Japan City Breaks

If you’re thinking of taking one of our Japan city breaks, just dive right in. Head to the obvious destination, Tokyo, for an immersion into Japanese culture with its high rise buildings alonside beautiful gardens and shrines, or opt for Kyoto for a very different but equally-thrilling city break experience. Then there's Osaka, with its towers of colour and light, and Hiroshima, which has literally risen from the ashes to become a bustling metropolis. Alternatively, take a couple of days’ detour and get right into the heart of the country by exploring the smaller nooks and crannies of the archipelago. Mornings are particularly serene in the 25 temples and shrines of Ise - the heart of Japan’s spiritual beliefs. This special place is both sanctuary and sacred refuge: millions of pilgrims make the trip to Ise each year. You can rub shoulders with them, passing through the sacred cedar gate, the torii, freshly constructed each year so that while ancient, it is always new. Everything is sacred here: the trees, paths, vegetable gardens, the rituals, and even the dances invented to please the Sun Goddess. Ise really is the pure heart of Japan, and all you have to do is arrive. Read more