Spend your holiday vacation in Japan, and enjoy the country's sixteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ski resorts, gastronomic fare, and fantastic hotels. And while planning your vacation itinerary to Japan, consider visiting these five great tourist attractions.
Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu
Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu is a majestic snow resort in Hokkaidō. The resort is famous for its fine powdery snow. Many skiers and snowboarders go to Niseko Mt. Resort Grand Hirafu during the winter to gain access to the resort's various slopes and amenities.
Nikkō National Park
This vast national park located in Honshū is a popular tourist attraction in Japan. Nikkō National Park boasts of spectacular natural scenery, as well as remarkable Buddhist and Shinto places of worship. The Shrines and Temples of Nikkō, in particular, are notable and have been elected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Nature enthusiasts will definitely love Nikkō National Park for its scenic Lake Chūzenji, Kegon Falls, Ryūzu Falls, and Mount Nikkō-Shirane, a volcano. Many species of Japanese flora are scattered around the park, including firs and maples. You can also visit the hot spring resorts in the area, as well as camp, hike, play golf, and ski.
Mount Fuji
Don't miss out on the chance to see the tallest mountain in Japan. Also an active volcano, the iconic Mount Fuji can be accessed via four main routes. Aside from mountain climbing, paragliding is another popular activity in Mount Fuji.
Climbing Mount Fuji between October and May is risky because of the extreme cold, so you may want to schedule your visit to this tourist destination during the summer.
Okayama Castle
The black façade of Okayama Castle earned it its popular moniker, Crow Castle, in direct foil to the white Himeji-based Egret Castle. The historic Okayama Castle features gilded gargoyles and tiles on its rooftop.
The reconstructed Okayama Castle now has air conditioning, elevators, and several exhibits that detail the history of the concrete structure, most especially its role in the Ikeda era. You can enter this tourist attraction for free.
Kokura Castle
Kokura Castle has a turbulent history. It was razed in 1865 when the warring clans, Chōshū and Kokura, fought. By 1990, full restoration of the captivating Japanese castle was completed.
Other noteworthy points of interest are Kokura Castle's Matsumoto Seicho museum and its pre-Brunton-period light house. This tourist attraction is accessible and is only a ten-minute walk from Kokura Station. It is also near the Riverwalk shopping area, a convenient stop when looking for souvenirs for your holiday vacation.