So, You Want to Travel to Japan?

Welcome to Japan, the land of feudal lords, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines, bright lights, and busy cities. But did you know that it’s also the land of skiing, diving, biking, and hiking? Japan offers the best of both worlds for the adventure traveler: a chance to enjoy modern city life, plus ample opportunities to get escape the city and get your adrenaline pumping in more rural spots.

Japan is home to more than 13,500 square miles of protected land, stretching from seaside parks up into the mountains. Eighty percent of the country is mountain ranges, so skiers rejoice—there are more than 500 routes to slice through fresh powder. Bikers and hikers can travel all across the country, on local city tours or multi-day trips from one end of Japan to another. There’s even a 37-mile expressway with a dedicated bike path connecting nine islands. And surfers and scuba divers can also enjoy Japan, with some excellent waves about an hour away from Tokyo and prime diving spots in the southern islands.

Looking into the Past

Historically, Japan’s timeline stretches back to before 12,000 BC—so there’s a deep-seated honor of traditions and the past. The original people here were hunter-gatherers, but quickly discovered agriculture and learned to grow rice around 300 BC. Rice became one of the most important things in the culture: it showed your wealth, it kept you alive, and it was a sustaining meal. Even today, every meal ends with rice, which is considered the main course. Without rice, it’s not a complete dining experience.

In the early days, Shinto customs and rituals ruled Japan. Though the exact year is debated, Buddhism appeared somewhere between 550-560 AD, around the same time as the flourish of feudal culture. Clans ruled the outer lands, gaining more power than the emperor and eventually forming the shogunate system, or what we know as the time of the samurais.

Tokyo (then known as Edo) became Japan’s capital in 1603. The Edo period was peaceful and promoted culture and learning across the country. In the mid-1800s, this peace would end, as foreign ships arrived, demanding that Japan no longer isolated itself. The Shogun relented, sparking a civil war that would eventually bring power back to an overall emperor and disband the shogunate.

Knowing the past of Japan is integral to Japanese culture today—you see remnants of it all over the country, from ancient shrines and temples to courts and homes of the shogunate and emperor.

Japan Today

Japan has managed to maintain many of those traditional values and experiences, but now—especially in the cities—that history is complemented by technology. From the bright and colorful lights in Tokyo to the bustling arcades and social media-enhanced gardens in Kyoto, even the city-bound can get a taste of adventure just from walking around the busy streets.

To get into the wilderness, though, you’ll want to head outside the cities. Much of the rural areas are delightfully peaceful, populated by quiet farmers and relaxed townspeople, without the constant buzz of cell phones. Here, you’ll find pleasant places to hike, waterfalls and mountains to explore, extensive bike routes, and opportunities to ski and swim.

Hiking

Japan offers every type of adventure travel you might want, from biking and hiking to snorkeling and snowboarding. But if you want to do it the historical way, go for a multi-day hike.

Back in the Edo period (between 1603 and 1868), pilgrimages were a tradition. Travelers would pick a starting location and a rough goal, and trek their way across the country— staying at inns, in local homes, or under the stars along the way. The locals almost always helped, knowing that the trekker was on some sort of quest. Matsuo Bashō, the father of modern haiku, wrote his now-famous book of poems called The Narrow Road to the North from a journal he wrote during a 1,200-mile trek. Modern hikers can follow that path as well, starting in Tokyo and walking through 43 different towns, ending in Ogaki. It took Bashō five months, but Walk Japan offers a 10-day shortened trip of about 100 miles.

Other must-do pilgrimages include Nakasendo Way, the 329-mile road that people traveled in feudal times to get from Kyoto to Tokyo, and the Kannon Pilgrimage, a 1,500-mile route from the 11th century designed to hit 33 temples.

You can always create your own path in Japan, too, but make sure to fit in a couple of the must-sees. Look for original samurai houses in Kanazawa, take the 2,446 stone steps up Mount Haguro to a Buddhist temple (they also serve phenomenal vegetarian food here), trek to the northernmost island of Japan, or visit any of the country’s thermal onsen (hot springs) resorts. For an interesting experience, take a trip to Matsushima and visit a temple on a wooded island that couples pray at just before they break up.

Biking

If you’d rather not hike, the majority of the routes are open to bikes as well (though those 2,446 steps might be a bit difficult). Shimanami Kaido is part road and part bridge, linking the Ehime and Hiroshima prefectures. The 37-mile route said to be one of the best cycling routes in the country—following part of an expressway and hopping over multiple islands. Take your time here and try staying overnight in a few places. The route has 14 bike rental spots along the way, so even though an experienced cyclist can complete the entire ride in just a few hours, it’s worth it to take your time.

Surf and Snow

For snorkeling, head to Okinawa. The reef snorkeling there is top-notch, and although it will probably be a bit more crowded than other locations throughout the country, it’s one of the best places to go. There’s also great reef snorkeling in the Yaeyama archipelago, which is actually closer to Taiwan than Japan. One of the best islands to explore is Ishigaki, where you can look for pufferfish and the easily recognizable clownfish.

If you like your water a bit more frozen and in snow form, go to Niseko United Ski Resort. It seems a bit more Colorado than Japan but receives the highest ratings of ski and snowboard resorts in Japan on the World Snowboard Guide website.

Tips to Know Before Visiting

It’s important to remember a few things about Japan before you go.

• Cash is king. ATMs are plentiful in cities, but many places don’t take credit cards—and many ATMs don’t take American cards. Stock up on yen before you leave the airport.

• Outside the major cities, cell phone service and the internet can be hard to find, so bring a portable wifi device if you need to be connected.

• Finding free internet is difficult. If you don’t have your own, you’ll be best off finding a Starbucks if you absolutely need the web.

• You should also learn some chopstick etiquette before you go, because forks are not generally given with meals. Don’t pass food from your chopsticks to someone else’s chopsticks, and absolutely do not point at anyone with your chopsticks. (It’s considered rude.)

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Steven Bratman