tokyo; Osaka, Japan's fashion and culinary heartland; the historical cities of Kyoto, Nara, and Kamakura; and the awe-inspiring peaks of the Japan Alps.
Japan's second largest island, Hokkaido, boasts huge national parks, vast empty plains, crystal clear lakes and soaring mountain landscapes perfect for a adventure vacation in Japan.
The third largest island of Japan, Kyushu, is an early centre of Japanese civilization, offering many historic treasures and natural beauty. Here you will find a country far removed from the bright lights of the ultra-modern cities, so you can experience your vacation in Japan at a slower pace.
Although Shikoku is the smallest and least visited of Japan's four main islands, it should not be excluded when planning your vacation in Japan. Shikoku is home to some of Japan's most atmospheric towns, picturesque gardens, breathtaking mountain scenery and precipitous gorges. There’s a wonderful range of rewarding tours of Japan available that could be perfect for family vacations, your honeymoon, or cultural travel in Japan.
You may find yourself on a tour to Japan, off the beaten track, exploring the deep north through a landscape of rugged coastline, volcanic lakes and holy mountains. You may accompany pilgrims on tour mountain temples in the Samurai quarters and castle towns, marvelling at snow-capped volcanoes.
Alternatively, there are tours to Japan closer to the track where you may find yourself trying to absorb the modern and space-age society of Tokyo, enjoying a tea ceremony and local monuments, or relishing in Kyoto's famed gardens, learning something of the art of these gardens and Geisha traditions. There are also tours of Japan that are tailor made for a specific activity or interest such as cycling tours of Japan, cuisine tours in Japan, and guided walking tours in Japan.
Family vacations and tours in Japan are also popular. Modern day Japan is an unique blend of ancient and modern and offers families educational and Japan adventure vacations, from simple cultural travel in Japan, to in-depth geography related trips, to activity and adventure specific tours in Japan such as white water rafting or snow shoeing vacations in Japan.
With the country's historical tales of courtly love pervading Japanese literature, as well as a combination of exciting city destinations, long white sandy beaches, hot-spring resorts and interesting cultural sights - a honeymoon in Japan is excitingly different. A honeymoon in Japan has so much to offer any newly-wed couple from city sightseeing, shopping and dinning combined with escape and relaxation in the dramatic countryside of the mountains or on the sweeping beaches and tropical islands. So whether it is a family trip, an adventure tour to Japan, or your honeymoon in Japan, it is certainly a destination which offers something for everyone.
Adventure Vacations and Adventure Tours in Japan
Away from the colourful excitement of the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan is a country of great natural beauty as it boasts huge national parks, vast empty plains, crystal clear lakes and soaring mountain landscapes perfect for an adventure vacation in Japan. Because of this, there are a fantastic range of adventures trips in Japan and adventure tours in Japan. You may find yourself on an adventure tour in Japan soaking up the history and beauty of Japan in imperial Kyoto and Nara, seeing the snow monkeys of Yudanaka hot spring, and visiting traditional merchants’ houses and mountain villages.
There are also a number or cycling tours in Japan, walking tours in Japan and white water rafting in Japan if you’re looking for more active adventure trips in Japan. Japan cycling vacations usually tour at least two weeks and can take you along remote mountain trails, through ever-changing landscapes of rice paddies, active volcanoes, bubbling sulphur pools, lake sides, and remote agricultural villages.
Walking in Japan is another popular theme of adventure tours in Japan. A walking vacation in Japan may be self-guided where you can follow the roads through the central mountains – one of a network of ancient highways. Alternatively, small guided walking tours in Japan are available, usually with no more than 12 people to keep it personal and memorable. Typically, these involve a wide variety of activities with ample time to visit temples, wander through small villages, and enjoy soaking in rural hot springs. Eco tourism in Japan has been a central part of the country's tourism for the last 15 years and participates in TIES to promote the principles of eco tourism in Japan. Therefore, it is good to remember when planning your adventure vacation in Japan, all the wonderful range of eco vacations in Japan available.