From north to south, from east to west, Japan offers some unique sights to its visitors. You can hike on an active volcano like Mount Aso, or admire the placid landscape towered by Mount Fuji, the tallest mountain of Japan. Strolling in a bamboo grove is a unique pleasure, and exploring one of the hundreds of forests or islands can truly regenerate your soul…
No matter what you are looking for, Japan will satisfy your desires. Every region is unique in its own way, offering different landscapes under different climatic conditions. You just have to go and discover the place that best suits you and you surely won’t be disappointed.
Highlights
- Japanese landscape is varied and attractive.
- There are 118 volcanoes in Japan. Some of them, like Mount Aso, are still active and regularly erupting.
- Japan, with 62.3 million acres of forest, is one of the world’s most heavily forested countries.
- Hot springs are extremely popular among tourists and locals − the perfect place to immerse yourself in nature and to relax.
- There are 6,000 islands in Japan, many of them still uncontaminated by tourism.
The landscape of Japan
Japan will amaze you with the diversity of its natural environment. The island stretches from north to south over 3000 kilometers; three quarters of it is mountainous, the rest consists of basins and plains.
Japan has a mild climate and distinct seasonal changes. Because of its shape, the climate can vary greatly from place to place. For example, Hokkaido is known for its rigid and long winter, and ice drifts off its shores, while Okinawa is quiet, arid and belongs to the subtropical zone, with mangrove forests growing in many places.
The island of Japan lies on four tectonic plates and it is the world’s most geologically active zone. This is clear when observing the disposition of the islands, the many volcanoes, and hot springs welling up from underground. Volcanic activities also created the fuketsu, a cave where cold winds blow. Water is also ubiquitous: there are hundreds of rivers, deep lakes, and powerful waterfalls.
Coastal areas are characterized by sandy beaches, bluffs, tidelands, and coral reefs. The sea surrounding the islands with warm and cold currents, is home to a huge variety of fish. There are about 6,000 islands, 430 of which are inhabited.
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98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
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Wonderful 10 day trip in Japan!!!
Well planned trip by Alisa . Everything was well scheduled, guides and drivers were excellent!! The cars were extremely comfortable and the hotel she chose for us was beautiful!! Enjoyed planning with her she was very professional and always offered other choices. More
Lianne Stone,
May 2023
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11 days trip to Japan
I am planning my trip to Japan in November with Sharon's help and she has provided amazing customer service.She is very responsive and put together very quickly an incredible plan for 11 days in Japan. She provided recommendations and made changes based on our interests and budget. She also provided information about visa restrictions and the best way to get tickets for transportation services. Thanks so much Sharon, looking forward to this trip! More
LE,
May 2023
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Japan trip
Hi Cathy! I just want to thank you for making our Japan trip so much fun & memorable! We loved everything that you had scheduled for us! All the guides and drivers were great & punctual! We love Japan so much that we’re planning to go back next year to different part of Japan! We’ll definitely contact Asia Highlights for our trip again! Serene More
Serene Storslett,
May 2023
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Quick, easy and detailed service
Alisa was our advisor from Asia highlights and she prepared for us a wonderful 28 day trip to Japan, taking into consideration our needs and desire not to be traveling everyday and to have a mixture of slow and busy days. We've not yet taken our trip, but very much looking forward to it Thank you Alisa for the quick response and wonderful itinerary More
Lynette Whittle,
Apr 2023
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Japan Tour
Sharon Huang did an excellent job in planningour 15 day Cherry Blossom Japan tour. Shewas available during our trip to answer our questions and readily agreed to the itinerary changes.Everything was arranged - accommodation,breakfast, guide, car, entrance fees and train tickets. The guides were knowledgeable, and managed the tour very efficiently. The drivers were punctual and very patient. We visited must see places in and near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. We also got to experience Japanese Tea ceremony, Sushi making, Sake tasting, shopping etc.We highly recommend Asia Highlights for your travel needs. More
Madhu,
Apr 2023
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I organized a trip to Japan for my
I organized a trip to Japan for my parents who don’t speak English and Alisa was so amazing helping make an itinerary for them. They needed a Spanish guide and she coordinated everything so they wouldn’t have any trouble when they got there. She was so patient changing and adjusting the itinerary to their needs and wants, it’s been a total pleasure working with her and she always responds promptly to any question I have. I definitely recommend this company and if you can ask to work with Alisa. More
Luisa,
Apr 2023
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Trip to Japan. I have had the pleasure to book with…
For the reasons above, I decided to book again with Asia highlights for our trip to Japan this year in September. Until now it’s been a pleasure dealing with Albee Ning. She was so efficient and pleasant in adjusting our itinerary. Whenever I had any questions I could count on her to answer promptly. I am very lucky to have her as our organiser for our future trip to Japan. I have had the pleasure to book with Asia Highlights when we went to China in 2018. We were extremely satisfied with the exceptional services rendered by our organiser, Robert Hui and private guide William. More
Mrs Cristina Hidalgo Loris,
Apr 2023
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Albee Ning and Asia Highlights - wonderful to work with.
