Japan Intensive

It’s hard to imagine Tokyo as a tiny fishing village named Edo. Tokyo is now the largest metropolitan area in the world, an exciting city with a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, restaurants, museums, temples, and gardens to visit.

It’s hard to imagine Tokyo as a tiny fishing village named Edo. Tokyo is now the largest metropolitan area in the world, an exciting city with a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, restaurants, museums, temples, and gardens to visit.

Found on Japan’s main island, Honshu, Aomori City spends most of the year offering visitors a taste of a sleepy, seaside city mixed with forward-looking developments and modern art.

Combining the history of an established port town with modern facilities and attractions, the city has been called the economic and cultural center of the area.

Die Präfektur Akita liegt im nordöstlichen Teil des japanischen Festlandes, östlich des Japanischen Meeres, und ist geprägt von mehreren Gewässern und fruchtbarem Ackerland. Majestätische Gebirgszüge, darunter das UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe der Shirakami-Sanchi-Berge, geben der Region im Norden, Süden und Osten einen Rahmen und sorgen für großartiges Panorama.

A perfect contrast of old and new, where ancient traditions meet modern experiences—you’ll find Niigata prefecture, the largest city on Honshū’s Sea of Japan coast. Start your journey with a relaxing stroll through Niigata’s first citizen park, Hakusan-kōen. Well-manicured gardens, two large koi ponds, the most vibrant cherry blossoms, and the ancient Hukasan Shrine. An inviting space—you’ll find no reason to be “koi” here. Make your way to the bustling Bandai City where you can catch a 360-degree view Niigata and its distant snow-capped mountains from the 20th floor of the Nippō observation deck.

Tucked in between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps, flanked by the Sai and Asano rivers, Kanazawa might be an unfamiliar destination, but it’s sure to become an unexpected favorite. Translated literally Kanazawa means „marsh of gold,“ and the city produces approximately 98% of the gold leaf in Japan. Find a small jar to take home or try it sprinkled on ice cream. Gold aside, Kanazawa is also a jewel in Japan’s historical crown. Founded in the late 1500s as a castle town, the city has been relatively untouched from the ravages of World War II and natural disasters. Once a powerful and strategic city for the Maeda clan, it is now a comparatively small city with a calm, comfortable feel.

Sakaiminato’s history is steeped in fishing tradition. Now the base of Western Japan’s fishing industry, Sakaiminato has been an open trading port with the U.S. and U.K. since 1899. Today the port town continues to be a haven for seafood lovers with fish markets and world-class restaurants scattered along its streets, making it the perfect place for visitors to taste the catch of the day.

Busan ist eine internationale Metropole, was auf den führenden Handelshafen zurückzuführen ist, der direkt an der Koreastraße und neben Japan liegt. Der wunderschöne Ausblick auf das Meer macht es zu einem charmanten Ort, an dem es sich hervorragend entspannen lässt. Erleben Sie die Ruhe des Beomeo-sa Tempels, erklimmen Sie den Turm von Busan im Yongdusan Park und lassen Sie im Hushimchung Spa die Seele baumeln.

Reich an Geschichte bietet Ihnen Nagasaki eine wunderschöne Küstenszenerie und, von den Berghängen aus, eine fantastische Aussicht bei Nacht. Abgelegene Thermalquellen, faszinierende Museen und geschmückte Tempel reihen sich in dieser Stadt aneinander. Zehn Naturparks zieren die Region und Sie können das ganze Jahr über an einzigartigen Feierlichkeiten teilnehmen. Spazieren Sie durch die faszinierenden Straßen Nagasakis, die sowohl von chinesischen als auch von europäischen Kulturen beeinflusst wurden.

Merged from five smaller cities in 1963, Kitakyushu is the gateway between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu—where the city sits on its northern tip. During WWII, the fate of the city could have been forever changed, if not for bad weather and smoke from the previous day’s bombing. It was the intended target of the Fat Man atomic bomb, but was passed over due to poor visibility in favor of Nagasaki.

Diese „Stadt des Wassers und des Friedens” ist einer der am meisten geschützten Häfen des Seto Binnenmeeres und in ihr steckt viel mehr, als ihre schmerzhafte Vergangenheit, die sie anerkennt und der sie gleichzeitig trotzt. Reflektieren Sie und läuten Sie dich Glocke des Friedens im Peace Memorial Park, danach setzten Sie mit der Fähre über auf die heilige Insel Miyajima, die für ihren Itsukushima Schrein und den schwimmenden Torii bekannt ist.

On the Seto Inland Sea, looking out over the Sanuki mountain range, sits the island of Shikoku and the old castle town of Takamatsu, Japan.

Now a vibrant city, Takamatsu has been an economic hub of the region since the Edo period. To get a sense of its history, visit Tamamo-koen Park. The 16th century Takamatsu Castle had been destroyed, but there’s still plenty to explore: ruins, water moats, and classic Japanese-style yagura or turrets.

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It’s known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It’s surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.

Osaka is a large port city and commercial center on the Japanese island of Honshu. It’s known for its modern architecture, nightlife and hearty street food. The 16th-century shogunate Osaka Castle, which has undergone several restorations, is its main historical landmark. It’s surrounded by a moat and park with plum, peach and cherry-blossom trees. Sumiyoshi-taisha is among Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.