I and my daughter planned a trip to China and Japan. We worked with Albee Ning who was fantastic in developing a itinerary based on our desires and needs. She was extremely responsive, taking into account all of our requests and worked closely with us, it wasn't just selecting from one of several pre-developed itineraries. We decided to postpone the trip until next year and received the guaranteed refund, minus a small deposit on next years trip. We look forward to working with her again on next years trip and trips in the future. We highly recommend Asia Highlights and Albee Ning More
Nancy K,
Apr 2023
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Handcrafted tour of Japan by Asia Highlights
My initial inquiry to this company (based in China) was answered in under 10 hours by an amazing travel consultant, named Alisa. She is such a professional in the ways she conducts herself and serves her clients. Alisa is a great communicator and listener. She is very open to requests for additional experiences which require research on her part to arrange. Alisa also provides very detailed information about each experience, location, guides, private car transfers, trains, hotels. This approach is very appealing since detailed communication is so useful and important to me. Alisa also makes the process simple and easy to follow. Answered tons of questions and created the perfect tour for us. We are looking forward to this once in a lifetime visit to Japan and are so grateful we have had the chance to work with Alisa at Asia Highlights! More
Laurie Lee,
Feb 2023
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Great Overall Experience
Our guide in Tokyo, Fuki, was outstanding. We saw things we would never have otherwise seen, if Fuki had not been there. More
Todd Hankinson,
Dec 2022
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Plenty of options and personalized tours as needed
Monica Mo was very helpful from the beginning after I enquired about my travel plans to Japan. She listened with understanding and took careful notes and clarified things to make sure she got everything. More
Ginybel Belgira,
Sep 2022
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Asia Highlights especially Ms. Kanae Chida superb
Asia Highlights and particularly our Tokyo guide, Ms. Kanae Chida, were the best. When Kanae met us, she asked for details of what we wished to see and she constructed an outstanding combination of visits for the day. More
Geoff Rayner-Canham,
May 2019
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I have arranged a 27 day tour of China, Japan and Hong Kong China
Peggie's English is impeccable and she uses lots of nuances which usually only a native English speaker would know. I have found her very prompt in responding to emails and her knowledge is terrific. More
Ailsa West,
Jul 2018
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Very professional, great customer service
We travelled to Japan this May (2018). We had contacted Asia Highlights to organise our trip for us. Miss Peggie Lyoo was very helpful, super-friendly, very professional and very prompt with all her replies! More
Tibor Marton,
May 2018
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Great job!
Great job!! We had an amazing vacation to Japan. We will use Asian highlights for all of our trips to Asia More
Joe,
May 2018
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Trip-of-a-lifetime
In addition, I want to specifically mention the guides provided in certain locations. Rum, in Siem Reap, made the most memorable experience possible. His positivity was contagious - even when it felt like 1000 degrees and we were tired. He brought it all to life, and created a couple days of Ankor Wat, etc. that we will never forget! He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. He brought the dessert she asked about to us in the car! Overall, he and his driver "Lucky" were a reason to go to Siem Reap. In addition, the other guides (minus one which was switched out immediately) were stupendous. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! Thank you Sharon, and Asia Highlights. Would definitely use again for future trips! More
Teri Simpson,
Apr 2023
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Cambodia and Vietnam adventure!
Our guide in Cambodia, Meas Darapolaith (Pol), was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. His English was excellent and he shared important insights about history and the magnificent sites we visited. We highly recommend him! More
Jennifer Roth Krieger,
Apr 2023
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My daughter and I wanted to discover SE…
My daughter and I wanted to discover SE Asia. Being the first in that region, we wanted to use a tour service company. We ended up using Asia Highlights. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. We left home with of mind because all the pre-travel arrangements were taking care and communicate to us efficiently. All our questions were answered promptly. Once in the countries, we were welcome by our excellent tour guides. Everything was taking care for us. We did not have one issue. They selected the right tours guides for us, they were highly knowledgeable and so much attentive to our needs. We had Dhat in Vietnam and Borin in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I came back home so much rested, and with plenty of wonderful pictures and memories. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. More
Isabelle Dessaux,
Apr 2023
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Fabulous tour and guide in Cambodia
We have been touring Cambodia, guided by Borin ( and driver 007) for the last 2 days. What a fabulous experience! Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. He has answered all our questions, made sure we were comfortable, and that we have had great food. 007 made sure we always had enough water and cool towels for our face/neck.We highly recommend Borin as a tour guide for Cambodia!! More
Monica,
Mar 2023
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Best Travel Service for Asia Travel
Alisa Liu was in charge of making the arrangements and she helped us from the start to make all of the arrangements and also helped us when we had questions and requested some adjustments. Her service is of the highest professional level. We are 100% confident that our trip will be perfect. We’re also 100% confident that, if anything comes up during our trip, that Alisa will be there to guide us through and take care of us. We won’t even consider using another agency for travel around Asia and we would like to have Alisa work for us again. More
Leo Pospichal,
Mar 2023
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Forests
Typical forests in Japan see plenty of oak, maple, birch, cypress, and cedar trees. Coniferous, cool-temperature deciduous, and broadleaf forests are the three main kinds of forests to be found in Japan. Some of the most beautiful forests are located in the Tohuku Region.
There are dozens of forests in Japan, and maybe the most famous one is Aokigahara, also known as “Sea of Trees”, on the flanks of Mount Fuji. The Asian black bear, the small Japanese mole, bats, boars, and deer are just some of the many animals living inside the forest. The flora is constituted by conifers and broadleaf trees, while herbaceous flowering plants are to be found deeper in the forest.
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Bamboo groves in Arashiyama
One of the most unique sights of the country is the bamboo grove near Kyoto. The site is easily accessible from the main street of Arashiyama, really close to the entrance to the Tenryu-ji Temple. The single path going through the grove leads slowly uphill, and at the end of it you will find the majestic Okochi-Sanso Villa.
The site is rightfully popular during fall and the cherry blossom season. The tall bamboo, that during windy days will gently move, creating a unique atmosphere, has been used for centuries for the manufacturing of baskets, boxes, and other items.
Volcanoes
There are 118 volcanoes in Japan. Mount Aso, with a diameter of 25 km, has one of the largest caldera of the world. Tourists can easily access the mountain’s active volcanic peak (just check beforehand if the path is open), including Mount Nakadake.
But the most famous of Japanese volcanoes is Mount Fuji, which hasn’t erupted for the past 300 hundred years. It is one of the most recognizable symbols of Japan, it is also its highest mountain (3776 m). Trails are open during the climbing season that goes from July to September.
Mountains
Japanese mountains cover 70% of the country, and most of them are covered in snow that remains even during summer. Landscapes are varied, with rock cliffs, alpine flora, glaciers, and more, making any hike a breathtaking experience.
Not far away from Tokyo, you will find Mount Takao, characterized by breathtaking scenery, many hiking trails, and Yakuoin, an active temple near the summit. Mount Koya is considered to be the spiritual home of Shingon Buddhism and one of the holiest places of Japan.
On the island of Honshu, you will find the Japanese Alps. They are 200 km long and 40 km wide, with dozens of peaks and an active volcano, Mount Ontake.
Waterfalls and rivers
Hiking through the mountains will give the chance to discover some magnificent waterfalls (there are 157 in total): The Hagoromo Falls and The Garo Fall are among the most spectacular and unique ones.
There are many rivers in Japan, but it’s hard to find long, navigable ones. Rivers are in fact characterized by successions of rapids and shallows. The Shinano (370 km) is the longest river of Japan, and some of the most bountiful rivers are to be found in Hokkaido.
Caves and gorges
Japan contains numerous gorges, characterized by sheer cliffs, forests, and waterfalls. You can hike through most of them, while some of them must be visited by train or boat.
In the Myazaki Prefecture you can paddle along the narrow Takachiho Gorge and admire its cliffs and 17-meter high waterfall. In the Northern Japanese Alps, the Kurobe Gorge is one of the deepest Japanese gorges, with untouched forests, vertical cliffs, and hot springs. You can travel into the gorge for twenty kilometers with a sightseeing train.
Caves can be explored as well. The biggest Japanese cave is the Akiyoshido Cave, with limestone pools, underground waterfalls and streams. 80 million years ago, the Abukumado Cave was formed, and nowadays the section open to the public can be explored in one hour.
Onsen — hot springs
In the past, onsen were a sacred place where people used to cure their diseases. There are numerous natural hot springs in every region, distinguished by minerals dissolved in the water, with different effects on the body.
One hour and a half from Tokyo, you will find one of the most famous hot springs of the country, Hakone Onsen, with many accommodation options and spa resorts. Another famous hot spring, Yufuin Onsen, stretches at the foot of Mount Yufudake; while the best onsen in Hokkaido is considered to be Noboribetsu Onsen, with sulfur and hydrogen sulfide that will brighten your skin.
Coasts and Islands
Three bays are considered to be the best scenic spots of Japan: Matsushima Bay, Miyajima, and Amanohashidate. Matsushima Bay is scattered with 200 small islands covered by pine trees; Miyajima is a sacred island, famous for its torii gate that seems to float on the water; and Amanohashidate is a sandbar covered with pines, and it seen as the pathway between earth and heaven.
The four main islands of Japan are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. In total however, there are about 6,000 islands, and 430 of them are inhabited. Japanese islands are the summits of mountain ridges sticking out of the sea, and many of the smaller islands are still untouched by tourism.
Explore Japan with Asia Highlights
A lot of natural beauty is waiting for you in Japan: Bathe in the relaxing hot springs, hike the wonderful mountains, or stroll through a bamboo grove… Any part of the country can give you an unforgettable experience!
Plan your trip with Asia Highlights − our knowledgeable staff will provide you with everything you need, crafting a hassle-free vacation for you and your loved ones.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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